RESEARCH INSIGHTS - A DIAGNOSTIC BULL'S-EYE? - THE COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE - University of ...
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College of BiologiCal SCienCe
THE COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
RESEARCH INSIGHTS Vol. 2 // Winter 2021
A DIAGNOSTIC
BULL’S-EYE?
Researchers use
platelets to take aim
at Lyme disease.
PAGE 16
“When students work
with me on the
biodiversity living in
tropical forests, it’s
really important that
they do more than just
contribute to our
understanding of the
animals living there.
Much better is if they
can do this while
learning from, and
working with, the people
for whom these forests
are home. Not only will
they then become better
feld and laboratory
ecologists, they’ll
become better global
citizens.”
– Prof. Alex Smith, Associate
Professor, Integrative Biology
PHOTO: GREG MEREDITH
MAGAZINE
Vol. 2 // Winter 2021
PUBLISHER
College of Biological Science,
16
University of Guelph
EDITORS
Sarah Bates
Ashley Catania
14
WRITERS
Harshina Brijlall
Barbora Hucik
11
Aleah Kirsh
Michael Lim
Sierra Rosiana
Leah Turner
Madison Wright
DESIGNER
10
Janice Van Eck
CONSULTANT
Emily Perreault
Breanna Wells
CONTENTS
Opinions expressed in this
magazine do not necessarily 6 How a pandemic impacted teaching 15 Together we stand, divided we fall:
refect those of the editor or and inspired innovation how microbes cooperate in the
the University. human gut
9 We can’t direct the wind, but we
can adjust the sails: using models 16 A diagnostic bull’s-eye?
to predict hypoxia in Lake Erie Researchers use platelets to take
aim at Lyme disease
10 Blooming change: a story
of adaption 17 There’s nothing fshy about it:
Omega-3’s in fsh oils reduce
11 Caring for caribou: Understanding
infammation
how logging affects survival of a
threatened species 18 No more “use it or lose it”: new
discovery may stave off muscle loss
12 Study proves DNA metabarcoding
during post-injury recovery
effective for monitoring biodiversity
19 Alumni spotlight
14 Ribosome royale: a specialized
secret agent in the fght to detect
Follow us on social media
cancer
@UOFGCBS
COVER PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
PHOTOS, THIS PAGE: M.K. WILLS; FVOIGTSH, CC BY-SA 3.0; FRITZ GELLER-GRIMM, CC BY-SA 2.5; BEEZART/FLKR/CC
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 3
MESSAGE FROM THE OUTGOING DEAN
ABOUT CBS RESEARCH
Globally recognized research programs in
integrative biology, human health and
nutritional sciences, and molecular and
cellular biology.
World-class research facilities including the
Advanced Analysis Centre, the Hagen
Aqualab, and the Flora Ontario Integrated
“SCRIBE is a knowledge Botanical Information System (FOIBIS).
translation and science
communication program Institutes and Centres include the
which highlights the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Centre for
multi-faceted and leading-
Biodiversity Genomics, the Centre for
edge research taking
Cardiovascular Investigations, the Human
place in the college.”
Nutraceutical Research Unit, the Health and
W
Performance Centre and the Guelph
elcome to the second issue of the College of Institute for Environmental Research.
Biological Science’s Research Magazine.
We are proud to share a collection of research stories
and highlights that have come out of our college over
the last short while. Many of these stories have been produced by
graduate student in the SCRIBE (Students Communicating Research
in Biology Education) program. This is a knowledge translation and
science communication program which highlights the multi-faceted
and leading-edge research taking place in the college. 100 63
full-time faculty staff
We are also thrilled to welcome Mazyar Fallah, who has begun his
5 2
fve-year term as dean of the College of Biological Science in 2021.
Please join me in giving him a warm welcome.
Canada Research University Research
We appreciate your on-going support as we continue to navigate this Chairs Leadership Chairs
especially challenging time in our history.The creativity our faculty and
staff have shown throughout this time has been second to none, and I
am incredibly proud of their dedication. I am equally proud of our
students, who have demonstrated great resilience and perseverance in
13 11
undergraduate graduate degree
working toward their academic goals during this exceptional time.
programs programs
It has been a pleasure to serve as Interim Dean.
I hope you enjoy this publication. 4,500 400
undergraduate graduate students
students
115
research staff
Dr. Glen Van Der Kraak
Interim Dean, August 2019 – December 2020
$21+ million
annually in basic and applied
College of Biological Science
research funding
University of Guelph
4 College of Biological Science
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
“Our college is making
great strides towards our
long-term vision: to be a
globally recognized hub for
biological research and
scholarship.”
CBS 50th
I
am honoured and delighted to have joined the University of
Guelph as the 6th Dean of the College of Biological Science.
anniversary Even throughout this unprecedented time, our college is making
great strides towards our long-term vision: to be a globally
2021 marks ffty years of the College recognized hub for biological research and scholarship. Our unique
of Biological Science. focus on the student experience sets us apart and ensures we position
our undergraduates for successful careers upon graduation. Our
In 1971, the College was created, numerous innovations, including the CBS Offce of Educational
making seven academic units on the Scholarship and Practice’s teaching network, an interactive platform
University of Guelph campus. It has that enables faculty and staff to engage in meaningful dialogue around
become a globally recognized innovations in teaching and learning, further lends to our ability to
academic faculty with a mission to provide excellence in science education.
expand the understanding of life,
from DNA to cells to complex eco- We continue to strengthen our research enterprise through a range of
systems. We produce intrepid and innovative research programs.The COVID-19 pandemic has brought
interdisciplinary research in a student- our relationship with other living organisms and our environment into
centred learning environment that sharp focus as is studied in our Biodiversity Institute of Ontario and
encourages and promotes compre- Guelph Institute for Environmental Research. As well, our collaboration
hensive understanding of the systems with the One Health Institute will develop curriculum and research
that govern life. that will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to apply
an intersectional approach to complex biological issues.
