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IMPACTT Newsletter | February 2023
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Welcome to our February 2023 IMPACTT newsletter. Keep reading for news, events, and publications in the microbiome world.
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Register Now: Having IMPACTT Symposium
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Registration & abstract submissions are open for our Having IMPACTT 3: Advancing Microbiome Research Symposium, happening July 10-12, 2023 in Canmore, AB! Join us for this 2.5 day symposium in the beautiful Rocky Mountains to learn all about the latest microbiome research happening across Canada and around the world. Learn more and register here.
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Register Now: IMPACTT Gnotobiotic Workshop
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Our second IMPACTT Gnotobiotic Workshop on May 4-5, 2023 at the University of Calgary. Learn to set up, sterilize, and maintain a germ-free isolator, as well as plan and conduct germ-free and gnotobiotic experiments. Space is extremely limited and spots are filling up fast, so register now to secure your spot! Learn more and register here.
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Register Now: CBW-IMPACTT Microbiome Analysis Workshop
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IMPACTT and Bioinformatics.ca have teamed up to organize the CBW-IMPACTT Microbiome Analysis Workshop, happening July 5-7, 2023 at the University of Calgary! This is a great opportunity to learn how to analyze data gathered from microbiome experiments. Learn more and apply here.
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IMPACTT Mentorship Program
We are very pleased to announce our 2023-2024 IMPACTT mentorship cohort. Thank you to everyone who applied, and congratulations to our newest mentees!
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Mentee: Dr. Akinola Alafiatayo, Memorial University of Newfoundland
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Mentor: Dr. Morgan Langille, Dalhousie University
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Mentee: Dr. Aline Ignacio, University of Calgary
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Mentor: Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, University of Guelph
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Mentee: Dr. Charlène Roussel, Université Laval
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Mentor: Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, University of Calgary
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Mentee: Dr. Karen Lithgow, University of Calgary
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Mentor: Dr. Carolina Tropini, University of British Columbia
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IMPACTT TEAM & NETWORK NEWS
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Dr. Genelle Healey (IMPACTT Mentee) started as an Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Congratulations!
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IN THE MEDIA
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Dr. Merilee Brockway (IMPACTT Mentee) was interviewed by UCalgary News about a recent publication she co-authored on baby formula claims. The authors found that many baby formula companies made claims about the benefits of their formulas that were, for the most part, not backed by scientific evidence. Read the full interview here.
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New Publications in the Microbiome World
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Gutierrez et al. (including Platform 2 Co-Lead Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, and CMI2 Team Grant Leads Dr. Meghan Azad, Dr. Padmaja Subbarao, & Dr. Stuart Turvey). Cell Reports Medicine. 21 Feb 2023.
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Highlights: In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between the gut mycobiome and body mass index Z scores (BMIz) in the first 5 years of life. They observed a trend towards decreasing fungal richness and diversity from 3-12 months of age, with a subset of infants showing the reverse trend. Within this subset, increasing fungal richness over time was associated with early childhood BMIz through its interactions with maternal diet, maternal BMI, infant antibiotic exposure, and bacterial community composition.
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Buchholz et al. (including Platform 2 Lead Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj, and CMI2 Team Grant Leads Dr. Padmaja Subbarao & Dr. Stuart Turvey). mSystems. 15 Feb 2023.
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Highlights: In this study, the authors examined the relationship between living near natural green space in early infancy and the development of sensitization to allergens. They found that early exposure/proximity to natural green spaces had a protective effect on the development of atopic sensitization at 3 years of age, and that this association was mediated by changes to Actinobacteria diversity in infant fecal samples taken at 4 months.
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Brown et al. (including CMI2 Team Grant Lead Dr. Adam Burgener). Nature Communications. 30 Jan 2023.
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Highlights: In this study, the researchers compared the effects of different contraceptive (birth control) options on vaginal bacteria and inflammation. Contraceptives tested included a copper intrauterine device (IUD) as well as two hormonal contraceptives: an intramuscular contraceptive injection an a hormone-releasing implant. They found that the copper IUD was associated with increased vaginal bacterial diversity, total bacterial load, and cytokine concentrations after 6 months of use, relative to the hormonal contraceptive options. In vitro, they found that copper inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus crispatus, a common commensal microbe that is associated with vaginal health.
