Dr. Janet Yee is a molecular and biochemical biologist at Trent University whose research focuses on the waterborne parasite Giardia intestinalis, a major cause of infectious diarrheal disease worldwide. Her work investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying gene regulation, transcription, and cell cycle control in this organism, with the goal of identifying parasite-specific biological targets for safer and more effective treatments.
Using a range of molecular and cellular techniques, including gene expression analysis and protein characterization, Dr. Yee’s research also explores unique features of Giardia biology—such as its transcription factors and heme-binding proteins—contributing to a deeper understanding of parasite function and evolution.
Learn more about the Yee Lab at Trent by visiting https://www.jyee.ca/
Kabiri F, Azimychetabi Z, Seneviratne D, Phan L, Kavanagh H, Smith H, Emery RJN, Brunetti C, Yee J and Tobin S. Cytokinins are age- and injury-responsive molecules that regulate skeletal myogenesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26:10136 (2025)
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 (2021)
Lagunas-Rangel FA, Yee J, Bermúdez-Cruz RM. An update on cell division of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites. Microbiological Research 250:126807 (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)
Lukaszewicz B, McColl E, Yee J, Rafferty S, Couture M. Resonance Raman studies on the flavohemoglobin of the protist Giardia intestinalis. J Biol Inorg Chem (2017)
Yang ZA, Pazdzior R, Yee J, Rafferty S. Reduction potential and heme-pocket polarity in low potential cytochrome b5 of Giardia intestinalis. J Inorg Biochem 158:110–114 (2016)
Pazdzior R, Yang Z, Mesbahuddin M, Yee J, van der Est A, Rafferty S. Low reduction potential cytochrome b5 isotypes of Giardia intestinalis. J Exp Parasitol 157:197–201 (2015)
Reaume C, Moore B, Hernandez P, Ruzzini A, Chlebus M, Wasserman M and Yee J. Evaluation of drugs and stationary growth on the cell cycle of Giardia intestinalis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 187:72–76 (2013)
Hudson AJ, Moore A, Elniski D, Joseph J, Yee J, Russell AG. Evolutionarily divergent spliceosomal snRNAs and a conserved non-coding RNA processing motif in Giardia lamblia. Nucleic Acids Research 40:10995–1008 (2012)
Alam S, Yee J, Couture M, Takayama SJ, Tseng WH, Mauk AG, Rafferty S. Cytochrome b5 from Giardia lamblia. Metallomics 4:1255–1261 (2012)
Roy SW, Hudson AJ, Joseph J, Yee J, Russell AG. Numerous fragmented spliceosomal introns, AT-AC splicing, and an unusual dynein gene expression pathway in Giardia lamblia. Mol Biol Evol 29:43–49 (2012)
Yee J and Joseph J. Methods for Giardia transfection and gene expression. In Advances in Giardia Research (2011)
Achá D, Hintelmann H, Yee J. Importance of sulfate reducing bacteria in mercury methylation and demethylation. Chemosphere 82:911–916 (2011)
Molodstova D, Crowe E, Olson A, Yee J, Freeland JR. Conserved flanking microsatellite sequences differentiate between Lepidoptera species. Systematic Entomology 36:371–376 (2011)
Lustig D, Kempt C, Alam S, Clancy A, Yee J, Rafferty SP. Mutation of conserved tryptophan residues. Arch Biochem Biophys 502:165–172 (2010)
Rafferty S, Luu B, March RE, Yee J. Giardia lamblia encodes a functional flavohemoglobin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 399:347–351 (2010)
Boyd A, Salleh A, Humber B, Yee J, Tomes L, Kerr L. Neonatal experiences influence mammary gland morphology. Cancer Prev Res 3:1398–1408 (2010)
Woodcroft MW, Ellis DA, Rafferty SP, Burns DC, March RE, Stock NL, Trumpour KS, Yee J, Munro K. Mechanism of perfluorocarboxylic acids bioaccumulation. Environ Toxicol Chem 29:1669–1677 (2010)
Yee J, Tang A, Lau WL, Ritter H, Delport D, Page M, Adam R, Muller M, Wu G. The core histone genes of Giardia intestinalis. BMC Mol Biol 8:26 (2007)
Beaudette PC, Chlup M, Yee J, Emery RJN. Root conductivity and aquaporin gene expression. J Exp Bot 58:1291–1300 (2007)
Yee J, Mowatt MR, Dennis PP, Nash TE. Transcriptional analysis of glutamate dehydrogenase gene. J Biol Chem 265:11432–11439 (2000)
Urnov FD, Yee J, Collingwood TN, Bauer A, Beug H, Shi YB, Wolffe AP. Targeting of N-CoR-HDAC3 by v-ErbA. EMBO J 19:4074–4090 (2000)
Wolffe AP, Collingwood TN, Li Q, Yee J, Urnov F, Shi YB. Thyroid hormone receptor and chromatin. Vitam Horm 58:449–492 (2000)
Singer SM, Yee J, Nash TE. Episomal and integrated maintenance of foreign DNA. Mol Biochem Parasitol 92:59–69 (1998)
Yee J and Nash TE. Transient transfection and luciferase expression in Giardia lamblia. PNAS 92:5615–5619 (1995)
Mowatt MR, Lujan HD, Cotten DB, Bowers DB, Yee J, Nash TE, Stibbs HH. Cyst wall protein gene expression. Mol Microbiology 15:955–963 (1995)
Yee J and Dennis PP. NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase gene characterization. J Biol Chem 267:7539–7544 (1992)
Newton CH, Shimmin LC, Yee J, Dennis PP. Ribosomal protein gene families. J Bacteriology 172:579–588 (1990)
Shimmin LC, Newton CH, Ramirez C, Yee J, Downing WL, Louie A, Matheson AT, Dennis PP. Organization of ribosomal protein genes. Can J Microbiology 35:164–170 (1989)
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry