We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Marlène Dreux, who passed away on March 18, 2025. Marlène had been a dedicated board member of the French Dendritic Cell Society (CFCD) since 2018.
Marlène studied in Lyon, France, where she earned a master's degree from the École Normale Supérieure. She completed her PhD in Lyon as well, during which she identified key mechanisms regulating the entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV) into cells. Following her PhD, she joined the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, USA, where she made important contributions, notably identifying autophagy as a critical step in HCV replication. She then broadened her research interests to study how viruses interact with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs)—an area that remained central to her scientific passion.
Upon returning to France, Marlène secured a research position at INSERM and established her independent group named “Viruses, Innate Immunity and Vesicular Traffic” at the Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie of Lyon. With her team, she conducted seminal work characterizing how pDCs detect viruses. Her group was one of the first to demonstrate that pDCs recognize not only free viruses but also virus-infected cells. Through mechanisms involving exosomal transport and direct cell-to-cell contact, infected cells were shown to transfer viral nucleic acids to pDCs, triggering type I interferon production and thus enhancing antiviral immunity. Marlène coined the term “interferogenic synapse” to describe this interaction, a key concept in the field of pDC biology. Her additional studies further underscored the role of pDCs in initiating antiviral immune responses in vivo, including during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Her work greatly advanced our understanding of pDC physiology and opened new avenues in the study of host-pathogen interactions.
Beyond her remarkable scientific contributions, Marlène was an active member of several scientific societies and played an important role in CFCD activities. Since 2018, she helped organize our annual meetings with energy, dedication, and enthusiasm. She was a wonderful colleague and friend, always advocating for pDCs and enriching our discussions with her insight and warmth. We shared many memorable moments with her and will always remember her positive spirit and friendly presence.
We deeply mourn her passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, her team, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her.
She will be profoundly missed.
Marlène studied in Lyon, France, where she earned a master's degree from the École Normale Supérieure. She completed her PhD in Lyon as well, during which she identified key mechanisms regulating the entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV) into cells. Following her PhD, she joined the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, USA, where she made important contributions, notably identifying autophagy as a critical step in HCV replication. She then broadened her research interests to study how viruses interact with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs)—an area that remained central to her scientific passion.
Upon returning to France, Marlène secured a research position at INSERM and established her independent group named “Viruses, Innate Immunity and Vesicular Traffic” at the Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie of Lyon. With her team, she conducted seminal work characterizing how pDCs detect viruses. Her group was one of the first to demonstrate that pDCs recognize not only free viruses but also virus-infected cells. Through mechanisms involving exosomal transport and direct cell-to-cell contact, infected cells were shown to transfer viral nucleic acids to pDCs, triggering type I interferon production and thus enhancing antiviral immunity. Marlène coined the term “interferogenic synapse” to describe this interaction, a key concept in the field of pDC biology. Her additional studies further underscored the role of pDCs in initiating antiviral immune responses in vivo, including during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Her work greatly advanced our understanding of pDC physiology and opened new avenues in the study of host-pathogen interactions.
Beyond her remarkable scientific contributions, Marlène was an active member of several scientific societies and played an important role in CFCD activities. Since 2018, she helped organize our annual meetings with energy, dedication, and enthusiasm. She was a wonderful colleague and friend, always advocating for pDCs and enriching our discussions with her insight and warmth. We shared many memorable moments with her and will always remember her positive spirit and friendly presence.
We deeply mourn her passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, her team, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her.
She will be profoundly missed.