USask Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, & Immunology (BMI)

Congratulations to #UsaskBMI professor Dr. Linda Chelico and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Amit Gaba on this exciting new discovery! 👏

Wishing everyone a happy holiday from #UsaskBMI! May you come back refreshed in 2025 and ready to learn more about #biochemistry, #microbiology, and #immunology!

✨ Happy Holidays ✨ from the #UsaskBMI Graduate Student Association! They hosted a come-and-go event with hot chocolate, snacks, and ornament decorating. Great way to get into the holiday season! Thank you to Nayoung Kim, Paria Nouri, Anna Martens-Koop, and Marin Habbick for hosting such a great event! #studentlife

📣 New BMI Course! 📣BMIS 498.3/898.3 - Antimicrobial Resistance of One Health Pathogens BMIS 498 is being offered in Winter 2025 and is oversubscribed so University of Saskatchewan students, prepare to register early in 2026! ⏰ The course is led by Dr. Jessica R. Sheldon Sheldon and co-taught with Dr. Oleg Dmitriev and Dr. Jenny Wachter. What to expect: Themes related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the #USask signature area of #OneHealth will be introduced through formal introductory lectures, followed by presentation and discussion and critique of primary research articles. Students are required to study all the manuscripts ahead of time and are encouraged to actively participate in the in-class discussions and activities. An emphasis will be placed on the critical analysis of the research articles discussed. Methods generally applicable and of interest to the field will also be discussed. Topics to be addressed include but are not limited to defining #AMR, canonical mechanisms of resistance in One Health pathogens, surveillance and transmission of AMR in the environment, emerging and novel mechanisms of resistance, and treatment strategies for extensively drug resistant pathogens. Prerequisite(s): BMSC 320.3. #studentlife #UsaskBMI

✨Happy Holidays✨ from the #UsaskBMI Microbiology, Virology, & Immunology research cluster! Every year they have a holiday season gift exchange 🎁 and potluck 🍽️. Thank you to Juveriya Qamar Khan, Maddie Stewart, and Megha Rohamare for organizing a great event! This research cluster has nine research groups that focus on immune function and host-pathogen interactions. They are located on the 6th floor of the #Usask Health Sciences Building. The research cluster includes faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Check out the members and their research interests here: https://lnkd.in/gymWpPiW #research #researchopportunities #studentlife

📣New BMI Course! 📣 BMIS 319.3 - Vaccinology Principles and Practice This course just completed it's first offering and was taught by Dr. Scott Napper, Dr. Antonio Facciuolo, and Dr. Aneesh Thakur. BMIS 319 was oversubscribed for this term so University of Saskatchewan students, prepare to register early in 2025! ⏰ What to expect: This course will provide a multidisciplinary introduction to the field of vaccinology. This includes historical perspectives on the emergence and evolution of vaccines, to modern strategies of vaccine development, formulation, and delivery. Through consideration of the processes involved in licensing and manufacturing, students will gain insight into the mechanisms and priorities to ensure vaccine efficacy and safety. The impacts of vaccines on human and animal health, including mechanisms of vaccine-induced protection, both at individual and population levels, will be considered and supported by case studies. Prerequisite(s): BMSC 210.3. #UsaskBMI #studentlife #vaccinology

Check out the #UsaskBMI Annual Newsletter! Find out about what happened in BMI in 2024 for our research success, student awards, new courses, student organizations and more! #USask #studentlife #researchopportunities #biochemistry #microbiology #immunology

As the semester comes to a close, #UsaskBMI thanks Dawn Giesbrecht and Dr. Kyle Anderson for all the work they do in BMSC 240 (Laboratory Techniques)! 👏 BMSC 240 teaches the background and theory to understand the methods and techniques used in modern biology laboratories with a focus on biochemistry, cell biology and microbiology disciplines. This course provides students with the knowledge to proceed into more specialized courses offered by the Division of Biomedical Sciences. This essential course provides the opportunity to work with others in the lab and: ✅ Understand the principles and applications of various laboratory techniques used in biochemistry and microbiology, such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, and bacterial culture methods. ✅ Develop skills in laboratory procedures, including laboratory safety, proper pipetting techniques and sterile techniques. ✅ Be able to accurately perform and interpret experiments, including data collection, analysis, and presentation. ✅ Develop critical thinking skills to troubleshoot and optimize experiments. ✅ Understand the importance of controls and experimental design in laboratory experiments. ✅Develop effective teamwork and communication skills in the laboratory setting. ✅ Develop an appreciation for the role of laboratory research in advancing knowledge in biochemistry and microbiology. #studentlife #biochemistry #Immunology #microbiology

If you have a question about academic programming or research opportunities in BMI stop by the Biomedical Sciences (BMSC) office in the Health Sciences Building! We are in the GA20 office suite on the ground floor. You will be greeted by our clerical assistant Viella Desepeda and she will help to answer all your questions! Thank you, Viella! 👏 #UsaskBMI #studentlife #researchopportunities

The semester ends with another successful offering of BMIS 340 (Introductory Molecular Biology) where students learned from Wojciech Dawicki, Dr. Wei Xiao, and Dr. Hong Wang the theoretical background and hands-on experience in the fundamental strategies and techniques used in molecular biology. 👏 Students in this course learned: ✅ The theory and skills to undertake experiments related to the detection, isolation, cloning, sequencing and manipulation of DNA, analyses of gene expression, and production of recombinant proteins. ✅ To become proficient in the analysis of primary scientific literature. ✅ How to prepare and disseminate experimental findings through formal scientific papers. #UsaskBMI #studentlife #biochemistry #Immunology #microbiology