{"title":"Open access lecture videos: sharing veterinary bacteriology and mycology on YouTube.","authors":"Joseph E Rubin","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0266","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0266","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, educators rapidly pivoted their instructional approaches. While this period of disruption is behind us, we are left with a legacy of experiences that can continue to benefit learners. Open educational resources improve accessibility in the classroom, and for learners globally without access to well-resourced institutional libraries. In the 2023-2024 academic year, lecture videos for Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology (a 3-credit, second year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) course at the University of Saskatchewan) were published on YouTube. Two student cohorts were surveyed about their use of the videos, and YouTube analytics was used to describe how videos were accessed globally. Students generally favored these prerecorded videos, citing improved video quality (24%) and shorter duration (36%) compared to other courses where in-person lectures were filmed. Seventy-three percent of students reported that having these videos on YouTube improved accessibility. From August 2023 through December 2024, the YouTube channel received >230 000 views from 86 countries. Approximately 6% of views originated in Canada while 62% were from low- and middle-income countries. This exercise was a positive experience yielding an easy to access repository of content to share with learners locally and globally. Other instructors are encouraged to seek out opportunities for the creation of open resources. Future studies should assess the impacts of online video sharing platforms on student learning.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ishraq Rahman, Jordan Wight, Joshua T Cunningham, Paloma S Ochoa, Hannah L Wallace, Christopher R E Ward, April Hedd, Gregory J Robertson, Sabina I Wilhelm, Wanhong Xu, Dmytro Zhmendak, Yohannes Berhane, Sydney M Collins, William A Montevecchi, Pierre-Paul Bitton, Stephanie Avery-Gomm, Katharine R Studholme, Sarah N P Wong, Jennifer C Rock, Carla Pamak, Reyd Dupuis-Smith, Samantha Pilgrim, Rodd Laing, Michelle Saunders, Regina Wells, Robert A Ronconi, Kathryn E Hargan, Andrew S Lang
{"title":"Surveillance of live birds for active and past infections reveals the impact of highly pathogenic H5N1 on seabird populations in Atlantic Canada.","authors":"Ishraq Rahman, Jordan Wight, Joshua T Cunningham, Paloma S Ochoa, Hannah L Wallace, Christopher R E Ward, April Hedd, Gregory J Robertson, Sabina I Wilhelm, Wanhong Xu, Dmytro Zhmendak, Yohannes Berhane, Sydney M Collins, William A Montevecchi, Pierre-Paul Bitton, Stephanie Avery-Gomm, Katharine R Studholme, Sarah N P Wong, Jennifer C Rock, Carla Pamak, Reyd Dupuis-Smith, Samantha Pilgrim, Rodd Laing, Michelle Saunders, Regina Wells, Robert A Ronconi, Kathryn E Hargan, Andrew S Lang","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0195","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses (HPAIVs) have caused significant mortality in wild birds. We investigated active avian influenza virus (AIV) infections and assessed seroprevalence based on general nucleoprotein-specific and H5-specific antibodies in seabirds in Atlantic Canada during 2022-2023. Results were compared to seroprevalence data from 2011 to 2016 to evaluate changes in infection rates following the incursion of HPAIV. We sampled 1073 wild live birds belonging to 14 species. Active H5Nx infections were detected only in 2022, with the highest prevalence in Common Murres (64%), followed by Black-legged Kittiwakes (13%). Differences in seroprevalence were observed between years and species, with both Common Murres and Atlantic Puffins exhibiting higher rates after HPAIV incursion, particularly for anti-H5-specific antibodies. Seroprevalence also differed between locations, and age-related differences in exposure were observed with juvenile birds having much lower seroprevalence than adult birds, particularly among gulls. Despite no active infections being detected in 2023, high seroprevalence across species suggests persisting immunity and/or recent virus circulation. These findings underscore the importance of serological monitoring in tracking AIV dynamics, as antibody detection provides critical insights into past HPAIV exposure even when active infection rates are low.