Dr. Joseph Blondeau | Clinical Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Royal University Hospital/University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Dr. Joseph M. Blondeau is a distinguished microbiologist with extensive expertise in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. He currently serves as the Interim Provincial Clinical Lead for Microbiology at the Saskatchewan Health Authority and has been the Head of Clinical Microbiology at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Canada, since 2000. With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Blondeau has made significant contributions to medical microbiology, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan while actively consulting for hospitals and laboratories.

Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Joseph M. Blondeau's academic journey began with his B.Sc. in Biology from Dalhousie University in 1983, followed by an Honours B.Sc. in Biology from the same institution in 1985. He continued his studies at Dalhousie, earning a Master of Science in Microbiology in 1985, under the guidance of Dr. J.A. Embil. Dr. Blondeau further advanced his expertise in the field of microbiology, obtaining his Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Manitoba in 1989, where he worked under the supervision of Dr. F.Y. Aoki. His solid educational foundation laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. Dr. Blondeau's early education was completed at Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with his Academic Grade 12 in 1978.

🏢 Professional Experience

Dr. Joseph M. Blondeau has held several prominent positions in the field of microbiology throughout his career. Since 2019, he has served as the Interim Provincial Clinical Lead for Microbiology at the Saskatchewan Health Authority, overseeing the province's microbiology services. In addition to this, Dr. Blondeau has been the Head of Clinical Microbiology at Royal University Hospital and the Saskatoon Health Region since 2000, where he leads clinical microbiology services and research initiatives. He has also been the Head of Clinical Bacteriology/Clinical Microbiologist at Royal University Hospital since 1996, further establishing his expertise in clinical bacteriology. Dr. Blondeau’s academic contributions have been significant, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan since 1991, where he shares his extensive knowledge with students in microbiology and immunology.

Earlier in his career, he served as the Director of Microbiology/Clinical Microbiologist at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon from 1991 to 1996, where he led the microbiology department. Dr. Blondeau has also provided consultancy services in various hospitals and laboratories, including Lloydminster Hospital (1991–1997), Biggar Union Hospital (1991–1992), Prairie Associated Pathologist Laboratory (1991–1992), and MDS – Medical Arts Laboratory (1993–1996), where he advised on microbiological diagnostics and treatment.

🔍 Research Interests

Dr. Blondeau’s research primarily focuses on:

Antimicrobial Resistance 🦠

Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 🏥

New Antimicrobial Agents & Testing Methods 💊

Diagnostic Microbiology Innovations 🔬

Bacterial Pathogenesis & Emerging Pathogens 🧫

His work contributes to advancing infection control strategies and optimizing antimicrobial treatment options for public health and hospital settings.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Dalhousie Graduate Fellowship – Faculty of Graduate Studies (1983–85)

Dalhousie Teaching Assistantship – Faculty of Graduate Studies (1983–85)

Dalhousie Graduate Travel Grant – First-ever awarded by the Department of Microbiology (1984)

Dalhousie University Honour Award – Certificate of Distinction for outstanding extracurricular activities (1985)

Certified Registered Microbiologist – Canadian College of Microbiologists (1991)

Specialist Microbiologist in Public Health & Medical Microbiology – Canadian College of Microbiologists (1995)

Fellow, The American College of Chest Physicians – (1997)

📚 Selected Publications

Comparison of the Minimum Inhibitory and Mutant Prevention Drug Concentrations for Pradofloxacin and 7 Other Antimicrobial Agents Tested Against Swine Isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida

Authors: Blondeau, J.M., Fitch, S.D.

Published in: Molecules (2024)

Volume: 29(22)

Comparative Minimum Inhibitory and Mutant Prevention Drug Concentrations for Pradofloxacin and Seven Other Antimicrobial Agents Tested Against Bovine Isolates of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida

Authors: Blondeau, J.M., Fitch, S.D.

Published in: Pathogens (2024)

Volume: 13(5)

Citations: 1

Comparative In Vitro Killing by Pradofloxacin in Comparison to Ceftiofur, Enrofloxacin, Florfenicol, Marbofloxacin, Tildipirosin, Tilmicosin, and Tulathromycin Against Bovine Respiratory Bacterial Pathogens

Authors: Blondeau, J.M., Fitch, S.D.

