Elodie Ghedin

Professor of Epidemiology

Professional overview

A molecular parasitologist and virologist, Dr. Elodie Ghedin uses genomics tools to explore host-pathogen interactions in filarial worms (which cause River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis) and in viral infections. Her laboratory also explores influenza virus diversity in the infected host and the respiratory tract microbiome to understand transmission dynamics.

Dr. Ghedin’s omics-based predictive modeling project aims to predict severe disease outcome of influenza to develop point of care testing, as some people are more prone to severe versus mild influenza infections. Additionally, her Zika research will be used to develop predictive models for Zika disease severity.

In the Ghedin Lab, Dr. Ghedin offers students an opportunity to study genomic characteristics of human parasites and other pathogens. The research is multidisciplinary and draws upon the tools of genomics, molecular virology, and computational biology. Some projects include the study of influenza virus evolution and emergence, the analysis of the microbiome and mycobiome (fungal microbiota) associated with the pathogenesis of lung obstruction and emphysema in HIV patients, and the characterization of endosymbiotic interactions between filarial worms and Wolbachia. Additionally, Dr. Ghedin also collaborates on the GoViral Project.

As biology and diseases are all interrelated, in her Essentials of Public Health Biology class, Dr. Ghedin teaches the importance of having a foundation in human biology in order to work in any area of public health.

Education

BS, Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

MS, Environmental Sciences, University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada

PhD, Molecular Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Honors and awards

American Academy of Microbiology Fellow (2017)

Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow (2012)

MacArthur Fellow (2011)

Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award (2010)

Areas of research and study

Biology

Genomics

Infectious Diseases

Viral Infections

Publications

Publications

Genome analysis linking recent European and African influenza (H5N1) viruses

Members of a large retroposon family are determinants of post-transcriptional gene expression in Leishmania

Mining predicted essential genes of Brugia malayi for nematode drug targets

Quasispecies of bovine enteric and respiratory coronaviruses based on complete genome sequences and genetic changes after tissue culture adaptation

Sequences necessary for trans-splicing in transiently transfected Brugia malayi

Widespread lateral gene transfer from intracellular bacteria to multicellular eukaryotes

Detection of HHV-6B in post-mortem central nervous system tissue of a post-bone marrow transplant recipient: a multi-virus array analysis.

Differential HHV-6A gene expression in T Cells and primary human astrocytes based on multi-virus array analysis

Evolution of non-LTR retrotransposons in the trypanosomatid genomes: Leishmania major has lost the active elements

Shared data are key to beating threat from flu [1]

Stochastic processes are key determinants of short-term evolution in influenza a virus.

The Trypanosoma cruzi L1Tc and NARTc non-LTR retrotransposons show relative site specificity for insertion

Comparative genomics of trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa

Genomic and proteomic approaches for Chagas' disease: Critical analysis of diagnostic methods

Large-scale sequencing of human influenza reveals the dynamic nature of viral genome evolution

Mimivirus relatives in the Sargasso sea

The genome of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei

The genome sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi, etiologic agent of chagas disease

The Wolbachia genome of Brugia malayi: Endosymbiont evolution within a human pathogenic nematode

Whole-genome analysis of human influenza A virus reveals multiple persistent lineages and reassortment among recent H3N2 viruses

A gene family of cathepsin L-like proteases of filarial nematodes are associated with larval molting and cuticle and eggshell remodeling

Gene synteny and evolution of genome architecture in trypanosomatids

LdARF1 in trafficking and structural maintenance of the trans-Golgi cisternal network in the protozoan pathogen Leishmania donovani

Mechanisms of HTLV-1 transformation.

Role of viral regulatory and accessory proteins in HIV-1 replication.