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Marcel Behr is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University, where he serves as Director of the McGill International TB Centre. His research focuses on genomic studies of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, examining the genome of bacteria responsible for tuberculosis and studying live vaccine strains designed to prevent the disease. Behr aims to exploit naturally occurring mutants to better understand disease pathogenesis and the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis. Using genetic markers, he tracks clones of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which enhances the understanding of its spread among human populations and aids the development of effective control strategies. Additionally, Behr investigates the genomic composition of Mycobacterium avium and develops diagnostic tests based on his findings. His work also encompasses understanding host recognition in mycobacterial infections, studying the role of host pattern recognition receptors, particularly NOD2, in these infections. Behr employs various genetic techniques, including PCR and whole genome sequencing, to uncover molecular differences within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and its subspecies.
Department: Department of Medicine. Program: Experimental Medicine.