Published in: Microorganisms (2024)

Volume: 12(5)

Citations: 1

Long COVID: A Consequence of Chronic Post-Infectious Inflammation!

Authors: Blondeau, J.M.

Published in: Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine (2024)

Volume: 18(12)

Dr. Hygon Mutavhatsindi | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Specialist Scientist, SAMRC, South Africa.

Hygon Mutavhatsindi is a Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) with a robust background in biochemistry, molecular biology, and immunology. His research explores infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and COVID-19, using molecular and immunological techniques. Dr. Mutavhatsindi has made significant contributions to immunology and TB research, aiming to identify non-sputum biomarkers to improve TB diagnosis and treatment outcomes. His work has earned him national and international recognition, alongside numerous grants and awards.

Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Education 🎓

Dr. Hygon Mutavhatsindi began his academic journey at the University of Venda, where he earned a BSc in Biochemistry and Biology (2009-2012), followed by an Honours degree in Biochemistry in 2013. He continued to pursue advanced studies at the same institution, obtaining an MSc in Biochemistry (2014-2015). His passion for molecular biology led him to Stellenbosch University, where he completed his PhD in Molecular Biology (2016-2019). During his doctoral studies, Dr. Mutavhatsindi focused on cutting-edge research, contributing to scientific advancements in his field.

Following his PhD, Dr. Mutavhatsindi undertook a prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunology at the University of Cape Town (2020-2023). During this period, he deepened his expertise in immunological research, working on projects that explored the intricate mechanisms of immune response. His postdoctoral work not only advanced his academic credentials but also positioned him at the forefront of immunological science, further strengthening his research profile and contributing to ongoing scientific discussions in molecular biology and immunology.

Experience 💼

Dr. Hygon Mutavhatsindi currently serves as a Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), a role he began in February 2024. In this position, he leads research efforts in tuberculosis (TB) and immunology, supervises postgraduate students, and manages multiple research projects. Prior to this, he was a Scientific Officer at the Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory (May 2023–January 2024), where he conducted clinical studies and flow cytometry experiments, contributing to crucial immunological research.

Before taking on these roles, Dr. Mutavhatsindi completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Cape Town (February 2020–January 2023), where his work focused on TB and COVID-19 immunology. His academic journey began as a PhD Researcher at Stellenbosch University (June 2016–December 2019), where he specialized in identifying TB biomarkers and evaluating treatment responses, building a strong foundation for his later contributions to immunology and infectious disease research.

Research Interests 🔬

TB Biomarkers: Focuses on identifying reliable biomarkers for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring treatment efficacy.

Non-Sputum Diagnostic Methods: Investigates blood- and saliva-based biomarkers to develop non-sputum diagnostic alternatives for TB, making diagnosis easier in low-resource settings.

Immunological Responses: Studies the immune system’s response to infectious diseases, with an emphasis on TB, HIV, and COVID-19.

Infectious Disease Immunology: Explores the interactions between pathogens and host immune responses to enhance understanding of disease progression and treatment outcomes.

TB Treatment Monitoring: Aims to develop new methods for tracking patient progress during TB treatment through biomarker discovery.

Cross-Disease Immunology: Compares immune responses across different infectious diseases, seeking common biomarkers and pathways for broader diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Awards 🏆

Awards and Grants:

UCT CIDRI-Africa Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020-2022)

Fogarty HIV-Associated TB Training Program (2020-2022)

NRF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-2022)

SAMRC Doctoral Internship Scholarship (2017-2019)

NRF PhD and Masters Scholarships

Publications Top Notes 📚

Validation and optimisation of host immunological bio-signatures for a point-of-care test for TB disease – Front. Immunol., 2021. link

Identification of novel salivary candidate protein biomarkers for tuberculosis diagnosis – Tuberculosis, 2021. link

Protocol to quantify and phenotype SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response – Star Protocols, 2022. link

Blood and site of disease inflammatory profiles in HIV-1-infected pericardial tuberculosis patients – OFID, 2023. link

Application of cerebrospinal fluid host protein biosignatures in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children – Mediators of Inflammation, 2019. link