Catherine Yoshida, BSc MSc RMCCM

Biologist and Supervisor, focusing on mycobacteriology
Current research and/or projects
Catherine Yoshida is the head of diagnostic and reference services at the National Reference Centre for Mycobacteriology (the “TB lab”). Her lab’s services aid in the investigation, control, and prevention of human disease within the population.
Her lab performs ISO 17025-accredited diagnostic, reference and surveillance services to provincial/territorial clients for all mycobacterium species, most notably for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
She coordinates projects and leads the diagnostic team in the implementation of new diagnostic tests to meet client needs and improve efficiencies.
Research and/or project statements
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Operates a national proficiency program, which tests and ensures the quality of provincial/territorial laboratory technologies for mycobacterial diagnostics
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Successfully implemented the use of whole genome sequencing for routine diagnostics to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis and predict drug resistance
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Maintains a national database of M. tuberculosis genotyping data
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Coordinates the deployment of NML lab experts and equipment to bring innovative TB testing where it is needed most in Northern Canadian communities
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Invented the Salmonella in silico Typing Resource (SISTR)
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Oversaw the successful accreditation and implementation of the Salmonella Genoserotyping Array (SGSA)
Professional activities / interests
Presents work at workshops and conferences across Canada and internationally
Education and awards
Education
M.Sc. Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 2002
B.Sc. (Hons.) Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, University of Guelph, 2000
Awards
Nominated for the Federal Partners in Technology Transfer Awards for the Salmonella Genoserotyping Array (SGSA) innovation, 2010
Additional links
Key publications
G Labbe, P Kruczkiewicz, P Mabon, (…), C Yoshida, K Ziebell, A Nichani, R P. Johnson, G Van Domselaar, J H.E. Nash. Rapid and accurate SNP genotyping of clonal bacterial pathogens with BioHansel. bioRxiv 2020.01.10.902056.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.10.902056
Robertson J, Yoshida C, Gurnik S, McGrogan M, Davis K, Arya G, Murphy SA, Nichani A, Nash JHE. An improved DNA array-based classification method for the identification of Salmonella serotypes shows high concordance between traditional and genotypic testing. 2018. PLoS One.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207550
Robertson J, Yoshida C, Kruczkiewicz P, Nadon C, Nichani A, Taboada E, Nash JHE. Comprehensive assessment of the quality of Salmonella whole genome sequence data available in public sequence databases using the Salmonella in silico Typing Resource (SISTR). Microbial Genomics. 17 January 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.000151
Yachison CA, Yoshida C, Robertson J, (…), The PulseNet Canada Steering Committee, Celine Nadon. The validation and implications of using whole genome sequencing as a replacement for traditional serotyping for a National Salmonella Reference Laboratory. Front Microbiol 2017;8:1044.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01044
Yoshida C, Gurnik S, Ahmad A, Blimkie T, Murphy SA, Kropinski AM, Nash JHE. 2016. Evaluation of molecular methods for the identification of Salmonella serovars. J Clin Microbiol. 2016.
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00262-16
Yoshida C, Brumwell SL, Lingohr EJ, (…), Kropinski AM, Nash JH. Draft Whole-Genome Sequences of 25 Salmonella enterica Strains Representing 24 Serovars. Genome Announc. 2016 Mar 3;4(2). pii: e01718-15.
https://doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.01718-15
Yoshida CE, Kruczkiewicz P, Laing CR, Lingohr EJ, Gannon VP, Nash JH, Taboada EN. 2016. The Salmonella In Silico Typing Resource (SISTR): An Open Web-Accessible Tool for Rapidly Typing and Subtyping Draft Salmonella Genome Assemblies. PLoS One 11(1):e0147101.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147101
Yoshida C, Lingohr EJ, Trognitz F, MacLaren N, Rosano A, Murphy S, Villegas A, Polt M, Franklin K, Kostic T, OIÉ Reference Laboratory for Salmonellosis, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Kropinski AM, Card R. 2014. International Multi-Laboratory Validation of the Rapid Genoserotyping Array (SGSA) for the Identification of Salmonella Serovars. Diagnostic Methods and Infectious Diseases. 80:185–190.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2014.08.006
Franklin K, Lingohr EJ, Yoshida C, Anjum M, Bodrossy L, Clark CG, Kropinski AM, and MA Karmali. 2011. A Rapid Geno-Serotyping Tool for the Classification of Salmonella Serovars. J Clin Microbiol. 49:2954-2965.
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02347-10
Yoshida C, Franklin K, Konczy P, McQuiston JR, Fields PI, Nash JH, Taboada EN, and K Rahn. 2007. Methodologies towards the development of an oligonucleotide microarray for determination of Salmonella serotypes. J. Microbiol. Methods. 70: 261–271.