Our distinct college identity in the
regional and global academic In 2021, we celebrate our 50th anniversary as a college, and we are proud
landscape is powered by several of our standing as one of Canada’s most valued research institutions.
core elements: biology, impactful We have been recognized for many outstanding accomplishments
research, integrative and student- throughout our history and I look forward to celebrating this
centred education, collaboration, important milestone with all of you.
community and continued reach for
excellence. Together, we will continue to advance CBS’s leadership in innovation,
scholarship and experiential education. I invite you to learn more by
We continue to strive for excellence exploring the exciting research highlights shared in this publication.
and innovation in our research,
teaching and learning environments. Until we meet, I wish you the best.
Dr. Maz Fallah
Dean, College of Biological Science
University of Guelph
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 5
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
How a pandemic impacted
teaching and inspired innovation
A
s an academic term health impacts of COVID-19. inexpensive diagnostic test kit for
institution, the Even in this new normal, we COVID-19 that provides results in
C O V I D - 1 9 continue to see the dedication of our about an hour. The kit has been used
pandemic has students, staff and faculty, and have in Europe since March to confrm
challenged the witnessed many research successes. coronavirus infection in patients and
ways we instill is now being developed to detect the
l e a r n i n g a n d Staff and faculty successes virus on surfaces and products. Prior
conduct research. It has required us Prof. Paul Hebert, director of the to the pandemic, Newmaster was
to push innovation to the forefront as Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at renowned for his research in plant
we launch new means of instruction U of G, and his colleagues have applied molecular diagnostics and
and explore novel research questions high-throughput approaches created authentication, but COVID-19
to address pressing societal needs. for DNA-based species surveillance to highlighted the potential for scientists
The College of Biological Science the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the around the globe to unite against a
has helped innovate what teaching virus that causes COVID-19. The common threat. “This is a way to use
and learning can look like when method will potentially deliver a rapid our skills to help at a time when
shifted to online, remote $1 COVID-19 test that society needs it,” said Newmaster.
l e a r n i n g m e t h o d s . Research labs involves screening a large Precision Biomonitor ing, a
Research labs have have leveraged number of samples at Guelph-based company that licenses
pivoted their programs their expertise one time. U of G environmental DNA
and leveraged their to help develop Prof. Steve Newmaster technology, was one of the frst
expertise to help develop new testing and colleagues in the companies selected by Ottawa to
new testing technologies technologies and U of G’s Biodiversity provide detection technology for the
and treatments, and to treatments. Institute of Ontar io novel coronavirus. The company
understand the longer- developed a portable, adapted its DNA technology to create
a rapid, portable COVID-19 test that
can be used in underserved, remote
areas. “It’s a U of G innovation,” said
Precision Biomonitoring CEO Mario
Thomas.
The Guelph Family Health Study,
co-directed by Prof. David Ma ,
Department of Human Health and
Nutritional Sciences, and Prof. Jess
Haines, Family Relations and Applied
Nutrition, has published its fndings
on the impacts of the pandemic on
the diet and lifestyle habits families
with young children. Many families
reported feeling more stress, exercising
less, eating more snack foods and
spending more time on screens. But
more healthful behaviours have also
PHOTO: HYRIS
emerged, including families cooking
A portable Covid-19 diagnostic test kit Prof. Steve Newmaster and colleagues from scratch and spending more time
developed has been in use in the UK and Europe. eating and exercising together.
6 College of Biological Science
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Research funding
CBS faculty were awarded funding
from the U of G’s COVID-19
Research Development and Catalyst CBS faculty were
Fund to support projects that would awarded funding to
contribute to the global response to support projects that
the pandemic. would contribute to the
global response to the
• Prof. Wei Zhang, Department of pandemic
Molecular and Cellular Biology, is
optimizing and validating two
FDA-approved drugs as enzyme critical to infection, to help inform G.Magnotta Lyme Disease Research
inhibitors to block virus replication the design of a drug to disrupt Lab, is launching a longitudinal study
and serve as early-phase therapeutic these interactions. to examine the potential long-term
molecules to treat COVID-19 • Prof. Scott Ryan, Department of post-treatment complications of
patients. Molecular and Cellular Biology, is COVID-19 infection.
• Prof. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister, developing a novel cell system that
Department of Molecular and can be used to quickly screen the Course instruction pivot
Cellular Biology, is examining the potential of anti-viral drugs to COVID-19 signifcantly shifted plans
protein-protein interactions block viral replication. for course instruction as faculty were
between the virus and host that are • Dr. Melanie Wills, Director of the tasked with the quick turnaround of
Instructors create
at-home feldwork kits
Sheri Hincks, a lab instructor in the department of integra-
tive biology, has found a clever way to bring hands-on
learning to online instruction.
Every year, Hincks coordinates a series of feld trips for
the students taking the fourth-year course, Limnology of
Natural and Polluted Waters. The trips give students the
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; SHERI HINCKS
chance to practice different feldwork techniques at local
lakes and rivers.
