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., 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
Wilhelm, B., Leblanc, D., Houde, A., Brassard, J., Gagné, M.J., Plante, D., Bellon-Gagnon, P., Jones, T.H., Muehlhauser, V., Janecko, N., Avery, B., Rajić, A., McEwen, S.A. (2014). Survey of Canadian retail pork chops and pork livers for detection of hepatitis E virus, norovirus, and rotavirus using real time RT-PCR. International Journal of Food Microbiology, [online] 185 33-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.05.006
2014 - View publication details
Béland, K., Doré-Nguyen, M., Gagné, M.-J., Patey, N., Brassard, J., Alvarez, F., and Halac, U. (2014). "Torque teno virus load as a biomarker of immunosuppression? new hopes and insights.", The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 210(4), pp. 668-670. doi : 10.1093/infdis/jiu210
2014 - View publication details
Leblanc, D., Houde, A., Gagné, M.J., Plante, D., Bellon-Gagnon, P., Jones, T.H., Muehlhauser, V., Wilhelm, B., Avery, B., Janecko, N., Brassard, J. (2014). Presence, viral load and characterization of Torque teno sus viruses in liver and pork chop samples at retail. International Journal of Food Microbiology, [online] 178 60-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.03.005
2014 - View publication details
Béland, K., Dore-Nguyen, M., Gagné, M.J., Patey, N., Brassard, J., Alvarez, F., Halac, U. (2014). Torque teno virus in children who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation: New insights about a common pathogen. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, [online] 209(2), 247-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jit423
2014 - View publication details
Wilkes, G., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., Gannon, V., Gottschall, N., Jokinen, C.C., Jones, T.H., Khan, I.U.H., Marti, R., Sunohara, M.D., Topp, E., Lapen, D.R. (2014). Long-term monitoring of waterborne pathogens and microbial source tracking markers in paired agricultural watersheds under controlled and conventional tile drainage management. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, [online] 80(12), 3708-3720. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00254-14
2014 - View publication details
Lachapelle, V., Sohal, J.S., Lambert, M.C., Brassard, J., Fravalo, P., Letellier, A., L'Homme, Y. (2014). Genetic diversity of group A rotavirus in swine in Canada. Archives of Virology, [online] 159(7), 1771-1779. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00705-013-1951-9
2014 - View publication details
Wilhelm, B., Leblanc, D., Brassard, J., Gagné, M.-J., Plante, D., Bellon-Gagnon, P., Jones, T.H., Muehlhauser, V., Janecko, N., Avery, B., Friendship, R.M., McEwen, S.A., Rajic, A., and Houde, A. (2013). "A survey of prevalence and viral load of hepatitis E virus, Norovirus, and rotavirus on Canadian retail pork chops and pork livers.", Canadian Association of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (CAVEPM) and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) Conference (ACAVEPM 2013), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, May 27-28, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Wilkes, G.A., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., Gannon, V.P.J., Jokinen, C.C., Jones, T.H., Neumann, N.F., Pintar, K.D.M., Ruecker, N.J., Schmidt, P.J., Sunohara, M., Topp, E., and Lapen, D.R. (2013). "Bacteria, viruses, and parasites in an intermittent stream protected from and exposed to pasturing cattle: prevalence, densities, and quantitative microbial risk assessment.", Water Research, 47(16), pp. 6244-6257.
2013 - View publication details
Wilhelm, B., Leblanc, D., Brassard, J., Gagné, M.-J., Plante, D., Bellon-Gagnon, P., Jones, T.H., Muehlhauser, V., Janecko, N., Avery, B., Friendship, R.M., McEwen, S.A., Rajic, A., and Houde, A. (2013). "Emerging viruses project: a survey of Canadian retail pork chops and liver for hepatitis E virus, Norovirus and Rotavirus.", Canadian Association of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (CAVEPM) and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) Conference (ACAVEPM 2013), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, May 27-28, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Savard, T., Barrette, J., Brassard, J., and Gagné, M.-J. (2013). "Lactic Starter Ensure Safety in Low Sodium Fermented Vegetables.", Microbial Diversity 2013: Microbial Interactions in Complex Ecosystems, Turin, Italy, October 23-25, 2013, Oral Presentation, pp. 124-127.
2013 - View publication details
Brassard, J. (2013). "Virus et les toxi-infections alimentaires.", Journée des pathogènes émergents et antimicrobiens naturels organisée par L’INITIA, Sur invitation, dépenses assumées par l’organisme d’accueil (frais d’inscription et repas), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada, June 6, 2013. (Presentation)
2013 - View publication details
Topp, E., Lanthier, M., Diarra, M.S., Delaquis, P.J., Bach, S.J., McAllister, T.A., Sharma, R., Inglis, G.D., Masse, D., Bezanson, G.S., Bittman, S., Talbot, G., Masse, L., Brassard, J., Houde, A., Jones, T.H., Lapen, D.R., van Bochove, É., Gannon, V.P.J., Pintar, K.D.M., Masson, L., Neumann, N.F., and Koning, W. (2013). Assessment and management of on-farm fate of microbial and chemical contaminants carried in human and animal wastes used as organic fertilizers. Final Report SAGES #1462. (Report)
2013 - View publication details
Wilkes, G., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., Gannon, V., Jokinen, C.C., Jones, T.H., Marti, R., Neumann, N.F., Ruecker, N.J., Sunohara, M., Topp, E., Lapen, D.R. (2013). Coherence among different microbial source tracking markers in a small agricultural stream with or without livestock exclusion practices. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, [online] 79(20), 6207-6219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01626-13
2013 - View publication details
Ward, P., Poitras, E., Leblanc, D., Gagnon, C.A., Brassard, J., Houde, A. (2013). Comparison of different RT-qPCR assays for the detection of human and bovine group A rotaviruses and characterization by sequences analysis of genes encoding VP4 and VP7 capsid proteins. Journal of Applied Microbiology, [online] 114(5), 1435-1448. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jam.12165
2013 - View publication details
Béland, K., Doré-Nguyen, M., Gagné, M.-J., Patey, N., Brassard, J., Alvarez, A., and Halac, U. (2012). "Impact of Immunosuppression and Hepatitis E virus infection on viriome of children with orthotopic liver transplantation.", 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases: The Liver Meeting, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA, USA, November 9-13, 2012. (Poster)
2012 - View publication details
Lachapelle, V., Brassard, J., Letellier, A., Fravalo, P., and L’Homme, Y. (2012). "Identification of vectors and viral contamination sources within a network of swine farms and a slaughterhouse", 5e Symposium Annuel du Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine (CRIP), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada, May 16-17, 2012. (Poster)
2012 - View publication details
Doré-Nguyen, M., Béland, K., Gagné, M.-J., Patey, N., Houde, A., Brassard, J., Alvarez, F., and Halac, U. (2012). "Prevalence and impact of Torque teno virus infection in immunosuppressed children with orthopic liver transplantation.", Canadian Association for the Study of Liver, Montréal, QC, Canada, February 24-27 2012.
2012 - View publication details
Brassard, J. and Gagné, M.-J. (2012). "Development of an extraction and concentration procedure for the detection of enteric viruses in soil.", 101st Annual Meeting of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP 2012), Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, USA, July 22-25, 2012. (Poster)
2012 - View publication details