Julie Brassard

Research scientist

Dr. Julie Brassard has been a research scientist in food virology for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada since 2004. She has multi-disciplinary expertise in biochemistry, microbiology and virology, among others. Her area of expertise is the study of viruses that cause food-borne illnesses and, in particular, determining the source of human pathogenic viruses and viruses with zoonotic potential in horticultural and animal production and in the food chain; and developing and applying concentration methods, molecular tools and model/substitute viruses to detect and study virus persistence/survival and develop farm-to-table control strategies; virome studies and improve the gut health.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre

Current research and/or projects

Enteric infections affecting both human and animal intestinal health are recognized as having negative impacts on the agri-food sector and animal production due to the economic losses they generate each year. Pathogenic and zoonotic enteric viruses represent a threat to the value chain as they are present in the food chain and in the Canadian livestock causing disease in animals and some of these viral agents can be transmitted to humans through Agri-food products and some agricultural practices. J. Brassard has expertise in veterinary microbiology and food virology, which gives her unique expertise in the field. She participates in integrated approaches in order to face the challenges and issues in animal health and food safety through her various collaborative projects.

Research and/or project statements

Determining the source of human pathogenic viruses and viruses with zoonotic potential in horticultural and animal production and in the food chain
Developing and applying concentration methods, molecular tools and model/substitute viruses to detect and study virus persistence/survival and develop farm-to-table control strategies
Virome studies and improve the gut health
Intestinal health gut improving by the use probiotics against enteric viruses

Fields of Science

Learn more about my research and how it impacts you by visiting Fields of Science, a campaign featuring 11 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists from coast to coast.

Professional activities / interests

Lead and collaborate on research projects
Supervision of graduate students
Ad hoc reviewer for several scientific journals
Member of the local biosafety and biosecurity committee of the Saint-Hyacinthe RDC

Education and awards

Academic qualifications

B. Sc. Biochemistry, Université Laval, 1997

Ph.D. Veterinary sciences, opt. Microbiology, Université de Montréal, 2003

Postdoctoral fellow, Food virology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 2003

Awards

Excellence in response to Covid-19 awards, given by Janice Charrette, Interim Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet to all members of Food Safety COVID-19 Working Group