But such trips are impossible during a pandemic, so
Hincks found another way for students to gain real-life
experience in ecological feldwork. Working with Carolyn and were paid for by a grant from the university’s teaching
Trombley, a PhD candidate in the department, she devel- and learning offce.
oped custom at-home kits that students could use on their The kits were met with rave reviews and helped preserve
own. The kits included a thermometer, magnifying glass, an important hands-on learning opportunity during an
sorting trays, and other supplies. The kits cost $30 apiece unpredictable pandemic.
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 7
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
accessible, easy-to-adopt learning
methods that not only works for their
course content but ensures learning
success. But COVID-19 also opened
the door to an innovative learning
opportunity.
In a collective response, the U of G
launched a frst-of-its-kind course
U of G launched a frst-of-its-
kind course which aims to
study pandemics from
scientifc, cultural, historical
and societal perspectives.
which aims to study pandemics from
scientifc, cultural, historical and
societal perspectives.
Pandemics: Culture, Science, and
Society (UNIV*2020), is fostering Life as a PhD student during
knowledge of the current global
pandemic as well as past pandemics a pandemic
that had far-reaching impacts on BY MADISON WRIGHT
communities around the world. Its
multidisciplinary and collaborative
approach blends expertise from four In just a few short weeks last spring, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world
U of G colleges: biological science, to its knees. Almost a year later, it is still impacting me personally and
arts, engineer ing and physical professionally.
sciences, and social and applied By nature, I am an extrovert who thrives and survives on human interactions. I
human sciences. fnd happiness and energy through connecting with others, and I fnd peace and
Taught by a number of faculty comfort in my daily routines. The pandemic has taken these things from me. I
members, the course explores missed the birth of my very frst niece and was unable to conduct any lab work
infectious disease and pandemics for fve months.
through a range of lenses, including But for all that COVID has taken away, it has also given me a great deal. I have
communication (and misinformation), found new ways to connect with others. I started a weekly virtual crafting group.
technology, ethics, psychology, social Our virtual lab meetings now extend beyond simply talking about research – we
inequities, genetics, nutrition, and more. also discuss mental wellbeing and personal development. Our lab has banded
“The idea for the course came from together and supported each other like we have never done before. I have
facing this topic head on in a way that honestly never felt closer to or more connected with my lab mates.
takes advantage of and showcases the I have attended so many more conferences this year (teaching, professional
University of Guelph’s unique development and research-related) because they were free and online, eliminating
strengths as a truly comprehensive funding and geographic barriers. I also gained experience teaching online –
university with an exceptional something I would have never had the opportunity to do otherwise.
community of scholars,” said Prof. This pandemic has changed my perspective on life and has shown me my real
Ryan Gregory, chair of the Department priorities. It has taught me that life is precious, and the people in my life and
of Integrative Biology. connections I have with them are my greatest asset. I will never forget this
lifechanging lesson.
Madison Wright is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.
She is studying how the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is able to survive inside
Discover more about innovation at U of G human lung cells.
by visiting uoguelph.ca/cbs.
8 College of Biological Science
INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
We can’t direct the wind, Administration (NOAA), Dr. Mark
invited Ackerman and Jabbari to join
but we can adjust the sails their team.
“All people, not just researchers,
tend to think in isolation,” says
Using models to predict hypoxia in Lake Erie Ackerman. “So when you’re inspired
BY MICHAEL LIM to learn about something, and then
fnd out there are several like-minded
groups out there all searching and
trying to understand the same thing…
it is really kind of cool.”
The team used several years of
meteorological data to develop a
computational model that could
predict future hypoxic events based
on environmental conditions. They
then tested their model against a set
of sensors placed throughout the lake.
The model and feld data revealed
that temperature and wind direction
are critical in creating hypoxic
conditions. In particular, hypoxia is
strongest during the summer months,
and strong winds can trigger earlier
periods of hypoxia on their respective
shores. For example, a southwesterly
wind results in earlier hypoxia on the
Rising temperatures and the most biologically productive.This southern shores of Lake Erie, while
agricultural run-off are is due partly to nutrient runoff from north-easterly winds reverse the pattern.
leading to har mful farms, which leads to algal blooms. The model’s accuracy hints at the
reductions in oxygen levels in the When the algae die, they settle on the unexpectedly large role that
waters of Lake Erie, but Integrative bottom of the lake and decompose, environmental conditions may play in
Biology Professor Josef Ackerman is consuming oxygen in the process. hypoxia patterns in Lake Erie.
fnding new ways to predict when This creates a hypoxic layer of water While little can be done to alter the
these damaging events can occur. at the bottom of the lake. But because weather, it is helpful to know when
Low levels of dissolved oxygen – a Lake Erie is large and relatively and where hypoxia is likely to occur.
phenomenon known as hypoxia – can shallow, strong winds can cause For example, dr inking water
reduce the growth of aquatic organisms upwelling that brings hypoxic water treatment plants need to know when
or cause them to migrate to other nearer to the surface. to reduce water intake, while
waters. If levels are low enough, it may These hypoxic episodes directly biologists need to know which areas
become fatal affect not only aquatic species in the to avoid sampling from when trying
Ackerman has a deep interest in affected areas, but humans as well, to estimate aquatic populations.
bottom-dwelling aquatic organisms reducing the quality and taste of “We’ve learned a lot from studying
and has been studying lake dynamics drinking water taken from the lake. Lake Erie, and hope that people will
for nearly 30 years. Interestingly, it wasn’t until learn and build upon what we’ve
“My frst foray into working with Ackerman and post-doc Dr. Aidin learned,” says Ackerman. “Only by
Lake Erie was in the mid-90s,” say Jabbari attended a regional conference understanding how all the different
Ackerman. “At the time, we were that they became aware that Lake Erie processes involved work and affect
focused on zebra mussels, but then we hypoxia via upwelling was a shared each other, can you then know how
came across the broader issue interest across disciplines, attracting to bring positive change.”
of hypoxia.” physicists and mathematicians as well
Lake Erie may be the smallest of as biologists.A modelling expert from Read the full study in the Journal of
the Great Lakes by volume, but it is National Oceanic and Atmospheric Geophysical Research: Oceans.
