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)

81 - 100 of 190 works

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

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

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

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

2016

Journal Article

Identification of Aedes aegypti long intergenic non-coding RNAs and their association with Wolbachia and Dengue virus infection

Etebari, Kayvan, Asad, Sultan, Zhang, Guangmei and Asgari, Sassan (2016). Identification of Aedes aegypti long intergenic non-coding RNAs and their association with Wolbachia and Dengue virus infection. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10 (10) e0005069, e0005069. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005069

Identification of Aedes aegypti long intergenic non-coding RNAs and their association with Wolbachia and Dengue virus infection

2016

Journal Article

Diet-delivered RNAi in Helicoverpa armigera – progresses and challenges

Lim, Zhi Xian, Robinson, Karl E., Jain, Ritesh G., Chandra, G. Sharath, Asokan, R., Asgari, Sassan and Mitter, Neena (2016). Diet-delivered RNAi in Helicoverpa armigera – progresses and challenges. Journal of Insect Physiology, 85, 86-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.11.005

Diet-delivered RNAi in Helicoverpa armigera – progresses and challenges

2016

Book Chapter

Functions of small RNAs in mosquitoes

Hussain, M., Etebari, K. and Asgari, S. (2016). Functions of small RNAs in mosquitoes. Progress in Mosquito Research. (pp. 189-222) edited by Alexander S. Raikhel. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.aiip.2016.04.001

Functions of small RNAs in mosquitoes

2016

Book Chapter

Role of small RNAs in Wolbachia-mosquito interactions

Asgari, Sassan (2016). Role of small RNAs in Wolbachia-mosquito interactions. Non-coding RNAs and inter-kingdom communication. (pp. 103-115) edited by Ana Lúcia Leitão and Francisco J. Enguita. Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-39496-1_6

Role of small RNAs in Wolbachia-mosquito interactions

2015

Journal Article

West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes of Iranian Wetlands

Bagheri, Masoomeh, Terenius, Olle, Oshaghi, Mohammad Ali, Motazakker, Morteza, Asgari, Sassan, Dabiri, Farrokh, Vatandoost, Hassan, Bavani, Mulood Mohammadi and Chavshin, Ali Reza (2015). West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes of Iranian Wetlands. Vector-borne And Zoonotic Diseases, 15 (12), 750-754. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1778

West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes of Iranian Wetlands

2015

Journal Article

Dengue virus infection alters posttranscriptional modification of microRNAs in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti

Etebari, Kayvan, Osei-Amo, Solomon, Blomberg, Simon Phillip and Asgari, Sassan (2015). Dengue virus infection alters posttranscriptional modification of microRNAs in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 15968, 15968.1-15968.14. doi: 10.1038/srep15968

Dengue virus infection alters posttranscriptional modification of microRNAs in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti

2015

Journal Article

Genome wide discovery of long intergenic non-coding RNAs in Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and their expression in insecticide resistant strains

Etebari, Kayvan, Furlong, Michael J. and Asgari, Sassan (2015). Genome wide discovery of long intergenic non-coding RNAs in Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and their expression in insecticide resistant strains. Scientific Reports, 5 (14642) 14642, 14642. doi: 10.1038/srep14642

Genome wide discovery of long intergenic non-coding RNAs in Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and their expression in insecticide resistant strains

2015

Journal Article

The baculovirus antiapoptotic p35 protein functions as an inhibitor of the host RNA interference antiviral response

Mehrabadi, Mohammad, Hussain, Mazhar, Matindoost, Leila and Asgari, Sassan (2015). The baculovirus antiapoptotic p35 protein functions as an inhibitor of the host RNA interference antiviral response. Journal of Virology, 89 (16), 8182-8192. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00802-15

The baculovirus antiapoptotic p35 protein functions as an inhibitor of the host RNA interference antiviral response

2015

Journal Article

Regulatory role of cellular and viral microRNAs in insect-virus interactions

Asgari, Sassan (2015). Regulatory role of cellular and viral microRNAs in insect-virus interactions. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 8 78, 104-110. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2014.12.008

Regulatory role of cellular and viral microRNAs in insect-virus interactions

2015

Journal Article

Evolutionary relationships of iridoviruses and divergence of ascoviruses from invertebrate iridoviruses in the superfamily Megavirales

Piégu, Benoît, Asgari, Sassan, Bideshi, Dennis, Federici, Brian A. and Bigot, Yves (2015). Evolutionary relationships of iridoviruses and divergence of ascoviruses from invertebrate iridoviruses in the superfamily Megavirales. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 84, 44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.12.013

Evolutionary relationships of iridoviruses and divergence of ascoviruses from invertebrate iridoviruses in the superfamily Megavirales

2015

Journal Article

Erratum to "microRNAs as mediators of insect host-pathogen interactions and immunity" [Journal of Insect Physiology 70 (2014) 151-158]

Hussain, Mazhar and Asgari, Sassan (2015). Erratum to "microRNAs as mediators of insect host-pathogen interactions and immunity" [Journal of Insect Physiology 70 (2014) 151-158]. Journal of Insect Physiology, 72, 90-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.01.010

Erratum to "microRNAs as mediators of insect host-pathogen interactions and immunity" [Journal of Insect Physiology 70 (2014) 151-158]

2015

Journal Article

MicroRNA biogenesis pathway from the salmon louse (Caligus rogercresseyi): Emerging role in delousing drug response

Valenzuela-Miranda, Diego, Nuñez-Acuña, Gustavo, Valenzuela-Muñoz, Valentina, Asgari, Sassan and Gallardo-Escárate, Cristian (2015). MicroRNA biogenesis pathway from the salmon louse (Caligus rogercresseyi): Emerging role in delousing drug response. Gene, 555 (2), 231-241. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.11.008

MicroRNA biogenesis pathway from the salmon louse (Caligus rogercresseyi): Emerging role in delousing drug response

2015

Book Chapter

A glance on the role of miRNAs in insect life

Asgari, Sassan and Hussain, Mazhar (2015). A glance on the role of miRNAs in insect life. Insect molecular biology and ecology. (pp. 121-159) edited by Klaus H. Hoffmann. Boca Raton, Florida United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b17876

A glance on the role of miRNAs in insect life

2015

Journal Article

Venom proteins from parasitoid wasps and their biological functions

Moreau, Sebastien J. M. and Asgari, Sessan (2015). Venom proteins from parasitoid wasps and their biological functions. Toxins, 7 (7), 2385-2412. doi: 10.3390/toxins7072385

Venom proteins from parasitoid wasps and their biological functions

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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