Professor Sassan Asgari
Professor

Sassan Asgari

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52043

Background

Insect host-pathogen interactions

In the evolutionary arm race between insects and their pathogens, insects as hosts continuously evolve traits to inhibit pathogen replication, and in turn pathogens evolve mechanisms to evade their hosts’ immune responses. In the Asgari Lab, we are interested in exploring these evolutionary adaptations, in particular in regards to mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue virus. The major areas of research in the lab are:

  1. Exploring pro- and anti-viral factors in mosquitoes using molecular approaches, including next generation sequencing and bioinformatics analyses
  2. Investigating the role of non-coding RNAs (including microRNAs) in insect biology and host-pathogen interactions
  3. Understanding the effect of insect microbiome on replication of viruses

Availability

Professor Sassan Asgari is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Isfahan University of Technology
  • Masters (Coursework) of Agricultural Studies, University of Adelaide
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Certificate, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Sassan Asgari’s works on UQ eSpace

183 works between 1994 and 2024
All (183) Journal Article (168) Book Chapter (13) Conference Publication (2)

1 - 20 of 183 works

2024

Journal Article

Role of Vigilin and RACK1 in dengue virus- <i>Aedes aegypti-Wolbachia</i> interactions

Wang, Guijie, Hussain, Mazhar, Qi, Zhi and Asgari, Sassan (2024). Role of Vigilin and RACK1 in dengue virus- Aedes aegypti-Wolbachia interactions. mSphere. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00482-24

Role of Vigilin and RACK1 in dengue virus- <i>Aedes aegypti-Wolbachia</i> interactions

2024

Journal Article

Interaction of the <i>Wolbachia</i> surface protein with a novel pro-viral protein from <i>Aedes aegypti</i>

Hussain, Mazhar, Qi, Zhi and Asgari, Sassan (2024). Interaction of the Wolbachia surface protein with a novel pro-viral protein from Aedes aegypti. mBio, 16 (1). doi: 10.1128/mbio.01486-24

Interaction of the <i>Wolbachia</i> surface protein with a novel pro-viral protein from <i>Aedes aegypti</i>

2024

Journal Article

Publication interests and priorities for <scp><i>Insect Molecular Biology</i></scp>

Brisson, Jennifer, Asgari, Sassan and Tu, Zhijian (2024). Publication interests and priorities for Insect Molecular Biology. Insect Molecular Biology, 33 (4), 293-294. doi: 10.1111/imb.12906

Publication interests and priorities for <scp><i>Insect Molecular Biology</i></scp>

2024

Journal Article

Aedes aegypti gut transcriptomes respond differently to microbiome transplants from field-caught or laboratory-reared mosquitoes

Hegde, Shivanand, Brettell, Laura E., Quek, Shannon, Etebari, Kayvan, Saldaña, Miguel A., Asgari, Sassan, Coon, Kerri L., Heinz, Eva and Hughes, Grant L. (2024). Aedes aegypti gut transcriptomes respond differently to microbiome transplants from field-caught or laboratory-reared mosquitoes. Environmental Microbiology, 26 (2) e16576, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.16576

Aedes aegypti gut transcriptomes respond differently to microbiome transplants from field-caught or laboratory-reared mosquitoes

2024

Journal Article

Differential gene expression and microRNA profile in corpora allata-corpora cardiaca of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with weak juvenile hormone signalling

Qi, Zhi, Etebari, Kayvan, Nouzova, Marcela, Noriega, Fernando G. and Asgari, Sassan (2024). Differential gene expression and microRNA profile in corpora allata-corpora cardiaca of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with weak juvenile hormone signalling. BMC Genomics, 25 (1) 113. doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10007-9

Differential gene expression and microRNA profile in corpora allata-corpora cardiaca of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with weak juvenile hormone signalling

2024

Book Chapter

Use of antibiotics to eliminate Wolbachia from mosquitoes and cell culture

Bishop, Cameron and Asgari, Sassan (2024). Use of antibiotics to eliminate Wolbachia from mosquitoes and cell culture. Wolbachia: Methods and Protocols. (pp. 147-156) edited by Ann M. Fallon. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3553-7_9

Use of antibiotics to eliminate Wolbachia from mosquitoes and cell culture

2023

Journal Article

Investigating the role of aae-miR-34-5p in the regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis genes in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Hussain, Mazhar, Qi, Zhi, Hedges, Lauren M., Nouzova, Marcela, Noriega, Fernando G. and Asgari, Sassan (2023). Investigating the role of aae-miR-34-5p in the regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis genes in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 19023, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46154-4

Investigating the role of aae-miR-34-5p in the regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis genes in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

2023

Journal Article

ALKBH8 as a potential N6 ‐methyladenosine (m6A) eraser in insects

Dai, Zhenkai and Asgari, Sassan (2023). ALKBH8 as a potential N6 ‐methyladenosine (m6A) eraser in insects. Insect Molecular Biology, 32 (5), 461-468. doi: 10.1111/imb.12843

