OVC researchers are constantly discovering, publishing, getting grants, winning awards, building partnerships, and growing their research programs. We are proud of these achievements. Each month, we will highlight four researchers, providing a snapshot of their recent publications, grants and awards, and ‘wins’ for their research program.
In February 2021 we celebrated our two new OVC Research Leadership Chairs, Dr. Dorothee Bienzle and Dr. Jan Sargeant, Dr. Mauricio Seguel, and Dr. Jibran Khokhar.
Dr. Dorothee Bienzle, Pathobiology
OVC Research Leadership Chair: Dr. Dorothee Bienzle
Professor and Veterinary Pathologist
Three Publications (Read more here):
Meichner K, Stokol T, Tarigo J, Avery A, Burkhard MJ, Comazzi S, Fogle J, Stowe DM, Rütgen B, Seelig D, Wasserkrug-Naor A, Vernau W, Bienzle D. Multicenter flow cytometry proficiency testing of canine blood and lymph node samples. Vet Clin Pathol. 2020 Jun;49(2):249-257. doi: 10.1111/vcp.12843. Epub 2020 Apr 4. PMID: 32246538.
- Development of a novel diagnostic technique and assessment of its performance involving 11 veterinary schools in four countries. This was a very collaborative effort I had initiated, which set the stage for ongoing work to refine and improve the technique.
Lee GKC, Tessier L, Bienzle D. Salivary Scavenger and Agglutinin (SALSA) Is Expressed in Mucosal Epithelial Cells and Decreased in Bronchial Epithelium of Asthmatic Horses. Front Vet Sci. 2019 Nov 29;6:418. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00418. PMID: 31850379.
- Gary Lee is a current PhD student in my lab who works on equine asthma. Gary follows Paula Katavolos, Janet Beeler-Marifis, Solomon Odemuyiwa, Olivier Côté and Laurence Tessier, who have each contributed valuable pieces to our comprehensive understanding on how the equine lung responds to inhaled challenges.
Asadian P, Bienzle D. Interferon γ and α Have Differential Effects on SAMHD1, a Potent Antiviral Protein, in Feline Lymphocytes. Viruses. 2019 Oct 9;11(10):921. doi: 10.3390/v11100921. PMID: 31600877; PMCID: PMC6832628.
- Peyman Asadian has nearly completed his PhD in my lab, and the focus of his research has been a multifunctional molecule important in leukocyte homeostasis and viral infection. Graduate students who have contributed to previous discoveries in feline immunity are Felipe Reggeti, Ryan Dowling, Alex Folkl, Melanie Ammersbach and Beth MacMillan.
Two Grants and Awards:
Prevalence of seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2 among dogs, cats and ferrets in close contact with humans with confirmed or probable COVID-19. Ontario Animal Health Network Grant.
- Like many researchers, I wished to contribute to addressing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020. It was most feasible to do so by assessing infection in animals living with humans that have COVID-19. This research was approved and performed under pandemic research restrictions, and is ongoing in collaboration with Scott Weese, and with the enthusiastic and capable technical contributions from David Marom and Joyce Rousseau.
Does patient-side measurement of KIM-1 in urine predict recovery of renal function in cats with ureteral obstruction? Pet Trust Grant.
- This research concerns development and validation of a test for kidney injury in cats. The research is conducted with former graduate student Karlyn Bland, and long-term collaborator Alice Defarges.
Host response to lentiviral infection. NSERC Discovery Grant renewed continuously since 1999.
- Funding from NSERC through the discovery grant and many other programs has provided the backbone for operations in my research.
One (or more) Wins:
- The successful careers of my trainees - faculty, scientists in industry, veterinary specialists, diagnosticians. Their success makes me very proud.
Dr. Jan Sargeant, Population Medicine
OVC Research Leadership Chair: Dr. Jan Sargeant
Professor and Veterinary Epidemiologist
Three Publications (Read more here):
Sargeant JM, O’Connor AM. 2020. Scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis: Applications in veterinary medicine. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 7:11. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00011
Sargeant JM, Bergevin M, Churchill K, Dawkins K, Deb B, Dunn J, Hu D, Logue C, Meadows S, Moody C, Novy A, O’Connor AM, Reist M, Sato Y, Wang C, Winder CW. 2019. The efficacy of litter management strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality in broiler poultry: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Animal Health Research Reviews. 20: 247-262.
