# ChemSenSim Lab

> Chemical Senses and Simulations


## Posts

- [Publication: How allosteric mutations control ligand binding in Lipocalin protein: odorant binding protein as a test case](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/2025/06/27/publication-how-allosteric-mutations-control-ligand-binding-in-lipocalin-protein-odorant-binding-protein-as-a-test-case/)
- [New funding grants for the group!](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/2025/03/17/new-funding-grants-for-the-group/)
- [Publication: Accelerating Ligand Discovery for Insect Odorant Receptors](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/2025/02/26/publication-accelerating-ligand-discovery-for-insect-odorant-receptors/)
- [Publication: A status report on human odorant receptors and their allocated agonists](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/2024/12/04/a-status-report-on-human-odorant-receptors-and-their-allocated-agonists/)
- [Join our online survey on scent perception!](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/2024/11/05/join-our-online-survey-on-scent-perception/)
- [Publication: Unlocking the Potential of OBPs in Biosensor Development](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/2024/11/01/unlocking-the-potential-of-obps-in-biosensor-development/)

## Pages

- [Niccolò Bancone](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/niccolo-bancone/): Postdoc researcher (2026-2027) n3banco@icloud.com INIBOR – Inhibition in Olfactory Receptors (Funded by UniCA Idex)
- [Marc El Hasbany](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/marc-el-hasbany/): PhD Student (2025-2028) Marc.EL-HASBANY@univ-cotedazur.fr Deciphering the molecular bases of olfactory receptor activation and inhibition. (Funded by Fondation Roudnitska)
- [Albert Thor Thorhallsson](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/albert-thor-thorhallsson/): Postdoc researcher (2025-2026) Albert.Thorhallsson@univ-cotedazur.fr Reverse chemical ecology using AI-guided high-throughput screening of insect olfactory receptors (Funded by France2030 – Explorae (INRAE), 2025-2029)
- [Zakaria Bouchouireb](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/zakaria-bouchouireb/): Postdoc researcher (2025-2026) Zakaria.BOUCHOUIREB@univ-cotedazur.fr Anticipating the withdrawal of phytosanitary substances through the development of a distributed, generic and high-speed Operational Chemical Ecology infrastructure. (Funded by FranceAgriMer)
- [Damien Geslin](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/damien-geslin/): Research Engineer (2025-20206) Damien.Geslin@univ-cotedazur.fr ARDECO | Anticipating the withdrawal of phytosanitary substances through the development of a distributed, generic and high-speed Operational Chemical Ecology infrastructure (Funded by FranceAgriMer, 2024-2029)
- [Julie Te](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/julie-te/): PhD Student (2024-2027) Julie.TE@univ-cotedazur.fr Exploring the potential of RabX inhibition to treat MAFLD (funded by EUR LIFE and the Academy of Excellence “Complexity and Diversity of Life“)
- [Ulrich Ambassa Meynié](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/ulrich-ambassa-meynie/): PhD Student (2024-2027) Ulrich.AMBASSA-MENYIE@univ-cotedazur.fr Naturalness in perfumery and its role in the world of well-being & cognitive performance (Funded by ANRT, Cifre ICN – Expressions Parfumées)
- [Contact us](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/contact-us/)
- [Job Offers](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/job-offers/): Positions available ! ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… Interested in one of the above offer? please submit your application by sending your CV to contact@chemsensim.fr.Your CV should include : cover letter, CV, publication list & certificates as a single PDF file.
- [Maxence Lalis](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/maxence-lalis/): PhD Student (2021-2024) Maxence.LALIS@univ-cotedazur.fr Decoding Chemical Senses (Funded by Foundation Roudnitska)
- [Jérémie topin](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/jeremie-topin/): Associate Professor / Maître de Conférence jeremie.topin@univ-cotedazur.fr +33 (0)4 89 15 01 32
- [Sébastien Fiorucci](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/sebastien-fiorucci/): Associate Professor / Maître de Conférence (HDR) sebastien.fiorucci@univ-cotedazur.fr +33 (0)4 89 15 01 35 |
- [Sensory Analysis](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/sensory-analysis/): Latest published works: Method for characterizing an olfactory stimulation Abstract: A method for characterizing an olfactory stimulation, including visual stimulation steps each associated with a theme and first steps of recording physiological variables carried out continuously during a first visual stimulation step, so as to obtain first physiological recordings, each first physiological recording being associated with the theme associated with the first visual stimulation step, a second olfactory stimulation step, a second step of recording values of physiological variables carried out continuously during and after the second olfactory stimulation step to obtain a second physiological recording, a step of comparing ... Read more
- [Machine Learning](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/machine-learning/): Our brain perceives our molecular environment through two chemical senses, olfaction and taste, by triggering the activation of chemical sensors named olfactory and gustatory receptors. These receptors are differentially activated by a virtually infinite number of molecules suggesting a extremely complex combinatorial code. Can a computer learn how to smell and taste? The objective of our research, involving chemists, computer scientists and neurobiologists, is to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence models in the context of chemical senses. Latest published works: M2OR: A Database of Olfactory Receptor-Odorant Pairs for Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Olfaction Abstract: Mammalian sense of smell ... Read more
