I would like to address special thanks to my colleagues. Throughout all these years, they have made the Microbial Molecular Pathogenesis Unit what it is, and I dedicate this INSERM prize to them.Junior researchers’ careers are particularly important to me. Their role in society lacks recognition – and remuneration –, yet they show exemplary qualities: passion, curiosity, rigour, honesty, critical thinking, selflessness, universality and modernity, and trust in the future, for science is no s...