Dr. Michael A. Drebot, PhD, ARMCCM
Director, Science Technology and Core Services
Chief, Viral Zoonoses, Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens
Professor Adjunct, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba

Degrees: BSc (Hons) 1980, Dalhousie University; MSc. 1983, Dalhousie University; PhD 1988, Dalhousie University

Telephone: 204- 789-6059
Lab: 204- 789- 6071
Fax: 204- 789-2082
Email: Mike.Drebot@ phac-aspc.gc.ca

Reference Services / Diagnostics

The Viral Zoonoses section performs reference diagnostic & surveillance services and applied/basic research for pathogenic arboviruses such as West Nile virus, dengue virus, Powassan virus, California serogroup viruses, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and other mosquito & tick-borne transmitted viruses.

Arbovirus serology:

Hemagglutination Inhibition Testing: Western equine encephalitis virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Powassan virus and other flaviviruses

IgM and IgG ELISA: Jamestown Canyon virus, snowshoe hare virus, chikungunya virus, Ross River virus, West Nile virus, dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and other flaviviruses

IgG Avidity Testing: West Nile virus

IgG & IgG IFA: Japanese encephalitis virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus

Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT): Available for majority of arboviruses listed above (various members of the Flavivirus, Alphavirus & Ortho-bunyavirus genera)

Arbovirus PCR:

PCR-Based Assays: Available for majority of arboviruses listed in Arbovirus serology section (various members of the Flavivirus, Alphavirus & Ortho-bunyavirus genera)

Research Interests:

Application / development of various molecular and serological diagnostic assays for arboviruses (eg. West Nile virus microsphere immunoassays, ELISAs, Real-Time PCR). Phylogenetic characterization of mosquito-borne bunyaviruses and flaviviruses and their vectors. Pathogenesis studies involving genotypic variants of West Nile viruses and assorted ortho-bunyaviruses. In vitro and in vivo screening of antiviral candidates against zoonotic viruses and the investigation of mechanisms by which these compounds decrease viral replication.

Selected Publications:

• Arrigo NC, Briese T, Calisher CH, Drebot MA, Hjelle B, Leduc JW, Powers AM, Repik PM, Roehrig JT, Schmaljohn CS, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Recommendations for Publication of Viral Genetic Data and Sample Access for Novel Viruses and Strains.   Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Feb;86(2):189-191.
• Sampasa-Kanyinga H, Lévesque B, Anassour-Laouan-Sidi E, Côté S, Serhir B, Ward BJ, Libman MD, Drebot MA, Ndao M, Dewailly E. Zoonotic Infections in Native Communities of James Bay, Canada. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012 Jan 4.
• Tyler S, Bolling BG, Blair CD, Brault AC, Pabbaraju K, Armijos MV, Clark DC, Calisher CH, Drebot MA. Distribution and phylogenetic comparisons of a novel mosquito flavivirus sequence present in Culex tarsalis Mosquitoes from western Canada with viruses isolated in California and Colorado. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Jul;85(1):162-8.
• Campagna S, Lévesque B, Anassour-Laouan-Sidi E, Côté S, Serhir B, Ward BJ, Libman MD, Drebot MA, Makowski K, Andonova M, Ndao M, Dewailly E. Seroprevalence of 10 zoonotic infections in 2 Canadian Cree communities. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011 Jun;70(2):191-9. Epub 2011 Mar 12.
• Hunsperger EA, Yoksan S, Buchy P, Nguyen VC, Sekaran SD, Enria DA, Pelegrino JL, Vázquez S, Artsob H, Drebot M, Gubler DJ, Halstead SB, Guzmán MG, Margolis HS, Nathanson CM, Rizzo Lic NR, Bessoff KE, Kliks S, Peeling RW. Evaluation of commercially available anti-dengue virus immunoglobulin M tests. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Mar;15(3):436-40.
• Meier-Stephenson V, Langley JM, Drebot M, Artsob H. Encephalitis in the summer: a case of snowshoe hare (California serogroup) virus infection in Nova Scotia. Can Commun Dis Rep. 2007 Oct 1;33(11):23-6.
• Patrick DM, Petric M, Skowronski DM, Guasparini R, Booth TF, Krajden M, McGeer P, Bastien N, Gustafson L, Dubord J, Macdonald D, David ST, Srour LF, Parker R, Andonov A, Isaac-Renton J, Loewen N, McNabb G, McNabb A, Goh SH, Henwick S, Astell C, Guo JP, Drebot M, Tellier R, Plummer F, Brunham RC. An Outbreak of Human Coronavirus OC43 Infection and Serological Cross-reactivity with SARS Coronavirus. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2006 Nov;17(6):330-6.
• Schellenberg TL, Anderson ME, Drebot MA, Vooght MT, Findlater AR, Curry PS, Campbell CA, Osei WD. Seroprevalence of West Nile virus in Saskatchewan's Five Hills Health Region, 2003.  Can J Public Health. 2006 Sep-Oct;97(5):369-73.
• Ayers M, Adachi D, Johnson G, Andonova M, Drebot M, Tellier R. A single tube RT-PCR assay for the detection of mosquito-borne flaviviruses.  J Virol Methods. 2006 Aug;135(2):235-9. Epub 2006 May 2.
• Levett PN, Sonnenberg K, Sidaway F, Shead S, Niedrig M, Steinhagen K, Horsman GB, Drebot MA. Use of immunoglobulin G avidity assays for differentiation of primary from previous infections with West Nile virus. J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Dec;43(12):5873-5.
• Nicolle LE, Gutkin A, Smart G, Dawood M, Drebot M, Van Caeseele P, Giulivi A, Minuk G. Serological studies of West Nile virus in a liver transplant population. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2004 Sep;15(5):271-4.
• Drebot MA, Lindsay R, Barker IK, Buck PA, Fearon M, Hunter F, Sockett P, Artsob H. West Nile virus surveillance and diagnostics: A Canadian perspective. Can J Infect Dis. 2003 Mar;14(2):105-14.

Laboratory Contact Information:

Phone: 204-789-6071

Fax: 204-789-2082

Email: NML.Viral.Zoonoses@phac-aspc.gc.ca