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 9
INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
Blooming
change
A story of adaption
BY HARSHINA BRIJLALL
Bright, beautiful blooms
that attract pollinators play
an essential role in the
reproduction of many fowering
plants. But climate change, habitat loss
and other factors have led to a steady
decline in pollinator populations in
recent decades, and wildfowers may
now need to adapt to survive in a
world with fewer pollinators.
Prof. Christina Caruso and graduate
student Hazel Panique from the
Department of Integrative Biology are
evolutionary biologists interested in
how wildfowers respond to a decrease
in insect pollination. In a study An orange jewelweed “open” fower.
published in the American Journal of
Botany, they found that Impatiens production of one type of fower over however, it also led to the production
capensis, otherwise known as orange another. In other words, would a plant of open fowers that were larger in
jewelweed, had two different responses rely more heavily on self-fertilization size – which they believe was an
to decreased pollinator visits. and produce more closed fowers? effort by the plant to help draw in
Orange jewelweed is an annual Or would it try to become more scarce pollinators.
wildfower that produces two types of attractive to pollinators by producing This is double-edged response is
fowers. The frst is a non-descript showier and/or more open fowers? good news for pollinators, says Caruso.
closed or “cleistogamous” fower with The pair devised an unusual “There would be grave con-
no exposed reproductive parts, that experiment that involved transplanting sequences for pollinators if
relies on self-fertilization to hundreds of pre-fowering jewelweed wildfowers were to completely turn
reproduce.The second type of fower plants from a local nature trail to a to selfng and produce only closed
is bright, attractive and fragrant.These study site at the University of Guelph’s cleistogamous fowers, as many
“chasmogamous” fowers have open Arboretum. Half of the plants were pollinators rely on the nectar and
petals to encourage pollinator visits left exposed to regular or “ambient” pollen that wildfowers provide. The
and cross-fertilization. pollination, while the other half of world would also look a lot greyer as
Both types of fowers offer certain plants were covered in netting every plants would not produce big, showy
PHOTO: FRITZ GELLER-GRIMM, CC BY-SA 2.5
advantages and disadvantages. For other day during fowering, which fowers to attract pollinators.”
example, closed fowers ensure the reduced pollinator visits by 50%. The study adds a complex but
plant can reproduce even if pollinators Within just one season, they were able important layer to our understanding
are not present. In contrast, open to measure the effects of natural of how human impacts on the
fowers allow for cross-pollination selection on the plants caused by a environment are affecting the
between plants, which increases decrease in pollinators. evolution of wild species.
genetic diversity and offspring vigour. Caruso and Panique discovered that
Caruso and Panique wanted to fewer pollinator visits did indeed
know if the presence of fewer result in a greater number of closed Read the full study in American Journal of
pollinators would favour the fowers. Somewhat surprisingly, Botany.
10 College of Biological ScienceINTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
Caring for
caribou
Understanding how
logging affects survival
of a threatened species
BY BARBORA HUCIK
It is hard to be a woodland
car ibou in Nor ther n
Ontario.They must clamber
through marshes and bogs in summer
and deep snow in winter, living off
nutrient-sparse lichen when the
temperatures plunge. The odds of
survival are not in their favour, and
human activities are threatening to tip
the balance further.
“Caribou prefer to dwell in mature
coniferous forests, but commercial
logging shifts the landscape to a Woodland caribou wearing a radio collar.
younger, regenerating forest that
favours competitors such as moose, of logging for many decades, while the history of commercial forestry have
and predators such as wolves,” explains second location, Pickle Lake, remains lower annual growth rates than those
John Fryxell, a professor in the undisturbed by human activity. in undisturbed area, and the difference
Department of Integrative Biology Caribou in both locations were is heavily linked to changes in wolf
and executive director of the tracked using GPS radio collars and density.
Biodiversity Institute of Ontario video cameras.This allowed researchers The study brought together a
Understanding exactly how human to retrace the caribou’s steps to try and diverse team from different felds that
disturbance impacts caribou survival understand how the animals made are not necessarily used to working
is critical to conserving this culturally decisions as they moved about their with each other, notes Fryxell.
and ecologically important species, environment.The team also paid close “Sometimes you have to put aside
says Fryxell, and can help the forest attention to factors such as the some of your personal interests, and it
industry develop more sustainable surrounding landscape, presence of was quite amazing to see the degree
logging plans. predators, and availability of food. to which people could pull together
With a large team of university and The undertaking was “kind of like for a common goal.”
government collaborators, Fryxell set a military operation,” says Fryxell, Conserving threatened or at-risk
out to determine the infuence of the with team members “chasing wolves species is almost always fraught with
environment on the survival rate of and moose and counting lichen on social, economic and ecological
this threatened species – and found hands and knees”. considerations. While much work
that landscape characteristics can They used the data to develop a remains when it comes to protecting
accurately predict the survival of a model called a population viability Ontario’s woodland caribou, the
caribou population. analysis, or PVA, which can be used to team’s efforts provide a valuable tool to
PHOTO: DR. TAL AVGAR
The study was based on data predict growth in a specifc population help bring sustainable management of
collected from 122 adult female of caribou based on the local this iconic species one step closer.
caribou over three years from two environment.
locations in Northern Ontario. The The model revealed that caribou Read the full study in Journal of Wildlife
frst location, Nakina, has been the site populations located in areas with a Management.
