Nathalie Bissonnette, PhD.

Research Scientist, animal genomics

Helping to advance animal health research and encourage natural resistance to disease using an integrated approach in animal genomics.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Current research and/or projects

Dr Nathalie Bissonnette focuses her research activities on animal immunogenetics, immunotolerance and immunoregulation in response to nutrients, the environment and contacts with pathogens. This includes identifying genetic and epigenetic markers and environmental factors that influence the immune system. Her research helps formulate nutritional interventions that support natural resistance to disease. She uses advanced sequencing technologies and next‑generation genotyping to identify genetic and epigenetic markers, gene expression profiles (transcriptome) and network regulators (IncRNAs, microRNAs) that govern resistance or sensitivity to disease, particularly to bovine paratuberculosis.

Dr Nathalie Bissonnette joined Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada’s Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre in 2001. She has used her expertise in molecular biology and animal genomics in numerous projects, primarily relating to pigs and dairy cows. Her work targets the following sector goals: (1) eliminating threats in the agriculture and agri-food value chain; (2) supporting a healthy agricultural sector.

Research and/or project statements

Uncovering susceptibility to paratuberculosis by studying the host’s genetics and the dynamics of the infection of strains with varied genetics (mixed genotype infection) to understand susceptibility to and disease progression – Growing Forward 3 (AAFC), Dairy cluster

Animal genomics for resistance to paratuberculosis – Project targeted by AAFC

Developing innovative strategies and analytical tools to identify cows affected by paratuberculosis, that is, infected by the mycobacterium avium ssp paratuberculosis – AAFC A‑Base

Neonatal nutritional interventions using bovine colostrum and/or vitamin D and copper (Cu) and their programming effects on the oxidative status, the maturing of the immune system and the development of intestinal microbial populations among piglets – Growing Forward II (AAFC), Swine cluster II

Understanding intestinal microbiota and immune responses of the host to probiotics and colostrum to improve the intestinal health of pigs – AAFC A‑Base

Developing food technologies and strategies to improve intestinal health and limit the use of antibiotics in monogastric animal production – Growing Forward III (AAFC), Swine cluster II

Molecular and biochemical characterization of the osteopontin bioactive molecule that is secreted in cow’s milk: Functional activities of genetic variants and isoforms – AAFC A‑Base

Professional activities / interests

Member: GRESABO (research group on bovine health)
Member: International Association for Paratuberculosis
Member: Op+lait, research group on milk quality; FQRNT strategic group program
Member: Dairy Cattle Breeding and Genetics Committee, Canada
Member: Institutional Animal Care Committee
Editorial board member: the journal Gene
Member: Canadian Society of Animal Science
Member: American Dairy Science Association

Interests: nutritional intervention, epigenetics, immunotolerance, immunization

Education and awards

Education:

Post-doc Agriculture et Agriculture Canada (1999-2000)

PhD/MSc. Radiobiologie/Oncologie (Université de Sherbrooke) 1998

Bacc Biotechnologie (Université de Sherbrooke) 1994

Recognition awards:

(1) Distinction: Merit list of the dean of the faculty of medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, 1997–1998; (2) Gordon Fisher award (1997), faculty of medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, for research excellence; (3) Jean-Pierre Caillé award (1997) given by the Université de Sherbrooke medical research council, awarded during Science Day; (4) Distinction: Merit list of the dean of the faculty of medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, 1991–1992, scholarship; (5) FCAR (funds for researcher training and research assistance), 1991–1992; (6) Scholarship for the Master of Science, Université de Sherbrooke, 1990–1991; (7) Scholarship for the health sciences research program 1989–1990, granted by the faculty of medicine, Université de Sherbrooke; (8) Scholarship awarded by the Université de Sherbrooke medical research centre (CRMUS), summer 1989; (9) Distinction awarded during the symposium in Ottawa, Canada, organized by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada (PMAC), November 1989; (10) Award from the PMAC foundation, Scholarship for the Bachelor of Science, 1989.

International experience and/or work

Epidemiologic typing of strains of the mycobacterium avium ssp paratuberculosis (MAP) in collaboration with the animal mycobacterial infections team at INRA, France (http://mac-inmv.tours.inra.fr), to document the genetic diversity of MAP infections in North America.

Guest researcher (1994–1995), Université Pasteur (France), at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Key publications

