IMPACTT Newsletter | July 2020

Meet our researcher - Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta

Scientific breakthroughs

• Natural environments in the urban context and gut microbiota in infants. Nielsen CC, et al. Environ Int. 2020 June 28. See also the press release. Analyzing and mapping the microbiota of 355 4 month-old infants to their area of living, Dr. Kozyrskyj and colleagues revealed that living close by green spaces may be beneficial for early life microbiota. They also point out the “dog-effect”, which might be beneficial to children’s health. So, if you take a walk for the dog remember the kids!
• Effect of Maternal Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Free Survival in Breastfed Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Marc I, et al. JAMA. Early-life microbiota and diet. 2020 Jul 14. In this study led by 26 researchers from 16 neonatal intensive care units with the help of 461 women & babies across Canada, the authors found that consumption of Omega-3s by breastfeeding mothers is ineffective in preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants. See the press release here.

• Sleep, circadian rhythm, and gut microbiota. Matenchuk BA, et al. Sleep Med Rev. 2020 May 13. In this review, Dr. Matenchuk, Dr. Mandhane and Dr. Kozyrskyj gathered recent discoveries about the relationship between sleep, circadian rhythm and the gut microbiome. Building on the work of Krueger and Opp, 2016 and Broussard et al., 2016, the authors consolidate the current literature on this relationship.

Community - funding - resources

• Register at microbiomecanada.ca. The platform connects researchers interested in microbiome research across Canada - Register yourself at https://microbiomecanada.ca and get connected to our Canadian microbiome community!
• Subscribe to the IHDCYH newsletter from CIHR-HRIC. Get updates for the latest funding opportunities (including pre-announcements), featured research, news & more.
• Spread the word amongst your trainees - CIHR webinars. CIHR will be hosting webinars for trainees on awards in Health Research this September. Participants will have the opportunity to get insights on the different awards funding opportunities requirements and ask questions on how to apply.

IMPACTT vs COVID-19

• Dr. Kubes received federal funding for “Imaging COVID-19 Lungs to Uncover Therapies" and help unravel host-pathogen interactions.
• UCalgary plans to reopen its BSL-3 lab with the support of the Kubes, Peters, Jenne labs, the Snyder Institute, UCalgary Medicine, offering a place to study contagious and deadly diseases starting with COVID-19. The event was covered by Global News.
• Dr. Conly discussed the need for the WHO to have scientific proof that the new SARS- can be transmitted by air droplets to "take more drastic measures against a pandemic". Dr. Conly, is an IMPACTT co-PI and is part of the WHO’s group of experts advising on coronavirus guidelines.

Job opportunities

• Our OMICS-platform is hiring! Dr. Laura Sycuro is looking for a PhD to lead operation and education for the International Microbiome Centre Metagenomics Core at the University if Calgary. Spread the word on Twitter!

Events

• Virtual Microbiome Exhibition from Dr. Moossavi, Arrieta Lab. An innovative approach to share knowledge!
• GlobalImmunotalks. In case you missed these immunology webinars check them out here. Organized by Carla Rothlin and Elina Zúñiga, on Wednesdays, 9am PST, 12pm EST, 4pm GMT. Schedule here.

• Having IMPACTT: Advancing Microbiome Research, a two-day microbiome symposium in the beautiful Rockies, Canmore, Alberta. June 14 & 15, 2021.
• The Translational Microbiome Research Forum is keeping a list of upcoming conferences and microbiome-related events around the world.
• The organizers of the 4th International Conference on Microbiome, Probiotics & Gut Nutrition have gathered a list of recommended Webinars & Conferences.

A note from us: IMPACTT platforms are back-up at 100%

• We have proven experience in rederiving mouse models to germ-free and/ gnotobiotic status. Whether you are thinking about using such models, need your model to be rederived or need assistance in selecting a model to be rederived, contact us. We are also willing to provide models to help in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. Discover the inside of IMC and its cutting-edge technology with Dr. McCoy in this video.
• Interested in intra-vital microscopy, strains or human tissue samples, cohort study, -omics, bioinformatics, explore our expertises here and contact us.