Key publications

Nantel-Fortier, N., Gauthier, M., L'Homme, Y., Fravalo, P., Brassard, J. (2021). Treatments of porcine fecal samples affect high-throughput virome sequencing results. Journal of Virological Methods, [online] 289 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.114045
2021 - View publication details
Leblanc, D., Gagné, M.J., Poitras, É., Brassard, J. (2019). Persistence of murine norovirus, bovine rotavirus, and hepatitis A virus on stainless steel surfaces, in spring water, and on blueberries. Food Microbiology, [online] 84 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2019.103257
2019 - View publication details
Nantel-Fortier, N., Lachapelle, V., Letellier, A., L'Homme, Y., Brassard, J. (2019). Kobuvirus shedding dynamics in a swine production system and their association with diarrhea. Veterinary Microbiology, [online] 235 319-326. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.07.023
2019 - View publication details
Brassard, J., Gagné, M.J. (2018). An efficient recovery method for enteric viral particles from agricultural soils. Journal of Virological Methods, [online] 261 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.06.014
2018 - View publication details
Jones, T.H., Brassard, J., Topp, E., Wilkes, G., Lapen, D.R. (2017). Waterborne viruses and F-specific coliphages in mixed-use watersheds: Microbial associations, host specificities, and affinities with environmental/land use factors. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, [online] 83(3), http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02763-16
2017 - View publication details
Lachapelle, V., Letellier, A., Fravalo, P., Brassard, J., L'Homme, Y. (2017). Dynamics of virus distribution in a defined swine production network using enteric viruses as molecular markers. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, [online] 83(4), http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.03187-16
2017 - View publication details
Leblanc, D., Inglis, G.D., Boras, V.F., Brassard, J., Houde, A. (2017). The prevalence of enteric RNA viruses in stools from diarrheic and non-diarrheic people in southwestern Alberta, Canada. Archives of Virology, [online] 162(1), 117-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00705-016-3063-9
2017 - View publication details
Khan, I.U.H., Cloutier, M., Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Wilkes, G.A., Jones, T., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., and Talbot, G. (2015). "Quantitative detection and assessment of occurrence of human and animal viruses in agricultural aquatic environment.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015, S4-06. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Nantel-Fortier, N., Letellier, A., Lachapelle, V., L’Homme, Y., and Brassard, J. (2015). "First report of kobuvirus detection in swine in the province of Québec.", SafePork 2015, Porto, Portugal, September 8-10, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Khan, I.U.H., Cloutier, M., Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Wilkes, G.A., Jones, T.H., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., and Talbot, G. (2015). "Quantitative detection and assessment of occurrence of human and animal viruses in agricultural aquatic environment.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Letellier, A., Nantel-Fortier, N., Surprenant, C., Buholzer, P., Brassard, J., and Quessy, S. (2015). "Hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies and HEV RNA detection in swine herds in Québec, Canada.", SafePork 2015, Porto, Portugal, September 8-10, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Delaquis, P.J., Brassard, J., and Gajadhar, A. (2015). "Pathogenic Viruses and Protozoa Transmitted by Soil.", in Yates, M., Nakatsu, C., Miller, R. and Pillai, S. (eds.) - Manual of Environmental Microbiology 4th edition, ASMscience Press, Washington, DC., Chapter 3.3.1, pp. 3.3.1.1-3.3.1.14.
2015 - View publication details
Lachapelle, V., Letellier, A., Nantel-Fortier, N., Hélie, P., Arsenault, W.J., Brassard, J., and L’Homme, Y. (2015). "Characterisation of the clinical importance of porcine group C rotavirus in a swine nursery production network in Québec.", SafePork 2015, Porto, Portugal, September 8-10, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Gagné, M.J., Barrette, J., Savard, T., Brassard, J. (2015). Evaluation of survival of murine norovirus-1 during sauerkraut fermentation and storage under standard and low-sodium conditions. Food Microbiology, [online] 52 119-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2015.07.009
2015 - View publication details
Brassard, J., Gagné, M.J., Leblanc, D., Poitras, É., Houde, A., Boras, V.F., Inglis, G.D. (2015). Association of age and gender with Torque teno virus detection in stools from diarrheic and non-diarrheic people. Journal of Clinical Virology, [online] 72 55-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2015.08.020
2015 - View publication details
Ward, P., Leblanc, D., Houde, A., Brassard, J. (2015). Analysis of complete genome sequences and a V239A substitution in the helicase domain of swine hepatitis E virus strains isolated in Canada. Archives of Virology, [online] 160(7), 1767-1773. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00705-015-2429-8
2015 - View publication details
Nantel-Fortier, N., Lachapelle, V., L’Homme, Y., Letellier, A., Fravalo, P., and Brassard, J. (2014). "Phylogenetic analysis of Hepatitis E virus and contamination sources in swine production network.", International Union of Microbiology Societies, Montréal, Québec, Canada, 29-31 juillet 2014, Oral presentation. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details
Lachapelle, V., Brassard, J., Letellier, A., Fravalo, P., and L’Homme, Y. (2014). "Viral indicators suggest a role for livestock transportation and slaughterhouses in harbouring and spreading of enteric pathogens in swine production networks.", 7ième Symposium du CRIPA, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada, 3-4 juin 2014. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details
Lachapelle, M., Lachapelle, V., Brassard, J., Letellier, A., Fravalo, P., and L’Homme, Y. (2014). "Molecular tracking of enteric viral indicators in a swine production network.", International Union of Microbiology Societies, Montréal, Québec, Canada, 29-31 juillet 2014, Oral presentation. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details
Gagné, M.-J., Brassard, J., Barrette, J., and Savard, T. (2014). "Risk Mitigation in Vegetables Fermentation with Sodium Reduction; A Viral Perspective.", Food Micro 2014, Nantes, France, September 1-4, 2014, Presentation. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details