MEmBERS
PRINCIPAl INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Kabir H Biswas
Dr. Biswas is broadly interested in designing biointerfaces and biosensors for the purpose of understanding and controlling cellular signaling with an emphasis on the role of spatial organization and mechanical regulation of signaling proteins. He employs a variety of biophysical and materials approaches including nano- and micropatterning techniques to design supported membrane-based patterned substrates and genetically encoded, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based sensors. Traditional biochemical and cellular assays provide some understanding of cellular signaling including the identity of the proteins involved in a particular pathway, and their biochemical transformations or interacting partners. However, these techniques are often unsuitable for dissecting the role of the spatial organization or mechanical regulation of signaling proteins, features that have been recently revealed to be of prime importance. Some examples of such regulation include molecular mobility-dependent cadherin adhesion formation, spatial localization-dependent T-cell receptor signaling, and substrate rigidity-dependent integrin signaling. Insights gained from these studies will aid in the development of alternative, novel therapeutic avenues for diseases such as cancer.
Postdoctoral Fellow
[1] Dr. Anupriya M Geethakumari, CHLS, HBKU (Spring 2020 - )
Publications:
Phosphodiesterase 5: Protein Structure, Regulation of Activity, Mechanism of Inhibition, and Therapeutic Applications of Inhibitors, Ahmed W, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH*, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 2021, 134: 111128 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111128 [Invited Review Article]
Role of actin cytoskeleton in E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion assembly and maintenance, Rasool S#, Geethakumari AM#, Biswas KH* Journal of the Indian Institute of Science 2021, 101(1): 51-62 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-020-00214-0 [Invited Review Article]
A Genetically Encoded BRET-based SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protease Activity Sensor, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Rasool S, Fatima A, Uddin SM Nasir, Aouida M, Biswas KH* Communications Chemistry 2022, 5: 117 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00731-2
Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Functional Validation of Potential Hit Molecules Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease
Moovarkumudalvan B, Geethakumari AM, Ramadoss R, Biswas KH and Mifsud B Biomolecules 2022, 12(12): 1754
Regulation of Tight Junction by Cadherin Adhesion and its Implication in Inflammation and Cancer Uddin SM Nasir, Sultana A, Fatima A, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH* Tight Junctions in Inflammation and Cancer Ajaz A. Bhat et al. (Eds): Book chapter; in press]
Protegrin-2, a potential inhibitor for targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro Jan Z, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH*, Jithesh PV* Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal [Accepted]
Engineering β-catenin-derived peptides for α-catenin binding Uddin SM Nasir#, Rasool S#, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH* Emergent Materials 2024 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-024-00663-8
Graduate students
Current
[5] Asma Fatima, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2022 - ongoing)
Publications:
A Genetically Encoded BRET-based SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protease Activity Sensor, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Rasool S, Fatima A, Uddin SM Nasir, Aouida M, Biswas KH* Communications Chemistry 2022, 5: 117 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00731-2
[Biorxiv - Preprint DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.31.478460]
Regulation of Tight Junction by Cadherin Adhesion and its Implication in Inflammation and Cancer Uddin SM Nasir, Sultana A, Fatima A, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH* Tight Junctions in Inflammation and Cancer Ajaz A. Bhat et al. (Eds): Book chapter; in press]
[4] S M Nasiruddin, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Spring 2021 - ongoing)
Publications:
A Genetically Encoded BRET-based SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protease Activity Sensor, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Rasool S, Fatima A, Uddin SM Nasir, Aouida M, Biswas KH* Communications Chemistry 2022, 5: 117 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00731-2 [Biorxiv - Preprint DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.31.478460]
Regulation of Tight Junction by Cadherin Adhesion and its Implication in Inflammation and Cancer Uddin SM Nasir, Sultana A, Fatima A, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH* Tight Junctions in Inflammation and Cancer Ajaz A. Bhat et al. (Eds): Book chapter; in press]
Engineering β-catenin-derived peptides for α-catenin binding Uddin SM Nasir#, Rasool S#, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH* Emergent Materials 2024 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-024-00663-8
[3] Angelin Philip, PhD student, GPM, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2020 - ongoing)
Publications:
Stable Interaction of the UK B.1.1.7 lineage SARS-CoV-2 S1 Spike N501Y Mutant With ACE2 Revealed By Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Ahmed W, Angelin M Philip, Biswas KH* Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 2022, 9: 846996 [Biorxiv - Preprint DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.07.425307]
Reversal of the unique Q493R mutation increases the affinity of Omicron S1-RBD for ACE2 Philip AM, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH* Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 2023 [Accepted]
