Subhasinghe I, Gautam H, Popowich S, Ayalew LE, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2025. Induction of trained immunity in broiler chickens by combination of in ovo delivery of oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs and intrapulmonary delivery of a live Clostridium perfringens vaccine at hatch to protect them against Escherichia coli septicemia later in the grow out period. Avian Dis. In press.
Gautam H, Shaik NA, Banaganapalli B, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ayalew L E, Mandal R, Wishart DS, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2025. Elevated butyric acid and histamine in feces and serum as an indicator of onset of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Frontiers in Microbiol. doi.10.3389/fmicb.2025.1581309.
Gautam H, Ayalew LE, Subhasinghe I, Popowich S, Matsuyama-Kato A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2025. Immunoprotection of broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis by oral delivery of live Clostridium perfringens vaccine adjuvanted with cholera toxin at hatch. Avian Dis. 69:91-101.
Subhasinghe I, Ahmed KA, Ayalew LE, Gautam H, Popowich S, Matsuyama-Kato A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Tikoo SK, Griebel P and S Gomis. 2024. Induction of trained immunity in broiler chickens following delivery of oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs to protect against Escherichia coli septicemia. Sci Rep. 14:18882.
Gautam H, Ahmed KA, Subhasinghe I, Popowich S, Matsuyama-Kato A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ayalew LE, Tikoo SK, Griebel P and S Gomis. 2024. Protection of broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis by intrapulmonary delivery of live Clostridium perfringens vaccine exploiting the gut-lung-axis concept. Avian Diseases. 68(3):240-253.
Gautam H, Shaik NA, Banaganapalli B, Popowich S, Subhasinghe I, Ayalew LE, Mandal R, Wishart DS, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2024. Elevated levels of butyric acid in the jejunum of an animal model of broiler chickens: from early onset of Clostridium perfringens infection to clinical disease of necrotic enteritis. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 15(1):144. doi. 10.1186/s40104-024-01105-5.
Subhasinghe I, Matsuyama-Kato A, Ahmed KA, Ayalew LE, Gautam H, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Tikoo SK, Griebel P and S Gomis. 2024. Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG morifs upregulate bactericidal activities of heterophils to enhance immunoprotection of neonatal broiler chickens against Salmonella Typhimurium septicemia. Poult Sci. 106(10):104078.
Gautam H, Ayalew LE, Shaik NA, Subhasinghe I, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Dixon A, Ahmed KA, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2024. Exploring the predictive power of jejunal microbiome composition in clinical and subclinical necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens: insights from a broiler chicken model. J Transl Med. 22(1), p.80. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04728-w.
Ayalew LE, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Gautam H, Subhasinghe I, Ahmed KA, Tikoo SK, Ojkic D and S Gomis. 2023. Development of a multivalent adjuvanted inactivated vaccine against variant arthrotropic avain reoviruses. Front Vet Sci. 10:1209597.
Kurukulasuriya S, Ahmed KA, Ojkic D, Gunawardana T, Goonewardene K, Gupta A, Popowich S, Willson P, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2022. Evaluation of five circulation strains of variant infectious bursal disease virus (varIBDV) for their immunogenicity as broiler breeder vaccines and protective efficacy in neonatal broiler chicks. Vaccine. S0264-410X(22)01000-3. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.08.021. Online ahead of print.PMID: 36008236.
Karunarathna R, Ahmed KA, Goonewardene K, Gunawardana T, Kurukulasuriya S, Liu M, Gupta A, Popowich S, Ayalew LE, Chow-Lockerbie B, Willson P, Ngleka M and S Gomis. 2022. Exposure of embryonating eggs to Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli potentiates E. coli pathogenicity and increases mortality of neonatal chickens. Poult Sci. 3(101(3)): 101983.
Gunawardana T, Ahmed KA, Popowich S, Kurukulasuriya S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Karunarathna R, Ayalew LE, Liu M, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2022. Comparison of therapeutic antibiotics, probiotics, and synthetic CpG-ODNs for protective efficacy against Escherichia coli lethal infection and impact on the immune system in neonatal broiler chickens. Avian Dis. doi: 10.1637/aviandiseases-D-22-00011.
Ayalew LE, Ahmed KA, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Gupta A, Tikoo SK, Ojkic D and S Gomis. 2022. Virulence of emerging arthrotropic avian reoviruses correlates with their ability to activate and traffic interferon-y producing cytotoxic CD8+ T cells into gastrocnemius tendon. Frontiers. doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.869164.
