Dr. Jason L. McCallum

Image Jason L. McCallum
Research Scientist: Phytochemistry

Characterization of bioactive natural products from plants

  • extraction, isolation, & purification of plant bioactives
  • assay-guided fractionation of plant bioactives
  • structural characterization via LC-MS, MS-MS
  • hops, berries, small fruits, native plants
  • plant protection
  • human health
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
440 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI

Current research and/or projects

Dr. McCallum's research program primarily focuses on improving the attributes of plants, for both food and non-food uses, in support of the horticulture and agri-food sectors.  

​Dr. McCallum characterizes phytochemical compounds in plants which may play a beneficial role in human health, or provide plants with improved performance against pests. 

Research and/or project statements

  • hops (Humulus lupulus L.) germplasm development
  • bioactives discovery from berry and small fruit crops
  • characterizing plant defensive compounds for improved plant performance
  • characterizing signalling molecules involved in plant-microbe interactions
  • characterizing phytochemical profile of native plants

Professional activities / interests

Student Mentorship/HQP training:

  • on the job training (OJT) internships
  • Co-operative Education student mentorship/supervision
  • Honour’s student mentorship/supervision
  • Graduate student mentorship/supervison

Education and awards

Education:

  • Ph.D. Plant Science, University of Guelph, Ontario Agriculture College (OAC), Department of Plant Agriculture, 2008.
  • ​B.Sc.(Hons. Co-Op) Biochemistry: Biotechnology Option, University of Waterloo, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 2003.

​Awards:

  • NSERC PGS-D fellowship (2005-08)
  • NSERC PGS-M fellowship (2004-05)
  • OGS fellowship (2003-04)

 

 

Key publications

  1. Stetson, C.R., McCallum, J.L., and Hurta, R.A.R. (2014). "Phytochemical profiling and anti-cancer analysis of select woody plants.", UPEI Graduate Student Day, May 23, 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  2. Kirby, C.W., Wu, T.-Y., Nabuurs, M.H., Tsao, R., Tsao, R., and McCallum, J.L. (2014). "Anthocyanin and Pyranoanthocyanin Biosynthesis in Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.).", 53rd Annual meeting of Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, August 9-13, 2014, Presentation.

    2014 - View publication details

  3. Nabuurs, M.H., McCallum, J.L., and Kirby, C.W. (2014). "Isolation of Novel Pyranoanthocyanins From North American Ginseng Berry Pulp.", MOOT XXVII NMR Symposium, Montreal, QC, Canada, October 18-19, 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  4. Fofana, B., Ghose, K., McCallum, J.L., and Cloutier, S. (2014). "Flax SDG lignan glucosylation: from gene discovery to flax lines with altered SDG profiles.", Plant Biology 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA, July 12-16, 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  5. Somalraju, A., Ghose, K., McCallum, J.L., and Fofana, B. (2014). "A potato without toxic compounds?/Une patate sans composés toxiques?", CLRC open House, Charlottetown, Canada, August 23, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  6. MacPhee, J., Stetson, C.R., Elwood, B., Patel, K., McCallum, J.L., Neto, C., and Hurta, R.A.R. (2014). "Flavonol-enriched fraction from Vaccinium macrocarpon fruit inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression in human prostate cancer cells in vitro.", The Journal of Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 4(11), pp. 474-492.

    2014 - View publication details

  7. Fischer, M.B., Nabuurs, M.H., McCallum, J.L., and Kirby, C.W. (2014). "Pyranoanthocyanin Behaviour in Solution.", MOOT XXVII NMR Symposium, Montreal, QC, Canada, October 18-19, 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  8. Nabuurs, M.H., McCallum, J.L., and Kirby, C.W. (2014). "Novel Pyranoanthocyanins Isolated From North American Ginseng Berry Pulp.", 6th Maritime Natural Products Conference, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, August 18-20, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  9. Kirby, C.W., Nabuurs, M.H., and McCallum, J.L. (2014). "Anthocyanin and Pyranoanthocyanin biosynthesis in Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.).", 52nd Annual meeting of Phytochemical Society of North America, Naleigh, NC, USA, August 9-13, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  10. McCallum, J.L. and Kirby, C.W. (2014). "Phytochemical profile of Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L) during inflorescence development.", Plant Biology 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA, July 12-16, 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  11. Nabuurs, M.H., McCallum, J.L., and Kirby, C.W. (2014). "Novel Pyranoanthocyanins Isolated From North American Ginseng Berry Pulp.", 6th Maritime Natural Products Conference, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, August 18-20, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  12. Ghose, K., Selvaraj, K., McCallum, J., Kirby, C.W., Sweeney-Nixon, M., Cloutier, S.J., Deyholos, M., Datla, R., Fofana, B. (2014). Identification and functional characterization of a flax UDP-glycosyltransferase glucosylating secoisolariciresinol (SECO) into secoisolariciresinol monoglucoside (SMG) and diglucoside (SDG), 14(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-14-82

