Joseph Rubin
Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology

• DVM, University of Saskatchewan
• PhD, Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan

The Rubin Lab website: http://www.therubinlab.com/

Dr. Rubin's research focuses on the theme of antimicrobial resistance.  Before the introduction of penicillin as a drug in the early 1940's physicians were largely powerless to bacterial infections; antibiotics were arguably the most important advance in medicine of the 20th century.  Unfortunately, the extraordinary ability of bacteria to adapt led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance.  Resistant organisms, commonly called 'superbugs', are increasingly encountered in both human and veterinary medicine and are threatening the ability of physicians and veterinarians to treat their patients.  Many of these bacteria are well adapted to a wide variety of hosts, and easily transmit between humans and animals making antibiotic resistance a problem for both human and veterinary medicine.

Dr. Rubin's research spans the following topics:

• Methicillin resistant Staphylococci (MRSA and MRSP)
• Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases in Gram-negatives
• Antimicrobial resistance in Brachyspira species
• Molecular epidemiology and DNA fingerprinting
• Zoonotic disease and interspecies transmission of antibiotic resistant organisms
• Antimicrobial resistance surveillance and epidemiology in humans, companion animals, food animals and wildlife

 Click herefor an up to date list of Dr. Rubin's publications.