Sean Forrester
PhD
Professor
BiologyFaculty of Science
Dr. Forrester's laboratory focuses on developing new chemotherapies to be used to combat parasitic infections in both domestic animals and humans. Dr. Forrester studies nematode parasites using a variety of approaches including molecular biology, neurochemistry, pharmacology and electrophysiology.
Areas of expertise
- PhD - Molecular Parasitology McGill University, Institute of Parasitology, Montreal, Quebec 2003
- Master of Science - Biology/Parasitology Lakehead University, Ontario 1997
- Bachelor of Science - Biology Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia 1995
Nematode cys-loop GABA receptors: the neglected drug target
Clearwater, FL, USAAnthelmintic III (Invited Plenary Presentation)
Chemical biology approach to the study of nematode cys-loop GABA receptors as nematocidal drug targets
Montreal, Quebec May 14, 2014Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions Molecular Parasitology Symposium
Cys-loop GABA receptors in Haemonchus contortus: structural and pharmacological analysis, Symposium on Membrane Ion channels in Helminth Parasites
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 2, 2011Resistance and Sites of Action for Anthelmintics
Acetylcholine-gated chloride channel (ACC) genes in Haemonchus contortus
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 2, 2011Symposium on Membrane Ion channels in Helminth Parasites, Resistance and Sites of Action for Anthelmintics
Characterization of a novel tyramine-gated chloride channel from Haemonchus contortus
Melbourne, Australia August 15, 2010International Congress of Parasitology
- Habibi S, Nazareth K, Nichols J, Varley S, Forrester SG. The Haemonchus contortus LGC-39 subunit is a novel subtype of an acetylcholine-gated chloride channel. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2023 Aug;22:20-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.04.001. Epub 2023 Apr 6. PMID: 37054482; PMCID: PMC10122009.
- Cochrane E, Foster J, Khatami MH, de Haan HW, Forrester SG. Characterization of adjacent charged residues near the agonist binding site of the nematode UNC-49 GABA receptor. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2022 Nov;252:111521. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111521. Epub 2022 Sep 12. PMID: 36100173.
- Habibi SA, Blazie SM, Jin Y, Forrester SG. Isolation and characterization of a novel member of the ACC ligand-gated chloride channel family, Hco-LCG-46, from the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2020 May;237:111276. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111276. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32268182; PMCID: PMC9392465.
- Callanan MK, Habibi SA, Law WJ, Nazareth K, Komuniecki RL, Forrester SG. Investigating the function and possible biological role of an acetylcholinegated chloride channel subunit (ACC-1) from the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2018 Dec;8(3):526-533. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.010. Epub 2018 Oct 27. PMID: 30401619; PMCID: PMC6287539.
- Foster J, Cochrane E, Khatami MH, Habibi SA, de Haan H, Forrester SG. A mutational and molecular dynamics study of the cys-loop GABA receptor Hco-UNC-49 from Haemonchus contortus: Agonist recognition in the nematode GABA receptor family. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2018 Dec;8(3):534-539. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.001. Epub 2018 Oct 6. PMID: 30361167; PMCID: PMC6287672.
- Habibi SA, Callanan M, Forrester SG. Molecular and pharmacological characterization of an acetylcholine-gated chloride channel (ACC-2) from the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2018 Dec;8(3):518-525. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.09.004. Epub 2018 Sep 22. PMID: 30266440; PMCID: PMC6287471.
- Kwaka A, Hassan Khatami M, Foster J, Cochrane E, Habibi SA, de Haan HW, Forrester SG. Molecular Characterization of Binding Loop E in the Nematode Cys-Loop GABA Receptor. Mol Pharmacol. 2018 Nov;94(5):1289-1297. doi: 10.1124/mol.118.112821. Epub 2018 Sep 7. PMID: 30194106.
- Abdelmassih SA, Cochrane E, Forrester SG. Evaluating the longevity of surgically extracted Xenopus laevis oocytes for the study of nematode ligandgated ion channels. Invert Neurosci. 2017 Nov 28;18(1):1. doi: 10.1007/s10158-017-0205-z. PMID: 29185074.
- Forrester SG, Foster J, Robert S, Salim L, Desaulniers JP. Efficient synthesis of the GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor agonist trans-4-aminocrotonic acid (TACA). Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2017 Sep 15;27(18):4512-4513. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.07.050. Epub 2017 Jul 20. PMID: 28838689.
- Duguet TB, Charvet CL, Forrester SG, Wever CM, Dent JA, Neveu C, Beech RN. Recent Duplication and Functional Divergence in Parasitic Nematode Levamisole- Sensitive Acetylcholine Receptors. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Jul 14;10(7):e0004826. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004826. PMID: 27415016; PMCID: PMC4945070.
Discovery Grant (2020-2025)
NSERC$140,000
Research and Development Grant (2018-2021)
Zoetis$80,000
Discovery Grant (2015-2020)
NSERC$120,000
Leaders Opportunity Fund (2006)
CFI$76,258
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director, Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
Ontario Tech University January 1, 2009Dr. Forrester led the development of a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Applied Bioscience at Ontario Tech University, and he has developed and taught biology and pharmacology undergraduate and graduate courses. Additionally, he has played an important role in the early careers of his graduates who are now conducting doctoral and post-doctoral research at the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University and the University of Toronto.
Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Parasitology
McGill University January 1, 2006One of the oldest recognized centres of interdisciplinary research in Canada, the Institute of Parasitology focuses on parasitic organisms, the relationship with their host and the means to limit the impact of parasitic disease on health and wellbeing.
McGill University Institute of Parasitology
Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions
- Cell Biology (BIOL2030)
- Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology (BIOL3020)
- Essentials of Biology (BIOL1841)
- Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology (APBS6100)
- Advanced Topics in Integrative Neuroscience (NSCI4999)
