• 2002 — Doctorat — Immunologie, Microbiologie
• Université de Montréal (Canada)

• 1997 — Maîtrise — Microbiologie
• Université de Montréal (Canada)

• Membre du GREMIP
  • Groupe de recherche sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale (GREMIP) de la Faculté de médecine vétérinaire de l'Université de Montréal
• Membre du CRIPA
  • Centre de recherche en infectiologie porcine et avicole (CRIPA)

Membre

• Groupe de recherche sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale
• Centre de recherche en infectiologie porcine et avicole

Poste d'étudiant à la maîtrise

Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal
Campus de Saint-Hyacinthe

Date limite : 15 août 2016

Immunology of infectious disease and vaccine development

Dr. Mariela Segura
PhD, Immunologist Laboratory of Immunology
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Université de Montréal

Dr. René Roy
PhD, Chemist
Director of PharmaQÀM Department of Chemistry Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

The candidate will be involved in research projects of the Laboratory of Immunology (St-Hyacinthe campus) under the supervision of Dr. Mariela Segura and the co-supervision of Dr. René Roy.

Only candidates with Canadian citizenship or permanent Canadian residents or French citizenship will be considered. Under cooperation agreements between Quebec and France, French students are exempt and pay the same tuition fees as Québec students for graduate studies.

Deadline: 15 August 2016. However, late applications can be considered on a rolling basis. To submit your application: Please send your C.V., copies of grade transcripts, a presentation letter, and two references to the following address: mariela.segura@umontreal.ca

Project description: The student will be involved in aspects related to vaccine development and underlying immunological mechanisms. The proposed project focuses on the use of nanocarriers to improve antigen immunogenicity. Our model pathogen is Streptococcus suis, one of the most important bacterial pathogens in pigs and an emerging zoonotic agent of meningitis and septicemia. The applicant will perform in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments after immunization using mouse models. Thus, he will need to learn and use different laboratory techniques such as: cell culture/purification, bacterial culture, ELISA, FACS, immuno-fluorescence, and mouse immunization. Several biochemistry techniques will be also required and will be performed under the supervision of Dr. Roy (UQAM). The project will thus provide a highly-competitive multidisciplinary training to the student.

Salary: Grants ranging from 16,000$ to 18,000$ will be offered to the applicant based on diplomas and past laboratory experience.

Requirements: MSc applicants need to possess a minimum of an undergraduate diploma and/or an equivalent, as per University of Montreal’s standards. All diplomas and/or equivalents must be in a specialized field such as: microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, or other related fields.

Research project is funded by: Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet). Additional funding is provided by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT).

Comment: Although the laboratory is located in a French environment, French language is not mandatory if the candidate is fluent in English.

Recent scientific publications related to research interests (selected list):
•Segura, M. Streptococcus suis vaccines: candidate antigens and progress. Expert Review of Vaccines. 14: 1587-608, 2015.
•Goyette-Desjardins, G., R. Roy, and M. Segura. Murine whole-blood opsonophagocytosis assay to evaluate protection by antibodies raised against encapsulated extracellular bacteria. In: Carbohydrate-Based Vaccines - Methods and Protocols Edition of "Methods in Molecular Biology" lab protocol series. B. Lepenies (Ed.) Springer, 2015.
•Calzas, C., P. Lemire, G. Auray, V. Gerdts, M. Gottschalk, and M. Segura. Antibody response specific to the capsular polysaccharide is impaired in Streptococcus suis serotype 2-infected animals. Infection and Immunity. 83: 441-453, 2015.
•Roy, R., and T.C. Shiao. Glyconanosynthons as powerful scaffolds and building blocks for the rapid construction of multifaceted, dense and chiral dendrimers. Chemical Society reviews. 44: 3924-41, 2015.
•Sharma, R., I. Zhang, L. Abbassi, R. Rej, D. Maysinger, and R. Roy. Fast track dendrimer synthesis using microwave assisted accelerated onion peel approach. Polym. Chem. 6: 1436-1444, 2015.
•Sharma, R., N. Kottari, Y.M. Chabre, L. Abbassi, T.C. Shiao, and R. Roy. A highly versatile convergent/divergent "onion peel" synthetic strategy toward potent multivalent glycodendrimers. Chemical communications. 50: 13300-3, 2014.
•Van Calsteren, M.R., F. Gagnon, C. Calzas, G. Goyette-Desjardins, M. Okura, D. Takamatsu, M. Gottschalk, and M. Segura. Structure determination of Streptococcus suis serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide. Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 91: 49-58, 2013.