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145997338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antimicrobial resistance gene diversity, prevalence, and mobility within four landfills.","authors":"Isabella Ippolito, Laura A Hug","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0226","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0226","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotics in landfills create selection pressures on the microorganisms present, selecting for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant organisms (ARO). The aim of this study was to assess whether landfills are hot-spots of antimicrobial resistance and whether landfills may contribute to global ARO diversity through ARG lateral gene transfer. Genome resolved metagenomic sequencing combined with sequence-search-based and deep learning tools were used to determine ARG diversity and prevalence from four active municipal landfills and their adjacent ground or surface water systems. Comparison to pristine and anthropogenic environments highlighted that landfill microbial communities contain distinct ARG signatures, including a broader diversity of ARGs. Plasmids made up 4.1%-8.4% of assembled scaffolds and carried 5.4%-12.0% of the identified ARGs in assembled data, depending on the sample type. Enriched ARG resistance mechanisms on mobile elements included multidrug resistance and antibiotic inactivation. The results indicate that landfills house a high diversity of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and drug classes, with a moderate fraction encoded on mobile elements. Landfills are thus likely mixing grounds for ARG transfer and evolution of novel or augmented ARO lineages.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146257632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Inhibition of Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 attachment to human intestinal cells by single or combined lytic bacteriophages.","authors":"Akeel Faizal, Yan Dong Niu","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0172","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We reported phage cocktails of AHP24 (T1), wV7 (T4), AKFV33 (T5), and AHP24S (rV5) had superior efficacy against STEC O157:H7 strains in broth culture and beef matrices, but it is unknown if they can lyse the pathogens in the context of intestinal epithelial cells, which may reduce Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC) attachment, an initial step for STEC invasion. The objective of this study was to compare efficacy of lytic phages T1, T4, T5, and rV5 as individuals or cocktails in preventing STEC attachment to human intestinal epithelial cells. Two intestinal epithelial cell lines, Caco2 and T84, that are susceptible to STEC attachment were used. There were ∼2-3 log<sub>10</sub> colony forming units/mL reductions (<i>P</i> < 0.0001) in STEC attachment when these epithelial cells were exposed to individual or cocktails of phages 1 h before inoculation. The phage cocktail (T5 + T1 + rV5 + T4) significantly reduced STEC attachment onto T84 cells when compared to individual phage treatments T4 and T1 (<i>P</i> < 0.0001). Notably, applying three- (excluding T5) or four-phage cocktails concurrent with STEC inoculation did not significantly different from phage pre-exposure. Phages may be a viable approach for preventing and treating STEC infection in human.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145721261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bahar Pakseresht, Zachary Schiffman, Susan McLatchie, Pascale Coulombe, Safiya Soullane, Anic Imfeld, Yves Gélinas, David A Walsh, Brandon L Findlay
{"title":"Isolation of marine bacteria through a \"bait\" approach.","authors":"Bahar Pakseresht, Zachary Schiffman, Susan McLatchie, Pascale Coulombe, Safiya Soullane, Anic Imfeld, Yves Gélinas, David A Walsh, Brandon L Findlay","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0037","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a great divide between the microbes active in natural environments and the organisms that may be grown in a laboratory setting. In this work we set out to cultivate representatives of the marine myxobacterial clade, a highly diverse, largely uncultured group of Gram-negative bacteria believed to have extensive biosynthetic potential. Sediment samples were collected from the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf and the presence of active marine myxobacteria was established through qPCR analysis of 16S rRNA gene and transcript abundances. In the expectation that the marine myxobacteria would exhibit predatory behaviour like their terrestrial counterparts, the sediment samples were then streaked on agar plates that contained common marine bacteria as the sole carbon source. Unexpectedly, in place of myxobacteria we isolated <i>Pseudomonas</i>, <i>Bacillus</i>, and <i>Stenotropomonas</i> spp., among others, revealing a generalized ability for these strains to break down living organic matter and suggesting that \"bait\" bacteria may be an effective approach for the cultivation of novel marine saprophytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145630387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xudong Huang, Kairui Deng, Guosheng Zhu, Wanbing Huang, Guanglu Gong, Hongyu Liu, Tongjin Yang, Yang Gui, Wenqiang Li
