A5068059933- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- interferon and immune responses
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Heat shock proteins research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Immune responses and vaccinations
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- RNA regulation and disease
University of Saskatchewan
2022-2025
McMaster University
2015-2021
Mount Sinai Hospital
2020
Hamilton Health Sciences
2020
McMaster University Medical Centre
2020
University of Toronto
2020
Sunnybrook Hospital
2020
Sunnybrook Research Institute
2020
Zoonoses are infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Bats have been suggested harbour more zoonotic viruses than any other mammalian order1. Infections in bats largely asymptomatic2,3, indicating limited tissue-damaging inflammation and immunopathology. To investigate the genomic basis of disease resistance, Bat1K project generated reference-quality genomes ten bat species, including potential viral reservoirs. Here we describe a systematic analysis covering 115 that revealed...
Since its emergence in Wuhan, China, December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected ≈6 million persons worldwide. As SARS-CoV-2 spreads across the planet, we explored range of human cells that can be by this virus. We isolated from patients Toronto, Canada; determined genomic sequences; and identified single-nucleotide changes representative populations our virus stocks. also tested a wide immune for productive infection with SARS-CoV-2. confirm...
Type I interferons (IFNs) are our first line of defense against virus infection. Recent studies have suggested the ability SARS-CoV-2 proteins to inhibit IFN responses. Emerging data also suggest that timing and extent production is associated with manifestation COVID-19 severity. In spite progress in understanding how activates antiviral responses, mechanistic into wild-type SARS-CoV-2-mediated induction inhibition human type responses scarce. Here we demonstrate infection induces a...
Individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus present a wide variety of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to severe and even lethal outcomes. Past research has revealed genetic haplotype on chromosome 3 that entered human population via introgression Neanderthals as strongest risk factor for response COVID-19. However, specific variants along this introgressed contribute biological mechanisms are involved remain unclear. Here, we assess their likelihood driving predisposition COVID-19 We...
BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) has evolved multiple mutations within the spike protein, raising concerns increased antibody evasion. In this study, we assessed neutralization potential COVID-19 convalescent sera and from vaccinated individuals against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.MethodsThe neutralizing activity 65 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine recipients clinical isolates Beta, Delta, VOCs was using a micro-neutralization assay.FindingsConvalescent unvaccinated...
Abstract Bats carry viruses that can cause severe disease in other mammals. Asymptomatic infections bats suggest limited tissue-damaging inflammation and immunopathology. To investigate the genomic basis of resistance, Bat1K project generated reference-quality genomes ten bat species. A systematic analysis showed signatures selection immune genes are more prevalent compared with We found an excess gene adaptations ancestral Chiroptera many descending lineages, highlighting viral entry...
Abstract dsRNA is a potent trigger of innate immune signaling, eliciting effects within virally infected cells and after release from dying cells. Given its inherent stability, extracellular induces both local systemic effects. Although the class A scavenger receptors (SR-As) mediate entry, it unknown whether they contribute to signaling beyond ligand internalization. In this study, we investigated SR-As independent classic TLR retinoic acid–inducible gene-I–like receptor (RLR) pathways. We...
SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CL
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/MAP3K5 is a stress response that activated by various stimuli. It known as an upstream activator of p38- Mitogen-activated protein (p38MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal (JNK) are reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced kinases. Accumulating evidence show ROS accumulate in virus-infected cells. Here, we investigated the relationship between viruses ASK1/p38MAPK or ASK1/JNK pathways. Our findings suggest virus infection activates ASK1 related In parallel,...
Type 1 interferon (IFN) plays a critical role in early antiviral defense and priming of adaptive immunity by signaling upregulation host IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Certain stimuli trigger strong activation IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) direct ISGs addition to IFN. It remains unclear why some are stronger activators IRF3 how this leads IFN-independent protection. We found that UV-inactivated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) particles triggered an ISG signature was absent cells infected with...
Abstract Nucleic acids are potential pathogen‐associated or danger‐associated molecular patterns that modulate immune responses and the development of autoimmune disorders. Class A scavenger receptors (SR‐As) a diverse group pattern recognition recognize variety polyanionic ligands including nucleic acids. While SR ‐As important for internalization extracellular ds RNA , little is known about DNA despite its association with chronic infections In this study, we investigated specificity...
The role of bats in the enzootic cycle Lyme disease and relapsing fever-causing bacteria is a matter speculation. In Canada, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) genospecies that responsible for most cases humans. this study, we determined if big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, have been exposed to spirochetes from genus Borrelia. We collected serum 31 tested them presence anti-Borrelia antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). detected cross-reactive spp. 14...
SUMMARY Type I interferons (IFNs) are our first line of defence against a virus. Protein over-expression studies have suggested the ability SARS-CoV-2 proteins to block IFN responses. Emerging data also suggest that timing and extent production is associated with manifestation COVID-19 severity. In spite progress in understanding how activates antiviral responses, mechanistic into wildtype SARS-CoV-2-mediated induction inhibition human type responses lacking. Here we demonstrate infection...
ABSTRACT SARS-CoV-2 emerged in December 2019 Wuhan, China and has since infected over 1.5 million people, of which 107,000 have died. As spreads across the planet, speculations remain about range human cells that can be by SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we report isolation from two cases COVID-19 Toronto, Canada. We determined genomic sequences isolates identified single nucleotide changes representative populations our virus stocks. More importantly, tested a wide immune for productive...
ABSTRACT The omicron variant of concern (VOC) SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in November 2021 Botswana and South Africa. Omicron has evolved multiple mutations within the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), raising concerns increased antibody evasion. Here, we isolated infectious from a clinical specimen obtained Canada. neutralizing activity sera 65 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine recipients convalescent individuals against isolates ancestral SARS-CoV-2, beta, delta, VOCs...
Abstract To identify and characterize roles for SARS-CoV-2 3CL pro main protease in promoting viral infection dissemination, we employed Inactive Catalytic Domain Capture proteomics to host cell interactors substrates the interactome of . Of 259 interactors, 145 were associated with cytoskeleton its organisation. We determined enzyme kinetic specificity constants 139 cut-sites 43 using a multiplex assay, identifying 29 efficiently-cleaved validating 13 as vitro , SARS-CoV-2-infected human...
The omicron variant of concern (VOC) SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in November 2021 Botswana and South Africa. Omicron has evolved multiple mutations within the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), raising concerns increased antibody evasion. Here, we isolated infectious from a clinical specimen obtained Canada. neutralizing activity sera 65 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine recipients convalescent individuals against isolates ancestral SARS-CoV-2, beta, delta, VOCs assessed....