Nathalie Bissonnette, PhD.

Image Nathalie Bissonnette
Research Scientist, animal genomics

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

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

  1. Ammah, A.A., Beaudoin, F., Marier, L., Benchaar, C., Bissonnette, N., Gévry, G., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2015). "Effects of dietary supplementation with safflower oil on milk components and fat acid composition of Canadian Holstein cows.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  2. Fomenky, B., Beaudoin, F., Chiquette, J., Talbot, G., Bissonnette, N., Chouinard, P.Y., Lessard, M., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2015). "Amélioration du développement immunitaire chez les veaux laitiers par les probiotiques.", Symposium sur les bovins laitiers 2015, Drummondville, QC, Canada, Octobre 29, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  3. 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

  4. Li, R., Beaudoin, F., Ammah, A.A., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., Zhao, X., Lei, C., Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2015). Deep sequencing shows microRNA involvement in bovine mammary gland adaptation to diets supplemented with linseed oil or safflower oil. BMC Genomics, [online] 16(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-015-1965-7

    2015 - View publication details

  5. Arango Sabogal, J.C., Côté, G., Paré, J., Labrecque, O., Roy, J.-P., Buczinski, S., Doré, E., Fairbrother, J.H., Bissonnette, N., Wellemans, V., and Fecteau, G. (2014). "La technique de prélèvement de l’environnement pour l’identification des troupeaux laitiers infectés par la paratuberculose au Québec.", Revue les Producteurs Laitiers du Québec, 35(1).

    2014 - View publication details

  6. Arango Sabogal, J.C., Côté, G., Paré, J., Labrecque, O., Roy, J.-P., Buczinski, S., Doré, E., Fairbrother, J.H., Bissonnette, N., Wellemans, V., Rangel, S., and Fecteau, G. (2014). "Distribution de Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis dans l'environnement des troupeaux laitiers du Québec.", Forum Tehchnologique Novalait, Drommondville, Québec, Canada.

    2014 - View publication details

  7. Morissette, B., Lessard, M., Yergeau, E., Lapointe, J., Guay, F., Bissonnette, N., Matte, J.J., Letellier, A., Quessy, S., Bergeron, N., and Talbot, B.G. (2014). "Influence of Feed Additives as an Alternative to Antibiotics on Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets Infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.", 7ième Symposium du CRIPA, Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada, 3-4 juin 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  8. Lessard, M.-H., Bergeron, N., Deschêne, K., Matte, J.J., Guay, F., Bissonnette, N., Talbot, G., Quessy, S., and Letellier, A. (2014). "Influence of Salmonella infection and diets supplemented with gut health-enhancing feed additives on expression of intestinal genes involved in immune response of pigs.", 7ième Symposium du CRIPA, Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada, 3-4 juin 2014. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  9. Lessard, M., Bergeron, N., Deschêne, K., Matte, J.J., Guay, F., Bissonnette, N., Talbot, B.G., Quessy, S., and Letellier, A. (2014). "Influence of Salmonella infection and diets supplemented with gut health-enhancing feed additives on expression of intestinal genes involved in immune response of pigs.", 7ième Symposium du CRIPA, Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada, 3-4 juin 2014. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  10. Ariel, O., Dudemaine, P.-L., Fecteau, G., Labrecque, O., Roy, J.-P., and Bissonnette, N. (2014). "Profil inflammatoire de vaches atteintes de paratuberculose bovine.", Forum Tehchnologique Novalait, Drommondville, Québec, Canada.

    2014 - View publication details

  11. Bissonnette, N. (2014). "Fiche Trans-Info : Identification de troupeaux laitiers infectés par Mycobacterium avium ssp. Paratuberculosis: Diagnostic de la paratuberculose bovine avec corrélation du profil sanguin à l’aide de marqueurs inflammatoires.", Annual meeting Forum Technologique Novalait 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  12. Bissonnette, N., Dudemaine, P.-L., Lessard, M., Labrecque, O., Roy, J.-P., and Fecteau, G. (2014). "Increased blood-circulating interferon gamma, interleukin 17 and osteopontin levels in bovine paratuberculosis.", 12th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Parma, Italy, Abstract ID 3. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  13. Arango Sabogal, J.C., Buczinski, S., Bissonnette, N., Fecteau, G., and others (2014). "Periodic bulletin entitled Sensibilité et spécificité de la méthode de culture des prélèvements de l’environnement. Submitted to all Veterinarian Practitioners (>1000) in the Province of Quebec. No. 4."

    2014 - View publication details

  14. Morisette, B., Lessard, M., Yergeau, E., Lapointe, J., Guay, F., Bissonnette, N., Matte, J.J., Letellier, A., Quessy, S., Bergeron, N., Beaulieu, C., and Talbot, G. (2014). "Influence of Feed Additives as an Alternative to Antibiotics on Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets Infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.", 114th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, May 17-20, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  15. Bissonnette, N. (2014). Identification de troupeaux laitiers infectés par Mycobacterium avium ssp. (Report)

    2014 - View publication details

  16. Lessard, M., Bergeron, N., Deschêne, K., Matte, J.J., Guay, F., Bissonnette, N., Talbot, B.G., Gong, J., Wang, Q., Quessy, S., and Letellier, A. (2014). "Intestinal gene expression involved in innate and acquired immune responses of pigs is affected by Salmonella infection and diets supplemented with gut health-enhancing feed additives.", 23rd International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, Cancun, México, June 8-11, 2014, Abstract A1387. (Poster)

    2014 - View publication details

  17. Arango Sabogal, J.C., Buczinski, S., Fecteau, G., Bissonnette, N., and others (2014). "Periodic bulletin entitled Paratuberculosis submitted to all Veterinarian Practitioners (>1000) in the Province of Quebec. Vol 1, No. 3."

    2014 - View publication details

  18. Arango Sabogal, J.C., Côté, G., Paré, J., Labrecque, O., Roy, J.-P., Buczinski, S., Doré, E., Fairbrother, J.H., Bissonnette, N., Wellemans, V., Rangel, S., and Fecteau, G. (2014). "Distribution de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis dans l'environnement des troupeaux laitiers du Québec", Forum technologique NOVALAIT / IDF Dairy Science and Technology Week 2010, Hôtel et Suites Le Dauphin de Drummondville, Drummondville, QC, Canada, May 13, 2010. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  19. Arango Sabogal, J.C., Buczinski, S., Fecteau, G., Roy, J.-P., Wellemans, V., and Bissonnette, N. (2014). "Info PARATUB 05.", Paratuberculosis, 1(5).

    2014 - View publication details

  20. Fecteau, G. and Bissonnette, N. (2014). Identification de troupeaux laitiers infectés par Mycobacterium avium ssp. Paratuberculosis : Diagnostic par la culture standardisée de l’environnement avec corrélation du profil sanguin à l’aide de marqueurs inflammatoires (2010-2013). (Report)

    2014 - View publication details

Research facility

2000 College Street
Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8
Canada

Affiliations

Adjunct professor, Université de Sherbrooke

Language

French

Other languages

Anglais