Karine Auclair, McGill University

Research

Medicinal Chemistry Antibiotics Antibacterials In Vitro Antibacterial Studies In Vivo Antibacterial Studies Pharmacokinetic Studies Antimalarial Antiplasmodial

Latest papers

Macrophage-derived itaconate is a negative regulator of adipose tissue thermogenesis.
Nature metabolism · 2026
Corrigendum to "Inhibition of human P450 enzymes by nicotinic acid and nicotinamide" [317 (2004) 950-956].
Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2026 · senior author
Moist-Solid Biocatalysis Enables Processive Depolymerization of Crystalline PET.
Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2026 · senior author

All 72 publications

Latest funding

Resensitizing bacteria to itaconate as a new approach for the treatment of infections
CIHR · 2026 · Nominated PI
$860,626
PLASTICS: Plastic Affordance through Science and Technology Innovation for Circular Solutions
NSERC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$125,900
Development of new lead antimalarials targeting parasite coenzyme A biosynthesis and utilisation.
CIHR · 2022 · Nominated PI
$810,900

All 22 grants and awards

72 publications.

01

Macrophage-derived itaconate is a negative regulator of adipose tissue thermogenesis.

Tang J, Pernes G, Nakagaki B, Tran N, Bokor L, Prenen F, Yi M, Robertson AE, Cronin R, Sarmini M, Pierscianowski J, Roberts V, Ryback BA, Novina CD, Auclair K, Xiao H, Mills EL

Nature metabolism2026

DOI: 10.1038/s42255-026-01572-2 PMID: 42448793

02

Corrigendum to "Inhibition of human P450 enzymes by nicotinic acid and nicotinamide" [317 (2004) 950-956].

Gaudineau C, Auclair K

Biochemical and biophysical research communications2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2026.153692 PMID: 41925446

03

Moist-Solid Biocatalysis Enables Processive Depolymerization of Crystalline PET.

Arciszewski J, Zaker A, Xia Y, Baniasadi H, Lan CB, Auclair K

Journal of the American Chemical Society2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c05858 PMID: 42095745

04

The Plasmodium falciparum PPCS is a unique heteromeric complex with prokaryote-like activity and is a target of pantothenate analogs.

Liu X, Jin R, Domingo R, Kotzé TJ, Guan J, Hamann AR, Chu A, Hart-Smith G, Spry C, Sexton AE, Crooke Z, Venkadeswaran A, Yuan X, Creek DJ, Auclair K, Corry B, Strauss E, Saliba KJ

Science advances2026

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx5265 PMID: 41824577

05

Thiazole substitution of a labile amide bond-a new option toward antiplasmodial pantothenamide-mimics.

Liu X, Chu A, Nekouei M, Lan CB, Pierret A, Auclair K, Saliba KJ

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy2025

DOI: 10.1128/aac.00331-25 PMID: 40801835

06

Impact of Ball Milling on the Microstructure of Polyethylene Terephthalate.

Zaker A, Auclair K

ChemSusChem2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202401506 PMID: 39374337

07

Organocatalytic Hat Trick: 1,5,7-Triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Cyclic Imides via an Amidation-Cyclization-Elimination Cascade.

Lan CB, Auclair K

The Journal of organic chemistry2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.4c02649 PMID: 39665780

08

Bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli for whole-cell screening of antibacterial and adjuvant compounds.

Farkas E, McKay GA, Hu LT, Nekouei M, Ho P, Moreira W, Chan CC, Dam LC, Auclair K, Gruenheid S, Whyte L, Dedon P, Nguyen D

Scientific reports2024

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-81926-6 PMID: 39730767

09

Chemical synthesis and enzymatic late-stage diversification of novel pantothenate analogues with antiplasmodial activity.

Liu X, Thistlethwaite S, Kholiya R, Pierscianowski J, Saliba KJ, Auclair K

European journal of medicinal chemistry2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116902 PMID: 39423490

10

Enzymatic polyethylene biorecycling: Confronting challenges and shaping the future.

Jin J, Arciszewski J, Auclair K, Jia Z

Journal of hazardous materials2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132449 PMID: 37690195

Resensitizing bacteria to itaconate as a new approach for the treatment of infections

Nominated PICIHR2026Project Grant

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

Keywords: Antibacterials; In Vitro Antibacterial Studies; In Vivo Antibacterial Studies; Medicinal Chemistry; Pharmacokinetic Studies

$860,626

PLASTICS: Plastic Affordance through Science and Technology Innovation for Circular Solutions

Co-investigatorNSERC2024Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Principal investigators: McLellan, James PJ

Keywords: bioprocesses; biotechnology; human centre design; innovation; knowledge mobilization; open science; plastic circularity; plastics; social impact and justice; systems representation and change

$125,900

Development of new lead antimalarials targeting parasite coenzyme A biosynthesis and utilisation.

Nominated PICIHR2022Project Grant

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

Keywords: Antimalarial; Antiplasmodial; Coenzyme A Biosynthesis; In Vitro Assays; In Vivo Studies; Medicinal Chemistry

$810,900

Rethinking biocatalysis and enzymology

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

$231,000

Enzymatic plastics depolymerization in moist-solid reaction mixtures

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Idea to Innovation

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

$125,000

Canada Research Chair - Tier 1

Nominated PICIHR2019Canada Research Chairs - CIHR Funded - Tier 1

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

Keywords: *A*

$1,400,000

Resensitizing bacteria to itaconate as a new approach for the treatment of infections

Nominated PICIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

Keywords: Antibiotics; Enzyme Inhibition; Immunology

$780,300

Resensitizing intracellular bacteria to itaconate as a new approach for the treatment of Salmonella and Mycobacterial infections

Nominated PICIHR2018Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Antimicrobial Resistance

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

Keywords: Antibiotics; Antivirulence

$100,000

Solvent-free mechanochemical and enzymatic breakdown of cellulose

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Idea to Innovation

Principal investigators: Friscic, Tomislav

$122,403

Enzyme cooperativity, biocatalysis and bioconjugation

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Auclair, Karine

$225,000

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

Frequent collaborators

Chemistry
Biochemistry
Medicine
Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences
Microbiology and Immunology
Other

Co-authors at McGill University, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Anthony Mittermaier

Chemistry

3 shared papers, latest 2016

Nicolas Moitessier

Chemistry

3 shared papers, latest 2017

Gonzalo Cosa

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Gerard Wright

Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2006

Samantha Gruenheid

Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Dao Nguyen

Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Albert Berghuis

Biochemistry

1 shared papers, latest 2014

Zongchao Jia

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2026

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Medicinal Chemistry Dear Professor Auclair, 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 "Macrophage-derived itaconate is a negative regulator of adipose tissue thermogenesis." (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 "Resensitizing bacteria to itaconate as a new approach for the treatment of infections" (2026), 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]