• DMV-2121 – Immunologie vétérinaire
• DMV-3222 – Immunologie clinique vétérinaire

Publications de Dre Mariela Segura, de 2010 à ce jour...

Articles de synthèse et/ou rétrospective

• Segura, M. Streptococcus suis vaccines: candidate antigens and progress. Expert Review of Vaccines. 14: 1587-608, 2015.
• Segura, M. et al. Latest developments on Streptococcus suis: an emerging zoonotic pathogen: part 2. Future Microbiology. 9: 587-91, 2014.
• Segura, M. et al. Latest developments on Streptococcus suis: an emerging zoonotic pathogen: part 1. Future Microbiology. 9: 441–444, 2014.
• Goyette-Desjardins, G., J.-P. Auger, J. Xu, M. Segura, and M. Gottschalk. Streptococcus suis, an important pig pathogen and emerging zoonotic agent - An update on the worldwide distribution based on serotyping and sequence typing. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 3, e45, doi: 10.1038/emi.2014.45, 2014.
• Lemire, P., and M. Segura. The NOD2 receptor modulates cytokine response but does not alter the clinical outcome of Group B Streptococcus-infected mice. Receptors & Clinical Investigation 2: 29-32, 2014. Invited Research Highlight.
• Segura, M. The capsular polysaccharides of Group B Streptococcus and Streptococcus suis differently modulate bacterial interactions with dendritic cells. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 58: 249-260, 2012. Invited review.
• Fittipaldi, N., M. Segura, D. Grenier, and M. Gottschalk. Virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of the infection caused by the swine pathogen and zoonotic agent Streptococcus suis. Future Microbiology 7: 259-279, 2012. Invited review.
• Gottschalk, M., J.D. Dubreuil, M. Esgleas, J. Harel, and M. Segura. The α-enolase of Streptococcus suis: A previously well known characterized protein. Journal of Infectious Diseases 201: 1775-1776, 2010. Letter to the Editor.
• Gottschalk, M., J. Xu, M.P. Lecours, D. Grenier, N. Fittipaldi, and M. Segura. Streptococcus suis infections in humans: what is the prognosis for Western countries? Clinical Microbiology Newsletter. Part II: 32: 97-104, 2010. Invited review.
• Gottschalk, M., J. Xu, M.P. Lecours, D. Grenier, N. Fittipaldi, and M. Segura. Streptococcus suis infections in humans: what is the prognosis for Western countries? Clinical Microbiology Newsletter. Part I: 32: 89-96, 2010. Invited review.
• Gottschalk, M., J. Xu, C. Calzas, and M. Segura. Streptococcus suis: a new emerging or an old neglected zoonotic pathogen? Future Microbiology 5: 371-391, 2010. Invited review.
• Chapitre de livres
• Goyette-Desjardins, G., R. Roy, and M. Segura. Murine whole-blood opsonophagocytosis assay to evaluate protection by antibodies raised against encapsulated extracellular bacteria. In: Carbohydrate-Based Vaccines - Methods and Protocols Edition of "Methods in Molecular Biology" lab protocol series. B. Lepenies (Ed.) Springer, 2015.
• Gottschalk, M., N. Fittipaldi, and M. Segura. Streptococcus suis meningitis. In: Meningitis: Cellular and Molecular Basis. M. Christodoulides (Ed). Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI), Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. 2013, pp 184-198. ISBN: 978 1 78064 162 1.
• Gottschalk, M., M. Segura. Streptococcus suis: un agente zoonotico emergente. In: Temas de Zoonosis. J. Basualdo, R. Cacchione, R. Durlach, P. Martino and A. Seijo (Eds). 5^th Edition. Asociación Argentina de Zoonosis, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2011, pp. 257-270. ISBM: 978-987-97038-4-7

