Dr. Leonardo Galindo Gonzalez

Research Scientist

Lead Molecular Identification Research Lab (MIRL)

Research using omics, bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches for the study and identification of noxious and regulated plants/seeds.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Building 201 - Office A113

Current research and/or projects

Development of molecular biology and omic tools to study and identify noxious and regulated plants/seeds.

Research and/or project statements

Genome skimming to find novel DNA barcodes for plant/seed identification.
Protein biotyping as a novel way to identify seeds.
DNA barcoding of the CFIA herarium collection.

Professional activities / interests

Associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Sciences.
Omics, bioinformatics, plant stress, transposable elements.
Student mentorship and supervision.
Science education in formal and non-formal environments.

Education and awards

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Plant biology - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 2016.
Master of Science, Plant biology - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 2008.
Bachelor of Science, Biology - Department of Biology, National University of Colombia, 2001.

AWARDS

Faculty of Science Doctoral Dissertation Award, University of Alberta, 2017.
Bill Samuel Graduate Student Service Award, University of Alberta, 2016.
President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction, University of Alberta, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2013 to 2014.
Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures, 2013 to 2016.
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Alexander Graham Bell (Doctoral), National - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2013 to 2016.
Susan Eberlein Graduate Scholarship in Genetics, University of Alberta, 2013.
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral), University of Alberta, 2012 to 2013.
University of Alberta Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship September 2012

International experience and/or work

French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRAE), Internship, 2013 to 2014, Versailles, France.

Transposable element markers and responses to stress.

International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Research Assistant, 2001 to 2005, Cali, Colombia.

Abiotic responses in common bean and rice.
Transposable elements in common bean.
Molecular marker development.

Additional links

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leonardo-Galindo-Gonzalez

Key publications

Zhou Q.; Galindo-González L.; Hwang S-F.; Strelkov S.E. 2022. Application of the NanoString nCounter System as an Alternative Method to Investigate Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Host Plant Responses to Plasmodiophora brassicae. Internationl Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23(24): 15581.

Velasco-Cuervo S.M.; Galindo-González L.; Toro-Perea Nelson. 2022. An omics evolutionary perspective on phytophagous insect–host plant interactions in Anastrepha obliqua: a review. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 00:1-15.

Tso H.; Galindo-González L.; Locke T.; Strelkov S.E. 2022. rhPCR and SNaPshot assays to distinguish Plasmodiophora brassicae pathotype clusters. Plant Methods. 18:91.

Galindo-González L.; Hwang S-F.; Strelkov S.E. 2021. Candidate Effectors of Plasmodiophora brassicae Pathotype 5X During Infection of Two Brassica napus Genotypes. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12:742268.

Tso H.; Galindo-González L.; Strelkov S.E. 2021. Current and future pathotyping platforms for Plasmodiophora brassicae in Canada. Plants. 10:1446.

Askarian H.; AkhavanA.; Galindo-González L.; Hwang S-F.; Strelkov S.E. 2020. Genetic structure of Plasmodiophora brassicae populations virulent on clubroot resistant canola (Brassica napus). Plant Disease. doi: https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1094/PDIS-09-20-1980-RE.

Zhou Q. (trainee); Galindo-González L.; Manolii V.; Hwang S-F.; Strelkov S.E. 2020. Comparative transcriptome analysis of rutabaga (Brassica napus) cultivars indicates activation of salicylic acid and ethylene-mediated defenses in response to Plasmodiophora brassicae. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21:838.

Zhou Q.(trainee); Galindo-González L.; Hwang S-F.; Strelkov S.E. 2020. Application of genomics and transcriptomics to accelerate development of clubroot resistant canola. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2020.1794541.

Galindo-González L.; Manolii V.; Hwang S-F.; Strelkov S.E. 2020. Response of Brassica napus to Plasmodiophora brassicae involves salicylic acid-mediated immunity: an RNA-seq-based study. Frontiers in Plant Science. 11:1025.

Galindo-González L.; Sarmiento F.; Quimbaya M.A. 2018. Shaping plant adaptability, genome structure and gene expression through transposable element epigenetic control: Focus on methylation. Agronomy. 8:180

Galindo-González L.; Mhiri C.; Deyholos M.K.; Grandbastien M.A. 2017. LTR retrotransposon in plants: engines of evolution. GENE. 626:14-25.

Galindo-González L.; Mhiri C.; Grandbastien M.A.; Deyholos M.K. 2016. Ty1-copia elements reveal diverse insertion sites linked to polymorphisms among flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) accessions. BMC Genomics. 17:1002.

Galindo-González L.; Deyholos M.K. 2016. RNA-seq transcriptome response of flax (Linum usitatissimum) to the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini. Frontiers in Plant Science. 7:1766.

Galindo-González L.M.; El Kayal W.; Morris J.S.; Cooke J.E.K. 2015. Diverse chitinases are invoked during the activity-dormancy transition in spruce. Tree genetics and genomes. 11:41.

Galindo-González L.; Pinzon-Latorre D.; Bergen E.A.; Jensen D.C.; Deyholos M.K. 2015. Ion torrent sequencing as a tool for mutation discovery in the flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genome. Plant methods. 11:19.

Arango-Velez L.; Galindo L.M.; Meents M.; ElKayal W.; Cooke B.J.; Linsky J.; Lusebrink I.; Cooke J.E.K. 2013. Influence of water deficit on the molecular responses of Pinus contorta x Pinus banksiana mature trees to infection by the mountain pine beetle fungal associate, Grosmannia clavigera. Tree physiology. 34:1220-1239.

Galindo L.M.; Deyholos M.K. 2012. Identification, characterization and distribution of transposable elements in the flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genome. BMC genomics. 13:644.

Wang Z.; Hobson N.; Galindo L.M.; Zhu S.; Shi D.; McDill J.; Yang L.; Hawkins S.; Neutelings G.; Datla R.; Lambert G.; Galbraith D.W.; Grassa C.J.; Geraldes A.; Cronk Q.C.; Cullis C.; Dash P.K.; Kumar P.A.; Cloutier S.; Sharpe A.G.; Wong G.K.S.; Wang J.; Deyholos M.K. 2012. The genome of flax (Linum usitatissimum) assembled de novo from short shotgun sequence reads. The Plant Journal. 72:461-73

Galindo L.M.; ElKayal W.; Ju C.; Allen C.; King-Jones S.; Cooke J.E.K. 2012. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of white spruce stems during the transition from active growth to dormancy. Plant Cell and Environment. 35:682-701.

Arango-Velez L.; Meents M.; Linsky J.; ElKayal W.; Adams E.; Galindo L.M.; Cooke J.E.K. 2011. Influence of water deficit on the induced and constitutive responses of pines to infection by mountain pine beetle fungal associates. BMC proceedings. 5(Suppl 7): O29.

Galindo L.M.; Gaitán E.; Baccam P.; Tohme J. 2004. Isolation and characterization of Ty1-copia group retrotransposon rnase-ltr sequences in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Genome.47:84-95.