Goonewardene K, Karu N, Ahmed KA, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ayalew LE, Karunarathna R, Gunawardana T, Liu M, Tikoo SK, Foldvari M, Willson P, Mandal R, Wishart DS and S Gomis. 2021. CpG induced antimicrobial immunity in neonatal chicks involves a substantial shift in serum metabolic profiles. Sci Rep. 11:9028.
Goonewardene K, Popowich S, Gebhardt S, Gunawardana T, Gupta A, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Liu M, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ayalew L, Ahmed KA, Kamali H, Tikoo SK, Foldvari M, Willson P, Boire J, Roberts K, Ambrose N, Simonson C and S Gomis. 2021. Aerosol delivery of synthetic DNA containing CpG motifs in broiler chicks at hatch under field conditions using a commercial-scale prototype nebulizer provided protection against lethal Escherichia coli septicemia. Poult Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj/2020.12.031.
Ayalew LE, Ahmed KA, Mekuria ZH, Lockerbie B, Popowich S, Tikoo SK, Ojkic D and S Gomis. 2020. The dynamics of molecular evolution of emerging avian reoviruses through accumulation of point mutations and genetic re-assortment. Virus Evol. 10:6(1):veaa025. doi:10.1093/ve/veaa025.
Goonewardene K, Ahmed KA, Gunawardana T, Popowich S, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Gupta A, Ayalew LE, Chow-Lockerbie B, Foldvari M, Tikoo SK, Willson P and S Gomis. 2020. Mucosal delivery of CpG-ODN mimicking bacterial DNA via the intrapulmonary route induces systemic antimicrobial immune responses in neonatal chicks. Sci Rep. 10(1):5343.
Karunarathna R, Ahmed KA, Liu M, Yu C, Popowich S, Goonewardene K, Gunawardana T, Kurukulasuriya S, Gupta A, Ayalew L, Willson P, Ngeleka M and S Gomis. 2020. Non-viable chicken embryos: an overlooked niche harbouring a significant source of multidrug resistant bacteria in poultry production. Int J Vet Sci Med. 8(1):9-17.
Gunawardana T, Ahmed KA, Goonewardene K, Popowich S, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Ayalew LE, Gupta A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Foldvari M, Tikoo SK, Willson P and S Gomis. 2020. CpG-ODN induces a dose-dependent enrichment of immunological niches in the spleen and lungs of neonatal chicks that correlates with the protective immunity against Escherichia coli. J Immunol. doi.org/10.1155/2020/2704728.
Gunawardana T, Ahmed KA, Goonewardene K, Popowich S, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Gupta A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Foldvari M, Tikoo SK, Willson P and S Gomis. 2019. Synthetic CpG-ODN rapidly enriches immune compartments in neonatal chicks to induce protective immunity against bacterial infections. Sci Rep. 9(1):341.
Amarasinghe A, Popowich S, De Silva Senapathi U, Sarjoon Abdul-Cader M, Marshall F, van der Meer F, Cork SC, Gomis S and MF Abdul-Careem. 2018. Shell-less egg syndrome (SES) widespread in western Canadian later operations is linked to a Massachusetts (Mass) type infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolate. Viruses. 10(437), doi:10.3390/v10080437.
Popowich S, Gupta A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ayalew L, Ambrose N, Ojkic D, Gunawardana T, Kurukulasuriya S, Willson P, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2018. Broad spectrum protection of broiler chickens against inclusion body hepatitis by immunizing their broiler breeder parents with a bivalent live fowl adenovirus vaccine. Res Vet Sci. 118:262-269.
Gupta A, Popowich S, Ojkic D, Kurukulasuriya S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Gunawardana T, Goonewardene K, Karunarathna R, Ayalew LE, Ahmed KA, Tikoo SK, Willson P and S Gomis. 2017. Inactivated and live bivalent fowl adenovirus (FAdV8b + FAdV11) breeder vaccines provide broad-spectrum protection in chicks against inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). Vaccine. 36:744-750.
Karunarathna R, Popowich S, Wawryk M, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ahmed KA, Yu C, Liu M, Goonewardene K, Gunawardana T, Kurukulasuriya S, Gupta A, Willson P, Ambrose N, Ngeleka M and S Gomis. 2017. Increased incidence of Enterococcal infection in nonviable broiler chicken embryos in western Canadian hatcheries as detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Avian Dis. 61:472-480.
