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

184 works between 1994 and 2025
All (184) Journal Article (169) Book Chapter (13) Conference Publication (2)

61 - 80 of 184 works

2018

Book Chapter

microRNAs as regulators of insect host–pathogen interactions and immunity

Asgari, Sassan (2018). microRNAs as regulators of insect host–pathogen interactions and immunity. Crop protection. (pp. 19-45) edited by Guy Smagghe. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.aiip.2018.07.004

microRNAs as regulators of insect host–pathogen interactions and immunity

2017

Journal Article

Global transcriptome analysis of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in response to Zika virus infection

Etebari, Kayvan, Hedge, Shivanand, Saldaña, Miguel A., Widen, Steven G., Wood, Thomas G., Asgari, Sassan and Hughes, Grant L. (2017). Global transcriptome analysis of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in response to Zika virus infection. MSphere, 2 (6) e00456-17, e00456-17. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00456-17

Global transcriptome analysis of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in response to Zika virus infection

2017

Journal Article

Small RNA Sequencing Reveals Dlk1-Dio3 Locus-Embedded MicroRNAs as Major Drivers of Ground-State Pluripotency

Moradi, Sharif, Sharifi-Zarchi, Ali, Ahmadi, Amirhossein, Mollamohammadi, Sepideh, Stubenvoll, Alexander, Günther, Stefan, Hosseini Salekdeh, Ghasem, Asgari, Sassan, Braun, Thomas and Baharvand, Hossein (2017). Small RNA Sequencing Reveals Dlk1-Dio3 Locus-Embedded MicroRNAs as Major Drivers of Ground-State Pluripotency. Stem Cell Reports, 9 (6), 2081-2096. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.10.009

Small RNA Sequencing Reveals Dlk1-Dio3 Locus-Embedded MicroRNAs as Major Drivers of Ground-State Pluripotency

2017

Journal Article

Discovery of new orbiviruses and totivirus from Anopheles mosquitoes in Eastern Australia

Colmant, Agathe M. G. , Etebari, Kayvan, Webb, Cameron E., Ritchie, Scott A., Jansen, Cassie C. , van den Hurk, Andrew F., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Asgari, Sassan and Hall, Roy A. (2017). Discovery of new orbiviruses and totivirus from Anopheles mosquitoes in Eastern Australia. Archives of Virology, 162 (11), 1-6. doi: 10.1007/s00705-017-3515-x

Discovery of new orbiviruses and totivirus from Anopheles mosquitoes in Eastern Australia

2017

Journal Article

Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species

Pearce, S. L., Clarke, D. F., East, P. D., Elfekih, S., Gordon, K. H. J., Jermiin, L. S., McGaughran, A., Oakeshott, J. G., Papanikolaou, A., Perera, O. P., Rane, R. V., Richards, S., Tay, W. T., Walsh, T. K., Anderson, A., Anderson, C. J., Asgari, S., Board, P. G., Bretschneider, A., Campbell, P. M., Chertemps, T., Christeller, J. T., Coppin, C. W., Downes, S. J., Duan, G., Farnsworth, C. A., Good, R. T., Han, L. B., Han, Y. C. ... Wu, Y. D. (2017). Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species. BMC Biology, 15 (63) 69, 69. doi: 10.1186/s12915-017-0402-6

Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species

2017

Journal Article

Cell fusing agent virus and dengue virus mutually interact in Aedes aegypti cell lines

Zhang, Guangmei, Asad, Sultan, Khromykh, Alexander A. and Asgari, Sassan (2017). Cell fusing agent virus and dengue virus mutually interact in Aedes aegypti cell lines. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 6935, 6935.1-6935.8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07279-5

Cell fusing agent virus and dengue virus mutually interact in Aedes aegypti cell lines

2017

Journal Article

Erratum: Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species [BMC Biology., 15, (2017) (69)] DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0402-6

Pearce, S. L., Clarke, D. F., East, P. D., Elfekih, S., Gordon, K. H.J., Jermiin, L. S., McGaughran, A., Oakeshott, J. G., Papanicolaou, A., Perera, O. P., Rane, R. V., Richards, S., Tay, W. T., Walsh, T. K., Anderson, A., Anderson, C. J., Asgari, S., Board, P. G., Bretschneider, A., Campbell, P. M., Chertemps, T., Christeller, J. T., Coppin, C. W., Downes, S. J., Duan, G., Farnsworth, C. A., Good, R. T., Han, L. B., Han, Y. C. ... Wu, Y. D. (2017). Erratum: Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species [BMC Biology., 15, (2017) (69)] DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0402-6. BMC Biology, 15 (1) 69, 69. doi: 10.1186/s12915-017-0413-3

Erratum: Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species [BMC Biology., 15, (2017) (69)] DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0402-6

2017

Journal Article

Zika virus alters the microRNA expression profile and elicits an RNAi response in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Saldana, Miguel A., Etebari, Kayvan, Hart, Charles E., Widen, Steven G., Wood, Thomas G., Thangamani, Saravanan, Asgari, Sassan and Hughes, Grant L. (2017). Zika virus alters the microRNA expression profile and elicits an RNAi response in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11 (7) e0005760, e0005760. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005760

Zika virus alters the microRNA expression profile and elicits an RNAi response in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

2017

Journal Article

Understanding the role of microRNAs in the interaction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with an insect-specific flavivirus

