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)

41 - 60 of 190 works

2020

Journal Article

Wolbachia successfully replicate in a newly established horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) cell line

Madhav, Mukund, Brown, Geoff, Morgan, Jess A.T., Asgari, Sassan, McGraw, Elizabeth A., Munderloh, Ulrike G., Kurtti, Timothy J. and James, Peter (2020). Wolbachia successfully replicate in a newly established horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) cell line. Pest Management Science, 76 (7) ps.5785, 2441-2452. doi: 10.1002/ps.5785

Wolbachia successfully replicate in a newly established horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) cell line

2020

Journal Article

Wolbachia endosymbiont of the horn fly Haematobia irritans irritans: a supergroup A strain with multiple horizontally acquired cytoplasmic incompatibility genes

Madhav, Mukund, Parry, Rhys, Morgan, Jess A. T., James, Peter and Asgari, Sassan (2020). Wolbachia endosymbiont of the horn fly Haematobia irritans irritans: a supergroup A strain with multiple horizontally acquired cytoplasmic incompatibility genes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 86 (6) e02589. doi: 10.1128/aem.02589-19

Wolbachia endosymbiont of the horn fly Haematobia irritans irritans: a supergroup A strain with multiple horizontally acquired cytoplasmic incompatibility genes

2019

Journal Article

Effect of Wolbachia wAlbB on a positive-sense RNA negev-like virus: a novel virus persistently infecting Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and cells

Bishop, Cameron, Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Effect of Wolbachia wAlbB on a positive-sense RNA negev-like virus: a novel virus persistently infecting Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and cells. Journal of General Virology, 101 (2) 001361, 216-225. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001361

Effect of Wolbachia wAlbB on a positive-sense RNA negev-like virus: a novel virus persistently infecting Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and cells

2019

Other Outputs

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

Madhav, Mukund, Brown, Geoff, Morgan, Jess A.T, Asgari, Sassan, McGraw, Elizabeth A. and James, Peter (2019). Transinfection of buffalo flies (Haematobia exigua) with Wolbachia and effect on host biology. doi: 10.1101/867093

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

2019

Journal Article

Novel flaviviruses of the ocean: Insights into the evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate Hosts

Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Novel flaviviruses of the ocean: Insights into the evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate Hosts. Access Microbiology, 1 (10). doi: 10.1099/acmi.imav2019.po0002

Novel flaviviruses of the ocean: Insights into the evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate Hosts

2019

Other Outputs

Wolbachia successfully replicate in a newly established horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) cell line

Madhav, Mukund, Brown, Geoff, Morgan, Jess A.T., Asgari, Sassan, McGraw, Elizabeth A., Munderloh, Ulrike G., Kurtti, Timothy J. and James, Peter (2019). Wolbachia successfully replicate in a newly established horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) cell line. doi: 10.1101/847962

Wolbachia successfully replicate in a newly established horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) cell line

2019

Journal Article

Induction of DNA methyltransferase genes in Helicoverpa armigera following injection of pathogenic bacteria modulates expression of antimicrobial peptides and affects bacterial proliferation

Baradaran, Ehsan, Moharramipour, Saeid, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2019). Induction of DNA methyltransferase genes in Helicoverpa armigera following injection of pathogenic bacteria modulates expression of antimicrobial peptides and affects bacterial proliferation. Journal of Insect Physiology, 118 103939, 103939. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103939

Induction of DNA methyltransferase genes in Helicoverpa armigera following injection of pathogenic bacteria modulates expression of antimicrobial peptides and affects bacterial proliferation

2019

Journal Article

The microRNA pathway is involved in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells antiviral immune defense against Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection

Karamipour, Naeime, Fathipour, Yaghoub, Talebi, Ali Asghar, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2019). The microRNA pathway is involved in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells antiviral immune defense against Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 112 103202, 103202. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103202

The microRNA pathway is involved in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells antiviral immune defense against Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection

2019

Journal Article

The major oligosaccharyl transferase complex genes are not involved in dengue virus replication in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Perdomo, Hugo D. and Asgari, Sassan (2019). The major oligosaccharyl transferase complex genes are not involved in dengue virus replication in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Archives of Virology, 164 (11), 2789-2792. doi: 10.1007/s00705-019-04376-w

The major oligosaccharyl transferase complex genes are not involved in dengue virus replication in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

2019

Journal Article

The microRNA pathway core genes are differentially expressed during the development of Helicoverpa armigera and contribute in the insect's development

Rahimpour, Hamed, Moharramipour, Saeid, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2019). The microRNA pathway core genes are differentially expressed during the development of Helicoverpa armigera and contribute in the insect's development. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 110, 121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.05.005

The microRNA pathway core genes are differentially expressed during the development of Helicoverpa armigera and contribute in the insect's development

2019

Journal Article

Discovery of novel crustacean and cephalopod flaviviruses: insights into evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate hosts

Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Discovery of novel crustacean and cephalopod flaviviruses: insights into evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Journal of Virology, 93 (14) e00432. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00432-19

Discovery of novel crustacean and cephalopod flaviviruses: insights into evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate hosts

2019

Journal Article

Combination of label-free quantitative proteomics and transcriptomics reveals intraspecific venom variation between the two strains of Tetrastichus brontispae, a parasitoid of two invasive beetles

Tang, Bao-Zhen, Meng, E., Zhang, Hua-Jian, Zhang, Xiao-Mei, Asgari, Sassan, Lin, Ya-Ping, Lin, Yun-Ying, Peng, Zheng-Qiang, Qiao, Ting, Zhang, Xia-Fang and Hou, You-Ming (2019). Combination of label-free quantitative proteomics and transcriptomics reveals intraspecific venom variation between the two strains of Tetrastichus brontispae, a parasitoid of two invasive beetles. Journal of Proteomics, 192, 37-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.08.003

Combination of label-free quantitative proteomics and transcriptomics reveals intraspecific venom variation between the two strains of Tetrastichus brontispae, a parasitoid of two invasive beetles

2019

Journal Article

Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs

Parry, Rhys, Bishop, Cameron, De Hayr, Lachlan and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs. Virology, 528, 89-100. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.12.006

Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs

2019

Journal Article

Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility and affect mate preference in Habrobracon hebetor to increase the chance of its transmission to the next generation

Bagheri, Zeynab, Asghar Talebi, Ali, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2019). Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility and affect mate preference in Habrobracon hebetor to increase the chance of its transmission to the next generation. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 163, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2019.02.005

Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility and affect mate preference in Habrobracon hebetor to increase the chance of its transmission to the next generation

2018

Journal Article

Upregulation of Helicoverpa armigera core RNAi genes by bacterial infections and its effect on the insect-bacteria interaction

Baradaran, Ehsan, Moharramipour, Saeid, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2018). Upregulation of Helicoverpa armigera core RNAi genes by bacterial infections and its effect on the insect-bacteria interaction. Insect Molecular Biology, 28 (2), 290-299. doi: 10.1111/imb.12551

Upregulation of Helicoverpa armigera core RNAi genes by bacterial infections and its effect on the insect-bacteria interaction

2018

Other Outputs

Density dependent enhancement effect of Wolbachia and the host RNAi response to a densovirus in Aedes cells

Parry, Rhys, Bishop, Cameron, de Hayr, Lachlan and Asgari, Sassan (2018). Density dependent enhancement effect of Wolbachia and the host RNAi response to a densovirus in Aedes cells. doi: 10.1101/441584

Density dependent enhancement effect of Wolbachia and the host RNAi response to a densovirus in Aedes cells

2018

Journal Article

Small interfering RNA pathway contributes to antiviral immunity in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells following Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection

Karamipour, Naeime, Fathipour, Yaghoub, Talebi, Ali Asghar, Asgari, Sassan and Mehrabadi, Mohammad (2018). Small interfering RNA pathway contributes to antiviral immunity in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells following Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 101, 24-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.07.004

Small interfering RNA pathway contributes to antiviral immunity in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells following Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection

2018

Journal Article

Involvement of microRNA miR-2b-3p in regulation of metabolic resistance to insecticides in Plutella xylostella

Etebari, K., Afrad, M. H., Tang, B., Silva, R., Furlong, M. J. and Asgari, S. (2018). Involvement of microRNA miR-2b-3p in regulation of metabolic resistance to insecticides in Plutella xylostella. Insect Molecular Biology, 27 (4), 478-491. doi: 10.1111/imb.12387

Involvement of microRNA miR-2b-3p in regulation of metabolic resistance to insecticides in Plutella xylostella

2018

Journal Article

Aedes Anphevirus: an insect-specific virus distributed worldwide in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that has complex interplays with Wolbachia and dengue virus infection in cells

Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2018). Aedes Anphevirus: an insect-specific virus distributed worldwide in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that has complex interplays with Wolbachia and dengue virus infection in cells. Journal of Virology, 92 (17) e00224-18, JVI.00224-18. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00224-18

Aedes Anphevirus: an insect-specific virus distributed worldwide in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that has complex interplays with Wolbachia and dengue virus infection in cells

2018

Journal Article

Wolbachia-induced transcription factor GATA4 suppresses ovary-specific genes blastoderm-specific protein 25D and imaginal disc growth factor

Osei-Amo, S, Hussein, M, Asad, S, Hugo, L and Asgari, S (2018). Wolbachia-induced transcription factor GATA4 suppresses ovary-specific genes blastoderm-specific protein 25D and imaginal disc growth factor. Insect Molecular Biology, 27 (3), 295-304. doi: 10.1111/imb.12371

Wolbachia-induced transcription factor GATA4 suppresses ovary-specific genes blastoderm-specific protein 25D and imaginal disc growth factor

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

    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

    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

    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

    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

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

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