Dr. Eveline M. Ibeagha-Awemu

Image Eveline Ibeagha-Awemu
Research Scientist

Dr. Ibeagha-Awemu’s research program focuses on improving productivity and disease resistance and the safety of the dairy and pork value chains. She uses OMICS and advanced technologies to characterize regulatory elements, uncover the molecular mechanisms, and genetic and epigenetic markers associated with health, production and environmental adaptation traits; and develop biomarkers for livestock disease and health management, and environmental adaptation.

Dr. Ibeagha-Awemu research also seeks to understand how the microbiota interacts with the genome and epigenome in response to nutrients and pathogens to influence health and disease traits. Specifically the identification/development of favorable microbial strains for disease and greenhouse gas emission mitigation, and development of alternatives to antibiotics use in livestock production.

Her research also involves the regulatory aspects of the emerging field of Cellular agriculture in Canada through studies on the nutritional composition of cultured foods to inform regulatory stakeholders, development of screening tools/protocols for cultured foods and studies to enhance cell growth and production ability using gene editing techniques.

Before joining AAFC in 2011 as a research scientist in Animal Genomics, Dr. Ibeagha-Awemu completed a  MSC in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, a PhD in Animal Genetics from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany in 2003 followed by postdoctoral studies at McGill university.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sherbrooke, Quebec

Current research and/or projects

  • Role of epigenetic (DNA methylation and miRNA) biomarkers in mastitis and milk production
  • Characterization of the regulatome (miRNA, lncRNA, snoRNA and circRNA, etc.) and transposable elements in the bovine genome.
  • Role of the microbiota in livestock infectious diseases
  • Regulatory aspects of cellular agriculture

 

Professional activities / interests

  • Member: African Animal breeding Network

  • 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  

Education and awards

Recipient of 2021 CSAS (Canadian Society for Animal Science) Award for Technical Innovation in Enhancing Production of Safe and Affordable Food.

International experience and/or work

 Member: Member of the Working Group on Animal Seed of the African Seed and Biotechnology Partnership Platform (ASB PP) of the African union [2021 – Present]

Member: Steering committee of the African Animal Breeding Network

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)
  • FarmGTEx Project

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

  1. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Kgwatalala, P.M., and Zhao, X. (2009). "Potential for Improving Health: Calcium Bioavailability in Milk and Dairy Products.", in Park, Y.W. (ed.) - Bioactive Components in Milk and Dairy Products. Section III Other Related Issues on Bioactive Compounds in Dairy Foods, Wiley - Blackwell, Chapter 16, pp. 363-378.

    2009 - View publication details

  2. Achukwi, M.D., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Musongong, G.A., and Erhardt, G. (2009). "Doayo (Namchi) Bos taurus with low zebu attributes are tripanotolerant under natural vector challenge.", Online Journal of Veterinary Research, 13(1), pp. 94-105.

    2009 - View publication details

  3. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Liu, J.R., and Zhao, X. (2009). "Bioactive Components in Yogurt Products.", in Park, Y.W. (ed.) - Bioactive Components in Milk and Dairy Products. Section II Bioactive Components in Manufactured Dairy Products, Wiley - Blackwell, Chapter 9, pp. 235-250.

    2009 - View publication details

  4. Kgwatalala, P.M., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Mustafa, A.F., and Zhao, X. (2009). "Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 genotype and stage of lactation influences milk fatty acid composition of Canadian Holstein cows.", Animal Genetics, 40(5), pp. 609-615. doi : 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2009.01887.x

    2009 - View publication details

  5. Kgwatalala, P.M., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Mustafa, A.F., and Zhao, X. (2009). "Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 3′UTR SNPs and their influence on milk fatty acid composition of Canadian Holstein cows.", Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 126(5), pp. 394-403. doi : 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2008.00796.x

    2009 - View publication details

  6. Lühken, G., Caroli, A.M., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., and Erhardt, G. (2009). "Characterization and genetic analysis of bovine αs1-casein i variant.", Animal Genetics, 40(4), pp. 479-485. doi : 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2009.01861.x

    2009 - View publication details

  7. Ibeagha, A.E., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Mehrzad, J., Baurhoo, B., Kgwatalala, P.M., and Zhao, X. (2009). "The effect of selenium sources and supplementation on neutrophil functions in dairy cows.", Animal, 3(7), pp. 1037-1043. doi : 10.1017/S1751731109004303

    2009 - View publication details

  8. Pariset, L., Joost, S., Marsan, P.A., Valentini, A., Econogene Consortium (EC), including, Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., and others (2009). "Landscape genomics and biased FST approaches reveal single nucleotide polymorphisms under selection in goat breeds of North-East Mediterranean.", BMC Genetics, 10:7. doi : 10.1186/1471-2156-10-7

