A5041797794- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Disaster Response and Management
- Reproductive tract infections research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Advanced Proteomics Techniques and Applications
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Respiratory viral infections research
University of Manitoba
2013-2024
Manitoba Health
2020-2024
Public Health Ontario
2023
University of British Columbia
2023
Toronto Public Health
2023
University of Toronto
2023
Women's Health Research Institute
2023
Memorial University of Newfoundland
2023
Dalhousie University
2023
Université du Québec à Montréal
2023
Abstract Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have shown high efficacy in clinical trials, yet a full immunologic characterization of these vaccines, particularly within the human upper respiratory tract, is less well known. Here, we enumerate and phenotype T cells nasal mucosa blood using flow cytometry before after vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ( n = 21). Tissue-resident memory (Trm) CD8 + expressing CD69 CD103 increase number ~12 days following first second doses, by 0.31 0.43...
ABSTRACT With the emerging Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic, serologic diagnosis relies on a labor-intensive IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) and confirmation by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). To streamline testing, several commercial assays have been developed. Our aim was to compare Euroimmun anti-ZIKV IgG reference MAC-ELISA PRNT currently in use. Serum specimens submitted Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Canada, were tested for using results...
Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen causally associated with serious sequelae in fetuses, inducing fetal microcephaly and other neurodevelopment defects. ZIKV primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, but can persist human semen sperm, sexual transmission has been documented. Moreover, exposure of type-I interferon knockout mice to results severe damage the testes, epididymis sperm. Candidate vaccines have shown protective efficacy preclinical studies carried out animal models,...
<h3>Background:</h3> During the first year of COVID-19 pandemic, proportion reported cases among Canadians was under 6%. Although high vaccine coverage achieved in Canada by fall 2021, Omicron variant caused unprecedented numbers infections, overwhelming testing capacity and making it difficult to quantify trajectory population immunity. <h3>Methods:</h3> Using a time-series approach data from more than 900 000 samples collected 7 research studies collaborating with Immunity Task Force...
Because of the global spread Zika virus, accurate and high-throughput diagnostic immunoassays are needed. We compared sensitivity specificity 5 commercially available virus serologic assays to recommended protocol IgM-capture ELISA plaque-reduction neutralization tests. Most commercial showed low sensitivity, which can be increased.
The true severity of infection due to COVID-19 is under-represented because it based on only those who are tested. Although nucleic acid amplifications tests (NAAT) the gold standard for diagnostic testing, serological assays provide better population-level SARS-CoV-2 prevalence estimates. Implementing large sero-surveys present several logistical challenges within Canada its unique geography including rural and remote communities. Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling a practical solution but...
This report presents 2 pediatric cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adults (MIS-C/A) post severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination (MIS-V). Both presented with MIS-V within 6 weeks receiving their first only dose Pfizer-BioNTech’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The patient had symptoms MIS-C/A peri-myocarditis shock, the second 1 classic Kawasaki disease features. responded well to intravenous immunoglobulins and/or systemic corticosteroids. were positive...
We compared the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibodies in blood donors across Canadian regions 2021. The was highest Alberta and Prairies, it so low Atlantic Canada that few correlates were observed. Being male young age predictive seropositivity. Racialization associated with higher British Columbia Ontario but not Prairies. Living a materially deprived neighborhood predicted seroprevalence, more linear quintiles whereas Ontario, most affluent 60% similarly 40% elevated....
The World Health Organization has identified Lassa virus (LASV) as one of the top five pathogens to cause a severe outbreak in near future. This study assesses ability leading vaccine candidate, recombinant Vesicular stomatitis expressing LASV glycoprotein (VSVΔG/LASVGPC), and its induce rapid long-term immunity lethal guinea pig-adapted (GPA-LASV). Outbred pigs were vaccinated with single dose VSVΔG/LASVGPC followed by challenge GPA-LASV at 7, 14, 25, 189, 355 days post-vaccination....
MS/MS is the technology of choice for analyzing complex protein mixtures. However, due to intrinsic complexity and dynamic range present in higher eukaryotic proteomes, prefractionation an important step maximize number proteins identified. Off-gel IEF (OG-IEF) high pH RP (Hp-RP) column chromatography have both been successfully utilized as a first-dimension peptide separation technique shotgun proteomic experiments. Here, direct comparison two methodologies was performed on ex vivo...
Andes virus (ANDV) and Sin Nombre (SNV) are the main causative agents responsible for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Americas. HCPS is a severe respiratory disease with high fatality rate which there no approved therapeutics or vaccines available. Some vaccine approaches have been tested preclinical models, but none infectious models regard to their ability protect against multiple species of HCPS-causing viruses. Here, we utilize recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based...
With the rise of viral infections and antibiotic resistance, there is a constant need for development more sensitive effective treatment diagnostic tools. Since their discovery in early 1990s, Camelidae antibodies have been investigated as potential tools due to unique structure favorable characteristics. Members this family produce conventional IgG well heavy-chain only that do not possess light chains. The variable domain (VHH), or nanobody, demonstrates antigen-binding capabilities,...
In North America, Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is the main cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe respiratory disease with fatality rate 35–40%. SNV zoonotic pathogen carried by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and few studies have been performed examining its transmission in mouse populations. Studying other hantaviruses can be difficult due to need propagate vivo for subsequent experiments. We show that when compared standard intramuscular infection, intraperitoneal...
Insufficient data on the rate and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada has presented a substantial challenge to public health response COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was assess seroprevalence representative sample pregnant people throughout Canada, across multiple time points over 2 years pandemic, describe show ability this process provide prevalence estimates.This Canadian retrospective serological surveillance study used existing prenatal samples 10 provinces periods: Feb....
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has spread into a pandemic since its emergence in Wuhan, China December of 2019. This been facilitated by high transmissibility within the human population and ability to remain viable on inanimate surfaces for an extended period. To address latter, we examined effect simulated sunlight viability SARS-CoV-2 spiked tissue culture medium or mucus. study revealed that inactivation took 37 minutes 107 These times-to-inactivation were unexpected they are longer...
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the influx of immunoassays for detection antibodies towards severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into global market. Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network Serology Task Force undertook a nationwide evaluation twelve laboratory and 6 point-of-care based commercial serological assays SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We determined that there was considerable variability in performance individual tests an orthogonal testing algorithm should be...
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can have atypical clinical presentations. Conventional laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis are not rapid enough affect decision on treatment and contact tracing. Rapid point-of-care (POCT) be useful for control of infectious diseases; however, no POCT syphilis detection currently available in Canada. The aim this study evaluate two POCTs (Reveal
Nigeria continues to experience ever increasing annual outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF). The World Health Organization has recently declared virus (LASV) as a priority pathogen for accelerated research leading renewed international effort develop relevant animal models disease and effective countermeasures reduce LF morbidity mortality in endemic West African countries. A limiting factor evaluating medical against is lack well characterized outside those based on infection with LASV strain...