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 11INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
Study proves DNA The study found that DNA
metabarcoding identifed a much
metabarcoding effective broader range of biodiversity per
sample than the traditional method,
for monitoring biodiversity and detected signifcant responses to
foods and variations in water
temperature. Simulations used in the
BY UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
study demonstrated that meta-
barcoding was much more effcient at
providing statistical evidence at a
University of Guelph- “For more than a decade, we have much broader scale.
developed DNA meta- been working closely with scientists “By using massively parallel
barcoding technology has from Environment and Climate sequencing and advanced compu-
been found to be more effective at Change Canada to develop and apply tational analysis, DNA metabarcoding
monitoring biodiversity of ecosystems high-throughput, DNA-based overcomes critical choke points in
than traditional methods. biodiversity analysis for monitoring biomonitoring,” says Hajibabaei.
The science has been used in a key ecosystems across Canada,” says Metabarcoding, he says, allows the
study of the Peace-Athabasca Delta in P ro f . M e h rd a d H a j i b a b a e i , processing of a large number of
northern Alberta, a vast ecosystem Department of Integrative Biology samples without the need to separate
threatened by environmental and a co-author of the study. “This and sort tiny larvae. It uses sequences
pollutants from mining and study is a key contribution from this from the DNA barcoding gene to
hydroelectric projects. collaborative effort to bring cutting- make species identifcation often at a
One of the greatest challenges faced edge genomics to ecological analyses.” better resolution than is achievable
by environmental scientists and Between 2011 and 2016, aquatic through examining organisms.
ecologists is accurately detecting macro-invertebrates were sampled “Until now, our ability to make
changes in the biodiversity of natural across the Peace-Athabasca Delta consistent and accurate identifcations
ecosystems caused by human activity. using both traditional microscope- of the hundreds of species which
The advent of new DNA-based based identifcation and DNA comprise these hyper-diverse and
biodiversity detection methods metabarcoding, a method introduced dynamic communities has limited our
developed at U of G to address this by Hajibabaei in 2011. Metabarcoding ability to make broad statements
challenge is highlighted in a recent allows the simultaneous identifcation about how resource developments are
study focused on the large wetland of many species in a single degrading critical goods and services
complex in northern Alberta. environmental sample. needed by migratory birds and
wildlife,” says Donald Baird, federal
scientist with Environment and
Climate Change Canada, and study
co-author.
Hajibabaei says demonstrating that
DNA metabarcoding is an effective
tool in ecological analyses in
ecosystems such as the Peace-
Athabasca Delta is an important
steppingstone to broader applications
of this approach. He is currently
partnering with WWF-Canada,
Living Lakes Canada, and
Environment and Climate Change
Canada to launch a DNA-based
biomonitoring program to assess key
Canadian watersheds.
PHOTO: CC
A section of the Peace-Athabasca Delta in northern Alberta. Read the full study in PNAS.
12 College of Biological Science“We can only manage what we can measure. The growing magnitude of global biodiversity loss highlights the critical role of biomonitoring, and metabarcoding techniques can support improved monitoring of multispecies assemblages in different ecosystems.” – Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Associate Professor, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Ribosome
royale
A specialized secret
agent in the fght to
detect cancer
BY HARSHINA BRIJLALL
Inside every living cell are
millions of tiny machines
called r ibosomes that
manufacture the proteins critical to
normal cell function. For decades,
scientists believed that ribosomes
shared a similar protein composition
because their role in the cell was too
important to tolerate variations. In
recent years, however, evidence has
accumulated that there may be A model of a ribosome in a eukaryotic cell.
important differences lurking in the
proteins that make up the ribosomal proteins in cancer cells from the brain, and it is a role that makes this protein
machinery, and these differences may colon and prostate. The cells were of particular interest to Uniacke and
hold the key to improving cancer then analyzed to determine the his colleagues.
diagnosis and treatment. amount and type of ribosomal “We think that RPS12 helps cells
Prof. Jim Uniacke is a molecular proteins present. synthesize more proteins to avoid cell
biologist in the Department of Ultimately, the team found that death. This lack of ‘programmed’ or
Molecular and Cellular Biology with hypoxia led to different variants or normal cell death is a hallmark of
a special interest in the protein make- “specialized” versions of two cancerous tumours where cells live
up of ribosomes and how it is affected ribosomal proteins in particular: much longer than usual and grow
by cellular stresses like low oxygen RPS24 and RPS12. uncontrollably,” explains Uniacke.