{"title":"Dynamics of soil microbiome throughout the cultivation life cycle of <i>Phallus rubrovolvatus</i>.","authors":"Xudong Huang, Kairui Deng, Guosheng Zhu, Wanbing Huang, Guanglu Gong, Hongyu Liu, Tongjin Yang, Yang Gui, Wenqiang Li","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0279","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0279","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Phallus rubrovolvatus</i> is a valuable edible fungus extensively cultivated in Guizhou Province, China. However, the changes in the soil microbiome throughout its growth cycle remain poorly understood. In this study, we collected 35 casing soil samples across five growth stages covering the entire 120-day cultivation cycle of <i>Phallus rubrovolvatus</i> and conducted metagenomic sequencing to examine alterations in soil microbial composition, diversity, key biomarkers, and functional potential. Our analyses revealed significant stage-dependent shifts in microbial community structure, with alpha diversity reaching its lowest at the primordium stage (Shannon of 5.12) and network complexity peaking at harvest stage (1.8-fold increase in connectivity). Through LEfSe analysis, we identified 37 stage-specific microbial biomarkers primarily affiliated with Actinomycetota and Acidobacteriota. Notably, Acidobacteriota biomarkers dominated at the primordium stage, while Nitrospirota enrichment characterized the harvest stage. Functional analyses revealed that membrane transport and energy metabolism pathways were enriched during early mycelial colonization, whereas secondary metabolite biosynthesis and signaling pathways became prominent during fruiting body maturation. Correlation analyses identified available nitrogen as the primary soil variable associated with microbial community composition. These findings provide foundational knowledge of microbiome dynamics during <i>Phallus rubrovolvatus</i> cultivation and suggest that microbiome-based management strategies may benefit from stage-specific interventions synchronized with fungal developmental transitions.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examining the competitive exclusion and pathogenic potential of <i>Pseudomonadota</i> isolated from healthy chickens.","authors":"Zhixuan Feng, Jennifer Ronholm","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0179","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0179","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The chicken intestine presents a complex environment for microbial survival due to high interbacterial competition, high bile salt concentrations, a low pH, and microaerophilic conditions. While most probiotics contain members of the <i>Bacillota</i> phylum, members of the <i>Pseudomonadota</i> phylum are known to be more important in competitive exclusion-which may be an important consideration in the formulation of future probiotics. Little is known about commensal <i>Pseudomonadota</i> in healthy chickens, or what benefits members of this phylum may offer the host; most studies on <i>Pseudomonadota</i> focus on aspects of opportunistic pathogenesis and dysbiosis. In this study, we use an in silico approach to evaluate the pathogenic potential, competition strategies, and potential host benefits of <i>Pseudomonadota</i> isolates from healthy chickens. We analyzed the draft genomes of 29 representative isolates of <i>Pseudomonadota</i> using Bagle4, AntiSMash, SeCreT6, KEGG mapper, and Virsorter2 to identify key interbacterial competition strategies including secondary metabolite biosynthesis, secretion systems, quorum sensing, and prophages. Our results revealed that each isolate exhibits distinct interbacterial competitive strategies, often independent of their taxonomic affiliation. Including <i>Pseudomonadota</i> in future poultry probiotics may be critical to improving colonization resistance in industrially raised poultry.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David E Stallknecht, Deborah L Carter, Lyndon Sullivan-Brügger, Zijing Cao, Paul Link, Kacie Rome, Mackenzie Kleinpeter, Reid Viegut, Jeffrey Edwards, Jillian Murphy, Ciara McCarty, Bruce Davis, Lynda Knutsen, James Graham, Rebecca L Poulson
