A5024078113- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Malaria Research and Control
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- HIV Research and Treatment
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Urological Disorders and Treatments
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Studies
- Ion Channels and Receptors
Harvard University
2017-2024
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine
2021-2024
Université de Montréal
2022-2024
Boston University
2021-2024
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2024
Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
2022
McGill Genome Centre
2022
Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
2022
Université du Québec à Montréal
2022
Institute for Medical Research
2016
The hallmark of many bacterial infections is pain. underlying mechanisms pain during live pathogen invasion are not well understood. Here, we elucidate key molecular produced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. We show that spontaneous dependent on the virulence determinant agr and pore-forming toxins (PFTs). cation channel, TRPV1, mediated heat hyperalgesia as a distinct modality. Three classes PFTs-alpha-hemolysin (Hla), phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs), leukocidin...
Abstract Wolbachia , a maternally inherited intracellular bacterial species, can manipulate host insect reproduction by cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which results in embryo lethality crosses between infected males and uninfected females. CI is encoded two prophage genes, cifA cifB . coupled with the sterile technique, has been used field trials to control populations of dengue vector Aedes albopictus but CI-inducing strains are not known infect malaria Anopheles gambiae Here we show...
Insects, unlike vertebrates, are widely believed to lack male-biased sex steroid hormones1. In the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) appears have evolved both control egg development when synthesized by females2 and induce mating refractoriness sexually transferred males3. Because essential reproductive traits, understanding how females integrate these hormonal signals can spur design of new programs. Here we reveal that functions regulated distinct...
The spread of insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes and drug Plasmodium parasites is contributing to a global resurgence malaria, making the generation control tools that can overcome these roadblocks an urgent public health priority. We recently showed transmission falciparum be efficiently blocked when exposing gambiae females antimalarials deposited on treated surface, with no negative consequences major components mosquito fitness. Here, we demonstrate this approach hurdles...
Understanding the immune response to natural infection by SARS-CoV-2 is key pandemic management, especially in current context of emerging variants. Uncertainty remains regarding efficacy and duration immunity against reinfection.We conducted an observational prospective cohort study Canadian healthcare workers (HCWs) with a history PCR-confirmed (i) measure average incidence rate reinfection (ii) describe serological primary infection.Our comprised 569 HCWs; median individual follow-up was...
Abstract Anopheles coluzzii females, important malaria vectors in Africa, mate only once their lifetime. Mating occurs aerial swarms with a high male-to-female ratio, where traits underlying male mating success are largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) influence natural Burkina Faso. As insecticides widely used this area for control, also determined CHCs affect insecticide resistance levels. We find that mated males have higher CHC abundance than...
Insecticide resistance is under strong selective pressure in Anopheles mosquitoes due to widespread usage of insecticides vector control strategies. Resistance mechanisms likely cause changes that profoundly affect mosquito physiology, yet it remains poorly understood how pressures imposed by may alter the ability host and transmit a Plasmodium infection. From pyrethroid-resistant field-derived gambiae s.l. mosquitoes, we established resistant (RES) susceptible (SUS) colonies either...
Anopheles gambiae and its sibling species coluzzii are the most efficient vectors of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum . When females these feed on an infected human host, oogenesis development proceed concurrently, but interactions between processes not fully understood. Using multiple natural P isolates from Burkina Faso, we show that in both vectors, impairing steroid hormone signaling to disrupt leads accelerated oocyst growth a manner appears depend mosquito genotype. Consistently,...
<h3>Background:</h3> SARS-CoV-2 transmission has an impact on education. In this study, we assessed the performance of rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) versus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosis infection in school settings, and RADT use monitoring exposed contacts. <h3>Methods:</h3> real-world, prospective observational cohort high-school students staff were recruited from 2 high schools Montréal, Canada, followed Jan. 25 to June 10, 2021. Twenty-five percent asymptomatic...
We have previously identified a target site in HIV-1 RNA that was particularly accessible to ribozyme and short hairpin (shRNA). To design small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting this site, we evaluated the effects of siRNAs with different lengths on production. The potency efficacy these were dependent length their intended sense strand trends for symmetrical asymmetrical formats similar. Although typical canonical format 21-nucleotide (nt) effective at inhibiting production, Dicer...
Public health vaccination recommendations for COVID-19 primary series and boosters in previously infected individuals differ worldwide. As infection with SARS-CoV-2 is often asymptomatic, it remains to be determined if vaccine immunogenicity comparable all subjects. This study presents detailed immunological evidence clarify the requirements one- or two-dose naturally primed individuals. The main objective was evaluate immune response mRNA establish most appropriate regimen induce robust...
Small RNA therapies targeting post-integration steps in the HIV-1 replication cycle are among top candidates for gene therapy and have potential to be used as drug infection. Post-integration inhibitors include ribozymes, short hairpin (sh) RNAs, small interfering (si) U1 interference (U1i) RNAs aptamers. Many of these been identified using transient co-transfection assays with an expression plasmid some advanced clinical trials. In addition measures efficacy, evaluated their affect human...
Small RNA therapies targeting post-integration steps in the HIV-1 replication cycle are among top candidates for gene therapy and have potential to be used as drug infection. Post-integration inhibitors include ribozymes, short hairpin (sh) RNAs, small interfering (si) U1 interference (U1i) RNAs aptamers. Many of these been identified using transient co-transfection assays with an expression plasmid some advanced clinical trials. In addition measures efficacy, evaluated their affect human...
Abstract Background We evaluated the use of rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) for diagnosis severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in school settings to determine RADT’s performance compared PCR. Methods In this real-world, prospective observational cohort study, high-school students and staff were recruited from two high-schools Montreal (Canada) followed January 25 th June 10 , 2021. Twenty-five percent asymptomatic participants tested weekly by RADT...
Abstract Wolbachia infections are a fascinating example of reproductive parasitism with strong potential to combat vector-borne diseases, due their combined ability spread in insect populations and block pathogen replication. Though the factors mediating notable manipulation cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) have now been identified as prophage WO genes cifA cifB , relative role these is still intensely debated, different models claiming that CI requires either both or alone. Here we...
ABSTRACT Background Understanding the immune response to natural infection by SARS-CoV-2 is key pandemic management, especially in current context of emerging variants. Uncertainty remains regarding efficacy and duration immunity against reinfection. Method We conducted an observational prospective cohort study Canadian healthcare workers (HCWs) with a history PCR-confirmed : (i) measure average incidence rate reinfection (ii), describe serological primary infection. Results detected 5 cases...
With increased interests in solving complex problems through interdisciplinary research—how best can museums use this approach to address critical social issues? In order answer question, an group of curators, artists and students worked together at the Smithsonian Institution create experimental teaching environment rethink disciplinary boundaries around study human body. Our aim was a range anthropological, art science collections readings undertake issues race, gender, genetics,...
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and their precursors, short hairpin (shRNAs), are being developed for the treatment of HIV-1 infection as drug gene therapies, respectively. We have previously identified a target site in RNA coding Gag polyprotein that was highly conserved across diverse genomes particularly accessible to ribozyme. An shRNA targeting this also shown be potent inhibitor production from strains. Several studies silencing effects siRNAs shRNAs dependent on lengths. While optimal...