D. Wade Abbott, Ph. D.

Image Wade Abbott
Research Scientist

Agricultural Glycomics

Functional Genomics of Carbohydrate Utilization

Intestinal Microbiomes

Carbohydrate Active Enzymes

Current research and/or projects

  1. Principal Investigator. Abbott DW, Zandberg WF, Inglis GD, TA, T, Thomas, D., Ortega Polo, R. Title: “Muco-Screen: A platform technology to evaluate commercial and agriproduct based inhibitors for mitigation of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.”  Agriculture and Forestry $325K, Apr 2020-Mar 2023.

  2. Co-Applicant. Beauchemin, K, McAllister, TW, Abbott, DW, Gruninger, R. “Seaweeds and seaweed-ingredients to reduce enteric methane emissions from pasture-based sheep, cattle, and dairy cows (SeaSolutions).” A-base $500K, Apr 2019-Mar 2022.

  3. Co-Applicant. Inglis, GD, Abbott, DW, Carrillo, C, Hodges, L, Richman, M. “Rationale-based mitigation of relevant Campylobacter jejuni strains within the broiler production continuum.” GF2 Poultry Cluster $559K, Apr 2018-Mar 2023.

  4. Co-Principal Investigator. Zandberg, WF, Abbott, DW, Inglis, GD, Boraston, AB, Smith, SP, Capicciotti, C. “Mitigation of Necrotic Enteritis by improving the Integrity of intestinal mucin through small molecules and stress management.” GlycoNet $370K, Apr 2020-Mar 2022.

  5. Co-Applicant. Brumer H, Inglis, GD (Co-PI), Abbott, DW, Sheedy, C, Boras, V. Sly, L. Title: “Development of next-generation glyco-caged drugs to treat enteric inflammatory diseases in humans and livestock.” GlycoNet $400K, Apr 2020-Mar2022.

  6. Principal Investigator. Abbott DW, Beauchemin, K, McAllister, TA, T, Thomas, D., Ortega Polo, R. Title:” Structural and functional characterization of bovine rumen microbiomes adapted to the consumption of seaweed in natural and farm-intensive systems.” Abase-AAFC $360K, Apr 2019-Mar 2022.

  7. Principal Investigator. Abbott DW, Alexander, T, Thomas, D. Title: “Evidence-based prebiotic-probiotic solutions for improving gut health and feed efficiency in cattle.” Beef and Cattle Research Council $576K, Apr 2018-Mar 2023.

  8. Principal Investigator. Abbott DW, Inglis GD, Slominski B.Title: “Discovery pipeline for rapid development of tailored fibrolytic enzymes that improve the digestibility of canola meal for monogastric livestock” Agriculture Funding Consortium. $234,600 Apr 2018-Mar 2020.

  9. Co- Principal Investigator. McAllister, TA (PI), Abbott, DW (Co-PI), Yang WZ. Title: “Development of novel feed enzymatic products to enhance ruminal digestion of low quality forage fiber.” Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. $315K, Apr 2018-Mar 2020.

Research and/or project statements

Agricultural Glycomics

Functional Genomics of Carbohydrate Utilization

Intestinal Microbiomes

Carbohydrate Active Enzymes

Enzyme discovery

Alternatives to antibiotics for livestock production

Education and awards

PhD, Biochemistry University of Victoria (2005). PhD thesis awarded the University of Victoria Governor General’s Gold Medal (2006) and Nominated for NSERC Silver Medal (2006)

BSc (Great Distinction), BIology (Major), Geography (Concentration), Trinity Western University (2000).

Key publications

  1. McLean, R., Hobbs, J.K., Suits, M.D., Tuomivaara, S.T., Jones, D.R., Boraston, A.B., Abbott, D.W. (2015). Functional analyses of resurrected and contemporary enzymes illuminate an evolutionary path for the emergence of exolysis in polysaccharide lyase family. Journal of Biological Chemistry, [online] 290(35), 21231-21243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M115.664847

    2015 - View publication details

  2. Cuskin, F., Lowe, E.C., Temple, M.J., Zhu, Y., Cameron, E.A., Pudlo, N.A., Porter, N.T., Urs, K., Thompson, A.J., Cartmell, A., Rogowski, A., Hamilton, B.S., Chen, R., Tolbert, T.J., Piens, K., Bracke, D., Vervecken, W., Hakki, Z., Speciale, G., Munoz-Munoz, J.L., Day, A., Peña, M.J., McLean, R., Suits, M.D., Boraston, A.B., Atherly, T., Ziemer, C.J., Williams, S.J., Davies, G.J., Abbott, W.D., Martens, E.C., Gilbert, H.J. (2015). Human gut Bacteroidetes can utilize yeast mannan through a selfish mechanism. Nature, [online] 517(7533), 165-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13995

    2015 - View publication details

  3. Abbott, D.W., Martens, E.C., Gilbert, H.J., Cuskin, F., Lowe, E.C. (2015). Coevolution of yeast mannan digestion: Convergence of the civilized human diet, distal gut microbiome, and host immunity. Gut Microbes, [online] 6(5), 334-339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2015.1091913

    2015 - View publication details

  4. Abbott, D.W., Farnell, B.J., and Yamashita, J.W. (2014). "Pectins: structure, function, and the human distal gut microbiota.", - Pectin: Chemical Properties, Uses and Health Benefits, Nova Publishers.