(hypoxia), a common condition in RPS24 is a protein variant found at One application of this research is
tumours which have outgrown their increased levels in hypoxic prostate the potential development of
blood supply. cancer cells. However, there is still a therapeutic treatments that reduce the
“Some ribosomal proteins act mystery around how exactly this synthesis of RPS12 and hence its role
differently and/or are produced in ribosomal protein affects cell function. in preventing cell death.
different quantities under certain “Without knowing exactly what “With this type of research, we can
conditions such as hypoxia. These RSP24 does for the cell, we don’t fgure out how specialized ribosomes
protein changes have the potential to know if the protein has a function help hypoxic cancer cells become
tell physicians and scientists if tumours independent of the ribosome and/or dangerous,” says Uniacke.
have become hypoxic and will to produce specialized ribosomes that He and his team hope that their
subsequently become malignant and aid in hypoxic adaptation,” says fndings will aid in the development
IMAGE: FVOIGTSH, CC BY-SA 3.0
resistant to treatment,” says Uniacke. Uniacke. However, the increased of improved diagnostics and
Uniacke and PhD student Andrea levels of RPS24 suggest it could be therapeutics for what remains one
Brumwell designed an experiment to used a biomarker to determine if a of modern medicine’s greatest
investigate differences in ribosomal tumour is present. challenges: defeating cancer.
proteins in non-cancerous cells grown In contrast, researchers have a much
under normal and hypoxic conditions. stronger inkling of the role of RPS12
They also compared ribosomal in the hypoxic tumour environment, Read the full study in RNA Journal.
14 College of Biological ScienceMOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Together we stand, conditions in the human gut.
When the microbial communities
divided we fall reached a “steady state” after several
days, the researchers discovered that
over all the species composition was
How microbes cooperate in the human gut similar between the communities.
BY SIERRA ROSIANA However, the by-products resulting
from microbial activity in each
community were a little different. In
the microbial community constructed
Gut dwelling microbes and order to design effective therapeutics, from multiple donors, the microbes
how they keep us healthy we have to frst understand the appeared to be degrading primarily
have long been a source of ecology of a healthy gut environment, protein instead of carbohydrates.
fascination to microbiologists. But it including how different microbes This preferential breakdown of
is only in the last decade or so that interact with each other.” protein has important consequences.
scientists have been able to truly delve Oliphant obtained a fecal sample The by-products of carbohydrate
into the complex microbial ecology from healthy individual and isolated degradation are the preferred energy
of the human gut, thanks in part to the different species of microbes it source for the epithelial cells lining the
the invention of bioreactors that can contained. She then recombined the gut. Protein degradation, on the other
mimic the conditions found in the individual strains in a bioreactor to hand, produces by-products such as
intestine. These game-changing recreate a healthy gut microbial phenols, biogenic amines, and
machines were developed by Prof. community. ammonia, which can potentially be pro-
Emma Allen-Vercoe, Department of An identical community of infammatory or toxic. This doesn’t
Molecular and Cellular Biology, and microbes was formed in another mean consuming protein is bad, but it is
continue to play an essential role in bioreactor but with a twist: each likely not ideal as a lone energy source.
her lab’s research. species of microbe was obtained from The difference may be due to the
Kaitlyn Oliphant is a recent PhD a different person, rather than all fact that gut microbes rely on
graduate from the Allen-Vercoe lab coming from one individual. cooperation for carbohydrate
who took advantage of the lab’s “If all the species come from one degradation, and microbes obtained
“robogut” technology to explore how person, it should mean they are able from different people may simply not
different species of gut microbes to work together and coexist,” cooperate as well. When microbes
interact in a healthy individual. explains Oliphant. But if the species grow together over an extended time
“Therapeutics that help restore an come from different individuals, they period, they “co-adapt” to their
altered microbial community in the may not cooperate in the same way. environment and may work together
gut have a lot of potential to treat Oliphant cultured the two to produce different enzymes to break
gastrointestinal disorders and other communities under identical down energy sources effciently. But
conditions,” says Oliphant. “But in conditions in media that replicated when microbes do not have a history
of growing together, they don’t
cooperate as effectively and resort to
degrading proteins.
It is clear that for both gut
microbiota and the person housing
them, cooperation is important – and
future therapeutics may need to be
based on co-adapted, cooperative
microbes for the best results.
“My hope is that this research will
provide new insights into the gut and
PHOTO: SIERRA ROSIANA
help with future development of
therapeutics for those struggling with
GI disorders,” says Oliphant.
Bioreactors used to culture gut microbes in the Allen-Vercoe Laboratory. Read the full study in the ISME Journal.
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 15MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY
A diagnostic
bull’s-eye?
Researchers use platelets
to take aim at Lyme
disease
BY MICHAEL LIM
An estimated ~300,000
individuals are diagnosed
with Lyme disease each year
in the US alone, a number that is
predicted to grow as the climate
warms. The disease is caused by the
transmission of bacteria from the
genus Borrelia, typically via tick bites.
Infections are usually associated with Recent MSc graduate Tori Sanderson handling blood samples.
a distinctive “bull’s-eye” pattern rash,
but individuals may also have no rash “When I frst tell individuals about infected blood into three different
at all, or display a mix of different the state of Lyme disease testing, they fractions: whole blood cells, plasma and
symptoms including headaches, often ask ‘how are we still at this platelets.
fever, and joint pain. Now, a study by stage?’” says Wills. “By the 1990s, Subsequent testing of the different
Dr. Melanie Wills, Scientifc Director there was a sense in some circles that fractions revealed that the platelets
of the G. Magnotta Lyme Disease the case was closed on Lyme disease had the highest amount of detectable
Research Lab in the Department of research. Researchers thought, ‘we Borrelia, with nearly 10 times the
Molecular and Cellular Biology, has know the bacteria, we have the amount of the next highest fraction.