Articles de recherche dans des périodiques scientifiques

• Clarke, D., C. Letendre, M.P. Lecours, P. Lemire, T. Galbas, J. Thibodeau, and M. Segura. Group B Streptococcus induces a robust IFN-γ response by CD4+ T cells in an in vitro and in vivo model. Journal of Immunology Research. In press, 2016.
• Auger, J-P., M. Christodoulides, M. Segura, J. Xu, and M. Gottschalk. Interactions of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 with human meningeal cells and astrocytes. BMC Research Notes. 8:607, 2015.
• Aguiar, C., J. Therrien, P. Lemire, M. Segura, L. Smith, and C. Theoret. Differentiation of equine induced pluripotent stem cells into a keratinocyte lineage. Equine Veterinary Journal. Mar 17. doi: 10.1111/evj.12438. [Epub ahead of print], 2015.
• Aguiar, C., C. Theoret, O. Smith, M. Segura, P. Lemire, and L. Smith. Immune potential of allogeneic equine induced pluripotent stem cells. Equine Veterinary Journal. 47:708-14, 2015.
• Calzas, C., P. Lemire, G. Auray, V. Gerdts, M. Gottschalk, and M. Segura. Antibody response specific to the capsular polysaccharide is impaired in Streptococcus suis serotype 2-infected animals. Infection and Immunity. 83:441-453, 2015.
• Roy, D., J.-P. Auger, M. Segura, N. Fittipaldi, D. Takamatsu, M. Okura, and M. Gottschalk. Role of the capsular polysaccharide as a virulence factor for Streptococcus suis serotype 14. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research. 79(2):141-146, 2015.
• Lemire, P., D. Roy, N. Fittipaldi, M. Okura, D. Takamatsu, E. Bergman, and M. Segura. Implication of TLR- but not of NOD2-signaling pathways in dendritic cell activation by Group B Streptococcus serotypes III and V. PLOS One. 9(12):e113940, 2014.
• Valanparambil, R.*, M. Segura*, M. Tam, A. Jardim, T. G. Geary, and M. M. Stevenson. Production and analysis of immunomodulatory excretory-secretory products from the mouse gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri. Nature Protocols, 9(12):2740-2754, 2014.
  *Equally contributing authors.
• Dang, Y., C. Lachance, Y. Wang, C.A. Gagnon, C. Savard, M. Segura, D. Grenier, and M. Gottschalk. Transcriptional approach to study porcine tracheal epithelial cells individually or dually infected with swine influenza virus and Streptococcus suis. BMC Veterinary Research. 10(1):86, 2014.
• Savard, C., V. Pinilla, C. Provost, M. Segura, C. A. Gagnon, and Y. Chorfi. In vitro effect of deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 65:219-26, 2014.
• Lachance, C., M. Segura, M.C. Dominguez-Punaro, G. Wojewodka, J.B. De Sanctis, D. Radzioch, and M.Gottschalk. Deregulated balance of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids following infection by the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis. Infection and Immunity. 82:1778-85, 2014.
• Wang, Y., C.A. Gagnon, C. Savard, N. Music, M. Srednik, M. Segura, C. Lachance, C. Bellehumeur, and M. Gottschalk. Capsular sialic acid of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 binds to swine influenza virus and enhances bacterial interactions with virus-infected tracheal epithelial cells. Infection and Immunity. 81:4498-508, 2013.
• Lemire, P., C. Calzas, and M. Segura. The NOD2 receptor does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of Group B Streptococcus in mice. Microbial Pathogenesis. 65:41-47, 2013.
• Lachance, C., M. Segura, P. Pereyra-Gerber, J. Xu, and M. Gottschalk. Toll-like receptor 2-independent host innate immune response against an epidemic strain of Streptococcus suis that causes a toxic shock-like syndrome in humans. PLOS One. 8:e65031, 2013.
• Lachance, C., M. Gottschalk, P. Pereyra-Gerber, P. Lemire, J.  Xu, and M. Segura. Exacerbated type II interferon response drives hypervirulence and toxic shock by an emergent epidemic strain of Streptococcus suis. Infection and Immunity. 81:1928-39, 2013.
• Calzas, C., G. Goyette-Desjardins, P. Lemire, F. Gagnon, C. Lachance, M.R. Van Calsteren, and M. Segura. Group B Streptococcus and Streptococcus suis capsular polysaccharides induce chemokine production by dendritic cells via TLR2- and MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways. Infection and Immunity, 81:3106-3118, 2013.