    2014 - View publication details

  5. Thomas, D.K., Lone, A.G., Brent Selinger, L., Taboada, E.N., Uwiera, R.R.E., Wade Abbott, D., Douglas Inglis, G. (2014). Comparative variation within the genome of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 in human and murine hosts, 9(2), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088229

    2014 - View publication details

  6. Abbott, D.W. and Lammerts van Bueren, A. (2014). "Using structure to inform carbohydrate binding module function.", Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 28, pp. 32-40. doi : 10.1016/j.sbi.2014.07.004

    2014 - View publication details

  7. Abbott, D.W., Thomas, D., Pluvinage, B., Boraston, A.B. (2013). An ancestral member of the polysaccharide lyase family 2 displays endolytic activity and magnesium dependence, 171(7), 1911-1923. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0483-9

    2013 - View publication details

  8. Pluvinage, B., Chitayat, S., Ficko-Blean, E., Abbott, D.W., Kunjachen, J.M., Grondin, J., Spencer, H.L., Smith, S.P., Boraston, A.B. (2013). Conformational analysis of StrH, the surface-attached exo-β-d-N- acetylglucosaminidase from streptococcus pneumoniae. Journal of Molecular Biology, [online] 425(2), 334-349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2012.11.005

    2013 - View publication details

  9. Abbott, D.W. and Boraston, A.B. (2012). "Quantitative approaches to the analysis of carbohydrate-binding module function in “Cellulases (Glycoside Hydrolases).", in Gilbert, H.J. (ed.) - Methods in Enzymology, Elsevier, pp. 211-231.

    2012 - View publication details

  10. Boraston, A.B., Abbott, D.W. (2012). Structure of a pectin methylesterase from Yersinia enterocolitica, 68(2), 129-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1744309111055400

    2012 - View publication details

  11. Martens, E.C., Lowe, E.C., Chiang, H., Pudlo, N.P., Wu, M., McNulty, N.P., Abbott, D.W., Henrissat, B., Gilbert, H.J., Bolam, D.N., and Gordon, J.I. (2011). "Recognition and degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides by two human gut symbionts.", PLoS Biology, 9(12, Article No. e1001221). doi : 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001221

    2011 - View publication details

  12. Pluvinage, B., Lowe, E.C., Higgins, M.A., Abbott, D.W., Robb, C., Dalia, A.B., Deng, L., Weiser, J.N., Parsons, T.B., Fairbanks, A.J., Vocadlo, D.J., Boraston, A.B. (2011). "Inhibition of the pneumococcal virulence factor StrH and molecular insights into N-glycan recognition and hydrolysis.", Structure, 19(11), pp. 1603-1614. doi : 10.1016/j.str.2011.08.011

    2011 - View publication details

  13. Abbott, D.W. and Boraston, A.B. (2011). "Structural analysis of a putative family 32 carbohydrate-binding module from the Streptococcus pneumoniae enzyme, EndoD.", Acta Crystallographica Section F, 67(4), pp. 429-433. doi : 10.1107/S1744309111001874

    2011 - View publication details

  14. Abbott, D.W., Gilbert, H.J., and Boraston, A.B. (2010). "The Active Site of Oligogalacturonate Lyase Provides Unique Insights into Cytoplasmic Oligogalacturonate β-Elimination.", Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(50), pp. 39029-39038. doi : 10.1074/jbc.M110.153981

    2010 - View publication details

  15. Correia, M.A.S., Abbott, D.W., Gloster, T.M., Fernandes, V.O., Prates, J.A.M., Montanier, C., Dumon, C., Williamson, M.P., Tunnicliffe, R.B., Liu, Z., Flint, J.E., Davies, G.J., Henrissat, B., Coutinho, P.M., Fontes, C.M.G.A., and Gilbert, H.J. (2010). "Signature active site architectures illuminate the molecular basis for ligand specificity in family 35 carbohydrate binding modules.", Biochemistry, 49(29), pp. 6193-6205. doi : 10.1021/bi1006139

    2010 - View publication details

  16. Abbott, D.W., Higgins, M.A., Hyrnuik, S., Pluvinage, B., Lammerts van Bueren, A., and Boraston, A.B. (2010). "The molecular basis of glycogen breakdown and transport in Streptococcus pneumonia.", Molecular Microbiology, 77(1), pp. 183-199. doi : 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07199.x

    2010 - View publication details

  17. Abbott, D.W. and Boraston, A.B. (2009). "Interactions between proteins and (1,3)-beta-glucans and related polysaccharides.", in Bacic, A., Fincher, G., and Stone, B. (eds.) - Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology of 1-3 Beta Glucans and Related Polysaccharides, Academic Press, Chapter 5, pp. 179-207.

    2009 - View publication details

  18. Ishibashi, T., Li, A., Eirín-López, J.M., Zhao, M., Missiaen, K., Abbott, D.W., Meistrich, M., Hendzel, M.J., and Ausió, J. (2010). "H2A.Bbd: an X-chromosome-encoded histone involved in mammalian spermiogenesis.", Nucleic Acids Research, 38(6), pp. 1780-1789. doi : 10.1093/nar/gkp1129

    2009 - View publication details

  19. Abbott, D.W., Ficko-Blean, E., Lammerts van Bueren, A., Rogowski, A., Cartmell, A., Coutinho, P.M., Henrissat, B., Gilbert, H.J., and Boraston, A.B. (2009). "Analysis of the structural and functional diversity of plant cell wall specific family 6 carbohydrate binding modules.", Biochemistry, 48(43), pp. 10395-10404. doi : 10.1021/bi9013424

    2009 - View publication details

  20. Higgins, M.A., Abbott, D.W., Boulanger, M.J., and Boraston, A.B. (2009). "Blood group antigen recognition by a solute-binding protein from a serotype 3 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae.", Journal of Molecular Biology, 388(2), pp. 299-309. doi : 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.03.012

    2009 - View publication details

Research facility

5403 1st Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1
Canada

Affiliations

University of Lethbridge, Departments of Biological Sciences; and Chemistry and Biochemistry

Canadian Glycomics Network (Investigator)

Alberta Glycomics Centre (Associate Investigator)

Language

English