[2] Asfia Sultana, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2020 - ongoing)
Publications:
Regulation of Tight Junction by Cadherin Adhesion and its Implication in Inflammation and Cancer Uddin SM Nasir, Sultana A, Fatima A, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH* Tight Junctions in Inflammation and Cancer Ajaz A. Bhat et al. (Eds): Book chapter; in press]
Former
[1] Wesam Ahmed, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Spring 2020 - Spring 2023)
Publications:
Intracellular Ionic Strength Sensing Using NanoLuc Bioluminescence, Altamash T, Ahmed W, Rasool S, Biswas KH* International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22(2), 677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020677
Phosphodiesterase 5: Protein Structure, Regulation of Activity, Mechanism of Inhibition, and Therapeutic Applications of Inhibitors, Ahmed W, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH*, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 2021, 134: 111128 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111128 [Invited Review Article]
Stable Interaction of the UK B.1.1.7 lineage SARS-CoV-2 S1 Spike N501Y Mutant With ACE2 Revealed By Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Ahmed W, Angelin M Philip, Biswas KH* Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 2022, 9: 846996 [Biorxiv - Preprint DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.07.425307]
A Genetically Encoded BRET-based SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protease Activity Sensor, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Rasool S, Fatima A, Uddin SM Nasir, Aouida M, Biswas KH* Communications Chemistry 2022, 5: 117 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00731-2
[Biorxiv - Preprint DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.31.478460]
SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins ORF7a and ORF3a use distinct mechanisms to downregulate MHC-I surface expression Arshad N, Laurent-Rolle M, Ahmed WS, Hsu JC-C, Mitchell SM, Pawlak J, Sengupta D, Biswas KH, Cresswell P Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A 2022, 120(1): e2208525120
Reversal of the unique Q493R mutation increases the affinity of Omicron S1-RBD for ACE2 Philip AM, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH* Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 2023, 21: 1966
Identification of a Potential DNA Methyl Transferase (DNMT) Inhibitor Jan Z, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH*, Jithesh PV* Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics 2023 [Accepted]
Engineering β-catenin-derived peptides for α-catenin binding Uddin SM Nasir#, Rasool S#, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH* Emergent Materials 2024 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-024-00663-8sifograduat students to work on exciting projects related to mechanisms of cell signaling using a variety of biophysical and materials engineering approaches. Graduate students at HBKU who find our work interesting may get in touch with Dr. Biswas directly.
Masters students
Current
Former
[2] Asma Fatima, MS student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2021 - Spring 2022)
Publications:
A Genetically Encoded BRET-based SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protease Activity Sensor, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Rasool S, Fatima A, Uddin SM Nasir, Aouida M, Biswas KH* Communications Chemistry [in press] [Biorxiv - Preprint DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.31.478460]
Regulation of Tight Junction by Cadherin Adhesion and its Implication in Inflammation and Cancer Uddin SM Nasir, Sultana A, Fatima A, Geethakumari AM, Biswas KH* Tight Junctions in Inflammation and Cancer Ajaz A. Bhat et al. (Eds): Book chapter
[1] Saad Rasool, MS student, GPM, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2020 - Fall 2021)
Publications:
Intracellular Ionic Strength Sensing Using NanoLuc Bioluminescence, Altamash T, Ahmed W, Rasool S, Biswas KH* International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22(2), 677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020677
Role of actin cytoskeleton in E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion assembly and maintenance, Rasool S#, Geethakumari AM#, Biswas KH* Journal of the Indian Institute of Science 2021, 101(1): 51-62 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-020-00214-0 [Invited Review Article]
Engineering β-catenin-derived peptides for α-catenin binding Uddin SM Nasir#, Rasool S#, Geethakumari AM, Ahmed WS, Biswas KH* Emergent Materials 2024 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-024-00663-8
Masters student at HBKU interested in our laboratory may write to Dr. Biswas directly.
ROTATION students
[5] Asfia Sultana, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2020)
[4] Debora Nicaretta Mattei, MS student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2020)
[3] Wesam Ahmed, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2019)
[2] Lutfiye Yildiz Ozer, PhD student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2019)
[1] Nada Mohamed Kafour, MS student, BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2019)
ALUMNI
[4] Debora Nicaretta Mattei, MS student (rotation), BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2020)
[3] Dr. Tausif Altamash, Postdoctoral Fellow, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
Publications:
Intracellular Ionic Strength Sensing Using NanoLuc Bioluminescence, Altamash T, Ahmed W, Rasool S, Biswas KH* International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22(2), 677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020677
[2] Lutfiye Yildiz Ozer, PhD student (rotation), BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2019)
[1] Nada Mohamed Kafour, MS student (rotation), BBS, CHLS, HBKU (Fall 2019)