ALKBH8 as a potential N6 ‐methyladenosine (m6A) eraser in insects

2023

Journal Article

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

Speck, Peter, Mackenzie, Jason, Bull, Rowena A., Slobedman, Barry, Drummer, Heidi, Fraser, Johanna, Herrero, Lara, Helbig, Karla, Londrigan, Sarah, Moseley, Gregory, Prow, Natalie, Hansman, Grant, Edwards, Robert, Ahlenstiel, Chantelle, Abendroth, Allison, Tscharke, David, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Kriiger-Loterio, Robson, Parry, Rhys, Marsh, Glenn, Harding, Emma, Jacques, David A., Gartner, Matthew J., Lee, Wen Shi, McAuley, Julie, Vaz, Paola, Sainsbury, Frank, Tate, Michelle D., Sinclair, Jane ... Young, Paul (2023). Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”. Journal of Virology, 97 (5), e0045123. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00451-23

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

2023

Journal Article

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

Speck, Peter, Mackenzie, Jason, Bull, Rowena A., Slobedman, Barry, Drummer, Heidi, Fraser, Johanna, Herrero, Lara, Helbig, Karla, Londrigan, Sarah, Moseley, Gregory, Prow, Natalie, Hansman, Grant, Edwards, Robert, Ahlenstiel, Chantelle, Abendroth, Allison, Tscharke, David, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Kriiger-Loterio, Robson, Parry, Rhys, Marsh, Glenn, Harding, Emma, Jacques, David A., Gartner, Matthew J., Lee, Wen Shi, McAuley, Julie, Vaz, Paola, Sainsbury, Frank, Tate, Michelle D., Sinclair, Jane ... Young, Paul (2023). Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”. mBio, 14 (3), e0081523. doi: 10.1128/mbio.00815-23

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

2023

Journal Article

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

Speck, Peter, Mackenzie, Jason, Bull, Rowena A., Slobedman, Barry, Drummer, Heidi, Fraser, Johanna, Herrero, Lara, Helbig, Karla, Londrigan, Sarah, Moseley, Gregory, Prow, Natalie, Hansman, Grant, Edwards, Robert, Ahlenstiel, Chantelle, Abendroth, Allison, Tscharke, David, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Kriiger-Loterio, Robson, Parry, Rhys, Marsh, Glenn, Harding, Emma, Jacques, David A., Gartner, Matthew J., Lee, Wen Shi, McAuley, Julie, Vaz, Paola, Sainsbury, Frank, Tate, Michelle D., Sinclair, Jane ... Young, Paul (2023). Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”. mSphere, 8 (3), e0016523. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00165-23

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

2023

Journal Article

Analysing inhibition of dengue virus in Wolbachia-infected mosquito cells following the removal of Wolbachia

Hussain, Mazhar, Etebari, Kayvan and Asgari, Sassan (2023). Analysing inhibition of dengue virus in Wolbachia-infected mosquito cells following the removal of Wolbachia. Virology, 581, 48-55. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.02.017

Analysing inhibition of dengue virus in Wolbachia-infected mosquito cells following the removal of Wolbachia

2023

Journal Article

Cross-kingdom RNAi to enhance the efficacy of insect pathogens

Asgari, Sassan (2023). Cross-kingdom RNAi to enhance the efficacy of insect pathogens. Trends in Parasitology, 39 (1), 4-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.001

Cross-kingdom RNAi to enhance the efficacy of insect pathogens

2023

Journal Article

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse”

Speck, Peter, Mackenzie, Jason, Bull, Rowena A., Slobedman, Barry, Drummer, Heidi, Fraser, Johanna, Herrero, Lara, Helbig, Karla, Londrigan, Sarah, Moseley, Gregory, Prow, Natalie, Hansman, Grant, Edwards, Robert, Ahlenstiel, Chantelle, Abendroth, Allison, Tscharke, David, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Kriiger-Loterio, Robson, Parry, Rhys, Marsh, Glenn, Harding, Emma, Jacques, David A., Gartner, Matthew J., Lee, Wen Shi, McAuley, Julie, Vaz, Paola, Sainsbury, Frank, Tate, Michelle D., Sinclair, Jane ... Young, Paul (2023). Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse”. Journal of Virology, 97 (5). doi: 10.1128/jvi.00451-23

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse”

2022

Journal Article

Wolbachia RNase HI contributes to virus blocking in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Hussain, Mazhar, Zhang, Guangmei, Leitner, Michael, Hedges, Lauren M. and Asgari, Sassan (2022). Wolbachia RNase HI contributes to virus blocking in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. iScience, 26 (1) 105836, 105836. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105836

Wolbachia RNase HI contributes to virus blocking in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

2022

Journal Article

Targeting the microRNA pathway core genes, Dicer 1 and Argonaute 1, negatively affects the survival and fecundity of Bemisia tabaci

Bidari, Farzad, Fathipour, Yaghoub, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2022). Targeting the microRNA pathway core genes, Dicer 1 and Argonaute 1, negatively affects the survival and fecundity of Bemisia tabaci. Pest Management Science, 78 (10), 4234-4239. doi: 10.1002/ps.7041

