Dr. Hafid Soualhine’s group at the National Microbiology Laboratory provides diagnosis, reference, and surveillance services for tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. His research focuses on AMR and molecular epidemiology and develops new rapid detection and characterization tools. The team collaborates with northern communities and territorial/provincial governments for active and latent tuberculosis screening. They use advanced omics technologies, such as next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics and transcriptomics, combined with computational approaches to study tuberculosis transmission, pathogenesis, drug resistance, and host-pathogen interaction.
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies and bioinformatics pipelines are developed to identify pathogenic Mycobacteria, rapidly predict drug resistance, and decipher new mechanisms of drug resistance. These technologies are standardized nationally and transferred to our clients in collaboration with federal, provincial, and territorial partners for TB genomic surveillance and outbreak response.
Current research projects:
- New omics approaches to tackling drug-resistant Tuberculosis: New genomic methods are developed for TB detection directly in primary samples, and transcriptomic and proteomic approaches are used to decipher new mechanisms of drug resistance. (GRDI – PHAC)
- Antimicrobial resistance: study of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis and clinically important non-tuberculous mycobacteria for rapid diagnostic, AMR prediction and mycobacterial resistance database
- Tuberculosis in remote populations: supporting laboratory screening using point of Care testing for both active and latent TB and developing TB genomic Surveillance in the North (PHAC)
- Genomic-based identification and surveillance of animal-lineage Tuberculosis: develop new tools based on WGS for identification of animal-lineage (M. bovis, M. orygis, M. caprae…) and genotyping for surveillance purposes. (PHAC-CFIA)
Email: hafid.soualhine [at] phac-aspc.gc.ca
