This project will investigate the effects of using the Q collar to apply gentle pressure to the jugular veins of the neck to monitor changes in brain (cerebrovascular) physiology during exercise and postural changes. Specifically we will investigate changes in brain blood flow velocity, relative changes in blood volume and oxygen levels, and changes in […]

ABC-transporters is a superfamily of membrane proteins that are expressed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. One of the most studied ABC transporters is P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Pgp remove chemotherapy drugs from inside the cancer cell. Therefore, higher concentrations of toxic chemotherapy drugs are needed to kill cancer cells. This has an adverse effect: cancer cells develop resistance […]

The proposed research project aims to gain novel insight into the mechanism of action of a key protein complex involved in the synthesis of plant starch. This aim will be achieved through the interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers at Guelph and Lille, having complementary expertise in both protein biochemistry and structural biology. The PhD student from […]

During obstacle avoidance tasks, the cyclic relationship between perception, cognition and action implies that changes to the environment affect a person’s behaviour; however, changes to the observer may also affect this behaviour. Individuals who have experienced a concussion (traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces) display multifaceted deficits during their recovery. Researchers recently investigated the […]

Les études récentes ont démontré que le microbiome d’un organisme (l’ensemble des organismes vivants dans ou sur cet hôte) influence beaucoup ce dernier. Les connaissances sur le microbiome des oiseaux en milieu naturel demeurent encore minces. Un suivi à long terme des mésanges bleues en Corse a permis de déceler des adaptations morphologiques, comportementales et […]

RACK1 is a host protein that participates in important cellular processes, such as cytoskeleton stability and autophagy degradation. Bacteria can manipulate these processes to establish intracellular infection. In preliminary experiments, I found that RACK1 depletion in host cells led to altered infectivity of the food-borne pathogens Shigella and Listeria. Thus, the objective of this project […]

The sharp-tailed grouse is the provincial bird of Saskatchewan and a favourite upland game-bird for hunters. Sharp-tailed grouse are considered an indicator of grassland ecosystem health, and there is growing concern that populations are declining in Saskatchewan and elsewhere. Habitat loss, as a result of conversion of grassland habitat for agriculture and energy production, appears […]

Cryopreserved (frozen) semen provides optimal genetics to cattle and especially dairy farmers, facilitating improved breeding programs. The sperm cryopreservation process significantly reduces fertility compared to fresh sperm. Each percent of reduced fertility amounts to a significant financial loss to farmers. Thus there is great pressure on semen providers to improve post thaw fertility, as it […]

The generation of functional ?-cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for cell replacement therapy and disease modeling of diabetes is a strongly investigated area. Recent scientific breakthroughs have enabled derivation of large quantities of human pancreatic ?-like cells in the laboratory, but the protocols are currently not consistent or optimized for cells of various […]

Bacterial pathogens of importance to animal health and food safety have major and global impacts on agriculture and food industries. There has been an increase in bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, and antibiotic use in livestock and poultry has been questioned due to likelihood of increased antimicrobial resistance. Alternative strategies to contend with bacterial pathogens within […]

For this project, we propose to integrate the data about Fraser River salmon populations into a multi-species, multi-population database, and develop an interactive data visualization tool that allows fisheries scientists and managers to explore this data at different spatial and temporal scales. The objective of this project is to provide fisheries scientists and managers with […]

My master’s project in partnership with InnoTech Alberta will be assessing potential effects of industrial activity from in-situ oil and gas extraction on carnivore and white-tailed deer populations in northeastern Alberta. Deer populations have been increasing for the past fifty years and two of the leading causes are attributed to climate change and human disturbance. […]