{"id":1583,"date":"2016-08-27T17:02:28","date_gmt":"2016-08-27T21:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/chaimcentre\/?p=1583"},"modified":"2016-08-27T17:35:36","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T21:35:36","slug":"alex-wong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/chaimcentre\/2016\/alex-wong\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Wong"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wong-headshot\"<\/a>Alex Wong, Department of Biology<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Ariel Root
\n<\/a>Bacteria were among the first life forms to appear on Earth, and can be found in virtually every corner across the planet. Some bacteria perform important roles in the environmental ecosystem, whereas others help us digest food or absorb nutrients. Still other bacteria can cause life-threatening diseases. \u201cThey\u2019re really cool. They do different things, and do lots of things that we don\u2019t even think or know about. It\u2019s fascinating how they can generate so much diversity<\/em>,\u201d says 杏吧原创 University\u2019s Alex Wong. And then there\u2019s the interesting issue of antibiotic resistance. A growing challenge has emerged as more bacteria are becoming resistant\u2026a challenge that is well-worth investigating.<\/p>\n

Alex Wong is an Assistant Professor of Biology at 杏吧原创 University, focusing on the genetic causes and consequences of biological adaptation. He is interested both in characterizing the direct genetic targets of natural selection, and in studying the indirect effects of selection throughout the genome. \u201cI am particularly interested in investigating the consequences of genetic interactions (epistasis) for rates and patterns of molecular evolution, and in understanding the potentially non-adaptive consequences of natural selection.<\/em>\u201d So basically, how do some bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, and what could this all mean for health and illness.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_0503<\/a>Wong\u2019s academic career started as a mix of the hard and social sciences. Following his BA in philosophy and biology, Wong pursued a Masters of Philosophy at 杏吧原创, establishing his ability to synthesize information, think critically, and write cohesively. Wong then studied the rapidly evolving reproductive proteins in fruit flies during his doctoral work at Cornell University, questioning the specific genetic changes that lead to character trait changes in an organism. His introduction to Psuedomonas wasn\u2019t until postdoctoral work at the University of Ottawa, where he developed a keen interest in evolutionary observations in the lab.<\/p>\n

While choosing a bacteria to study can be difficult, Wong describes one of his main research projects is an experimental evolutionary study of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/em> \u2013 a pathogen associated with inflammation and sepsis, and colonizes in organs such as the urinary tract, kidneys, or lungs. \u201cPseudomonas aeruginosa<\/em> is a bacterium found in wet environments such as soils, bathtubs, a kitchen sink… and it\u2019s mostly harmless<\/em>.\u201d However, the bacteria can be especially of concern for immunocompromised individuals\u2014most notably, those with cystic fibrosis. \u201cBecause these individuals\u2019 lungs are full of fluid, it provides the ideal breeding ground for the bacteria, \u2026 and some cells can persist despite antibiotics<\/em>.\u201d Introduction to P. aeruginosa<\/em> as a teenager can result in cells that remain into adulthood, when the uniquely nutritional environment in the lungs of these individuals enables the bacteria to create colonies that can flourish. Unforeseen diminishing lung strength in these individuals is beginning to be associated with a long-ago introduction to P. aeruginosa<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"bacteria\"<\/a>Wong has explored some of the evolutionary resistance in bacterium using a variety of tools, such as the computational analysis of population genetics and comparative genomic data, experimental evolution, and molecular genetics. It\u2019s all about \u201cnew ways to find vulnerabilities that are unique to bacteria\u2026 [some] are resistant to one or more antibiotics, while others are not vulnerable at all.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Using the theories and practices of evolutionary biology in an applied setting related to individual care basis, or policy is what keeps Wong excited. However, in order to tackle antibiotic resistance, he acknowledges that health needs be thought of in the broader framework that considers social sciences, policy, and hard sciences. \u201cPolicy on how we use [antibiotics], to public education on antibiotics in agriculture, down to the genetics of antibiotics\u2026 the goals of the [CHAIM] Centre fit exactly with how we need to think about resistance \u2013 multi-dimensionally<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The challenge in these investigations, Wong says, is that \u201cthings rarely work out the way we think they\u2019re going to. It\u2019s part of the fun, and part of the frustration<\/em>,\u201d he laughs. When thinking about resistance, Wong reiterates how important external partnerships have been with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, University of Ottawa, and internationally.<\/p>\n

\"wong_students\"<\/a>Some of Wong\u2019s challenges have also become his strengths. He describes times that his \u201cfavourite hypothesis is also the false hypothesis. But then<\/em>,\u201d he says, \u201cit\u2019s fun to figure out what is actually going on<\/em>.\u201d In fact, working with students in the lab has been particularly rewarding for Wong. Getting students into the lab, analyzing data, and fostering interest and inspiration, Wong and his students continue the journey to finding new ways to identify the unique vulnerabilities to some of the antibacterial resistances.<\/p>\n

For Dr. Wong’s\u00a0contact information, go here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alex Wong, Department of Biology By Ariel Root Bacteria were among the first life forms to appear on Earth, and can be found in virtually every corner across the planet. Some bacteria perform important roles in the environmental ecosystem, whereas others help us digest food or absorb nutrients. Still other bacteria can cause life-threatening diseases. 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