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I received my PhD in Microbiology from the University of Guelph in 2006 and my BSc in honours microbiology from the University of Guelph in 2000.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a graduate student and looked to expand on this growing interest in enzymology and glycobiology by pursuing postdoctoral fellow research at the Carlsberg Research Centre in Copenhagen (2007-2008) and in the Molecular Structure and Function Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (2008-2011).
Diarrheal disease causing agents, like E. coli and Salmonella spp., continue to be among the top 5 leading causes of death in the world according to the World Health Organization. Persistent colonization of a variety of surfaces (host and non-host) by these bacteria has been linked to the production of biofilms. Thus, bacterial biofilm components (like cellulose and curli fimbriae) have been identified as virulence factors and disruption of their synthesis is a potential new avenue for the development of novel therapeutics to treat theses pathogens. The main focus of my research is to utilize a combination of structure and function based approaches to characterize biofilm components produced by E. coli and Salmonella in an effort to understand how each component is synthesized and its importance to biofilm formation.
For more information about my research, please visit my lab website.
There are ongoing opportunities for motivated and eager researchers in the lab. Typical projects will encompass everything from learning standard protein and DNA methodologies to using sophisticated protein structure-function techniques. Individuals with an interest/background in molecular biology, biochemistry and/or microbiology are encouraged to contact me (jweadge@wlu.ca) about joining the lab. Prospective students should provide a cover letter outlining their interests/qualifications, a CV/resume and a recent copy of grade transcripts.
- Bartlett, C., Bansal, S., Burnett, A., Suits, M.D., Schaefer, J., Cegelski, L., Horsman, G.P., and Weadge, J.T. (2017) Whole-cell detection of C-P bonds in bacteria. Biochemistry. DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00814
- Rheault, J.E., Jeukens, J., Freschi, L., Kukavica-Ibrulj, I., Boyle, B., Dupont, M., Colavecchio, A., Barrere, V., Cadieux, B., Kerhoas, M., Crouse, A., Zhu, L., Larivière, L., Pilar, A.V., Cavestri, C., Chapin, T.K., Tremblay, D., Vincent, C., Fournier, E., Youfsi, K., Ngueng-Feze, I., Song, L., Usongo, V., Doualla-Bell, F., Berry, C., Reimer, A.R., Kong, N., Huang, C.B., Fong, K., Wilson, E.D., Mukhopadhyay, K., Mottawea, W., Ogunremi, D., Huang, H., Arya, G., Perets, A., Yoshida, C., Robertson, J., Weadge, J.T., Danyluk, M.D., Rohde, J., Garduno, R., Wang, S., Nadon, C., Thomassin, P., Joly, Y., Fliss, I., Lapointe, G., Harris, L., Stephan, R., Burnett, E., Moineau, S., Tamber, S., Bekal, S., Daigle, F., Gruenheid, S., Malo, D., Wittum, T., Delaquis, P., Gill, A., Sanderson, K.E., Wiedmann, M., Franz, E., Wijnands, L., Weimer, B.C., Goodridge, L. and Levesque, R.C. (2017) A Syst-OMICS approach to ensuring food safety and reducing the economic burden of Salmonellosis. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8:996.
- Guncay, A., Balasubramaniam, T., Plagens, K., Weadge, J.T., and Long, T.A.F. (2017) Cross-generational effects of male attractiveness and offspring immunocompetence in Drosophila melanogaster. Facets Journal. 2:34-52.
- Bay, M.L., Cuesta-Seijo, J.A., Weadge, J.T., Persson, M., Palcic, M.M. (2014) Flexibility and mutagenic resiliency of glycosyltransferases. Glycoconjugate Journal. 31(6-7):469-473.
- Baker, P., Ricer, T., Moynihan, P.J., Kitova, E., Walvoort, M.T.C., Little, D.J., Whitney, J.C., dawson, K., Weadge, J.T., Robinson, H., Ohman, D.E., Tipton, P., Codee, J.D.C., Klassen, J.S., Clarke, AJ., and Howell, P.L. (2014) P. aeruginosa SGNH hydrolase-like proteins AlgJ and AlgX have similar topology but separate and distinct roles in alginate acetylation. PLOS Pathogens. 10(8):e1004334.
- Riley, L.M., Weadge, J.T., Baker, P., Robinson, H., Codée, Tipton, P.A., Ohman, D.E., and Howell, P.L. (2013) Structural and functional characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgX: role of AlgX in alginate acetylation. J. Biol. Chem. 288(31):22299-22314.
- Pfeffer, J.M., Weadge, J.T., and Clarke, A.J. (2013) Mechanism of action of Neisseria gonorrhoea O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase, an SGNH serine esterase. J. Biol. Chem. 288(4):2605-2613.
- Franklin, M.J., Nivens, D.E., Weadge, J.T., and Howell, P.L. (2011) Biosynthesis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa extracellular polysaccharides, Alginate, Pel, and Psl. Front. Microbiol. 2(167):1-16.
- Schuman, B., Persson, M., Landry, R.C., Polakowski, R., Weadge, J.T., Seto, N.O.L., Borisova, S.N., Palcic, M.M., and Evans, S.V. (2010) Cysteine to serine mutants dramatically reorder the active site of human ABO(H) blood group B glycosyltransferase without affecting activity: structural insights into cooperative substrate binding. J. Mol. Biol. 402(2):399-411.
- Weadge, J.T., Yip, P., Robinson, H., Arnett, K., Tipton, P.A., and Howell, P.L. (2010) Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgX. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. F Struct. Biol. Cryst. Commun. 66(5):588-591.
- Adlercreutz, D., Weadge, J.T., Peterson, B.O., Duus, J.Ø., Dovichi, N.J. and Palcic, M.M. (2010) Enzymatic synthesis of Gb3 and iGb3 ceramides. Carbohydrate Res. 345(10):1384-1388.
- Li, Y., Thapa, P., Hawke, D., Kondo, Y., Furukawa, K., Furukawa, K., Hsu, F., Adlercreutz, D., Weadge, J., Palcic, M.M., Wang, P.G., Levery, S.B., and Zhou, D. (2009) Immunologic glycosphingolipidomics and NKT cell development in mouse thymus. J. Proteome Res. 8(6):2740-2751.
- Weadge, J.T., and Palcic, M.M. Glycosyltransferases, Chemistry of, Volume 2, pp 198-210. In Wiley Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology. Ed: Tadhg P. Begley. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken. 2008.
- Weadge, J.T., and Clarke, A.J. (2008) Transacetylations of carbohydrates in organic solvent catalyzed by O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Biocatal. Biotransformation. 26(1-2):68-75.
- Weadge, J.T., and Clarke, A.J. (2007) Neisseria gonorrhoeae O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase, a serine esterase with a Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad. Biochemistry. 46(16):4932-4941.
- Pfeffer, J.M., Strating, H., Weadge, J.T., and Clarke, A.J. (2006) Peptidoglycan O-acetylation and autolysin profile of Enterococcus faecalis in the viable but non-culturable State. J. Bacteriol. 188(3):902-908.
- Weadge, J.T., and Clarke, A.J. (2006) Identification and characterization of an O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase: a novel enzyme discovered in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Biochemistry. 45(3):839-851.
- Weadge, J.T., and Clarke, A.J. (2005) Identification of a new family of enzymes with potential O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase activity in both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. BMC Microbiol. 5:49.
Contact Info:
T: 548.889.3814
Office location: BA425
Office hours:
Tuesdays, 10 to 11:20 a.m.
Languages spoken: English
Research website:
Weadge Lab