Lévesque, André, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, mycology

Contact Information:

960 Carling Ave
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6
Telephone: 613-759-1579
Fax: 613-759-1701
Email: andre.levesque@agr.gc.ca

Areas of Expertise:

  • mycology
  • molecular systematics of zoosporic fungi, with an emphasis on Oomycetes and Pythium
  • comparative genomics
  • plant pathology
  • detection of fungi and disease diagnostics
  • herbicide-fungi interactions

Current Projects:

  • Build and maintain reference collections and databases of fungi [AAFC National Mycological Herbarium (DAOM) and Canadian Collection of Fungal Cultures (CCFC)]
  • Development of phylogenomics capability, rapid detection and identification tools
  • Develop new information on taxonomy, phylogeny, distribution and biology of fungi, including systematic research related to biosecurity/alien invasive species as well as species involved in the development of bioproducts

Research Publications:

The links below lead to abstracts with access to full text.

2013:

2012:

2011:

2010:

2009:

Other Science Related Publications:

2012:

  • Barasubiye, T., Seifert, K.A., and Lévesque, C.A. (2012). "The National fungal identification service at ECORC_challenges and opportunities.", Canadian Phytopathological Society (CPS) 83rd Annual Meeting and International PPV Meeting, Marriott Gateway On The Falls, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, June 24-27, 2012, Published in: Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology / Revue canadienne de phytopathologie, 35(1), pp. 102.
  • Lévesque, C.A. (2012). "DNA Barcoding – Building Up and Using the Reference Database for fungi.", Canadian Wheat Improvement Workshop, National Research Council Plant Biotechnology Institute, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, March 21-22, 2012. (Presentation)
  • Lévesque, C.A., Bilkhu, S., Chapados, J.T., Chen, W., Hambleton, S., Lewis, C.T., Oliver, K., and Seifert, K.A. (2012). "AeroNet: A Canadian spore trapping network monitoring fungi and bacteria with DNA barcodes and next generation sequencing.", The Role of Genomics & Bioinformatics in Protecting Canadians from Microbial Food Safety Risks Workshop, Southway Hotel and Conference Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada, February 21-22, 2012. (Presentation)
  • Lévesque, C.A., Robideau, G.P., Chen, W., and Lewis, C.T. (2012). "Oomycete barcoding and applications.", Inoculum, 63(3), pp. 28.

2011:

  • Bala, K., Lévesque, C.A., and Saville, B. (2011). "Comparative analysis of gene expression in Pythium aphanidermatum during root-rot infection in multiple hosts.", Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology, Peterborough, ON, Canada, May 7-8, 2011. (Presentation)
  • Bala, K., Lévesque, C.A., and Saville, B. (2011). "Differential gene expression responses of Pythium aphanidermatum within plant hosts during root rot disease development.", Plant Canada 2011, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, July 17-21, 2011.
  • Chen, W., Lewis, C.T., Chapados, J.T., Bilkhu, S., Hambleton, S., Seifert, K.A., and Lévesque, C.A. (2011). "Aerobiota diversity in Canada’s air: Mining the metagenomic data.", Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology, Peterborough, ON, Canada, May 7-8, 2011. (Presentation)
  • Duncan, R.W. and Lévesque, C.A. (2011). "Platforms supporting GRDI pilot projects.", GRDI Scientific Planning Meeting, NRC, Ottawa, ON, Canada, June 21, 2011. (Presentation)
  • Eggertson, Q.A. and Lévesque, C.A. (2011). "Resolving the Pythium ultimum species complex.", Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology, Peterborough, ON, Canada, May 7-8, 2011.
  • Hambleton, S., Chen, W., Lewis, C.T., Bilkhu, S., Chapados, J.T., Oliver, K., Tenuta, A.U., and Lévesque, C.A. (2011). "AeroNet Canada: Profiling rust fungus diversity in spore trap samples with DNA barcoding and next generation sequencing.", North American Rust Workers Meeting (NARW), St. Paul, MN, USA, June 12, 2011. (Presentation)
  • Lévesque, C.A., Bilkhu, S., Chapados, J.T., Chen, W., Hambleton, S., Lewis, C.T., Oliver, K., and Seifert, K.A. (2011). "AeroNet: A Canadian spore trapping network monitoring fungi and bacteria with DNA barcodes and next generation sequencing.", iBOL-Canada: The future of DNA Barcoding in Canada, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada, April 29-May 1, 2011. (Presentation)
  • Lévesque, C.A., Robideau, G.P., Eggertson, Q.A., Rodrigue, N., Chen, W., Spies, C.F.J., Bala, K., de Cock, A.W.A.M., Hamilton, J., Adhikari, B., and Buell, C.R. (2011). "A case study with oomycetes on new approaches in taxonomy and ecology using next generation sequencing and comparative genomics.", The Research Horizons Seminar Series, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Montréal, QC, Canada, October 27, 2011. (Presentation)
  • Lévesque, C.A., Robideau, G.P., Eggertson, Q.A., Rodrigue, N., Chen, W., Spies, C.F.J., de Cock, A.W.A.M., Hamilton, J., Adhikari, B., and Buell, C.R. (2011). "Comparative genomics opens up a new era for oomycete taxonomy, ecology and diagnostics.", 71th Annual Meeting Meeting of the North-East Division of the American Phytopathological Society: The Oomycetes: Current and Future Challenges, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, October 12-14, 2011.
  • Robideau, G.P. and Lévesque, C.A. (2011). "Flagellin-like filaments of Pythium aphanidermatum: function and phylogeny.", Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology, Peterborough, ON, Canada, May 7-8, 2011.
  • Robideau, G.P., Subramaniam, R., and Lévesque, C.A. (2011). "Inoculation of cucumber seedlings with purified Pythium flaggellar protein: Effect on seedling growth and response to subsequent attack by Pythium aphanidermatum zoospores.", 4th International Biofumigation & Biopesticides Symposium, Sheraton Cavalier Hotel, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, October 18-21, 2011, Book:15.

2010:

  • Kang, S., Mansfield, M.A., Park, B., Geiser, D.M., Ivors, K.L., Coffey, M.D., Grünwald, N.J., Martin, F.N., Lévesque, C.A., and Blair, J.E. (2010). "The promise and pitfalls of sequence-based identification of plant-pathogenic fungi and oomycetes (Letter to Editor).", Phytopathology, 100(8), pp. 732-737.

2009:

  • Lévesque, C.A. (2009). "Fungal species "expression" with oligoarrays and RT-PCR.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology / Revue canadienne de phytopathologie, 31(1), pp. 115. (Abstract)
  • Lévesque, C.A., Seifert, K.A., Babcock, C., Bissett, J.D., Hambleton, S., Lewis, C.T., Redhead, S.A., Brière, S.C., Côté, M.J., and Hamelin, R.C. (2009). "CRTI-04-0045RD - Development of collections, reference/DNA databases and detection systems to counter bioterrorism against agriculture and forestry.", 7th Annual CRTI Summer Symposium 2009, Ottawa, ON, Canada, June 16-18, 2009, pp. 10-11.