Group Website
Address
Life Sciences InstituteRoom 2503
2350 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, British Columbia V6R 1Z3
Canada
Vision Statement
Dr
Yossef Av-Gay
BSC, MSc, PhD
Position
Professor
Division
Infectious Diseases
Phone
Research Interests
Research Summary
Our lab is engaged in both basic and translational research emphasizing mycobacterial genetics and biochemistry with the aim to develop new drugs in collaboration with industry and other academic groups. Our focus is primarily in tuberculosis (TB) research, studying signal transduction in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and understanding the intracellular lifestyle of Mtb in order to develop new and better drugs that can target Mtb in its natural environment in the host.
We are also developing new screening methods to identify novel drugs against the nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) cystic fibrosis pathogen, M. abscessus. Finally, we have developed a nitric oxide inhalation therapy that is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of lung infections
Research Highlights
Personal
Dr. Yossef Av-Gay is a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Faculty of Medicine. He is also an associate member of the department of microbiology and immunology and holds an adjunct professorship at the medical school of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
A microbiologist by training, his research interests lie with chronic lung diseases, primarily tuberculosis (TB), followed by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) diseases . He explores molecular events that govern host-pathogen interactions and the ability of mycobacteria to block the immune response to infection. Dr. Av-Gay’s research is geared towards the identification and characterization of novel drugs and drug targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Dr. Av-Gay’s most significant discovery was the identification and characterization of PtpA, a protein phosphatase in Mtb which inhibits the normal macrophage response to infection.
Prof. Av-Gay received his BSc in Biology, MSc in Microbiology, and PhD in Microbial Genetics – all from Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, and advanced training at John Innes Institute, Norwich, UK, Albert Einstein Collage of Medicine, New York and UBC department of Microbiology.
Prof. Av-Gay authored over 100 peer review scientific publications, review articles, book chapters and 15 patents. Prof. Av-Gay served as an editor for the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2010-2015), and on scientific advisory boards of several biotechnology companies. Prof. Av-Gay is a member of the scientific review panels of the Canadian Institute of Health Research (Microbiology and Infectious Disease (2009-2016) and Foundation and Project Grants (2016-) , the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Innovative Medicine Innovations, The UK welcome Trust, US National Institute of Health, and the European Commission FP6, FP7 and Horizon 2020 programs.
Education
Tel Aviv University, 1988, BSc (Life Sciences),
Tel Aviv University, 1990, MSc (Microbiology),
Tel Aviv University, 1994, PhD (Microbiology and Biotechnology),
Affiliations
Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Associate Member
Medical School of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel., Adjunct Professorship
Recent Publications
- Screening of preselected libraries targeting Mycobacterium abscessus for drug discovery.
Richter A, Strauch A, Chao J, Ko M, Av-Gay Y.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother 62:e00828-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC .00828-18. - Biophysical characterization of the tandem FHA domain regulatory module from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ABC transporter Rv1747
Heinkel F, Shen L, Richard-Greenblatt M, Gee CL, Gay LM, Okon M, Bui JM, Alber T, Av-Gay Y, Gsponer J and McIntosh LP.
Structure 26(7):972-986.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2018.04.018. - Synthesis, antimycobacterial activity and influence on mycobacterial InhA and PknB of 12-membered cyclodepsipeptides.
Laqua K, Klemm M, Richard-Greenblatt M, Richter A, Liebe L, Huang T, Lin S, Guardia A, Pérez-Herran E, Ballell L, Av-Gay Y, Imming P.
Bioorg Med Chem. pii: S0968-0896(18)30460-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.04.045. -
Protein tyrosine kinase, PtkA, is required for Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in macrophages.
Wong D, Li W, Chao JD, Zhou P, Narula G, Tsui C, Ko M, Xie J, Martinez-Frailes C, Av-Gay Y.
Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 9;8(1):155. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18547-9. -
Nitric oxide inhalations in bronchiolitis: A pilot, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.
Tal A, Greenberg D, Av-Gay Y, Golan-Tripto I, Feinstein Y, Ben-Shimol S, Dagan R, Goldbart AD.
Pediatr Pulmonol. 2018 Jan;53(1):95-102. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23905. Epub 2017 Nov 27. -
Genome Sequences of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv-ptkA Deletion Mutant and Its Parental Strain.