Targeting the microRNA pathway core genes, Dicer 1 and Argonaute 1, negatively affects the survival and fecundity of Bemisia tabaci

2022

Journal Article

The involvement of atlastin in dengue virus and Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti and its regulation by aae-miR-989

Hussain, Mazhar, Bradshaw, Twyla, Lee, Morris and Asgari, Sassan (2022). The involvement of atlastin in dengue virus and Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti and its regulation by aae-miR-989. Microbiology Spectrum, 10 (5) e0225822, 1-11. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02258-22

The involvement of atlastin in dengue virus and Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti and its regulation by aae-miR-989

2022

Journal Article

Analysis of Aedes aegypti microRNAs in response to Wolbachia wAlbB infection and their potential role in mosquito longevity

Bishop, Cameron, Hussain, Mazhar, Hugo, Leon E. and Asgari, Sassan (2022). Analysis of Aedes aegypti microRNAs in response to Wolbachia wAlbB infection and their potential role in mosquito longevity. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 15245, 1-17. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19574-x

Analysis of Aedes aegypti microRNAs in response to Wolbachia wAlbB infection and their potential role in mosquito longevity

2022

Journal Article

Knockout of Dicer-2 in the Sf9 cell line enhances the replication of Spodoptera frugiperda rhabdovirus and conditionally increases baculovirus replication

de Malmanche, Henry, Hussain, Mazhar, Marcellin, Esteban, Reid, Steve and Asgari, Sassan (2022). Knockout of Dicer-2 in the Sf9 cell line enhances the replication of Spodoptera frugiperda rhabdovirus and conditionally increases baculovirus replication. Journal of General Virology, 103 (8) 001779, 1-18. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001779

Knockout of Dicer-2 in the Sf9 cell line enhances the replication of Spodoptera frugiperda rhabdovirus and conditionally increases baculovirus replication

2022

Journal Article

N6-methyladenosine modification of the Aedes aegypti transcriptome and its alteration upon dengue virus infection in Aag2 cell line

Dai, Zhenkai, Etebari, Kayvan and Asgari, Sassan (2022). N6-methyladenosine modification of the Aedes aegypti transcriptome and its alteration upon dengue virus infection in Aag2 cell line. Communications Biology, 5 (1) 607, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03566-8

N6-methyladenosine modification of the Aedes aegypti transcriptome and its alteration upon dengue virus infection in Aag2 cell line

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Viral and host RNA methylation in mosquitoes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Exploring the effect of human blood microRNAs on mosquito biology
    United States National Institutes of Health
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    A novel approach in understanding regulation of development in mosquitoes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Advanced imaging with wide spectrum molecular, quantitative and morphological applications in biological research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Integrative blood coagulation research core facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    In vitro production of Baculovirus
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Cross-kingdom communications via small non-coding RNAs
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Manipulation of regulatory microRNAs to supress insecticide resistance in the diamondback moth
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Wolbachia and West Nile virus in mosquitoes: friends or foes?
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    High Throughput Genotyping using Paralleled and Miniaturized DNA amplification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Role of flavivirus-encoded small regulatory RNAs in virus-mosquito vector interactions
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Targeting insects using novel inhibitors of development and physiology
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Cell-free immune reactions and suppression
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Regulatory cellular microRNAs and their role in insect anti-viral responses
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Tooling-up non-model organisms in the post-genomic era: equipment for the analysis of molecular and cellular processes in animals of evolutionary and commercial interest
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Identification of immune-suppressors of Diamond-back Moth (HAL Grant administered by SARDI)
    South Australian Research and Development Institute
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Cell-free immune reactions and suppression (ARC Discovery grant administered by the University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Investigating the potential of an ascovirus for biological control of Diamondback Moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Molecular Mechanism(s) Of Inhibition of Melanization by an Insect Parasitoid Venom Protein
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Isolation And Characterization of Venom Proteins From An Endoparasitoid Wasp
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Sassan Asgari is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating molecular interactions of mosquito-Wolbachia-virus interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Role of miRNA regulation in metamorphosis and fecundity of Aedes aegypti

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe, Dr Mazhar Hussain, Dr Kayvan Etebari

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The development and potential for a malaria resistant Anopheles farauti

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dissecting insect-host interactions within the Drosophila model

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Karyn Johnson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Molecular ecology and Wolbachia bacterium status of the Australian mosquito Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse)

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the development of a malaria refractory Anopheles farauti

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring entomopathogenic viruses for biological control of insect pests

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Furlong, Dr Kayvan Etebari

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring entomopathogenic viruses for biological control of insect pests

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Furlong, Dr Kayvan Etebari

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Sassan Asgari directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biology - insects
  • Entomology
  • Host-parasitoid immune interactions
  • Insect immunity
  • Insect molecular biology
  • Insect parasites
  • Insect viruses
  • Insects
  • MicroRNA
  • Viruses - insect

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au