UofM Med Micro & ID

MMID is pleased to congratulate Dr Abu Siddik who successfully defended his PhD today. His topic was on the role of short chain fatty acids in the regulation of the cervical-vaginal epithelial barrier. Well done Abu. Congrats also to supervisor Ruey Su and co-sup Blake Ball 🎉🍾

Dr Heather Wilson (VIDO and U Sask) presented to MMID her fascinating work about a uterine vaccination strategy for the porcine industry. We thank her for the talk and being an external examiner for a PhD defence tomorrow.

Congratulations to Dr Domenica De Luca who successfully defended her PhD in MMID today. She presented her work on resistance to anti-fungal agents in Candida sp. Congratulations also to her supervisor Dr Amrita Bharat and co-supervisor Dr. George Zhanel. Well done Domenica!!

MMID Adjunct and NML scientist Dr Sandra Kiazyk presented her impressive work on HIV and STBBI national reference diagnostics and research at the National Microbiology Lab’s National HIV Reference Lab located at the JC Wilt Lab.

Congratulations to Dr Allison Balasko, PhD, who successful defended her PhD today. Alli presented her work on the role of iNK T cells in persons living with HIV. Special thanks to committee especially external Dr Christina Guzzo who attended in person. Alli MMID is very proud

Jason also presented on the North American One Health Network (NAPOHN) surveillance of influenza in migratory birds in Manitoba.

Dr Jason Kindrachuk (VP NML, Associate Professor MMID) presented his global, highly collaborative and fascinating research program on surveillance and interventions for emerging pathogens (such a mpox and Ebola viruses) that he conducts in his lab at the UM.

Congratulations to Erin Robert who successfully defended her MSc on Common Swine Fever detection and vaccine responses in swine. Well done Erin. Also congratulations to her supervisor Dr Aruna Ambagala.

Congratulations to Samuel Lawal who successfully defended his MSc on antimicrobial tolerance levels of Pseudomonas aerugenosa in the context of copper drains as these have been used in health care settings. Well done Sam. Also congratulations to Denice Bay his supervisor.

Dr Ruey Su from the National Microbiology lab (NML) and affiliated with MMID presented her excellent and creative research on the role of epigenetic regulation of HIV Exposed Uninfected (HESN) individuals from the Nairobi sex worker outreach program (SWOP).

Congratulations to all of the MMID award winners that were given out yesterday. Jeremy Li, Sylvain Lother, Hannah Wallace, Julie Lajoie, Samuel Lawal, Toby Le & Ben Procak, Tosin Omole, Barbara Porto, Lauren MacKenzie, Christina Gavino, Sergio Fanella. Here a just a few pics.

Congratulations to Adam Hadley who successfully defended his MSc on typing of Treponema pallidum, which caused syphilis. This is a huge public health issue in MB and Adam’s addressed an important topic. Well done Adam. Congratulation also to his advisor, Derek Stein.

Cookies for condoms. Come out and by the Med Library and buy baking to support HIV prevention in our Nairobi-based sex worker outreach program (SWOP). Sale ends at 1:00 today.

Congratulations to Genevieve Loiselle from the Bay Lab who successfully defended her MSc on the role of outer membrane proteins on E. coli antimicrobial susceptibility with an excellent talk and strong thesis. Well done Genevieve and congratulations Denice.

Congratulations to Peter O’Reilley from Denice Bay who successfully defended his MSc thesis on antimicrobial tolerance in Klebsiella pneumonia. I especially liked when he was role playing and asked George Zhanel “Sir, do you know anything about antibiotics?”

He also presented work on an HIV latency reversing agent.

MMID’s own Dr Xiao-Jian Yao presents his lab’s innovative studies on developing new influenza vaccines.

MMID’s own Lyle McKinnon gave an update on his lab’s evolution from studying HIV transmission to the control of HPV infection including analysis using spatial transcriptomics.

Congratulations to Brayden Schindell who successfully defended his PhD on an epidemiological analysis of Ebola survivors. Congratulations to Brayden and his supervisor Dr Jason Kindrachuk!!!