    2009 - View publication details

  9. Pariset, L., Cuteri, A., Ligda, C., Ajmone-Marsan, P., Valentini, A., Econogene Consortium (EC), including, Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., and others (2009). "Geographical patterning of sixteen goat breeds from Italy, Albania and Greece assessed by Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.", BMC Ecology, 9:20. doi : 10.1186/1472-6785-9-20

    2009 - View publication details

  10. Kgwatalala, P.M., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Mustafa, A.F., and Zhao, X. (2009). "Influence of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 genotype and stage of lactation on fatty acid composition of Canadian Jersey cows.", Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), 92(3), pp. 1220-1228. doi : 10.3168/jds.2008-1471

    2009 - View publication details

  11. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Kgwatalala, P.M., and Zhao, X. (2008). "A critical analysis of production-associated DNA polymorphisms in the genes of cattle, goat, sheep, and pig.", Mammalian Genome, 19(9), pp. 591-617. doi : 10.1007/s00335-008-9141-x

    2008 - View publication details

  12. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Lee, J.-W., Ibeagha, A.E., and Zhao, X. (2008). "Bovine CD14 gene characterization and relationship between polymorphisms and surface expression on monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils.", BMC Genetics, 9:50. doi : 10.1186/1471-2156-9-50

    2008 - View publication details

  13. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Kgwatalala, P.M., Ibeagha, A.E., and Zhao, X. (2008). "A critical analysis of disease-associated DNA polymorphisms in the genes of cattle, goat, sheep, and pig.", Mammalian Genome, 19(4), pp. 226-245. doi : 10.1007/s00335-008-9101-5

    2008 - View publication details

  14. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Lee, J.-W., Ibeagha, A.E., Bannerman, D.D., Paape, M.J., and Zhao, X. (2008). "Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induces increased expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and downstream TLR signaling molecules in bovine mammary epithelial cells.", Veterinary Research, 39:11. doi : 10.1051/vetres:2007047

    2008 - View publication details

  15. Ibeagha, A.E., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Mehrzad, J., and Zhao, X. (2007). "Selenium, Immune Functions and Health of Dairy Cattle.", in Lyons T.P., Jacques K.A. and Hower J.M. (eds.) - Nutrional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK, pp. 289-303.

    2007 - View publication details

  16. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Lee, J.-W., Ibeagha, A.E., Bannerman, D.D., Paape, M.J., and Zhao, X. (2007). "Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide upregulates the expression of both toll like receptor 4 and 2 (TLR4 and TLR2) in cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells.", Journal of Animal Science, 85(Suppl. 1), pp. 471 (# W22). (Abstract)

    2007 - View publication details

  17. Kgwatalala, P.M., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Hayes, J.F., and Zhao, X. (2007). "SNPs in the 3’UTR of stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene in Canadian Holsteins and Jerseys.", Journal of Animal Science, 85(Suppl. 1), pp. 420-421 (#557). (Abstract)

    2007 - View publication details

  18. Chessa, S., Chiatti, F., Rignanese, D., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Özbeyaz, C., Hassan, Y.A., Baig, M.M., Erhardt, G., and Caroli, A.M. (2007). "The casein genes in goat breeds from different Continents: Analysis by Polymerase Chain Reaction - Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP).", Italian Journal of Animal Science, 6(Suppl. 1), pp. 73-75. (Abstract)

    2007 - View publication details

  19. Kgwatalala, P.M., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Hayes, J.F., and Zhao, X. (2007). "SNPs in the 3’UTR of stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene in Canadian Holsteins and Jerseys.", 2007 Joint Annual Meeting of the ADSA, PSA, AMPA, ASAS, San Antonio, TX, USA, July 7-12, 2007. (Presentation)

    2007 - View publication details

  20. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Lee, J.-W., Ibeagha, A.E., Bannerman, D.D., Paape, M.J., and Zhao, X. (2007). "Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide upregulates the expression of both toll like receptor 4 and 2 (TLR4 and TLR2) in cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells.", ADSA-PSA-AMPA-ASAS 2007 Joint Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, USA, July 7-12, 2007. (Poster)

    2007 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre
2000 College Street
Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Bacterial pathogens›Cellular interactions
Agriculture›Bioinformatics
Agriculture›Biology›Molecular
Agriculture›Diseases›Livestock diseases
Agriculture›Epigenetics
Agriculture›Genomics›Animal
Agriculture›Probiotics
Animals›Health and Wellness›Infections
Environment›Climate›Climate change adaptation
Sciences›Scientific research
Technology›Biotechnology/genomics

Affiliations

Adjunct professor: Laval university

Language

English
French