developed a new approach to Lyme antibiotics to treat it. What’s the In other words, platelets appear to be
disease testing that may improve our problem?’ Since then, we have learned a natural reservoir for Borrelia, and
ability to detect this complex and just how broad and long-lasting the focusing testing on this particular
potentially devastating disease. effects of Lyme disease can be, and blood fraction could vastly improve
Existing diagnostic tests are far how many cases are potentially mis- our ability to accurately detect
from perfect. They typically test a or undiagnosed.” infection.
patient’s blood for antibodies To help spearhead the development While additional research is needed
produced in response to Borrelia of a better diagnostic test, Wills to validate this new methodology for
infection. Unfor tunately, the recruited MSc student Victoria clinical use, the results offer new hope
sensitivity of these tests is limited by Sanderson. In a twist of fate, Lyme that a much-needed improvement in
several factors, including the patient’s disease had a personal connection for Lyme disease diagnostics may be on
level of immune response, the stage Sanderson, as someone close to her the horizon.
of the infection, and the specifc had recently been diagnosed, and she “We were really just trying to
strain of Borrelia. was eager to join the project. question the status quo,” says
Combined with inconsistent Sanderson was particularly interested Sanderson. “To take a step back, and
symptoms, this makes early detection in what blood fraction offered the best make sure that diagnostics are based
diffcult, which is critical to successful chance of detecting Borrelia. After on a solid foundation. We may not
treatment with antibiotics. Without collecting blood from healthy subjects, have solved the problem just yet, but
PHOTO: M.K. WILLS
early intervention, patients can she experimentally infected the blood science is incremental. We’re making
develop serious long-term issues with Borrelia and incubated the samples progress.”
including arthritis, nerve pain, facial for several weeks. She then used high
palsy, and an irregular heartbeat. speed centrifugation to separate Read the full article in the Journal of Biology.
16 College of Biological ScienceHUMAN HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
There’s nothing fshy about it
Omega-3’s in fsh oils reduce infammation
BY ALEAH KIRSH
Omega-3 fatty acids found
in fsh oils may help prevent
chronic infammation in fat
tissue, says a new study from the
Department of Human Health and
Nutritional Sciences.
Fat tissue – also known as adipose
– is a dynamic and metabolically
active tissue is made up of both fat
and immune cells. But when the body
is stressed from obesity or a high fat
diet, this dynamic tissue is home to
more immune cells that are linked to
infammation. These cells produce
infammatory signals that can be a key
step in the development of insulin
resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Given the widespread health
impacts of obesity, researchers such as
Prof. Lindsay Robinson are working have become a staple item in many the toxin. They also found increased
to better understand the physiology health food stores. levels of anti-infammatory immunity
of obesity development and how to To investigate the impact of cells (T cells) and anti-infammatory
reduce the domino effects of chronic omega-3 consumption on adipose cellular signals (cytokines) in the mice
infammation. infammation, Robinson’s group fed fed omega-3’s.
“We want to look at the early mice a high fat diet with or without And for those of us wondering how
changes in adipose tissue seen with omega-3’s in fsh oil.They then took much omega-3 supplementation
obesity and try to prevent further immune cells from the spleen of the would be needed to realize this health
metabolic problems,” says Robinson. mice and cultured them with beneft, there is good news.The mice
Her ultimate goal is to understand adipocytes (fat cells) before being consumed just over one percent of
how these metabolic changes occur “challenged” by the addition of a their daily calories from omega-3’s, a
in order to develop translatable toxin that mimics the cellular stress level of supplementation that can be
interventions. caused by a high fat diet. readily met with a supplement or
“Finding simple dietary inter- This novel “co-culture” approach eating more fsh.
ventions that can help people is the reproduces the adipose cell and “If someone should take away one
goal. This is why omega-3 fatty acids immune cell interaction and the thing from this research it is the
are of particular interest.” infammatory microenvironment, importance of omega-3’s in a healthy
Omega-3’s belong to the family of explains Robinson, allowing cellular diet,” notes Robinson. She is looking
“healthy” fats known as omega-3 processes to be examined in ways that forward to continuing to evaluate the
polyunsaturated fatty acids. These would otherwise not be possible. impact of omega-3’s on adipose tissue
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
fatty acids are celebrated for their The results showed that the and uncovering the mechanisms
anti-infammatory properties and omega-3’s lived up to their healthy behind adipose infammation.
benefcial impacts on cognition and reputation.There were fewer signs of
metabolism. They are found at high infammation in the cell cultures from
levels in fsh, seeds, and nuts, and mice supplemented with omega-3, Read the full article in the Journal of
omega-3 and fsh oil supplements even after they were challenged with Nutritional Biochemistry.
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 17HUMAN HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
No more “use it or lose it” cuff.Another technique is to apply an
electrical impulse to the affected
muscle, causing it to involuntarily
New discovery may stave off muscle loss during contract. This method is called
post-injury recovery electrical muscle stimulation.
