- B.Sc. (University of Toronto)
- M.Sc. (Queen’s University)
- Ph.D. (University of British Columbia)
Office: CSB E110
Lab: CSB E104
Phone: 705-748-1011 ext. 7048/7148
Fax: 705-748-1625
Email: jyee@trentu.ca
Research interests
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
The protozoan parasite, Giardia intestinalis, is responsible for "beaver fever," the most common form of infectious diarrhea in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. This organism is found in freshwater lakes and streams worldwide, and ingestion of contaminated water by the host initiates the infection cycle. Our laboratory is involved in the molecular and biochemical study of this waterborne parasite. Our current research is to study the regulation of gene expression in this parasite. Techniques utilized in my laboratory include gene cloning, cell transfections, luciferase assays, gel mobility shift assays, real-time PCR, protein purification, and fluorescent microscopy. We also share research interest with our collaborators in heme proteins, RNA-splicing, and protein interactions.
Teaching
BIOL2050H: Genetics
BIOL3080H: Molecular Biology
BIOL3350H: Advanced Molecular Biology
BIOL 4020D, CHEM 4030D, FRSC 4020D: Honours Research Thesis
ENLS 5099H: Gene Expression
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH
Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, NICHD, NIH
Selected publications
Freitag K, Marlow M, Joseph J, Ta Robert, Krekhno J, Schuett E, Yang A, Rafferty S, Ray D, Hughes T, and Yee J. A TATA-box binding protein binds single stranded DNA in two modes: to poly(G) tracts and to flexible DNA regions. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2025, 108552. doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108552.
Lagunas-Rangel FA, Yee J, Bermúdez-Cruz RM. An update on cell division of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites. Microbiological Research 250 (2021) 126807.
Lagunas-Rangel FA, Yee J, Bazán-Tejeda ML, Enrique García-Villa E, Bermúdez-Cruz RM. Sirtuin GdSir2.4 participates in the regulation of rRNA transcription in the Giardia duodenalis parasite. Molecular Microbiology 00:1–15 (2021).
Pollo SMJ, Reiling S,Wit J, Wokentine M, Guy R, Batoff GW, Yee J, Dixon B and Wasmuth JD. Benchmarking hybrid assemblies of Giardia and prediction of widespread intra‑isolate structural variation. Parasite and Vectors 13, 108 (2020).
Horlock-Roberts K, Reaume C, Dayer G, Ouellet C, Cook N and Yee J. Drug-free approach to study the unusual cell cycle of Giardia intestinalis,mSphere 2: e00384-16 (2017). Recommended by F1000 Prime
Lukaszewicz B, McColl E, Yee J, Rafferty S and Couture M. Resonance Raman studies on the flavohemoglobin of the protist Giardia intestinalis: evidence of a type I/II-peroxidase-like heme environment and roles of the active site distal residues, J Biol Inorg Chem 22: 1099-1108 (2017).
Yang ZA, Pazdzior R, Yee J, and Rafferty S. Reduction potential and heme-pocket polarity in low potential cytochrome b5 of Giardia intestinalis. J. Inorg. Biochem 158: 110-114 (2016).
R. Pazdzior, Z. Yang, M. Mesbahuddin, J. Yee, A. van der Est, and S. Rafferty. Low reduction potential cytochrome b5 isotypes of Giardia intestinalis, J. Exp. Parasitol, 157: 197-201 (2015).
C. Reaume, B. Moore, P. Hernandez, A. Ruzzini, M. Chlebus, M. Wasserman and J. Yee. Evaluation of drugs and stationary growth on the cell cycle of Giardia intestinalis, Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 187: 72– 76 (2013).
A.J. Hudson, A. Moore, D. Elniski, J. Joseph, J. Yee, and A.G. Russell. Evolutionarily divergent spliceosomal snRNAs and a conserved non-coding RNA processing motif in Giardia lamblia, Nucl. Acids Res 40:10995-1008 (2012).
S. Alam, J. Yee, M. Couture, S.J. Takayama, W.H. Tseng, A.G. Mauk, and S. Rafferty. Cytochrome b5 from Giardia lamblia, Metallomics 4: 1255-1261 (2012).
S.W. Roy, A.J. Hudson, J. Joseph, J. Yee, and A.G. Russell. Numerous fragmented spliceosomal introns, AT-AC splicing, and an unusual dynein gene expression pathway in Giardia lamblia, Mol Biol Evol. 29:43-9 (2012).
J. Yee and J. Joseph. Methods for Giardia transfection and gene expression. In Giardia: A Model Organism. (H. Lujan and S. Svard Eds), SpringerWienNewYork, New York, (2011). ISBN 3709101972, 9783709101971.
S. Rafferty, B. Luu, R.E. March, J. Yee. Giardia lamblia encodes a functional flavohemoglobin. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 399: 347-351 (2010).
J. Yee, A. Tang, W.L. Lau, H. Ritter, D. Delport, M. Page, R. Adam, M. Muller and G. Wu, The core histone genes of Giardia intestinalis: genomic organization, promoter structure, and expression. BMC Mol. Biol. 8:26 (2007).
J. Yee, M.R. Mowatt and T.E. Nash, Transcriptional analysis of the glutamate dehydrogenase gene in the primitive eukaryote, Giardia lamblia: identification of a primordial gene promoter. J. Biol. Chem. 265:11432-11439 (2000).
F.D. Urnov, J. Yee, T.N. Collingwood, A. Bauer, H. Beug, Y.B. Shi, and A.P. Wolffe, Targeting of N-CoR-HDAC3 by the oncoprotein v-ErbA yields a chromatin infrastructure-dependent transcriptional repression pathway. EMBO J. 19:4074-4090 (2000).
S.M. Singer, J. Yee, and T.E. Nash, Episomal and integrated maintenance of foreign DNA in Giardia lamblia. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 92: 59-69 (1998)
J. Yee and T.E. Nash, Transient transfection and expression of firefly luciferase in Giardia lamblia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92: 5615-5619 (1995).
M.R. Mowatt, H.D. Lujan, D.B. Cotten, D.B. Bowers, J. Yee, T.E. Nash and H.H. Stibbs, Developmentally regulated expression of a Giardia lamblia cyst wall protein gene. Mol. Microbiology 15: 955-963 (1995).
J. Yee and P.P. Dennis, Isolation and characterization of a NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase gene from the primitive eucaryote, Giardia lamblia. J. Biol. Chem. 267: 7539-7544 (1992).
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Inquiries from students about initiating M.Sc. or Ph.D. studies with our research group are always welcomed. No laboratory experience is necessary but student must have enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Full financial support is offered for qualified applicants.
