Navoun Silué is enrolled in his first year of the University of Ottawa’s M.Sc. Program in chemistry and biomolecular Science under the supervision of Dr. François Xavier Campbell Valois and Prof. Figeys Daniel. He obtained a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and M.Sc in food biotechnology at University Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Côte d’Ivoire) in 2007. He had also a 7 years’ experience in a medical laboratory as a laboratory technician at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta (RETROCI) in Côte d’Ivoire.

Research Interests

Shigella is an enteropathogen that infects the large intestine of humans. The secretion of protein effectors by the type three secretion system (T3SS) is used by Shigella to invade cells and modulate a variety of cellular functions. There are two main waves of effectors. The first wave of effectors is produced prior to activation of the T3SS. The second wave of effectors is expressed only after activation of the T3SS apparatus and depends on the transcriptional regulator MxiE and the chaperone IpgC. We have used biomolecular methods (RNAseq and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to investigate the expression of 2 novel chromosomal genes in Shigella. However, it is unknown if these genes are regulated by the transcriptional factor MxiE, in that case, belong to the second wave of effectors. We will investigate the secretion of these genes by Western blot and immunofluorescent assay and assess the potential of these genes as effectors and their role in Shigella pathogenesis.

Besides these methods, to understand the interaction between bacteria and their host during infection, we will develop genetically encoded reporters to track pathogenic bacteria in microbiome by imaging.

Program Goals

  • This approach can help to understand how pathogens can unbalance host microbiome.
  • Improve scientific writing and communication skills to present science concepts in public.