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

190 works between 1994 and 2025
All (190) Journal Article (170) Book Chapter (13) Conference Publication (2) Other Outputs (5)

21 - 40 of 190 works

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

2022

Journal Article

Transcriptional response of Wolbachia-transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquito cells to dengue virus at early stages of infection

Leitner, Michael, Etebari, Kayvan and Asgari, Sassan (2022). Transcriptional response of Wolbachia-transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquito cells to dengue virus at early stages of infection. Journal of General Virology, 103 (1) 001694. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001694

Transcriptional response of Wolbachia-transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquito cells to dengue virus at early stages of infection

2022

Journal Article

Wolbachia promote successful sex with siblings in the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor

Bagheri, Zeynab, Talebi, Ali Asghar, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2022). Wolbachia promote successful sex with siblings in the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor. Pest Management Science, 78 (1), 362-368. doi: 10.1002/ps.6649

Wolbachia promote successful sex with siblings in the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor

2021

Journal Article

Cover Image, Volume 78, Issue 1

Bagheri, Zeynab, Talebi, Ali Asghar, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2021). Cover Image, Volume 78, Issue 1. Pest Management Science, 78 (1). doi: 10.1002/ps.6750

Cover Image, Volume 78, Issue 1

2021

Journal Article

Exploration of RNA-Seq data to identify a potential pathogen of the leaf-mining moth, Stomphastis thraustica (Meyrick, 1908) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Etebari, Kayvan, Taylor, Dianne B.J., Rahman, Md. Mahbubur, Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham, Furlong, Michael J. and Asgari, Sassan (2021). Exploration of RNA-Seq data to identify a potential pathogen of the leaf-mining moth, Stomphastis thraustica (Meyrick, 1908) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Data in Brief, 40 107708, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107708

Exploration of RNA-Seq data to identify a potential pathogen of the leaf-mining moth, Stomphastis thraustica (Meyrick, 1908) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

2021

Journal Article

Persistent Spodoptera frugiperda rhabdovirus infection in Sf9 cells is not restricted by Wolbachia wMelPop-CLA and wAlbB strains and is targeted by the RNAi machinery

Parry, Rhys, de Malmanche, Henry and Asgari, Sassan (2021). Persistent Spodoptera frugiperda rhabdovirus infection in Sf9 cells is not restricted by Wolbachia wMelPop-CLA and wAlbB strains and is targeted by the RNAi machinery. Virology, 563, 82-87. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.08.013

Persistent Spodoptera frugiperda rhabdovirus infection in Sf9 cells is not restricted by Wolbachia wMelPop-CLA and wAlbB strains and is targeted by the RNAi machinery

2021

Journal Article

Diverse host immune responses of different geographical populations of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) infection

Etebari, Kayvan, Gharuka, Maria, Asgari, Sassan and Furlong, Michael J. (2021). Diverse host immune responses of different geographical populations of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) infection. Microbiology Spectrum, 9 (2) e00686-21, e0068621. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00686-21

Diverse host immune responses of different geographical populations of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) infection

2021

Journal Article

Uncovering the worldwide diversity and evolution of the virome of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

Parry, Rhys, James, Maddie E. and Asgari, Sassan (2021). Uncovering the worldwide diversity and evolution of the virome of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Microorganisms, 9 (8) 1653, 1653. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9081653

Uncovering the worldwide diversity and evolution of the virome of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

2021

Journal Article

Human blood microRNA hsa-miR-21-5p induces vitellogenin in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Perdomo, Hugo D., Hussain, Mazhar, Parry, Rhys, Etebari, Kayvan, Hedges, Lauren M., Zhang, Guangmei, Schulz, Benjamin L. and Asgari, Sassan (2021). Human blood microRNA hsa-miR-21-5p induces vitellogenin in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Communications Biology, 4 (1) 856, 856. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02385-7

Human blood microRNA hsa-miR-21-5p induces vitellogenin in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

2021

Journal Article

Transcriptional Response of Wolbachia to Dengue Virus Infection in Cells of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti

Leitner, Michael, Bishop, Cameron and Asgari, Sassan (2021). Transcriptional Response of Wolbachia to Dengue Virus Infection in Cells of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti. mSphere, 6 (3) e00433-21, 1-16. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00433-21

Transcriptional Response of Wolbachia to Dengue Virus Infection in Cells of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti

2021

Journal Article

Environmental temperature, but not male age, affects Wolbachia and Prophage WO thereby modulating cytoplasmic incompatibility in the parasitoid wasp, Habrobracon Hebetor

Nasehi, Seyede Fatemeh, Fathipour, Yaghoub, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2021). Environmental temperature, but not male age, affects Wolbachia and Prophage WO thereby modulating cytoplasmic incompatibility in the parasitoid wasp, Habrobracon Hebetor. Microbial Ecology, 83 (2), 482-491. doi: 10.1007/s00248-021-01768-x

Environmental temperature, but not male age, affects Wolbachia and Prophage WO thereby modulating cytoplasmic incompatibility in the parasitoid wasp, Habrobracon Hebetor

