Dr. Eveline M. Ibeagha-Awemu

Research Scientist

Dr. Ibeagha-Awemu obtained a PhD in Animal Genetics from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany in 2003 followed by postdoctoral studies at McGill university. She joined AAFC in 2011 as a research scientist in Animal Genomics.

Her research program focuses on improving (a) productivity and disease resistance and (b) the safety of the dairy and pork value chains

Dr Ibeagha-Awemu uses next-generation sequencing/advanced technologies (e.g. genotyping-by-sequencing, high density chip genotyping, focused genotyping, whole genome sequencing, whole genome bisulphite sequencing, targeted amplicon bisulfite sequencing, etc.) to detect genetic and epigenetic markers at a genome wide scale and, gene expression (mRNA and lncRNA-Sequencing) and regulatory microRNA (miRNA-Sequencing) profiling to detect gene networks, pathways and genetic/epigenetic markers of milk production and disease (bovine mastitis and paratuberculosis) traits.

She also studies how nutrients interact with the genome and epigenome (nutrigenomics) to enhance productivity and desirable cow milk components (e.g. polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, etc.).

Another aspect of her research is focused on gut microbiota manipulation with different strategies (probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, etc) to stimulate early microbial establishment, immune development, improved gut health and productivity and potential to reduce antibiotics use and contamination of barn environment with pathogens.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Sherbrooke, Quebec

Current research and/or projects

Role of DNA methylation marks in mastitis and milk production traits
MicroRNA biomarkers of bovine mastitis
Role of milk microbiota in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis
DNA methylation and microRNA roles in paratuberculosis

Professional activities / interests

Member: GRESABO (Groupe de Research en Sante Bovine)
Member: Biological Assay Committee of FAANG (Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes)
Member: Animal Health Committee of American Society of Animal Science/Canadian Society of Animal Science
Member: Op+lait grouping of researchers on milk quality through FQRNT strategic grouping program
Member: Dairy Cattle Breeding and Genetics Committee, Canada
Member: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Animal Care Committee
Member: Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network
Editorial Board Member: BMC Genomics
Editorial Board Member: Scientific Reports
Editorial Board Member: Frontiers in Genetics
Past President of the Canadian Society of Animal Science
Member: Canadian Society of Animal Science
Member: American Dairy Science Association
Member: International Society of Animal Genetics
Member: International Association for Paratuberculosis

International experience and/or work

Member: Scientific & Industrial Advisory Board of National Steering Committee of National Center for Livestock Breeding, Genetics & Genomics, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

International collaboration projects

-Mammary gland specific transcriptional profiling of Kashmiri cattle and its Jersey cross for milk quality and yield traits (India)

-Role of the microbiota in the pathogenesis of pestes des petits ruminants (Nigeria)

Additional links

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=q5fNcCkAAAAJ&sortby=pubdate&view_op=list_works&gmla=AJsN-F5Uu1pkX9wZ4nA4n1PkFtrUE3EOwSvumqrfGF29OvAloKqaEPTRCXi-xHnTv1t-VZAni25AcwoYeE23ayVZG-RcjUJiwQ