{"title":"Seasonal infection and antibody response to highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus in ducks in the Mississippi and Central Flyways, United States.","authors":"David E Stallknecht, Deborah L Carter, Lyndon Sullivan-Brügger, Zijing Cao, Paul Link, Kacie Rome, Mackenzie Kleinpeter, Reid Viegut, Jeffrey Edwards, Jillian Murphy, Ciara McCarty, Bruce Davis, Lynda Knutsen, James Graham, Rebecca L Poulson","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0274","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clade 2.3.4.4b A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/GD) H5N1 highly pathogenic (HP) influenza A virus (IAV) (HP H5N1) infection in Blue-winged Teal in the Mississippi Flyway in the United States during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 migratory seasons followed a seasonal pattern similar to low pathogenic IAV, with infection peaks in late summer and fall. To determine if this seasonal pattern persisted during the 2024/2025 migration season, we repeated testing of Blue-winged Teal from September 2024 to April 2025 in the Mississippi Flyway. Results from other dabbling duck species sampled concurrently with Blue-winged Teal during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 migratory seasons in the Mississippi and Central Flyways also were compared. For Blue-winged Teal in the Mississippi Flyway, a seasonal peak in infection was detected during late fall (November/December 2024) on wintering grounds in Louisiana and Texas corresponding to low H5 and N1 antibody prevalence in juvenile birds. Estimated antibody prevalence increased rapidly following this detection, and from January to April 2025, HP H5N1 infections were not detected. Virologic and serologic results in Mallard, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, and Green-winged Teal mirrored virologic and serologic results observed in Blue-winged Teal and were consistent between flyways.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147627411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mickey Leonard, Peter Bonney, Carol Cardona, Amos Ssematimba, Kaitlyn St Charles, Sylvia Wanzala Martin, Catherine Alexander, Rosemary Marusak
{"title":"Movements of poultry product off HPAI-infected premises: using science-based standards for achieving confidence in risk.","authors":"Mickey Leonard, Peter Bonney, Carol Cardona, Amos Ssematimba, Kaitlyn St Charles, Sylvia Wanzala Martin, Catherine Alexander, Rosemary Marusak","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0202","DOIUrl":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks, the United States Department of Agriculture response requires infected egg production premises to discard on-site poultry products, including eggs that have been processed and stored prior to infection of the site. The disposal of these eggs contributes to global food insecurity through market disruptions, industry revenue loss, and federal indemnity paid. Further, rural farming communities are economically destabilized and farmer health and well-being challenged. To support continuity of business movement decisions during HPAI outbreaks, the Secure Poultry Supply team at the University of Minnesota along with an egg sector stakeholder workgroup has been examining the risk of moving to market processed, segregated, and stored eggs from an infected premises that were laid by uninfected flocks (i.e., a group of egg-laying hens kept in one house/barn during their entire lay cycle). Three important criteria for achieving both acceptable risk and confidence for movement were identified: identification and removal of potentially contaminated eggs from the cooler; protection of cooler eggs from recontamination; and science-assessed egg truck disinfection protocols for exiting an infected premises. The science behind biosecurity and biocontainment practices and risk determination for moving eggs off infected premises are discussed. Confidence in movements determined to be low risk may provide a means for farm and food-protein sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145818146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edward Topp, Catherine Carrillo, Tim McAllister, David Wilkinson
{"title":"Showcasing the Canadian GRDI-AMR One Health Project: advancing genomics research for combatting antimicrobial resistance.","authors":"Edward Topp, Catherine Carrillo, Tim McAllister, David Wilkinson","doi":"10.1139/cjm-2025-0077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/cjm-2025-0077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, demanding a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach to mitigate its impact. The Canadian Genomics Research and Development Initiative for Antimicrobial Resistance (GRDI-AMR) project exemplifies this approach by uniting a diverse team of experts from various Canadian science-based departments and agencies (SBDAs). This highly effective and collaborative team leverages the existing expertise within SBDAs, fostering innovation and driving advancements in AMR research. By integrating genomics and One Health principles, GRDI-AMR is generating critical knowledge and developing impactful solutions to combat AMR in Canada and beyond. This special issue provides a glimpse into the impactful outcomes generated by this collaborative network.</p>","PeriodicalId":9381,"journal":{"name":"Canadian journal of microbiology","volume":"72 ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145932341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}