Russell H Easy 
Welcome to a new semester. Happy to be back after my sabbatical and very happy to be starting my new course -Biology of Cancer. An examination of a life changing disease from a (very) personal perspective. I have an enthusiastic and intelligent group of students that I am looking forward to sharing discussions on the paradigm of cancer with.
Updates & Highlights
*New course development: I am very much looking forward to my new 4th year course - Biology of Cancer - I am currently recruiting guest speakers to share their expertise with our students. The course will be offered starting in September 2024 and will discuss the many forms of cancer and traditional and current treatments. Cell replication is inarguably the most essential biological process of living organisms. All living organisms. Cancer messes with that process and as such is an outstanding paradigm for exploring organismal growth, replication, evolution and pathology. The course description is as follows: " This course will explore the cellular and molecular basis of human cancers. Topics will include the various forms of cancer, genetics of cancer, and historical and modern treatment strategies. The goal is to remove the mystery behind cancer and understand the biological processes behind development, diagnoses and treatment of cancer."
*Planning is ongoing for the Atlantic Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting (AFS) in Sunapee, New Hampshire from November 3rd-5th.
* Invited talks in Costa Rica, Finland and University of the Pacific as well as seminars at various other universities.
* Annual Atlantic International Chapter (AIC) of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) meeting in Saint John, New Brunswick. Congratulations to Emma-Jean Freeman (Supervisors: Dr Don Stewart & Dr Russell Easy (me)) for winning best Oral presentation at the conference.
*Honours students, Roman Javorek, Allison Murphy and Natalie Campbell successfully defended their Honours research
Always more to post but all in good time.
Embrace life. All you need is health. Hope to hear from you in the future.
Russell and The Easy Lab
In the lab
Masters Students
Emma-Jean Freeman (Co-supervised with Dr Don Stewart)
Emma-Jean will be exploring the parasitic life cycle of freshwater mussels and their relationship with host fish. Her project will contribute to previous work done in the Easy and Stewart Labs in collaboration with aquaculture biologists in Costa Rica. A vital part of the life cycle of freshwater mussels is the temporary attachment of mussel larvae, also called glochidia, to the gills of fish. Traditionally, this relationship between mussel glochidia and host fish was thought to be commensal. However, recent studies have found that glochidial infection may harm the fish in many ways, suggesting a parasitic relationship. Emma-Jean recently travelled to Costa Rica where she met with our Costa Rican colleagues at the National University of Costa Rica in Heredia.
Sam Nunn
Sam is exploring the effects of environmental contaminants on the expression of target genes involved in the Major Histocompatibility Complex of striped bass. Success of this project will result in biomarkers for future studies as well as some answers as to what is causing the declining health of striped bass.
See https://easylab.acadiau.ca/stress-response-team.html for more details.
Honours Students
Francesca Turner
Francesca will be investigating differential gene expression in Cancer irroratus (Atlantic rock crab) in response to environmental pollution. Cancer irroratus is a benthic invertebrate native to the shores of Nova Scotia. In my research, we will be investigating how this species is affected by historical effluent pollution from Lunenberg Harbour and how gene expression changes further from the source of pollution by sampling from a series of locations between Lunenberg Harbour and Blue Rocks. If there is a significant difference in gene expression, Cancer irroratus could be used as a bioindicator of coastal regions.
Gossi Nandi
Gossi will be exploring the molecular characterization of a digestive enzyme in masked shrews (Sorex cinereus) on Bon Portage Island (BPI), Nova Scotia. Masked shrews on BPI are notable for their unique diet, primarily consisting of amphipod crustaceans found in decaying seaweed beds along the shore. This distinct diet has led to higher population densities and unique genetic and epigenetic profiles compared to mainland shrew populations. Our research aims to sequence the gene for cytosol non-specific dipeptidase (PEP A), an enzyme crucial for their digestion, using novel PCR primers designed from publicly available whole genome data of various Sorex species. By comparing PEP A sequences from BPI shrews and other Sorex species, we aim to test the hypothesis that the PEP A gene is evolving under positive Darwinian selection. This project will provide insights into molecular adaptations associated with the unique diet of BPI shrews.
And we are always looking for collaborations and welcome the opportunity to work with students and researchers across the globe. If you have a project that you think would work in our lab drop me an email. Always happy to chat.