Sargeant JM, Deb B, Bergevin M, Churchill K, Dawkins K, Dunn J, Hu D, Moody C, O’Connor AM, O’Sullivan TL, Reist M, Wang C, Wilhelm B, Winder CB. 2019. Efficacy of bacterial vaccines to prevent respiratory disease in swine: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Animal Health Research Reviews. 20: 274-290.
Two Grants and Awards:
Sargeant JM. 2020. Salmonella in animal feeds: A scoping review. $57,606 USD. Pew Charitable Trusts.
Sargeant JM, OConnor AM, et al., 2018. Impact of preventive antibiotics and management practices on illness in livestock and poultry. $315,829 USD. Pew Charitable Trusts.
One (or more) Wins:
- After defending her MSc, Mikayla Plishka joined our research group in 2021 as a research assistant helping with several systematic reviews and scoping studies.
Dr. Mauricio Seguel, Pathobiology
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator of
the Seguel Lab,
and Veterinary Pathologist and Wildlife Scientist.
Three Publications (Read more here):
Ezenwa V, Budischak S, Buss P, Seguel M, Luikart G, Jolles A, Sakamoto K. Natural resistance to worms exacerbates bovine tuberculosis progression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America (PNAS). 118: e2015080118.
Seguel M*, Beechler B, Coon C, Snyder P.W, Spaan J.M, Jolles A.E, Ezenwa V.O. 2019. Immune stability predicts tuberculosis infection risk in a wild mammal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 286: 20191401.
Seguel M*, Montalva, F., Perez-Venegas, D., Gutiérrez, J., Paves, H. J., Muller, A., Howerth E, Gottdenker, N. (2018). Immune mediated hookworm clearance and survival of a marine mammal decrease with warmer ocean temperatures. eLife, 7, 1–31.
Two Grants and Awards:
Robert C Anderson Memorial Award. Granted to a past PhD student each year in recognition for an outstanding record of research accomplishment during graduate studies at the University of Georgia. Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Georgia
One (or more) Wins:
- Presenting “Anthelmintic treatment dampens immunosenescence in a wild mammal with consequences for survival” at the Wildlife and Comparative Immunology Consortium (WACI), an international group of researchers dedicated to the study of wildlife immunology.
- Releasing my official lab website.
Dr. Jibran Khokhar, Biomedical Sciences
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator of
the Khokhar Lab,
and Neurobiologist
Three Publications (Read more here):
Thorpe HHA, Talhat MA, Khokhar JY. High genes: Genetic underpinnings of cannabis use phenotypes. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 2;106:110164. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110164. Epub 2020 Nov 3. PMID: 33152387.
Hamidullah S, Lutelmowski CD, Creighton SD, Luciani KR, Frie JA, Winters BD, Khokhar JY. Effects of vapourized THC and voluntary alcohol drinking during adolescence on cognition, reward, and anxiety-like behaviours in rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 2;106:110141. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110141. Epub 2020 Oct 16. PMID: 33069816.
Frie JA, Underhill J, Zhao B, de Guglielmo G, Tyndale RF, Khokhar JY. OpenVape: An Open-Source E-Cigarette Vapor Exposure Device for Rodents. eNeuro. 2020 Oct 28;7(5):ENEURO.0279-20.2020. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0279-20.2020. PMID: 32859723.
Two Grants and Awards:
A Translational Investigation of the Neurobiology of Alcohol Use Disorder in Schizophrenia: Toward Treatment Development. CIHR Project Grant. Value: $807,076
Rewarding Effects of “JUUL” E-cigarette Vapour: Impact of Age and Neural Correlates. CIHR Vaping Catalyst Grant. Value: $99,990
One (or more) Wins:
- Initiation of pre-clinical and behavioural studies with Avicanna Inc.
- Welcoming the stellar researcher, Dr. Hakan Kayir, as the lab manager.