Ongoing Projects

Epigenetic regulation of Alternative splicing: A concealed player in cancer

Student: Rabi Us Sany. Department of genetic Engineering and biotechnology, University of Dhaka. MS thesis 2020 (ongoing)

Human genome contains around 20,000 genes, most of the are spliced by spliceosome removing introns from exons. But there are around 100,000 different proteins expressed by human cells which is the result of Alternative splicing. Alternative splicing is subjected to epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, histone modification and RNAi. As, there are some clear clues that alternative splicing is related to cancer, on the other side of the coin, alternative splicing is subjected to epigenetic regulations like histone modification and DNA methylation, acetylation etc. a question emerges, is there the possibility of both incidences to be related somehow? The goal of our study is to delineate the relationship between epigenetic regulation of alternative splicing and its role in cancer development. This study will allow us to identify significant epigenetic regulations of genes which results alternative splicing that produces aberrant proteins which modulates cancer and probably some novel strategies for cancer drug development and open doorways to rigorous experimentation in this vast sector.

Elucidation of viral miRNA modulated common host-virus interplays in different viral diseases

Student: Md. Shafiqul Islam. Department of genetic Engineering and biotechnology, University of Dhaka. MS thesis 2020 (ongoing)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNA molecules ( ̴ 22 nucleotides) that an regulate gene expression by interfering in the post-transcriptional level which results in the degradation of mRNAs and repression of translation through the base pairing to the 3’-untranslated regions (3’-UTRs) of the mRNA. Although miRNAs are known to down-regulate the translation or the cleavage of mRNAs, the miRNA-mediated regulation mechanisms still remain largely unknown. However, it is not fully known how these miRNAs help virus in disease pathogenesis and if there any common mechanism/pathways in human that viruses take control using miRNAs during early stage of pathogenesis. In this project, viral miRNA targeted human gene will be analyzed and we will determine the common features among the deregulated genes such as involved pathways, upregulation or downregulation.

Discovery of putative novel genes on a journey of unraveling mysteries of Vibrio parahaemolyticus hypothetical proteins

Student: Rabi Us Sany. Department of genetic Engineering and biotechnology, University of Dhaka. Bachelor Project 2019

Shrimp farming is one of the major industries in Bangladesh having an important impact in the economy and GDP. But recent outbreaks of the pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus have resulted early mortality syndrome in larvae of the shrimp which results to almost 100% lose of the shrimp. A detailed molecular mechanism of the toxicity caused by Pir protein is still unknown. The genome of a bacteria consists of known gene sequence but more than 20% of the ORFs are not annotated as the protein products in these regions are unknown and none of them have experimental evidence. This project focuses on these hypothetical proteins to find any significant hypothetical proteins which might help us to fight EMS of shrimp.

The Molecular Basis of the Pelvi-Ureteric Junction (PUJ) Obstruction in Patients with Hydronephrosis in Children

Student: Prof DR. Sadrul Alam, Department of genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka. PhD thesis (Ongoing) (Supervisor: Prof Aftab Uddin)

Hydronephrosis is a common urological problem we usually encounter. It is occurring in approximately 1 per 1000 – 2000 newborns and treatment will depend on what is causing the condition and how severe the urinary blockage is. If the child’s hydronephrosis is caused by a blockage due to PUJO, this will need to be treated surgically with aim to treat the underlying cause of Hydronephrosis to remove the build-up of urine and relieve the pressure on your kidney and thus prevent permanent kidney damage. Many efforts to prevent the loss of kidney function have been invented and tried with various degree of success. But very few works have been done on the congenital Pelvi-Ureteric Junction Obstruction (PUJO) causes hydronephrosis in Bangladesh. This problem necessitates being studies more for its further development in our country. The pyeloplasty is fast becoming the procedure of choice for Hydronephrosis due to PUJO at many center. But the probability of kidney damage though reduced still occurs. This study will be conducted with an aim to find out the molecular pathophysiology of the Congenital Pelvi-Ureteric Junction Obstruction Causes Hydronephrosis In Children.

Manuscripts Under Review

• Profiling of carnitine and acylcarnitines of late-diagnosed hypothyroid patients with fatigue under levothyroxine treatment.

Mst. Noorjahan Begum, Suprovath Kumar Sarker, Golam Sarower Bhuyan, Md Tarikul Islam, Shahinur Haque, Tasnia Kawsar Konika, Syeda Kashfi Qadri, Tasnuva Ahmed, Hurjahan Banu, Nusrat Sultana, Asifuzzaman Rahat, Mohammad Amir Hossain, Kohinoor Jahan Shyamaly, Suraiya Begum, Sadia Sultana, Sheikh Maksudur Rahman, Narayan Saha, Taufiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Mohiul Islam Chowdhury, Mizanul Hasan, M A Hasanat, Abu A. Sajib, Abul BMMK Islam, Sharif Akhteruzzaman, Syed Saleheen Qadri, Firdausi Qadri, and Kaiissar Mannoor.

• High resolution melt curve analysis offers an alternative approach for mutation screening in the TPO gene of congenital hypothyroid patients with dyshormonogenesis in Bangladesh.

Mst. Noorjahan Begum, Md Tarikul Islam, Tasnia Kawsar Konika, Shahinur Haque, Nusrat Jahan Antora, Suprovath Kumar Sarker, Nusrat Sultana, Golam Sarower Bhuyan, Abu A. Sajib, Abul B.M.M.K Islam, Mizanul Hasan, M A Hasanat, Syed Saleheen Qadri, Firdausi Qadri, Kaiissar Mannoor and Sharif Akhteruzzaman.

• Virtual Screening Reveals Fluorophenyl Compounds as Novel Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) Inhibitors

Rafeed Rahman Turjya, Md. Abdullah-Al-Kamran Khan, and Abul BMMK Islam