15 October 2016
Discovery of a new bacterium named Criibacterium bergeronii in honor of Dr. Michel G. Bergeron and the Infectious Disease Research Center (CRI in French) he founded.
A recent bacterial genomics study conducted by a team from the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center was just published in the September 2016 issue of Genome Announcements. It describes a new species of bacteria isolated from a woman with a disturbed vaginal microbial flora.
During a clinical study to characterize women’s vaginal flora, the team led by Drs. Maurice Boissinot and Rabeea Omar grew and isolated a previously unknown bacterium. They deciphered its genome sequence and realized that it was so far removed from all previously described bacteria that it belonged to a new species and was also the first representative of a new bacterial genus. Researchers do not yet know the role of the new bacteria in human health, but genomic data suggest that this new species is commonly associated with the microbiota, the collection of microorganisms living in our bodies. The genome sequence of the new bacterial species, coupled with further characterization made possible by its culture, will contribute to a better understanding of the living microbes closely associated with humans.
The scientists named the new bacterial species Criibacterium bergeronii in honor of their mentor, Dr. Michel G. Bergeron, and the research center he founded, the Infectious Disease Research Center (CRI in French) of Université Laval. Dr. Bergeron has dedicated half of his professional life to the self-protection of women against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). With Dr. Rabeea Omar and his team, they invented the Invisible Condom, an imperceptible vaginal gel with a special applicator that allows women to protect themselves against HIV and other STIs, as well as control unwanted pregnancies.
Over the past 7 years, Dr. Bergeron and his team had described 4 new bacteria (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4692293/). He named 3 of them after his beloved university (lavalense), his city (quebecensis) and his mentor (gauvreauii). Now, the time has come for Dr. Bergeron’s colleagues to name the newly discovered bacterial species to honor his name and recognize his contributions, as well as the contributions of his research center in the field of infectious diseases for over 40 years.
Source | Communications and Outreach Department | CHU de Québec-Université Laval