Karine Thivierge, Ph.D.
Head of Parasitology Laboratory
Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) - Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec (LSPQ) [Québec Public Health Laboratory]
20045 Chemin Sainte-Marie
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada, H9X 3R5
Email: karine.thivierge@inspq.qc.ca
Research Interests:
The Parasitology Laboratory is part of the LSPQ, which acts as the provincial reference laboratory in microbiology and quality assurance. The laboratory offers a wide range of analytical services for the detection and identification of enteric parasites and medically important arthropods. As a center of excellence in parasitology, it provides several training programs in the diagnostics of intestinal and blood parasites to healthcare professionals.
In line with the mission of the Parasitology Laboratory, my research interests focus on the development of new molecular-based diagnostic tests for detection of intestinal parasites and on surveillance of emerging vector-borne diseases. Prior to this position, my research activities were centered on the understanding of the biology and biochemistry of helminth parasites (Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola hepatica), and on the interplay between parasites and their hosts. In terms of this network, I am interested in establishing new collaborations related to the field of public health.
Keywords: intestinal parasites, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis, emerging vector-borne diseases, microsporidia.
Recent Publications:
Koffi JK, Savage J, Thivierge K, Lindsay LR, Bouchard C, Pelcat Y, Ogden NH. Evaluating the submission of digital images as a method of surveillance for Ixodes scapularis ticks. Parasitology. 2017 Jun;144(7):877-883. doi:10.1017/S0031182017000117. Epub 2017 Mar 27. PMID : 28345501.
Gasmi S, Ogden NH, Leighton PA, Adam-Poupart A, Milord F, Lindsay LR, Barkati S, Thivierge K. Practices of Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment by general practitioners in Quebec, 2008-2015. BMC Fam Pract. 2017 May 22;18(1):65. doi:10.1186/s12875-017-0636-y. PMID : 28532428.
Gasmi, S., Ogden, N. H., Leighton, P. A., Lindsay, L. R., Thivierge, K. 2016. Analysis of the human population bitten by Ixodes scapularis ticks in Quebec, Canada: Increasing risk of Lyme disease. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2016 Sep 13: (16) 30144-3. PMID: 27650641.
Thivierge, K., Iqbal, A., Dixon, B., Dion, R., Levesque, B., Cantin, P., Cédilotte, L., Ndao, M., Proulx, J.-F., Yansouni, C. P. 2016. Cryptosporidium hominis is a newly recognized pathogen in the Arctic Region of Nunavik, Canada: Molecular characterization of an outbreak. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016; doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004534
Cotton, S., Donnelly, S., Robinson, M. W., Dalton, J. P., Thivierge, K. 2012. Defense peptides secreted by helminth pathogens: antimicrobial and/or immunomodulator molecules? Front Immunol. 3, 1-7.
Thivierge, K., Mathews, R. T., Nsangou, D. M. M., Da Silva, F., Cotton, S., Skinner-Adams, T. S., Trenholme, K. R., Brown, C., L., Gardiner, D. L., Dalton, J. P. 2012. Anti-malaria drug development targeting the M1 alanyl aminopeptidases and M17 leucyl aminopeptidases. ARKIVOC 4, 330-346.
Nanguo, D. M. M., Thivierge, K., Mathews, R., Gardiner, D., Dalton, J. P. 2011. Malaria M17 Leucine Aminopeptidase. 2012. The Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes (eds. Neil D. Rawlings and Guy Salvesen) Elsevier Ltd, Oxford, UK (in press).
Skinner-Adams, T., Peatey, C., Anderson, K., Trenholme, K., Krige, D., Brown, C., Stack, C., Nsangou, D., Mathews, R., Thivierge, K., Dalton, J. P., Gardiner, D. 2012. The aminopeptidase inhibitor CHR-2863 is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of murine malaria. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 56, 3244-3249.