2021

Journal Article

Two repeated motifs enriched within some enhancers and origins of replication are bound by SETMAR isoforms in human colon cells

Antoine-Lorquin, Aymeric, Arensburger, Peter, Arnaoty, Ahmed, Asgari, Sassan, Batailler, Martine, Beauclair, Linda, Belleannée, Catherine, Buisine, Nicolas, Coustham, Vincent, Guyetant, Serge, Helou, Laura, Lecomte, Thierry, Pitard, Bruno, Stévant, Isabelle and Bigot, Yves (2021). Two repeated motifs enriched within some enhancers and origins of replication are bound by SETMAR isoforms in human colon cells. Genomics, 113 (3), 1589-1604. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.03.032

Two repeated motifs enriched within some enhancers and origins of replication are bound by SETMAR isoforms in human colon cells

2021

Book Chapter

Ascoviruses (Ascoviridae)

Asgari, Sassan, Bideshi, Dennis K., Bigot, Yves and Federici, Brian A. (2021). Ascoviruses (Ascoviridae). Encyclopedia of virology. (pp. 724-731) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier/Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-809633-8.21548-3

Ascoviruses (Ascoviridae)

2021

Journal Article

Altered gene expression profile of Wolbachia pipientis wAlbB strain following transinfection from its native host Aedes albopictus to Aedes aegypti cells

Bishop, Cameron and Asgari, Sassan (2021). Altered gene expression profile of Wolbachia pipientis wAlbB strain following transinfection from its native host Aedes albopictus to Aedes aegypti cells. Molecular Microbiology, 115 (6) mmi.14668, 1229-1243. doi: 10.1111/mmi.14668

Altered gene expression profile of Wolbachia pipientis wAlbB strain following transinfection from its native host Aedes albopictus to Aedes aegypti cells

2020

Journal Article

Wolbachia: a tool for livestock ectoparasite control

Madhav, Mukund, Baker, Dalton, Morgan, Jess A. T., Asgari, Sassan and James, Peter (2020). Wolbachia: a tool for livestock ectoparasite control. Veterinary Parasitology, 288 109297, 109297. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109297

Wolbachia: a tool for livestock ectoparasite control

2020

Journal Article

Current scenario of RNAi ‐based hemipteran control

Jain, Ritesh G., Robinson, Karl E., Asgari, Sassan and Mitter, Neena (2020). Current scenario of RNAi ‐based hemipteran control. Pest Management Science, 77 (5) ps.6153, 2188-2196. doi: 10.1002/ps.6153

Current scenario of RNAi ‐based hemipteran control

2020

Journal Article

Ross river virus provokes differentially expressed MicroRNA and RNA interference responses in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Sinclair, James B. and Asgari, Sassan (2020). Ross river virus provokes differentially expressed MicroRNA and RNA interference responses in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Viruses, 12 (7) 695, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/v12070695

Ross river virus provokes differentially expressed MicroRNA and RNA interference responses in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

2020

Journal Article

Transinfection of buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua) with Wolbachia and effect on host biology

Madhav, Mukund, Brown, Geoff, Morgan, Jess A. T., Asgari, Sassan, McGraw, Elizabeth A. and James, Peter (2020). Transinfection of buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua) with Wolbachia and effect on host biology. Parasites and Vectors, 13 (1) 296, 296. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04161-8

Transinfection of buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua) with Wolbachia and effect on host biology

2020

Journal Article

Identification and RNAi profile of a novel iflavirus infecting Senegalese Aedes vexans arabiensis mosquitoes

Parry, Rhys, Naccache, Fanny, Ndiaye, El Hadji, Fall, Gamou, Castelli, Ilaria, Lühken, Renke, Medlock, Jolyon, Cull, Benjamin, Hesson, Jenny C., Montarsi, Fabrizio, Failloux, Anna-Bella, Kohl, Alain, Schnettler, Esther, Diallo, Mawlouth, Asgari, Sassan, Dietrich, Isabelle and Becker, Stefanie C. (2020). Identification and RNAi profile of a novel iflavirus infecting Senegalese Aedes vexans arabiensis mosquitoes. Viruses, 12 (4) 440, 440. doi: 10.3390/v12040440

Identification and RNAi profile of a novel iflavirus infecting Senegalese Aedes vexans arabiensis mosquitoes

2020

Journal Article

RNA activation in insects: the targeted activation of endogenous and exogenous genes

De Hayr, Lachlan, Asad, Sultan, Hussain, Mazhar and Asgari, Sassan (2020). RNA activation in insects: the targeted activation of endogenous and exogenous genes. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 119 103325, 103325. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103325

RNA activation in insects: the targeted activation of endogenous and exogenous genes

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

    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

    Investigating molecular interactions of mosquito-Wolbachia-virus interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating molecular interactions of mosquito-Wolbachia-virus interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating molecular interactions of mosquito-Wolbachia-virus interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating molecular interactions of mosquito-Wolbachia-virus interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nigel Beebe

  • 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 entomopathogenic viruses for biological control of insect pests

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Michael Furlong, 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

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