Maternal obesity is a major public health problem. In Canada, 22-24% of women are diagnosed with obesity at the time of conception and this percentage extends to more than 50% in the US. This means that a high percentage of infants born in North America are exposed to an obesogenic environment during critical periods of early development with long-lasting health complications.
Breastfeeding is a solution to combat the risks of overweight/obesity in children.
However, we know little about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this protective effect, and we know even less about how maternal obesity shape the bioactive components of milk. Especially, a group of small, fat-coated nanovesicles known as milk-derived extracellular vesicles (MEVs) that transport genetic information (long and small non-coding RNAs), proteins, enzymes, and lipids from mothers to their offspring.
In the Wijenayake Lab at the University of Winnipeg, we study MEVs.
Molecular mechanisms of MEV uptake, localization, and function (In vitro and in vivo).
Temporal changes in MEVs cargo, including small and long non-coding RNA, peptides, and lipids across milk types & fractions (humans, rodents, bovine).
Impact of maternal stress on the lactation biology, behaviour, metabolism, and the inflammasome (Maternal Focus).
Maternal stress in shaping offspring development, the epigenome, and behaviour via milk transfer (Offspring Focus).
- We use cell culture, rodent models, longitudinal human cohorts, advanced microscopy, molecular and biochemistry toolkits, and Next Gen. Sequencing technologies (RNA Seq., microRNA Seq., RRBS, and ATAC Seq.) to characterize MEVs and their biological functions.
- We focus on early life risk factors, including maternal nutritional, psychosocial, and inflammatory stress that influence lactation biology and postnatal development of offspring.
- Trainees at the Wijenayake lab have access to cutting edge equipment, including QuantStudio 5 qPCR system, thermocyclers, the NanoSight Pro nanoparticle tracking system, a Luminex multiplexer, live cell fluorescent imager, flow cytometer, electrophoresis equipment, ultracentrifuges, ultracold freezers, biosafety cabinets, BioTek microplate readers, and a well-equipped animal care facility.
- Trainees at the Wijenayake lab also benefit from flexible mentorship opportunities, including one-on-one meetings, group meetings, journal clubs, student-led organizations, peer-mentoring programs, and memberships to research societies with student chapters. In addition to gaining marketable skills in molecular and cell biology, trainees at the Wijenayake lab take skill building courses in advanced microscope, bioinformatics, and scientific writing.
Funding Partners
