My research program focuses on the innate antiviral immune response of animals. Viruses make double-stranded (ds)RNA during their replication within a host cell. We use cutting edge techniques from the fields of cell biology and molecular biology to study 1) the production of dsRNA by viruses and 2) the detection and response to viral dsRNA by the host cell. A better understanding of the innate immune response to virus infections could lead to the development of novel therapeutics such as antiviral drugs and vaccine adjuvants. 

• University Research Professor Award, Wilfrid Laurier University (2022).
• Robert G. Boutilier New Investigator award, Canadian Society of Zoology (2018).
• Early Career Researcher Award, Wilfrid Laurier University (2018).
• Early Researcher Award, Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (2016).
• Young Scientist Award, Society for In Vitro Biology (2014).

I support a number of different research positions within my laboratory including graduate students, undergraduate 4th year thesis students and volunteer positions. Please email me if you are interested in my research program, describing to me your research background, scientific interests and GPA. 

For 2023/2024 Undergraduate research opportunities please see below:

If you are interested in doing a 4th year thesis project or a two term 0.5 directed studies project with me and my team in starting September 2023, please submit the following documents in an email to me (sdewitteorr@wlu.ca) by January 13th, 2023:

1) A short paragraph or two describing: (i) why you want to do research and why with my team, (ii) what research you have done thus far, (iii) any specific circumstances I should know regarding your application package 

2) A CV or resume

3) a copy of your unofficial transcript

I will be contacting students for chats a week or two after January 13th. If you haven't been contacted, unfortunately we won't have a position for you this year.

All undergraduates will be paired with a graduate student mentor. You will be given your own project, working on innate immune responses to virus infections and will learn cell culture, virology, molecular biology and microscopy skills. Some projects will have an opportunity to work with industry. Any data generated by you while working in the lab that contributes to a paper will earn you authorship on that paper.

*** Opportunities for 2023/2024 are now filled. Please keep your eye out next January 2024 for the following year's opportunities***

• Poynter SP and DeWitte-Orr SJ (2017) Visualizing virus-derived dsRNA using antibody-independent and –dependent methods (Chapter 5). In: Innate antiviral immunity: methods and protocols. Mossman, K (ed). Springer. p. 103-118.

Research Articles Published

• Au SK, Portelli IV, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2022) Using long, sequence specific dsRNA to knockdown inducible protein expression and virus production via an RNAi-like mechanism. Fish and Shellfish Immunology. In Press.
• Semple SL, Alkie TN, Jenik K, Warner BM, Tailor N, Kobasa D, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2022) More tools for our toolkit: the application of HEL-299 cells and dsRNA-nanoparticles to study human coronaviruses in vitro. Virus Research. In Press.
• Whittal MC, Poynter SJ, Samms K, Briar KJ, Sinopoli SI, Millecaps M, Stone LS, DeWitte-Orr SJ, Gregory DE. (2022) TAK-242 treatment and its effect on mechanical properties and gene expression associated with IVD degeneration in SPARC-null mice. European Spine Journal. In Press.
• Semple SL, Jacob RA, Mossman KL, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2022) Discovery and use of long dsRNA mediated RNA interference (dsRNAi) to stimulate antiviral protection in interferon competent mammalian cells. Frontiers in Immunology – Molecular Innate Immunity. May 6; 13:859749.
• DeWitte-Orr SJ and Whiteside A. (2022) COVID-19: Where we’ve been, where we’re going. Balsillie Papers. 4(6): 1-15.
• Molladavoodi S, DeWitte-Orr SJ, Gregory DE. (2022) An In Vitro 3D Annulus Fibrosus Cell Culture Model with Type I Collagen: An Examination of Cell-Matrix Interactions. JOR Spine. 5(1): e1193.
• Samms K, Alkie TN, Jenik K, DeJong DJ, Klinger KM, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2022) Oral delivery of a dsRNA-phytoglycogen nanoparticle complex enhances both local and system innate immune responses in rainbow trout. Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 121:215-222.
• Delumeau L-V, Asgarimoghaddam H, Alkie TN, Jones A, Lum S, Mistry K, Aucoin M, DeWitte-Orr SJ, and Musselman K. (2021) Effectiveness of antiviral metal and metal oxide thin film coatings against human coronavirus 229E. APL Materials. 9(11):111114.
• Jenik K, Alkie TN, Samms K, Lalousis A, Moore E, DeJong DJ, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2021) In  vitro and in vivo characterization of inosine monophosphate delivered by a phytoglycogen  nanoparticle in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). North American Journal of Aquaculture. 84(2): 156-164.
• Jenik K, Alkie TN, Moore E, DeJong JD, Lee LEJ, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2021) Characterization of a bovine intestinal myofibroblast cell line and stimulation using phytoglycogen-based nanoparticles bound to inosine monophosphate. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Animal. 57(1), 86-94.
• Alkie TN, DeJong JD, Moore E, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2020) Phytoglycogen nanoparticle delivery for inorganic selenium reduces cytotoxicity without impairing selenium bioavailability. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 15: 10469-10479.
• Zwambag DP, Laird BN, DeWitte-Orr SJ, Gregory DE. (2020) Unloaded organ culturing has a detrimental effect on the axial mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 143(8):08501.
• Bienentreu JF, Guerreiro MJ, Grayfer L, Robert J, Brunetti CR, Schock DM, DeWitte-Orr SJ, Lesbarreres D. (2020) Sublethal effects of wild-type and vIF-2alpha-knockout Frog virus 3 in post-metamorphic wood frogs (Rana sylvatica): potential for a stage-specific reservoir. FACETS. 5(1) 738-757.
• Zwambag DP, Molladavoodi S, Guerreiro MJ, Laird BN, DeWitte-Orr SJ, Gregory DE. (2020) Immuno-stimulatory capacity of decorin in the intervertebral disc and the mechanical consequence of resultant inflammation. European Spine Journal 29(7):1641-1648.
• DeWitte-Orr SJ, Edholm ES, Grayfer L. (2019) Editorial: Innate immunity of aquatic vertebrates. Frontiers in Immunology. 10:2959.
• Alkie TN, DeJong JD, Jenik K, Klinger K, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2019) Enhancing innate antiviral immune responses in rainbow trout by double-stranded RNA delivered with novel phytoglycogen nanoparticles. Scientific Reports. 9: 13619.
• Poynter SJ, Herrington-Krause S, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2019) Two DExD/H-box helicases, DDX3 and DHX9, identified in rainbow trout are able to bind dsRNA. Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 93:1056-1066.
• Vo NTK, Everson J, Moore L, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2019) Class A scavenger receptor expression and function in eight novel tadpole cell lines from the green frog (Lithobates clamitans) and the wood frog (Lithobates sylvatica). Cytotechnology. 6:757-768.
• Vo NTK, Guerreiro M, Yaparla A, Grayfer L, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2019) Class A scavenger receptors are used by Frog virus 3 during its cellular entry. Viruses. 11:93.
• Vo NTK, Moore LC, Leis E, DeWitte-Orr SJ. (2019) Class A scavenger receptors mediate extracellular dsRNA sensing, leading to downstream antiviral gene expression in a novel American toad cell line, BufoTad. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 92: 140-149.

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• Laurier professors receive over $500,000 in support from Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.