Alex Wong, University of Ottawa

Research

Covid-19 Environmental Detection Environmental Swabbing Reopening School Surveillance

Latest papers

Processing of lysophosphatidylcholines by ExoU secreted by P. aeruginosa leads to inflammasome activation and cell death.
Cell reports · 2026
Persistence of non-typhoidal Salmonella across hosts and environments: a One Health perspective.
Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
Targeted metatranscriptomic detection of viruses from floors for simultaneous evaluation of respiratory disease burden and viral variant identification.
mSphere · 2026 · senior author

All 68 publications

Latest funding

COVID-19 in the urban built environment (CUBE): Evaluating the use of environmental swabs for the detection and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in school and congregate settings
CIHR · 2021 · Principal investigator
$499,415
One Health Network for the Global Governance of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance
CIHR · 2019 · Co-investigator
$2,000,000
Mapping Canadian Knowledge of, and Involvement in, the Global Governance of Anti-Microbial Resistance and Related Infectious Diseases
CIHR · 2017 · Co-investigator
$100,000

All 3 grants and awards

68 publications.

01

Processing of lysophosphatidylcholines by ExoU secreted by P. aeruginosa leads to inflammasome activation and cell death.

Phuong MS, Mahdi A, Cai D, Noah K, Rijal D, Kaul R, Bhan A, Yadav S, Ariana A, El Hamra R, Chen W, Kassen R, Hernandez R, Wong A, Frank DW, Pier GB, Cheng Z, Cuperlovic-Culf M, Bennett SAL, Sad S

Cell reports2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.118037 PMID: 42771524

02

Persistence of non-typhoidal Salmonella across hosts and environments: a One Health perspective.

Abdelgany A, Wong A, Guan J

Frontiers in microbiology2026

DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1830232 PMID: 42553265

03

Targeted metatranscriptomic detection of viruses from floors for simultaneous evaluation of respiratory disease burden and viral variant identification.

Carroll AC, Hinz A, Hicks AMA, Khov E, Van Bakel T, Doukhanine E, Fralick M, Nott C, Kassen R, Thampi N, Hug LA, MacFadden D, Wong A

mSphere2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00086-26 PMID: 42007699

04

Mutational basis of ceftazidime-borrelidin A collateral sensitivity in Escherichia coli.

Phillips LL, Carrasco A, Weiss J, Liu DY, Linington RG, Wong A

G3 (Bethesda, Md.)2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkag046 PMID: 41773311

05

Comment on: Distinct population structure and genomic context of NarAB between broiler and human clinical Enterococcus isolates.

Wong A

The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy2026First author

DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkag134 PMID: 41982053

06

Gulls as reservoirs and vectors of high-risk, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in Atlantic Canada: emergence of CMY-2-producing ST648.

Sallem R, Bouallegue O, Quinlan T, Theriault M, Kaouass M, Craik S, Wong A

Canadian journal of microbiology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2025-0240 PMID: 42013572

07

SARS-CoV-2 detection is independent of microbiome composition on surfaces in a major Ontario hospital.

George NA, Bradford L, Hinz A, El Kadi M, Xing L, Doukhanine E, MacFadden DR, Nott C, Fralick M, Kassen R, Wong A, Hug LA

PloS one2025

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326403 PMID: 41343559

08

Sequencing and variant calling of SARS-CoV-2 from floor swabs: a potential tool for identifying emergent lineages.

Hodzic-Santor B, Hinz A, Kassen R, Liu JL, Djambazian H, Lee S, Hicks A, Sjaarda C, Wong H, Sheth PM, Nott C, MacFadden DR, Roy AM, Ragoussis J, Castellani L, Fralick M, Wong A

Microbial genomics2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001575 PMID: 41417279

09

Nearly a century of discoveries in bacterial genetics and their continuing impact on the field.

Baltrus DA, Merrikh H, Uecker H, Wong A

G3 (Bethesda, Md.)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf225 PMID: 41223131

10

Nearly a century of discoveries in bacterial genetics and their continuing impact on the field.

Baltrus DA, Merrikh H, Uecker H, Wong A

Genetics2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaf205 PMID: 41222158

COVID-19 in the urban built environment (CUBE): Evaluating the use of environmental swabs for the detection and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in school and congregate settings

Principal investigatorCIHR2021Op. Gr.:Emer. COVID Res. Gaps/Priorities-Core Public Health and Control Measures

Principal investigators: Thampi, Nisha; Castellani, Lucas; Fralick, Michael P; Kassen, Rees; MacFadden, Derek R; Nott, Caroline; Wong, Alex

Keywords: Covid-19; Environmental Detection; Environmental Swabbing; Reopening; School; Surveillance

$499,415

One Health Network for the Global Governance of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance

Co-investigatorCIHR2019Network for Global Governance Research on Infectious Diseases

Principal investigators: Labonté, Ronald; Ephrem, Bersabel; Aenishaenslin, Cecile; Carabin, Hélène; Fafard, Patrick; Graham, Janice E; Hillier, Sean A; Hindmarch, Suzanne; Hollis, Aidan; Morris, Andrew M; Patrick, David M; Rock, Melanie J; Wiktorowicz, Mary E; Zarowsky, Christina; Zinszer, Kate A

Keywords: Antimicrobial Resistance; Governance; Infection Prevention And Control; Infectious Diseases; International Health Regulations; One Health; Pandemic Preparedness

$2,000,000

Mapping Canadian Knowledge of, and Involvement in, the Global Governance of Anti-Microbial Resistance and Related Infectious Diseases

Co-investigatorCIHR2017Catalyst Grant: Global Governance AMR & Related Infectious Disease Threats

Principal investigators: Labonté, Ronald; Noad, Lindsay

Keywords: Antimicrobial Resistance; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Antimicrobial Surveillance; Antimicrobial Use; Canada; Global Governance; Infectious Diseases; Population Health; Public Health; Public Policy

$100,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Department of Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2020

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2021

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Covid-19 Dear Professor Wong, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Processing of lysophosphatidylcholines by ExoU secreted by P. aeruginosa leads to inflammasome activation and cell death." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "COVID-19 in the urban built environment (CUBE): Evaluating the use of environmental swabs for the detection and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in school and congregate settings" (2021), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]