Comparative analysis of DNA extraction and PCR product purification methods for cervicovaginal microbiome analysis using cpn60 microbial profiling by Elinor Shvartsman, Meika E. I. Richmond,`John J. Schellenberg, Alana Lamont, Catia Perciani, Justen Russell, Vanessa Poliquin, Adam Burgener, Walter Jaoko, Paul Sandstrom, and Kelly S. MacDonald

Published January 13, 2022 in PLOS One

A novel strain of cynomolgus macaque cytomegalovirus: implications for host-virus co-evolution by Justen Russell, Angie K. Marsh, David O. Willer, Aruna P. N. Ambagala, Misko Dzamba, Jacqueline K. Chan, Richard Pilon, Jocelyn Fournier, Michael Brudno, Joseph M. Antony, Paul Sandstrom, Ben J. Evans & Kelly S. MacDonald.

Published April 5, 2016 in BMC Genomics no. 17

CMV is an old virus that co-evolved with its hosts: humans, macaque monkeys, and all mammals. Our lab collected two strains from crab eating macaques and compared their genetic sequences with the genetic sequence of other CMV viruses isolated by other labs.

Our comparison shows, as expected, that the viruses evolved with their host, and that viruses face their own evolutionary pressures.

Cross-Species Rhesus Cytomegalovirus Infection of Cynomolgus Macaques by Angie K Marsh, Aruna P Ambagala, Catia T Perciani, Justen Russell, Jacqueline K Chan, Michelle Janes, Joseph M Antony, Richard Pilon, Paul Sandstrom, David O Willer, and Kelly S MacDonald.

Published March 30, 2015 in PLOS ONE

Most (perhaps all) primates have their own form of cytomegalovirus, a herpesvirus, humans included. Chances are, you have it too. Once infected, the virus hangs around for life. Thankfully, it is (usually) asymptomatic. Unique among viruses, infection with one strain does not protect you from being infected with a second (or third)

In this study, we attempt to determine whether a strain of the virus isolated from one species of monkey could infect a second, closely related species.

Thanks to a later study by Burwitz et al. we now know why this one strain was not able to cross the species barrier, and what is required for this specific virus to spread.

CRISPR-Based Antimicrobials by Justen Russell and David Bikard. A chapter in CRISPR: Biology and Applications edited by Rodolphe Barrangou, Erik Sontheimer, and Luciano Marraffini.

Published September 2020 by Wiley

The discovery of RNA-guided nucleases among the CRISPR associated (Cas) proteins has led to a large number of exciting technological developments. Here we review how CRISPR systems can be used to kill harmful bacteria without disturbing the helpful sort.

Learning from Antibodies: Phage Host-Range Engineering by Justen Russell and David Bikard

Published October 9, 2019 in Cell Host & Microbe

Construction of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Vaccine from Cynomolgus Macaque Cytomegalovirus by Justen Russell

Published June 2018 by the University of Toronto