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)

181 - 190 of 190 works

2002

Journal Article

A coiled-coil region of an insect immune suppressor protein is involved in binding and uptake by hemocytes

Asgari, S. and Schmidt, O. (2002). A coiled-coil region of an insect immune suppressor protein is involved in binding and uptake by hemocytes. Insect Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, 32 (5), 497-504. doi: 10.1016/S0965-1748(01)00127-8

A coiled-coil region of an insect immune suppressor protein is involved in binding and uptake by hemocytes

2001

Journal Article

Expression of growth factors in Dictyostelium discoideum

Asgari, S., Arun, S., Slade, M. B., Marshall, J., Williams, K. L. and Wheldrake, J. F. (2001). Expression of growth factors in Dictyostelium discoideum. Journal of Molecular Microbiology And Biotechnology, 3 (3), 491-497.

Expression of growth factors in Dictyostelium discoideum

2001

Journal Article

Promoter studies of a polydnavirus gene from Cotesia rubecula (Hym : Braconidae)

Asgari, S. and Schmidt, O. (2001). Promoter studies of a polydnavirus gene from Cotesia rubecula (Hym : Braconidae). Archives of Virology, 146 (10), 1979-1989. doi: 10.1007/s007050170046

Promoter studies of a polydnavirus gene from Cotesia rubecula (Hym : Braconidae)

2000

Book Chapter

Host defence manipulation by parasitoid wasps and the problem of assessing host specificity

Schmidt, Otto, Asgari, Sassan, Beck, Markus and Theopold, Ulrich (2000). Host defence manipulation by parasitoid wasps and the problem of assessing host specificity. The Hymenoptera: evolution, biodiversity and biological control. (pp. 29-37) edited by Andrew Austin and Mark Dowton. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: CSIRO.

Host defence manipulation by parasitoid wasps and the problem of assessing host specificity

1999

Journal Article

Sequence analysis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Australia: alterations after its release

Asgari, S, Hardy, JRE and Cooke, BD (1999). Sequence analysis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Australia: alterations after its release. Archives of Virology, 144 (1), 135-145. doi: 10.1007/s007050050490

Sequence analysis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Australia: alterations after its release

1998

Journal Article

Field evidence for mechanical transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) by flies (Diptera : Calliphoridae) among wild rabbits in Australia

Asgari, S, Hardy, JRE, Sinclair, RG and Cooke, BD (1998). Field evidence for mechanical transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) by flies (Diptera : Calliphoridae) among wild rabbits in Australia. Virus Research, 54 (2), 123-132. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1702(98)00017-3

Field evidence for mechanical transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) by flies (Diptera : Calliphoridae) among wild rabbits in Australia

1998

Journal Article

A protein with protective properties against the cellular defense reactions in insects

Asgari, S, Theopold, U, Wellby, C and Schmidt, O (1998). A protein with protective properties against the cellular defense reactions in insects. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, 95 (7), 3690-3695. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.7.3690

A protein with protective properties against the cellular defense reactions in insects

1997

Journal Article

A polydnavirus-encoded protein of an endoparasitoid wasp is an immune suppressor

Asgari, S, Schmidt, O and Theopold, U (1997). A polydnavirus-encoded protein of an endoparasitoid wasp is an immune suppressor. Journal of General Virology, 78 (11), 3061-3070. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-78-11-3061

A polydnavirus-encoded protein of an endoparasitoid wasp is an immune suppressor

1996

Journal Article

Host haemocyte inactivation by an insect parasitoid: transient expression of a polydnavirus gene

Asgari, Sassan, Hellers, Marianne and Schmidt, Otto (1996). Host haemocyte inactivation by an insect parasitoid: transient expression of a polydnavirus gene. Journal of General Virology, 77 (10), 2653-2662. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-77-10-2653

Host haemocyte inactivation by an insect parasitoid: transient expression of a polydnavirus gene

1994

Journal Article

PASSIVE PROTECTION OF EGGS FROM THE PARASITOID, COTESIA-RUBECULA, IN THE HOST, PIERIS-RAPAE

ASGARI, S and SCHMIDT, O (1994). PASSIVE PROTECTION OF EGGS FROM THE PARASITOID, COTESIA-RUBECULA, IN THE HOST, PIERIS-RAPAE. Journal of Insect Physiology, 40 (9), 789-795. doi: 10.1016/0022-1910(94)90008-6

PASSIVE PROTECTION OF EGGS FROM THE PARASITOID, COTESIA-RUBECULA, IN THE HOST, PIERIS-RAPAE

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

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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

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