- [Molecular Simulations](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/molecular-simulations/): The aim of our research is to decipher structure-function relationships of mammals and insect proteins involved in olfaction and taste, such as Olfactory Receptor (OR), Taste Receptor (TASR) or Odorant Binding Protein (OBP) combining computational approaches (molecular dynamics simulations, virtual screening and structural bioinformatics) and in vitro experiments. Latest published works: How allosteric mutations control ligand binding in Lipocalin protein: odorant binding protein as a test case Abstract: Lipocalins are a family of proteins found in mammals that are essential for the binding and transport of various molecules, but the mechanisms underlying their target recognition are still unclear. To answer ... Read more
- [Smell & Taste](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/smell-taste/): Our brain is made up of billions of neurons and is considered the most complex organ in our body. Among our five senses, smell and taste are the two chemical senses that enable living beings to identify and react to substances in their environment. Our brain’s extraordinary ability to discriminate stems from the organization of our detection system. We have around 400 olfactory receptors and 30 gustatory receptors. Knowing that one molecule (odorous or sapid) can activate several sensory receptors, that one receptor can respond to several different molecules, and that the perception of an odor or flavor can come ... Read more
- [Code](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/code/): ​____________________ Databases: M2OR (from M. Lalis, et al. Nucleic. Acid. Res. 2024) A Database of Olfactory Receptor-Odorant Pairs for Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Olfaction SweetenersDB v2.0 (from C. Bouysset et al. Food Chem. 2020) a database of sweeteners with known sweetness values SweetenersDB v1.0 (from J.B. Chéron et al. Food Chem. 2016) ​​____________________ Softwares and webservers: ProLIF (Protein-Ligand Interaction Fingerprints), a tool designed to generate interaction fingerprints for protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions extracted from molecular dynamics trajectories and docking simulations. It also supports DNA-ligand, DNA-protein and DNA-DNA interactions. (Github) Predisweet, a webserver for sweet taste prediction (webserver) Attract FF2G for protein-protein binding affinity prediction (webserver) Ptools source code (ptools_1.1.tar.gz released in ... Read more
- [Funded Projects](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/funded-projects/): Ongoing research projects: (*=PI S. Fiorucci ; **=PI J. Topin)​ Past research projects:
- [Collaborations & Partnerships](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/collaborations-partnerships/): Academic Collaborations Industrial Partnerships Peihua Jiang (Monell, US)Joel Mainland (Monell, US)Mee-Ra Rhyu (KFRI, KR)Cheil Moon (DGIST, KR)Marco Gori (Siena, IT)Jérôme Waldispühl (McGill, CA)Steffen Wolf (U. Freiburg, DE)Martin Zacharias (TUM, DE)Emmanuelle J.Joly (INRAE Versailles, FR)Loïc Briand (INRAE Dijon, FR)Christophe Moreau (IBS Grenoble, FR)Axel Marchal (ISVV Bordeaux, FR)Moustafa Bensafi (CRN Lyon, FR)Céline Robardet (LIRIS Lyon, FR)Marc Plantevit (LRDE Lyon, FR)Frédéric Jullien (LBVPAM St Etienne, FR)Hakim Benkhatar (CH Versailles, FR)Isabelle Parrot (IBMM Montpelier, FR) @our future industrial partners: collaborate with us through funded research programs, service delivery, consulting or sponsoring! Do not hesitate to contact us contact@chemsensim.fr
- [Media](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/media/): 28/09/2025 Online magazine (Fr) The Conversation (html) 16/04/2025 Webnews (Fr) INRAE (html, pdf) 06/09/2024 Web annoncement (En) Dream Challenge (html) 19/04/2024 Webnews (Fr) WebTimeMedia (html, pdf) 16/04/2024 LinkedIn (Fr) Cosmetic Victories (html, html) 05/04/2024 Podcast (Fr) France Culture, Avec Sciences (html, mp3) 01/04/2024 Scientific magazine (Fr) Sciences et Avenir (pdf) 19/03/2024 Youtube video (Fr) congrès Neuroplanète (html, mp4) 08/02/2024 Youtube video (Fr) congrès WAICF (html, mp4) 22/12/2023 Webnews (Fr) Nez Le mouvement culturel olfactif (html, pdf) 22/12/2023 Webnews (Fr) Hello Future (html) 30/03/2023 Podcast (Fr) CQFD (html) 28/03/2023 Webnews (Fr) CNRS (html) 23/02/2023 Youtube video (Fr) IADate Institut EuropIA (html, mp4) 19/02/2023 Newspaper (Fr) Nice Matin ... Read more
- [Publications](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/publications/): 2026 From gene sequence to male attraction: identifying the major female sex pheromone component of Spodoptera picta via pheromone receptor structural analysis.A. Comte, Z. Wei, H. Li, W.Z. Xing, R. Moracci, J. Zhang, S. Fiorucci, E. Jacquin-Joly. submitted. Single-point mutation alters odorant receptor sensitivity associated with host plant specialization in Spodoptera moths.A. Comte, M. Lalis, S. Zhang, A. Thorhallsson, R. Moracci, J. Gévar, N. Montagné, J. Topin, A. Mitchell, S. Fiorucci, E. Jacquin-Joly. submitted. TAARs response to amine are differently affected by sequence variants.J. Pacalon, C. Belloir, S. Fiorucci, L. Briand, J. Topin. submitted. From Traditional QSAR to AI-Driven Models ... Read more
- [People](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/index.php/people/): PI Postdoc / PhD Student / Engineer Grad / Undergrad student Fernando Martinez-Urrutia – Master’s student 2026 Iyed Jaziri – Master’s student 2026 Alumni ___________________________________________________________________
- [ChemSenSim Lab](https://lab.chemsensim.fr/): Our research projects are focused on the molecular basis of the chemical senses (i.e. olfaction and taste) which are inherently complex neuronal processes. We are developing numerical models based on molecular modeling, machine learning and structural bioinformatics to decipher the combinatorial code of chemosensory perception. Location Université Côte d’AzurInstitut de Chimie de Nice28 Avenue Valrose06108 Nice Cedex 2 (France)


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