Goonewardene K, Popowich S, Gunawardana T, Gupta A, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ahmed KA, Tikoo SK, Foldvari M, Willson P and S Gomis. 2017. Intrapulmonary delivery of CpG-ODN microdroplets provides protection against Escherichia coli septicemia in neonatal broiler chickens. Avian Dis. 61(4):503-511.
Ayalew LE, Gupta A, Fricke J, Ahmed KA, Popowich S, Lockerbie B, Tikoo SK, Ojkic D, and S Gomis. 2017. Phenotypic, genotypic andantigenic characterization of emerging avian reoviruses isolated from clinical cases of arthritis in broilers in Saskatchewan, Canada. Scientific Reports. 7:3565 - 3577.
Gupta A, Ahmed KA, Ayalew LE, Popowich S, Kurukulasuriya S, Goonewardene K, Gunawardana T, Karunarathna R, Ojkic D, Tikoo SK, Willson P and S Gomis. 2017. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of virus-like particles and recombinant fiber proteins in broiler-breeder vaccination against fowl adenovirus (FAdV)-8b. Vaccine. 35:2716-2722.
Kurukulasuriya S, Ahmed KA, Ojkic D, Gunawardana T, Goonewardene K, Gupta A, Chow-Lockerbie B, Popowich S, Willson P, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2017. Modified live infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine delays infection of neonatal broiler chickens with variant IBDV compared to turkey herpesvirus (HVT)-IBDV vectored vaccine. Vaccine. 35(6):882-888.
Zachar T, Popowich S, Goodhope B, Knezacek T, Ojkic D, Willson P, Ahmed KA and S Gomis. 2016. A 5-year study of the incidence and economic impact of variant infectious bursal disease viruses on broiler production in Saskatchewan, Canada. Can J Vet Res. 80(4): 255-261.
Kurukulasuriya S, Ahmed KA, Ojkic D, Gunawardana T, Gupta A, Goonewardene K, Karunaratne R, Popowich S, Willson P, Tikoo SK and S Gomis. 2016. Circulating strains of variant infectious bursal disease virus may pose a challenge for antibiotic-free chicken farming in Canada. Res Vet Sci. 108:54-59.
Amini K, Zachar T, Popowich S, Knezacek T, Goodhope B, Willson P and S Gomis. 2015. Association of increased rate of condemnation of broiler carcasses due to hepatic abnormalities with immunosuppressive diseases in the broiler chicken industry in Saskatchewan. Can J Vet Res. 79(4):261-267.
Gunawardana T, Foldvari M, Zachar T, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ivanova MV, Tikoo SK, Kurukulasuriya S, Willson P and S Gomis. 2015. Protection of neonatal broiler chickens following in-ovo delivery of oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) formulated with carbon nanotubes or liposomes. Avian Dis. 59(1):31-37.
Taghavi A, Allan B, Mutwiri G, Foldvari M, Van Kessel A, Willson P, Babiuk L, Potter A and S Gomis. 2009. Enhancement of immunoprotective effect of CpG-ODN by formulation by polyphosphazenes against E. coli septicemia in neonatal chickens. Curr Drug Deliv. 6(1):76-82.
Taghavi A, Allan B, Mutwiri G, Van Kessel A, Willson P, Babiuk L, Potter A and S Gomis. 2008. Protection of neonatal broiler chicks against Salmonella Typhimurium septicemia by DNA containing CpG motifs. Avian Dis. 52(3):398-406.
Ojkic D, Martin E, Swinton J, Vaillancourt JP, Boulianne M and S Gomis. 2008. Genotyping of Canadian isolates of fowl adenoviruses. Avian Pathol. 37(1):95-100.
Gomis S, Babiuk L, Allan B, Willson P, Waters E, Hecker R and A Potter. 2007. Protection of chickens against a lethal challenge of Escherichia coli by a vaccine containing CpG oligodeoxynucleotides as an adjuvant. Avian Dis. 51(1):78-83.
Gomis S, Goodhope R, Ojkic D and P Willson. 2006. Inclusion body hepatitis as a primary disease in broilers in Saskatchewan, Canada. Avian Dis. 50(4):550-555.
Gomis S, Babiuk L, Allan B, Willson P, Waters E, Ambrose N, Hecker R and A Potter. 2004. Protection of neonatal chicks against a lethal challenge of Escherichia coli using DNA containing cytosine-phosphodiester-guanine motifs. Avian Dis. 48(4):813-822.