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University of British Columbia
Dekaban Foundation
Project Proposals for 2016
1. Siyun Wang
[email protected]
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/person/siyun‐wang/
Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a foodborne bacterial pathogen of global public health importance.
This project in the laboratory of molecular food safety at UBC will use microbial genomics
techniques to develop biological control methods to reduce the presence and growth of
Salmonella in food products. The ultimate goal is to reduce food recalls associated with
Salmonella contaminations and the disease burden associated with Salmonella infections.
2. Yvonne Lamers
[email protected]
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/person/yvonne-lamers/
(i) Vitamin B12 status assessment in newborns to determine rate of vitamin B12
deficiency second to maternal deficiency.
(ii) Functional biomarkers for vitamin B6 deficiency- method set up and validation.
3. Simone Diego Castellarin
[email protected]
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/person/simone‐castellarin/
(i) Origin and movement of the ripening signal within the berry in Vitis vinifera L.
Ripening is characterized by a major role of the phloem in providing the berry with
water and solutes.We aim to compare changes in transcript profiles and metabolite
profiles in phloem cells, in mesocarp cells that surround the phloem vasculature,
and in cells that are far from the vasculature in berries that are at initial stages of
ripening. Those cells will be isolated using Laser Microdissection (LM) and analyzed
using metabolite, quantitative PCR (qPCR) and transcriptomic platforms. The
analysis of the spatiotemporal changes in metabolite concentration and gene
expression across cell layers and tissues, will allow us to establish in which tissue or
cell type the ripening signal originates and the pattern of molecular events related
to ripening that are specific to particular tissues vs. those that commonly occur
across tissues.
(ii) Role of ABA and Ethylene genes in the berry metabolic response to water deficit in
grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.).
ABA is a key regulator of berry ripening in grapevine. Despite grapevine berry is
non‐climacteric, several ethylene genes are expressed in its tissues during ripening.
The organization of ABA and Ethylene genes in the grapevine genome will be carried
out via in silico analysis. The expression of the genes related to ABA and Ethylene
biosynthesis and signaling will be analysed during berry development and in berries
of grapevines subjected to water deficit. Berry transciptome datasets obtained from
irrigated and non‐irrigated vines have been produced though RNA‐sequencing
analyses and are ready to be analysed.
4. Ronaldo Cerri
ronaldo.ce
[email protected]
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/person/ronaldo‐cerri/
(i) The scholar will participate in collaborative research in the areas of dairy cattle
production and reproduction. He/she will also be involved with the basic management
activities of the daily dairy operations.
(ii) The scholar may also be involved with studies designed to evaluate the effect
of the response on endometrial gene expression of lactating dairy cows during the early
stages of embryonic development.
5. Marina von Keyserlingk
[email protected]
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/person/marina‐von‐keyserlingk/
Dr von Keyserlingk’s work has focused on determining the impact of current on farm
management practices on animal welfare and implementing practical solutions. Her work
focuses on evaluating current environmental designs and management practices used to house
and manage dairy cattle. She has also recently expanded her focus to further the
understanding of the role of personality on copying styles in dairy cattle, including around the
time of parturition when they are most vulnerable to illness.