Tsui CKM, Wong D, Narula G, Gardy JL, Hsiao WWH, Av-Gay Y.
Genome Announc. 2017 Nov 2;5(44). pii: e01156-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01156-17. - System for Efficacy and Cytotoxicity Screening of Inhibitors Targeting Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Zheng X, Av-Gay Y.
J Vis Exp. 2017 Apr 5;(122). doi: 10.3791/55273. - Nitric oxide charged catheters as a potential strategy for prevention of hospital acquired infections.
Margel D, Mizrahi M, Regev-Shoshani G, Ko M, Moshe M, Ozalvo R, Shavit-Grievink L, Baniel J, Kedar D, Yossepowitch O, Lifshitz D, Nadu A, Greenberg D, Av-Gay Y.
PLoS One. 2017 Apr 14;12(4):e0174443. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174443. eCollection 2017. - Epigenetic Phosphorylation Control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Persistence.
Richard-Greenblatt M, Av-Gay Y.
Microbiol Spectr. 2017 Mar;5(2). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.TBTB2-0005-2015. Review. - Aminorifamycins and Sporalactams Produced in Culture by a Micromonospora sp. Isolated from a Northeastern-Pacific Marine Sediment Are Potent Antibiotics.
Williams DE, Dalisay DS, Chen J, Polishchuck EA, Patrick BO, Narula G, Ko M, Av-Gay Y, Li H, Magarvey N, Andersen RJ.
Org Lett. 2017 Feb 17;19(4):766-769. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.6b03619. Epub 2017 Feb 6. - Intracellular Growth of Bacterial Pathogens: The Role of Secreted Effector Proteins in the Control of Phagocytosed Microorganisms.
Poirier V, Av-Gay Y.
Microbiol Spectr. 2015 Dec;3(6). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.VMBF-0003-2014. - Ergothioneine Maintains Redox and Bioenergetic Homeostasis Essential for Drug Susceptibility and Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Saini V, Cumming BM, Guidry L, Lamprecht DA, Adamson JH, Reddy VP, Chinta KC, Mazorodze JH, Glasgow JN, Richard-Greenblatt M, Gomez-Velasco A, Bach H, Av-Gay Y, Eoh H, Rhee K, Steyn AJ.
Cell Rep. 2016 Jan 26;14(3):572-85. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.056. Epub 2016 Jan 7. - Development of an Intracellular Screen for New Compounds Able To Inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth in Human Macrophages.
Sorrentino F, Gonzalez del Rio R, Zheng X, Presa Matilla J, Torres Gomez P, Martinez Hoyos M, Perez Herran ME, Mendoza Losana A, Av-Gay Y.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Oct 26;60(1):640-5. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01920-15. - Phosphorylation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine kinase A PtkA by Ser/Thr protein kinases.
Zhou P, Wong D, Li W, Xie J, Av-Gay Y.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Nov 13;467(2):421-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.09.124. Epub 2015 Sep 26. - Regulation of Ergothioneine Biosynthesis and Its Effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth and Infectivity.
Richard-Greenblatt M, Bach H, Adamson J, Peña-Diaz S, Li W, Steyn AJ, Av-Gay Y.
J Biol Chem. 2015 Sep 18;290(38):23064-76. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.648642. Epub 2015 Jul 30. - Immunoevasion and immunosuppression of the macrophage by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Hmama Z, Peña-Díaz S, Joseph S, Av-Gay Y.
Immunol Rev. 2015 Mar;264(1):220-32. doi: 10.1111/imr.12268. Review.