Key publications

Li, R., Beaudoin, F., Ammah, A.A., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., Zhao, X., Lei, C., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2015). Deep sequencing shows microRNA involvement in bovine mammary gland adaptation to diets supplemented with linseed oil or safflower oil. BMC Genomics, [online] 16(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-015-1965-7
2015 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. and Zhao, X. (2015). "Epigenetic marks: regulators of livestock phenotypes and conceivable sources of missing variation in livestock improvement programs.", Frontiers in Genetics, 6(Article 302), pp. 1-17. doi : 10.3389/fgene.2015.00302
2015 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Akwanji, K.A., Peters, S.O., Imumorin, I.G., and Zhao, X. (2014). "Genome-Wide Association (GWAS) Analysis of Bovine Milk Fatty Acids of Canadian Holstein Cows Using Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS) Markers.", XXII International Plant and Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, CA, USA, January 11-15, 2014, 538. (Presentation)
2014 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Peters, S.O., Imumorin, I.G., and Zhao, X. (2014). "Genome-wide genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and association analysis of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in bovine milk identifies novel markers in Canadian Holstein cows.", Journal of Animal Science, 92( E-Suppl.1), pp. 473. (Abstract)
2014 - View publication details
Li, R., Beaudoin, F., Zhao, X., Lei, C., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2014). "MicroRNAs are involved in bovine mammary gland response to dietary supplementation with safflower oil.", 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP), Vancouver, Canada, August 17-22, 2014.
2014 - View publication details
Li, R., Beaudoin, F., Zhao, X., Lei, C., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2014). "Effect of dietary supplementation with linseed oil on the miRnome profile of the bovine mammary gland.", Journal of Animal Science, 92(-Suppl.2). (Abstract)
2014 - View publication details
Jin, W., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Liang, G., Beaudoin, F., Zhao, X., Guan, L.L. (2014). Transcriptome microRNA profiling of bovine mammary epithelial cells challenged with Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus bacteria reveals pathogen directed microRNA expression profiles. BMC Genomics, [online] 15(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-181
2014 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Akwanji, K.A., Beaudoin, F., Zhao, X. (2014). Associations between variants of FADS genes and omega-3 and omega-6 milk fatty acids of canadian holstein cows. BMC Genetics, [online] 15 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2156-15-25
2014 - View publication details
Colli, L., Joost, S., Negrini, R., Nicoloso, L., Crepaldi, P., Ajmone-Marsan, P., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., and others (2014). "Assessing the spatial dependence of adaptive loci in 43 European and Western Asian goat breeds using AFLP markers.", PLoS ONE, 9(1: Article number e86668). doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0086668
2014 - View publication details
Li, R., Beaudoin, F., Zhao, X., Bissonnette, N., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2013). "Possible involvement of epigenetic modifying enzymes in the regulation of nutrient effect on bovine milk fat synthesis.", CSAS-CMSA Joint Annual Meeting, Banff Park Lodge Resort Hotel and Conference Centre, Banff, AB, Canada, June 18-20, 2013. (Poster)
2013 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Ammah, A.A., Beaudoin, F., Bissonnette, N., and Benchaar, C. (2013). "Effects of Diets Rich in Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN) Levels and Potential for Genetic Selection of MUN.", 31st Western Canadian Dairy Seminar (WCDS), Capri Centre, Red Deer, AB, Canada, March 5-8, 2013, Published in: Advances in Dairy Technology (Western Canadian Dairy Seminar Proceedings) 25, pp. 388. (Poster)
2013 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2012). "Race to boost milk beneficial fatty acid components: the role of genetics and nutrition.", 2ème symposium du Centre de Recherche et de Développement sur le Bovin Laitier et le Porc / 2nd Annual DSRDC/ CRDBLP Symposium on Animal Production, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, November 28, 2012, pp. 15.
2012 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Akwanji, K.A., Wang, Z., Ammah, A.A., and Zhao, X. (2012). "SNPs in the regulatory and coding regions of bovine GPAM gene are associated with increased milk polyunsaturated fatty acid content of Canadian Holstein cows.", 2ème symposium du Centre de Recherche et de Développement sur le Bovin Laitier et le Porc / 2nd Annual DSRDC/ CRDBLP Symposium on Animal Production, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, November 28, 2012, pp. 25.
2012 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2012). "MicroRNA: Mechanism of gene regulation and application to cow health.", 2ème symposium du Centre de Recherche et de Développement sur le Bovin Laitier et le Porc / 2nd Annual DSRDC/ CRDBLP Symposium on Animal Production, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, November 28, 2012, pp. 15.
2012 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Wang, X., Bhattacharya, T.K., Capuco, A.V., and Zhao, X. (2012). "Identification of DNA methylation at the bovine kappa-casein gene (CSN3) promoter and possible effects on gene expression in the Mammary Gland.", 55th Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Molecular Biosciences: Epigenetics and Genome Stability, The Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, BC, Canada, March 14-18, 2012, Poster #008, pp. 30.
2012 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Akwanji, K.A., Wang, Z., and Zhao, X. (2012). "SNPs that affect microRNA binding sites in the bovine ACACA gene are associated with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of Canadian Holstein cows.", Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), 95(Suppl. 2), pp. 522 (#W62). (Abstract)
2012 - View publication details
Zerabruk, M., Li, M.H., Kantanen, J., Olsaker, I., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Erhardt, G., Vangen, O. (2012). Genetic diversity and admixture of indigenous cattle from North Ethiopia: Implications of historical introgressions in the gateway region to Africa. Animal Genetics, [online] 43(3), 257-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02245.x
2012 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Ibeagha, A., Zhao, X. (2012). The influence of different anticoagulants and sample preparation methods on measurement of mCD14 on bovine monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes. BMC Research Notes, [online] 5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-93
2012 - View publication details
Jin, W., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Stothard, P., Zhao, X., and Guan, L.L. (2011). "Differential expression of miRNAs in bovine mammary epithelial cells challenged with Escherichia coli and Staphyloccucus aureus.", 4th International Symposium on Animal Functional Genomics, Burlington Conference Venue, Dublin, Ireland, October 10-12, 2011, Book of Abstracts, pp. 21. (Abstract)
2011 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Ibeagha, A.E., Messier, S., and Zhao, X. (2010). "Proteomics, genomics, and pathway analyses of Escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus infected milk whey reveal molecular pathways and networks involved in mastitis.", Journal of Proteome Research (JPR), 9(9), pp. 4604-4619. doi : 10.1021/pr100336e
2010 - View publication details