When used alone, the level of
BY LEAH TURNER electrical stimulation required to be
effective is too intense for most patients,
but when combined with blood fow
If you’ve ever broken a bone, has healed. But this can be challenging restriction, “a very light stimulation
you may be all too familiar for people with chronic mobility issues intensity suddenly becomes very
with the loss of muscle that or a serious injury, which dramatically effective as a training tool,” Burr
can occur while your limb is in a cast. reduces their ability to recover. explains.“To us, combining blood fow
But there’s good news ahead for the “The maintenance of muscle mass restriction and muscle stimulus was a
injury-prone among us: researchers in and strength is essential for maintaining logical next step to determine if we can
the Department of Human Health one’s quality of life,” explains Joshua prevent atrophy in unused muscles.”
and Nutritional Sciences have found Slysz, a recent PhD graduate and lead Before they could test how well this
a new way to help reduce muscle loss author of the study. combined approach could stave off
or “atrophy” during recovery. Slysz and Burr wanted to see if they atrophy, the team needed to fnd 30
“Muscles are very much ‘use it or could fnd a way to prevent muscle volunteers willing to have their left leg
lose it,’” says Prof. Jamie Burr, who atrophy during limb immobilization immobilized in a brace for two weeks.
leads the Human Performance and by adapting techniques that are “It was hard to fnd people willing
Health Research Lab.“It takes as little currently used to rehabilitate muscles to do it,” Burr chuckles.“It took us two
as two weeks of immobilization to lose after atrophy has already set in, as well years to get enough people through. It
a signifcant amount of muscle mass as to enhance athletic training. was a lot to ask!”
and strength.” One such technique is blood fow Ten of the volunteers acted as the
To date, injury rehabilitation has restriction, which applies a low level control group and received no
focused on reversing atrophy through of pressure to a muscle using a treatment. The remaining volunteers
load-bearing exercise after the injury tourniquet similar to a blood pressure received either blood fow restriction
alone, or in combination with muscle
stimulation twice a day, fve days a week.
The researchers discovered that the
combined treatments preserved muscle
mass more effectively compared to
both the control group and blood fow
restriction alone.
The results are an exciting develop-
ment in the feld of injury rehabilitation.
In fact, the lab is working on a patent
for an apparatus that would allow
physiotherapists to easily treat their
patients using blood fow restriction
and muscle stimulation together.
In the meantime, Burr is busy
felding calls from the likes of the
Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Maple
Leafs, and even an English Premier
League soccer team.“We’re defnitely
on the radar for sports medicine,” he
says with a smile.
PHOTO: J. BURR
A study participant receiving blood fow restriction and electrical muscle Read the full study in the journal Medicine &
stimulation to prevent muscle atrophy. Science in Sports & Exercise.
18 College of Biological ScienceALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
so many opportunities years the confdence in developing
later. Working in a manufac- good relationships and was a
turing facility allowed me to fundamental steppingstone
apply many of the academic into the real world. The univer-
principles I learned to the sity lifestyle taught me to be
workplace. I was fascinated tolerant, inclusive and most of
by working with people from all, honest with myself and
many different disciplines to those around me.
create products that a cus-
tomer wanted and was only What trends are you seeing
one of a handful of people in your industry?
with a similar background to Increased regulations have
my own. I became a mentor to been introduced into the food
different operations personnel and dietary supplement
to help them pursue their industry. In the US and
goals and have continued that Canada, we are required to
mentorship philosophy while have strong food safety plans
still pursuing excellence and providing greater assurance
learning in my own discipline. of compliance as it relates to
sourcing, manufacturing and
What brought you to the distribution. The regulations
GARY SWANSON
U of G and how did your will only be more disciplined
degree help you achieve in the future. There is more
your career ambitions? science being applied to the
MSc, Neurobiology, Class of 1982 The University of Guelph was development and creation of
where I wanted to pursue food products to satisfy con-
graduate work in reproductive sumer demand, for example
We value profling the success of our alumni, and would love to highlight endocrinology. After College, I vegan products, clean label,
yours. Get in touch with Taline Artinian, Alumni Advancement Manager, at
used the learnings from that allergen free etc. This new
artinian@uoguelph.ca.
graduate work to generate generation of consumers has
reports professionally and to high expectations for product
investigate situations to a quality.
What has been your career In 2009, I joined the compa- meaningful conclusion. The
path since graduation? ny Herbalife International, as benefts of the graduate What advice would you give
After graduating, I began Corporate Vice President of degree, along with my accom- to current students or
working for a pharmaceutical Quality. We transformed from plishments at the manufactur- recent CBS Grads?
manufacturing company as having 35 personnel to now ing companies, helped me Pursue the goals that you
an organic chemist in quality having upwards of 400 quality advance my career. Graduate have set with eyes wide
control, applying many of the personnel worldwide, with work taught me to be focused open. Education has provid-
principles of lab spectrometry four manufacturing facilities on the details of a task or ed each of us with one very
and spectroscopy to analysis and seven laboratories world- investigation and make sure important function: how to
of pharmaceutical/nutritional wide. Each lab is IS017025 that I could always defend my think. You are capable of
ingredients and products. I accredited, and we have position or decision with pursuing a career that may
was promoted to Quality developed a partnership with conviction. have many opportunities, but
Manager, then to Operations the University of Guelph they may not always resem-
Manager. By 1989 I became through the Natural Health What did you enjoy most ble the title on your degree.
the General Manager of the Products Research Alliance about U of G? Keep an open mind and think
company in Canada, oversee- (NHP Research Alliance). The University of Guelph was about how you can improve
ing several departments. like a city within a city. I had yourself and those around
Later, I was transferred to the What inspired you to work in some very supportive student you.
US to oversee Operations, your feld? friends on campus and spent
Quality and R/D for the corpo- What began early in my career a lot of time in the graduate
rate group. as a means to an end created lounge. U of G provided me
Winter 2021 // RESEARCH 19SAVANNAH SPARROW PHOTOGRAPHED BY STÉPHANIE DOUCET
Read more CBS research highlights
from the SCRIBE program at
College of www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/cbs-research/
BiologiCal SCienCe research-highlightsYou can also read
