[1][2] He obtained his doctorate under the supervision of Andrée Lazdunski in 1988 and with the support of a European Union fellowship moved to the Netherlands for his postdoctoral research, where he joined Utrecht University and the laboratory of Dr Jan Tommassen.

He used bacterial genetics to identify a series of molecular determinants involved in the biofilm formation process, notably extracellular appendages, or fimbriae, he called Cup.

Working with Stephen Lory from Harvard Medical School, Filloux discovered a regulatory switch, LadS, which allows Pseudomonas aeruginosa to transition from planktonic to a biofilm.

This suggested that the T6SS is put in place when cells enter a phase allowing polymicrobial communities to establish and is thus prepared to eliminate foes.

[8] In 2022, Filloux was appointed as the centre director of SCELSE in Singapore, where he continues to explore biofilm formation and bacterial secretion systems.

[9][10] Filloux has held several scientific administrative positions including membership of the BBSRC - Research Grants Committee B (2009-2011),[11][12] the MRC Infection and immunity board (2016-2020), the FWO panel Medical Microbiology (2017-2023).