• Van Calsteren, M.R., F. Gagnon, C. Calzas, G. Goyette-Desjardins, M. Okura, D. Takamatsu, M. Gottschalk, and M. Segura. Structure determination of Streptococcus suis serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide. Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 91:49-58, 2013.
• Zheng, H., H. Sun, M.C. Dominguez, X. Bai, S. Ji, M. Segura, and J. Xu. Evaluation of the pathogenesis of meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis sequence type 7 using the infection of BV2 microglial cells. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 62: 360-368, 2013.
• Lecours, M.P., M. Segura, N. Fittipaldi, S. Rivest, and M. Gottschalk. Immune receptors involved in Streptococcus suis recognition by dendritic cells. PLoS One 7(9):e44746, 2012.
• Lemire, P., M. Houde, M.P. Lecours, N. Fittipaldi, and M. Segura. Role of capsular polysaccharide in Group B Streptococccus interactions with dendritic cells. Microbes and Infection. 14: 1064-1076, 2012.
• Lemire, P., M. Houde, and M. Segura. Encapsulated Group B Streptococcus modulates dendritic cell functions via lipid rafts and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Cellular Microbiology. 14: 1707-1719, 2012.
• Lecours, M.P., N. Fittipaldi, D. Takamatsu, M. Okura, M. Segura, G. Goyette-Desjardins, M.R. Van Calsteren, and M. Gottschalk. Sialylation of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is essential for capsule expression but is not responsible for the main capsular epitope. Microbes and Infection. 14: 941-950, 2012.
• Houde, M., M. Gottschalk, F. Gagnon, M.R. Van Calsteren, and M. Segura. Streptococcus suis capsular polysaccharide inhibits phagocytosis through destabilization of lipid microdomains and prevents lactosylceramide-dependent recognition. Infection and Immunity. 80: 506-517, 2012.
  • Article selected by ASM Editors to be included in the Infection and Immunity special feature "Spotlight" that highlights research articles of significant interest.
  • Article selected by the Global Medical Discovery Series which feature breaking journal articles considered to be of importance to the drug discovery process.
• Zheng, H., X. Luo, M. Segura, H. Sun, C. Ye, M. Gottschalk, and J. Xu. The role of Toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis. Veterinary Microbiology 156:147-156, 2012.
• Lecours, M.P., M. Gottschalk, M. Houde, P. Lemire, N. Fittipaldi, and M. Segura. Critical role for Streptococcus suis cell wall modifications and suilysin in resistance to complement-dependent killing by dendritic cells. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 204: 919-929, 2011.
• Moreno, Y., P. P. Gros, M. Tam, M. Segura, R. Valanparambil, T. G. Geary, and M. M. Stevenson. Proteomic analysis of Excretory-Secretory Products of Heligmosomoides polygyrus assessed with next-generation sequence transcriptomic information. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 5:e1370, 2011.
• Lecours, M.P., M. Segura, C. Lachance, T. Mussa, C. Surprenant, M. Montoya, and M. Gottschalk. Characterization of porcine dendritic cell response to Streptococcus suis. Veterinary Research 42:72-84, 2011.
• Zheng, H., M.C. Domínguez, M. Segura, C. Lachance, S. Rivest, J. Xu, M. Houde, and M. Gottschalk. Toll-like receptor 2 is partially involved in the activation of murine astrocytes by Streptococcus suis, an important zoonotic agent of meningitis. Journal of Neuroimmunology 234:71-83, 2011.
• Zheng, X., H. Zheng, R. Lan; C. Ye, Y. Wang, J. Zhang, H. Jing, C. Chen, M. Segura, M. Gottschalk, and J. Xu. Identification of genes and genomic islands correlated with high pathogenicity in Streptococcus suis using whole genome tiling microarrays. PLoS One 6:e17987, 2011.
• Domínguez, M.C., M. Segura, I. Contreras, C. Lachance, M. Houde, M.P. Lecours, M. Olivier, and M. Gottschalk. In vitro characterization of the microglial inflammatory response to Streptococcus suis, an important emerging zoonotic agent of meningitis. Infection and Immunity 78: 5074-5085, 2010.