Lee, Morris, Etebari, Kayvan, Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, van den Hurk, Andrew F., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Vatipally, Sreenu, Schnettler, Esther, Hall, Roy and Asgari, Sassan (2017). Understanding the role of microRNAs in the interaction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with an insect-specific flavivirus. Journal of General Virology, 98 (7) 000832, 1892-1903. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000832

Understanding the role of microRNAs in the interaction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with an insect-specific flavivirus

2017

Journal Article

A new clade of insect-specific flaviviruses from Australian Anopheles mosquitoes displays species-specific host-restriction

Colmant, Agathe M. G., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, van den Hurk, Andrew F., Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, Chow, Weng Kong, Johansen, Cheryl A., Fros, Jelke, Simmonds, Peter, Watterson, Daniel, Cazier, Chris, Etebari, Kayvan, Asgari, Sassan, Schulz, Benjamin L., Beebe, Nigel, Vet, Laura J., Piyasena, Thisun B. H., Nguyen, Hong-Duyen, Barnard, Ross T. and Hall, Roy A. (2017). A new clade of insect-specific flaviviruses from Australian Anopheles mosquitoes displays species-specific host-restriction. mSphere, 2 (4) e00262-17, 1-19. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00262-17

A new clade of insect-specific flaviviruses from Australian Anopheles mosquitoes displays species-specific host-restriction

2017

Journal Article

Drosophila microRNA modulates viral replication by targeting a homologue of mammalian cJun

Monsanto-Hearne, Verna, Asad, Sultan, Asgari, Sassan and Johnson, Karyn N. (2017). Drosophila microRNA modulates viral replication by targeting a homologue of mammalian cJun. Journal of General Virology, 98 (7) 000831, 1904-1912. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000831

Drosophila microRNA modulates viral replication by targeting a homologue of mammalian cJun

2017

Journal Article

Long noncoding RNAs: unexplored players in the drug response of the sea louse Caligus rogercresseyi

Valenzuela-Miranda, Diego, Etebari, Kayvan, Asgari, Sassan and Gallardo-Escárate, Cristian (2017). Long noncoding RNAs: unexplored players in the drug response of the sea louse Caligus rogercresseyi. Agri Gene, 4, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.aggene.2017.03.001

Long noncoding RNAs: unexplored players in the drug response of the sea louse Caligus rogercresseyi

2017

Journal Article

Infections of virulent and avirulent viruses differentially influenced the expression of dicer-1, ago-1, and microRNAs in Bombus terrestris

Niu, Jinzhi, Meeus, Ivan, DeConinck, Dieter IM, Deforce, Dieter, Etebari, Kayvan, Asgari, Sassan and Smagghe, Guy (2017). Infections of virulent and avirulent viruses differentially influenced the expression of dicer-1, ago-1, and microRNAs in Bombus terrestris. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 45620, 45620.1-45620.11. doi: 10.1038/srep45620

Infections of virulent and avirulent viruses differentially influenced the expression of dicer-1, ago-1, and microRNAs in Bombus terrestris

2017

Journal Article

RNA as a means of inter-species communication and manipulation: progresses and shortfalls

Asgari, Sassan (2017). RNA as a means of inter-species communication and manipulation: progresses and shortfalls. RNA Biology, 14 (4), 389-390. doi: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1306172

RNA as a means of inter-species communication and manipulation: progresses and shortfalls

2017

Journal Article

Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication

Monsanto-Hearne, Verna, Tham, Annabelle L. Y., Wong, Zhee Sheen, Asgari, Sassan and Johnson, Karyn N. (2017). Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication. Virology, 502, 20-27. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.12.009

Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication

2017

Journal Article

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Ascoviridae

Asgari, Sassan, Bideshi, Dennis K. , Bigot, Yves, Federici, Brian A., Cheng, Xiao-Wen and ICTV Report Consortium (2017). ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Ascoviridae. Journal of General Virology, 98 (1), 4-5. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000677

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Ascoviridae

2017

Book Chapter

Host-microbe interactions: a case for Wolbachia dialogue

Asgari, Sassan (2017). Host-microbe interactions: a case for Wolbachia dialogue. Arthropod vector: controller of disease transmission, volume 1: vector microbiome and innate immunity of arthropods. (pp. 173-183) edited by Stephen K. Wikel, Serap Aksoy and George Dimopoulos. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-805350-8.00010-6

Host-microbe interactions: a case for Wolbachia dialogue

2016

Journal Article

Wolbachia suppresses cell fusing agent virus in mosquito cells

Zhang, Guagmei, Etebari, Kayvan and Asgari, Sassan (2016). Wolbachia suppresses cell fusing agent virus in mosquito cells. Journal of General Virology, 97 (12) 000653, 3427-3432. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000653

Wolbachia suppresses cell fusing agent virus in mosquito cells

2016

Journal Article

Revised annotation of Plutella xylostella microRNAs and their genome-wide target identification

Etebari, K. and Asgari, S. (2016). Revised annotation of Plutella xylostella microRNAs and their genome-wide target identification. Insect Molecular Biology, 25 (6), 788-799. doi: 10.1111/imb.12263

Revised annotation of Plutella xylostella microRNAs and their genome-wide target identification

2016

Journal Article

Downregulation of Aedes aegypti chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7/Kismet by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication

Asad, Sultan, Hall-Mendelin, Sonja and Asgari, Sassan (2016). Downregulation of Aedes aegypti chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7/Kismet by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication. Scientific Reports, 6 (36850) 36850, 36850. doi: 10.1038/srep36850

Downregulation of Aedes aegypti chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7/Kismet by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication

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

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