    2014 - View publication details

  13. Kirby, C.W., Wu, T., Tsao, R., Tsao, R., and McCallum, J.L. (2013). "Isolation and structural characterization of unusual pyranoanthocyanins and related anthocyanins from Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.) via UPLC-ESI-MS, 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR spectroscopy).", 52nd Annual meeting of Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), Corvallis, Oregon, USA, August 2-7, 2013.

    2013 - View publication details

  14. Ghose, K., McCallum, J.L., Stetson, C., and Fofana, B. (2013). "Reducing potato anti-nutritional factors.", Open House (Poster), Harington, PE, Canada, August 16, 2013. (Presentation)

    2013 - View publication details

  15. Ghose, K., Selvaraj, K., McCallum, J.L., Datla, R.S.S., Cloutier, S., and Fofana, B. (2013). "Key Catalytic Amino Acids for a Flax Secoisolariciresinol Glycosyltransferase as determined by Molecular Modeling and Site-Directed Mutagenesis.", 2013 CSPB/SCBV Annual General Meeting, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada, June 25-28, 2013.

    2013 - View publication details

  16. Brown, D.C.W., McCallum, J.L., Siow, Y.L., Jordan, M.C., Netticadan, T., Kirby, C.W., and Ross, K.A. (2013). The Characterization and Proof of Efficacy of Bioactives from Fruits. Project ID: 1717; Research Project Final Report 2012-2013., AAFC Science and Technology Branch. (Report)

    2013 - View publication details

  17. Ghose, K., McCallum, J., Fillmore, S., Kirby, C., Sanderson, K., Joly, S., Bruneau, A., Fofana, B. (2013). Structuration of the genetic and metabolite diversity among Prince Edward Island cultivated wild rose ecotypes. Scientia Horticulturae, [online] 160 251-263. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.01.016

    2013 - View publication details

  18. Wu, T., McCallum, J.L., Wang, S., Liu, R., Zhu, H., Tsao, R. (2013). Evaluation of antioxidant activities and chemical characterisation of staghorn sumac fruit (Rhus hirta L.). Food Chemistry, [online] 138(2-3), 1333-1340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.10.086

    2013 - View publication details

  19. Diarra, M.S., Block, G., Rempel, H., Oomah, B.D., Harrison, J., McCallum, J., Boulanger, S., Brouillette, E., Gattuso, M., Malouin, F. (2013). In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of cranberry press cake extracts alone or in combination with β-lactams against Staphylococcus aureus. BMC Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Journal, [online] 13 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-90

    2013 - View publication details

  20. Kirby, C.W., Wu, T., Tsao, R., McCallum, J.L. (2013). Isolation and structural characterization of unusual pyranoanthocyanins and related anthocyanins from Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.) via UPLC-ESI-MS, 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Phytochemistry, [online] 94 284-293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.06.017

    2013 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Charlottetown Research and Development Centre
440 University Avenue
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4N6
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Antioxidant chemistry
Agriculture›Bioactives
Agriculture›Biochemistry›Phytochemical
Agriculture›Chemistry›Natural products
Agriculture›Chemistry›Phytochemical
Agriculture›Food Science›Food biochemistry
Agriculture›Fruit›Attributes
Agriculture›Physiology›Plant
Plant›Horticulture
Sciences›Scientific research

Affiliations

 

  • Adjunct faculty: Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
  • Adjunct faculty: Department of Graduate Studies, University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
  • Advisory Board: Holland College, BioScience Technology Program
  • Editorial Board: Food Research International
  • Past member: Phytochemical Society of North America

Language

English