- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Food Safety and Hygiene
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Microbial Inactivation Methods
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Infections and bacterial resistance
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Université de Montréal
2016-2025
Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec
2016-2025
Ste. Anne's Hospital
2012-2022
Institut National de Santé Publique
2015-2021
Public Health Agency of Canada
2007-2018
Provincial Laboratory of Public Health
2017
Institut thématique Santé Publique
2017
Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
2013
Hôpital Saint-Luc
2013
McGill University
2013
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Salmonella supports both molecular typing and detection antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we evaluated the correlation between phenotypic susceptibility testing (AST) in silico prediction AMR from WGS enterica (n = 1321) isolated human infections Canada. Phenotypic results broth microdilution were used as gold standard. To facilitate high-throughput assemblies, created a tool called Staramr, which incorporates ResFinder PointFinder databases custom...
ABSTRACT A total of 112 Escherichia coli O149:K91 strains isolated from pigs with diarrhea in Quebec, Canada, between 1978 and 2000 were characterized for their genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles. Tests to 10 agents conducted. Resistance tetracycline sulfonamides was found be the most frequent, but cefotaxime ceftiofur absent. An increase number isolates resistant at least three antimicrobials observed over time. The distribution 28 genes covering six families (beta-lactams,...
ABSTRACT Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) isolates collected from different infected animals and human patients with extraintestinal infections in 2001 were characterized for their phenotypic genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles, genotypes, key virulence factors. Among the 10 agents tested, to ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfonamides was most frequent. Multiresistant strains found both animal groups of isolates. Resistance gene distribution assessed by colony...
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged as a rapid, highly accurate, and cost-effective method for routine identification wide range microorganisms. We carried out side by comparative evaluation the performance Bruker Biotyper versus VITEK MS large diverse collection Most difficult and/or unusual microorganisms, well commonly encountered microorganisms were selected, including Gram-positive negative bacteria, mycobacteria,...
ABSTRACT One approach to the accurate determination of pathogenic potential (pathotype) isolated Escherichia coli strains would be through a complete assessment each strain for presence all known E. virulence factors. To accomplish this, an factor DNA microarray composed 105 PCR amplicons printed on glass slides and arranged in eight subarrays corresponding different pathotypes was developed. Fluorescently labeled genomic DNAs from representing were initially hybridized gene microarrays both...
ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is generally described as a commensal species with occasional pathogenic strains. Due to technological limitations, there currently little information concerning the prevalence of E. strains in environment. For first time, using DNA microarray capable detecting all virulence genes and commonly found antimicrobial resistance genes, survey environmental isolates from recreational waters was carried out. A high proportion (29%) 308 beach site Great Lakes pathotype set...
Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg is the second most frequently occurring in Quebec and third-most prevalent Canada. Given that conventional pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtyping for common serovars, such as S. Heidelberg, yields identical subtypes majority of isolates recovered, public health laboratories are desperate new tools to resolve highly clonal strains involved outbreak events. As PFGE was unable discriminate from three epidemiologically distinct outbreaks Quebec,...
A multi-province outbreak of listeriosis occurred in Canada from June to November 2008. Fifty-seven persons were infected with 1 3 similar strains defined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and 24 (42%) individuals died. Forty-one (72%) 57 residents long-term care facilities or hospital inpatients during their exposure period. Descriptive epidemiology, product traceback, detection the Listeria monocytogenes food samples plant environment confirmed delicatessen meat manufactured one...
ABSTRACT An oligonucleotide microarray detecting 189 Escherichia coli virulence genes or markers and 30 antimicrobial resistance was designed validated using DNA from known reference strains. This confirmed to be a powerful diagnostic tool for monitoring emerging E. pathotypes resistance, as well environmental, epidemiological, phylogenetic studies including the evaluation of genome plasticity.
This study characterized cefoxitin-resistant and -susceptible Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg strains from humans, abattoir poultry, retail poultry to assess the molecular relationships of isolates these sources in Québec 2012. Isolates were collected as part Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS). All subjected antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR CMY-2, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A total 113 S...
