Aurélie Boilard, M.Sc.

ACADEMIA​
  • M.Sc. Biology (U.Laval 2019-2021 )
  • B.Sc. Biology (U.Laval 2017-2019)

CONTACT
  • Email: aurelie.boilard.1@ulaval.ca​ 

Ontogeny and transmission of the microbiota in Brachyistius frenatus

In Mammals microbial recruitment starts in utero, something that has not been proven in any other Vertebrate class. The main goal of this project is to test whether this type of recruitment happens in a non-mammalian Vertebrate. We will test in the viviparous fish Brachyistius frenatus the hypothesis under which the uterine pouch is colonized by a microbiome transmissible to the juveniles, conferring them an ontogeny similar to Mammals. The specific objectives of the project are to characterize the mode of transmission of the microbiome, determine its recruitment sequence and establish the bacterial diversity of the microbiome of the females, juveniles and their environment with a metagenomic approach (bar coding). This study will contribute to the acquisition of knowledge on microbiome transmission and, in the context of evolutionary convergence of viviparity, will allow the formulation of hypotheses concerning the evolutionary advantages of in utero microbiome transmission.
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