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Razvi et al. (including Platform 3 Co-Lead Dr. Joe Harrison). npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. 02 Feb 2023.
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Highlights: Pel genes in bacteria encode polysaccharide proteins and are implicated in the formation of biofilms. In this study, the researchers show that that the glycoside hydrolase activity of P. aeruginosa PelA decreases adherent biofilm biomass, and that the generation of secreted Pel contributes to the biomechanical properties of the biofilm and decreases the virulence of P. aeruginosa in C. elegans (roundworm) and D. melanogaster (fruit fly).
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New Publications from our IMPACTT Team and Network
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Dr. Karen Madsen (Platform 3 Lead), Dr. Anne Griffiths & Dr. David Mack (CMI2 Team Grant Leads)
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Leibovitzh et al. Gut. 14 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Joe Harrison (Platform 3 Co-Lead) & Dr. John Conly (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Acosta et al. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 28 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Jonathan Schertzer & Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe (CMI2 Team Grant Leads)
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Petrick et al. Diabetes. 22 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Philippe Gros (Platform 1 Co-Lead)
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Rosain et al. Cell. 02 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Paul Kubes (Platform 1 Co-Lead)
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Jorch et al. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 22 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Ian Lewis (Platform 4 Co-Lead)
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Tomlinson et al. Cell Reports. 28 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Braedon McDonald (Education Co-Lead)
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Biemond et al. Current Opinion in Critical Care. 25 Jan 2023.
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Dr. John Conly (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Jelinski et al. Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology
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Kirkpatrick et al. Heliyon. 20 Jan 2023.
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O’Grady et al. The Journal of Hospital Infection. 06 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Irina Dinu (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Hajihosseini et al. Computation and Structural Biotechnology Journal. 17 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Dongyan Niu (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Ding et al. Journal of Food Safety. 06 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Janet Hill (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Kolapo et al. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 21 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Thomas Louie (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Sims et al. JAMA Network Open. 13 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Benjamin Willing (IMPACTT Co-Applicant)
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Fan et al. Microbiology Spectrum. 31 Jan 2023.
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Sooresh et al. Foods. 03 Feb 2023.
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Ju et al. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 21 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Wilde & Allen-Vercoe. Anaerobe. 22 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Robert Bandsma (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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López-Domínguez et al. Scientific Reports. 31 Jan 2023.
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CHAIN Network. eClinicalMedicine. 06 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Feroz et al. Healthcare. 30 Jan 2023.
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Riddle et al. BMC Public Health. 02 Feb 2023.
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Badr et al. The Lancet Global Health. Mar 2023.
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Cichon et al. Nutrients. 21 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Gerald Giesbrecht (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Xie et al. Pilot and Feasibility Studies. 18 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Anne Marie Griffiths (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Bashir et al. Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. 04 Feb 2023.
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Focht et al. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 09 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Morgan Langille (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Lloyd et al. Microorganisms. 06 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Wendy Lou (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Brien et al. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 08 Feb 2023.
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Dr. David Mack (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Yan et al. Gut Microbes. 23 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Aleixo Muise (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Stallard et al. Human Genetics. 14 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Roger Paredes (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Nørgaard et al. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 08 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Stuart Turvey (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Nguyen et al. Journal of Clinical Immunology. 02 Feb 2023.
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Dr. Bruce Vallance (CMI2 Team Grant Lead)
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Shi et al. Biochimica et a Biophysica Acta – Molecular Basis of Disease. 17 Feb 2023.
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Jeong et al. Experimental & Molecular Medicine. 09 Feb 2023.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND REMINDERS
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Click here to see curated lists of upcoming events in the microbiome world
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IMPACTT Microbiome Standards
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Our four Microbiome Standards are ready to ship across Canada and internationally, and they’re FREE for Canadian labs. (Not in Canada? Just pay shipping.) Click here to learn more and sign up to receive your standards.
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Be a contributor to our microbiome community!
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