Awards & Recognition
- 2017-2018 Robbie Award – $279,000 CAD
Cystic Fibrosis Canada – Prize/Award - 2001/9-2006/8
CIHR – BC Lung New Investigator Award – $250,000 CAD
University of British Columbia – Prize/Award - 2000/7-2003/7
VHHSC Scientist – $180,000 CAD
University of British Columbia – Distinction
Grants
- Host-pathogen interaction directed therapies in Tuberculosis
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2017-04-01 to 2022-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: grant.2e037f8d113325b862d60a439e6ae472
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/2e037f8d113325b862d60a439e6ae472/Host-pathogen-interaction-directed-therapies-in-Tuberculosis - Intracellular growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Prospects for drug discovery.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2016-07-01 to 2021-06-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: grant.48abf67003d6977e978310638f38413e
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/48abf67003d6977e978310638f38413e/Intracellular-growth-of-Mycobacterium-tuberculosis-Prospects-for-drug-discovery - Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Signalling
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2010-10-01 to 2015-09-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: grant.0bee2ed1a03185f1107bfae5c0937833
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/0bee2ed1a03185f1107bfae5c0937833/Molecular-analysis-of-Mycobacterium-tuberculosis-Signalling - High-throughput screening and identification of anti-TB compounds from a unique natural product library
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2010-01-01 to 2012-12-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 102941
GRANT_NUMBER: 102941 - Characterization of the Interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase A and Host Vacuolar H+-ATPase
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2009-09-01 to 2012-05-16|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: b528aaf7aa0add3ad6d4d9a24f2d13ef
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/b528aaf7aa0add3ad6d4d9a24f2d13ef/Characterization-of-the-Interaction-between-Mycobacterium-tuberculosis-Protein-Tyrosine-Phosphatase-A-and-Host-Vacuolar-H-ATPase - PtpA, a Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Protein, is Involved in Blocking Macrophage’s Signaling Pathway.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2009-09-01 to 2010-08-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 06d55262737f108f94851443fc5b2256
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/06d55262737f108f94851443fc5b2256/PtpA-a-Mycobacterium-Tuberculosis-Protein-is-Involved-in-Blocking-Macrophages-Signaling-Pathway - Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase A (PtpA) dependent mycobacterial manipulation of host response to infection
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2008-09-01 to 2009-08-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 88a0c3b2d19cfbe30a22ec294fde494e
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/88a0c3b2d19cfbe30a22ec294fde494e/Protein-Tyrosine-Phosphatase-A-PtpA-dependent-mycobacterial-manipulation-of-host-response-to-infection - Mycobacterial cholesterol metabolism: A key piece in the pathogenesis puzzle?
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2008-04-01 to 2013-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 2c7d81554782544d4ac5a13557e8be25
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/2c7d81554782544d4ac5a13557e8be25/Mycobacterial-cholesterol-metabolism-A-key-piece-in-the-pathogenesis-puzzle - The role of serine/threonine protein kinase pknJ in Mycobacterium tuberculosis physiology, antibiotic resistance, and virulence
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2007-05-01 to 2010-04-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: grant.a3a9b965297ad137ebefe88da9d3cc02
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/a3a9b965297ad137eb - Chemical genetics of intrinsic antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2007-04-01 to 2009-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 83102
GRANT_NUMBER: 83102 - Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein kinases and phosphatses
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2004-10-01 to 2010-09-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 68857
GRANT_NUMBER: 68857 - Mycothiol dependent detoxification system in mycobacteria
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2003-10-01 to 2004-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 64950
GRANT_NUMBER: 64950 - UBC Training Program for Translational Research in Infectious Diseases
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2003-04-01 to 2008-09-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 6fb7d7ea22f8bdefe561b969ae46b70e
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/501100000024/6fb7d7ea22f8bdefe561b969ae46b70e/UBC-Training-Program-for-Translational-Research-in-Infectious-Diseases - Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network (CBDN)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Ottawa)
2003-04-01 to 2005-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 286990GRANT_NUMBER: 286990
- Screening of a small molecule compound library against a family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) targets.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2002-11-01 to 2003-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 62034
GRANT_NUMBER: 62034 - Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell signaling elements
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2001-07-01 to 2006-06-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 47862
GRANT_NUMBER: 47862 - Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tubercolosis protein kinases and phosphates
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
2001-04-01 to 2004-03-31|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 43941
GRANT_NUMBER: 43941 - Protein phosphorylation in M. tuberculosis
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Ottawa)
1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30|GrantGRANT_NUMBER: 15752
GRANT_NUMBER: 15752
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University of British Columbia: Vancouver, BC
2008-07-01 to present | Professor (Medicine) -
University of British Columbia: Vancouver, BC
2003-07-01 to 2008-06-31 | Associate Professor (Medicine) -
University of British Columbia: Vancouver, BC
1997-01-01 to 2003-06-31 | Assistant Professor (Medicine)