During 1985-2005, a total of 91 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks foodborne botulism occurred in Canada; these involved 205 cases and 11 deaths. Of the outbreaks, 75 (86.2%) were caused by Clostridium botulinum type E, followed types A (7, 8.1%) B (5, 5.7%). Approximately 85% Alaska Native communities, particularly Inuit Nunavik northern Quebec First Nations population Pacific coast British Columbia. These populations predominantly exposed to E toxin through consumption traditionally prepared...
Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide. Prompt and accurate identification the sources responsible for disease outbreaks crucial to minimise infections eliminate ongoing contamination. Current subtyping tools including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing may be inadequate, in some instances, provide required discrimination among epidemiologically unrelated strains. Prophage genes represent majority accessory bacteria genomes have potential used as...
Abstract Campylobacter fetus is a venereal pathogen of cattle and sheep, an opportunistic human pathogen. It often assumed that C. infection occurs in humans as zoonosis through food chain transmission. Here we show mammalian consists distinct evolutionary lineages, primarily associated with either or bovine hosts. We use whole-genome phylogenetics on 182 strains from 17 countries to provide evidence may have originated around 10,500 years ago “jumped” into during the livestock domestication...
Abstract During 2012–2013 in Montreal, Canada, 4 locally acquired Shigella spp. pulse types with the mph(A) gene and reduced susceptibility to azithromycin were identified from 9 men who have sex men, 7 of whom HIV infected. Counseling about prevention enteric sexually transmitted infections might help slow transmission these organisms.
Streptococcus strains from animal and human sources identified biochemically as porcinus were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The nine isolated between 1997 2005 formed a single cluster with more than 2.1% dissimilarity S. sources. A novel species, pseudoporcinus sp. nov., is proposed.
Virulence plasmids and antibiotic resistance are usually maintained separately in Salmonella spp.; however, we report an instance of a hybrid plasmid (pN13-01125) enterica serovar Dublin. Review the complete sequence 172,265-bp suggests that pN13-01125 is comprised previously described pSDVr pSH696_135 mechanism hybridization likely involves IS6 (IS26) insertion elements. The has low conjugation frequency, confers to six classes antimicrobials, contains spv virulence operon.
Salmonella is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness. We report the collaborative investigative efforts US and Canadian public health officials during 2013-2014 international outbreak multiple serotype infections linked to sprouted chia seed powder. The investigation included open-ended interviews ill persons, traceback, product testing, facility inspections, trace forward. Ninety-four persons infected with strains from 16 states four provinces were identified; 21% hospitalized none...
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has gained popularity in recent years for rapid bacterial identification, mostly at the genus or species level. In this study, a method to identify Escherichia coli flagellar antigen (H antigen) subspecies level was developed using MALDI-TOF MS platform with high specificity and sensitivity. Flagella were trapped on filter membrane, on-filter trypsin digestion performed. The tryptic digests each...
Salmonella enterica subsp. serovar Dublin is a zoonotic pathogen that often leads to invasive bloodstream infections in humans are multidrug resistant. Described here the results of Canadian national surveillance S from 2003 2015 and bovines, principally collected through Integrated Program for Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS). An increase human due multidrug-resistant (MDR) was observed 2010, many which were infections. Phylogenomic analysis bovine isolates revealed closely...
ABSTRACT We describe the first case of invasive human infection (a nosocomial septicemia) caused by Cupriavidus metallidurans . This metal-resistant bacterium has not been reported to be pathogenic in humans or animals.
Abstract We report emergence of ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky in Canada during 2003–2009. All isolates had similar macrorestriction patterns and were multilocus sequence type ST198, which has been observed Europe Africa. Ciprofloxacin-resistant S. represents 66% all nontyphoidal sp. since 2003.
The Salmonella Syst-OMICS consortium is sequencing 4,500 genomes and building an analysis pipeline for the study of genome evolution, antibiotic resistance virulence genes. Metadata, including phenotypic as well genomic data, isolates collection are provided through Foodborne database (SalFoS), at https://salfos.ibis.ulaval.ca/. Here, we present our strategy first 3,377 genomes. Our data will be used to draw potential links between strains found in fresh produce, humans, animals environment....