Fock-Chow-Tho, D., Topp, E., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., and Bissonnette, N. (2016). "Comparison of commercial DNA extraction and QPCR systems for a better sensitivity in detecting the causative paratuberculosis pathogen in dairy cow fecal samples.", 13th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Nantes, France, 19-24 June, 2016, P-03.18, pp. 98. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Do, D.N., Bissonnette, N., Lacasse, P., Miglior, F., Sargolzaei, M., Zhao, X., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2016). "Genome wide association analysis and pathways enrichment for lactation persistency in Canadian Holstein cattle.", Journal of Animal Science, 94(Supp. 2). (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Talbot, G., Lessard, M., Yergeau, E., Gagnon, N., Lo Verso, L., Lapointe, J., Bissonnette, N., Bueno Dalto, D., Ouattara, B., Guay, F., and Matte, J.J. (2016). "Effects of different sources and routes of administration of copper and vitamins A and D on piglets gut microbiota.", Journal of Animal Science, 94(Supp. 2). (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Matte, J.J., Audet, I., Ouattara, B., Bissonnette, N., and Lessard, M. (2016). "Sources and routes of administration of copper and vitamins A and D on metabolic status of these micronutrients in suckling piglets.", Journal of Animal Science, 94(Supp. 2), pp. 116. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Talbot, G., Lessard, M., Yergeau, E., Gagnon, N., Lo Verso, L., Lapointe, J., Bissonnette, N., Bueno Dalto, D., Ouattara, B., Guay, F., and Matte, J.J. (2016). "Microbiota of the small intestine of piglets affected by perinatal administration of copper and vitamins A and D.", 18th International Conference on Microbiota Buenos Engineering, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 27-28 October, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Lo Verso, L., Matte, J.J., Talbot, G., Bissonnette, N., Lapointe, J., Gagnon, N., Ouattara, B., Guay, F., and Lessard, M. (2016). "Effects of different sources and routes of administration of copper and vitamins A and D on gut volatile fatty acids and gene expression involved in regulation of innate and acquired immunity in piglets.", Journal of Animal Science, 94(Supp. 2). (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Ariel, O., Gevry, N.Y., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., and Bissonnette, N. (2016). "Johnes disease bovine monocyte-derived macrophages are insensitive to ex vivo infection by Mycobacterium avium ssp. Paratuberculosis.", 13th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Nantes, France, 19-24 June, 2016, P-01.11, pp. 45. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Fock-Chow-Tho, D. E. Topp, E. Ibeagha-Awemu, and N. Bissonnette. Comparison of commercial DNA extraction and QPCR systems for a better sensitivity in detecting the causative paratuberculosis pathogen in dairy cow fecal samples. International Congress on Paratuberculosis, Nantes, France, June 19-24th.
2016 - View publication details
Ariel, O. Ibeagha-Awemu, N. Gévry, and N. Bissonnette. Johnes disease bovine monocyte-derived macrophages are insensitive to ex vivo infection by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis. 2016 13th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Nantes, France, June 19-24th.
2016 - View publication details
Arango-Sabogal et al. 2016. Detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in tie-stall dairy herds using a standardized environmental sampling technique and targeted pooled samples. Can J Vet Res 80(3):175-182.
2016 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Li, R., Ammah, A.A., Dudemaine, P.L., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., Zhao, X. (2016). Transcriptome adaptation of the bovine mammary gland to diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids shows greater impact of linseed oil over safflower oil on gene expression and metabolic pathways. BMC Genomics, [online] 17(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-2423-x
2016 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Beaudoin, F., Chiquette, J., Talbot, G., Bissonnette, N., and Lessard, M. (2015). "Probiotics administration enhances calves’ lymphoproliferation responses to vaccination during the early weeks of growth.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Fock-Chow-Tho, D., Topp, E., and Bissonnette, N. (2015). "Comparison of commercial DNA extraction and detection kits for a better sensitivity in detecting the causative paratuberculosis pathogen in dairy cow fecal samples.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Dudemaine, P.-L., Chiquette, J., Talbot, G., and Bissonnette, N. (2015). "Involvement of microRNAs in calves’ intestinal growth and development and probable modulatory role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.", Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, November 9-11, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Constant, E., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Miglior, F., Robitaille, G., and Bissonnette, N. (2015). "Improving the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach for the identification of SNPs associated with Johne’s disease.", ADSA-ASAS JAM (Joint Annual Meeting) 2015, Orlando, Florida, USA, July 12-16, 2015, 2-15, Poster Session, pp. 651-652.
2015 - View publication details
Ariel, O., Gevry, N.Y., Fecteau, G., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Karrow, N.A., and Bissonnette, N. (2015). "Bovine paratuberculosis monocyte-derived macrophages are insensitive to ex vivo MAP infection.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Ariel, N., Gévry, G., Fecteau, G., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Karrow, N.A., and Bissonnette, N. (2015). "Genetic association of Johne's disease susceptible cows through transcriptome profiling of MAP infected macrophages.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Li, R., Ammah, A.A., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., and Zhao, X. (2015). "Transcriptome adaptation of the bovine mammary gland to a diet supplemented with linseed oil.", Journal of Animal Science, 93(Suppl. S3), pp. 410. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Bissonnette, N., Jiang, X-R., Matte, J.J., Talbot, G., Guay, F., Gong, J., Wang, Q., Bontempo, V., and Lessard, M. (2015). "Effect of a post-weanling diet supplemented with gut health-enhancing feed additives on ileum transcriptome activity and serum cytokines in piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharides (LPS).", Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), 98(Suppl. 2), pp. 659. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Li, R., Dudemaine, P.-L., Ammah, A.A., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., and Zhao, X. (2015). "Mammary gland transcriptome profiling of cows fed safflower oil reveals a potential modulatory role for SREBP1 in fatty acid synthesis.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015.
2015 - View publication details