Research Interests (Molecular Microbiology)
Featured Publications

1. Bahja Al-Riyami, Fatma Işik Üstok, Katherine Stott, Dimitri Y. Chirgadze, and Graham Christie. 2016. The crystal structure of Clostridium perfringens SleM, a muramidase involved in cortical hydrolysis during spore germination. Proteins, 84 (11), 1681–1689 https://doi.org/10.1002/prot.25112

2. Bahja Al Riyami, Abhinaba Ghosh, Eric J. Rees, and Graham Christie. 2019. Novel cortex lytic enzymes in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 366 (12). DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz146

3. Wafa Ahmed Al-Rawahi, Elshafie Ibrahim Elshafie, Senan Baqir, Aliya Al-Ansari, Jemma Wadsworth, Hayley M Hicks, Nick J Knowles, Antonello Di Nardo, Donald P King, Stephan Zientara, Fajer Al Salloom, Abraham Sangula, Cindy Bernelin-Cottet, Labib Bakkali-Kassimi, and Bahja Al Riyami.2024. Detection of foot-and-mouth disease viruses from the A/AFRICA/G-I genotype in the Sultanate of Oman. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 223, 106–113. DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106113

4. Wafa Al-Mamari, Elshafie Ibrahim Elshafie, Aliya Al Ansari, and Bahja Al Riyami. 2025. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Bluetongue virus in camels in Northern Oman: A cross-sectional study. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 57 (2), 40. DOI:10.1007/s11250-025-04288-9

5. Amin Mustafa, Bahja Al Riyami, Giannina Ow-Young-Villarreal, Rebecca Caldbeck, David Chan Hian Pin, Joshua Yarrow, and Graham Christie. 2025. Structural and functional analysis of Bacillus cereus spore cortex lytic enzymes and YlaJ/YhcN lipoproteins. Microbiology, 171 (8), 001591. DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001591

Research Interests (Biodiversity and Conservation)
Featured Publications

1. Cuéllar Soto, E., Tammone, M. N., Voglino, D., Pardiñas, UFJ. 2025.  The plausible extinction of an Andean rodent: a victim of climate change?. Mammalia https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2025-0040

2. Pere Bover, Jorge Brito, Francisco X Castellanos, Erika Cuéllar Soto, Rainer Hutterer, María Pilar Alfaro-Ibáñez, María Esther Martín González, Mauro N Tammone, Ulyses F J Pardiñas. 2025. Revisiting the taxonomy and biogeography of the largest sigmodontine rodent (Rodentia, Cricetidae) through ancient DNA. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 205, Issue 4, December 2025, zlaf167, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf167

3. Victor, R and E. Cuéllar Soto. 2020. A preliminary study on the status of invasive palm squirrels in Oman. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 77(5), 727-738. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2020.1811577

4. T, Kuemmerle, M. Altrichter, G. Baldi, M. Cabido, M. Camino, E. Cuellar, RL. Cuellar, J. Decarre, S. Díaz, I. Gasparri, G. Gavier-Pizarro, R. Ginzburg, AJ. Giordano, HR. Grau, E. Jobbágy, G. Leynaud, L. Macchi, M. Mastrangelo, SD.Matteucci, A. Noss, J. Paruelo, M. Piquer-Rodríguez, A. Romero-Muñoz, A. Semper-Pascual, J. Thompson, S. Torrella, R. Torres, JN Volante, A. Yanosky, M. Zak. 2017. Forest conservation: Remember Gran Chaco. Science 355(6324):465-465. DOI: 10.1126/science.aal3020

5. Cuéllar Soto, E.  Pardiñas, U. F. J. 2016.  First record of the bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus (Thomas, 1892) (Rodentia: Muridae) in Oman. Mammalia, 80(5), 563-566. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2015-0141

Research Interests (Environmental Science)
Featured Publications

1. Al-Shidi, H. K., Hameed Sulaiman, Al-Reasi, H. A., Jamil, F., & Aslam, M. 2020. Human and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in different particle sizes of road dust in Muscat, Oman. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 0944-1344: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09319-6

2. Al-Shidi, H. K., Hameed Sulaiman, & Alrubkhi, S. M. 2020. Mass concentration and morphological analysis of PM10 and PM2.5 particles in congested roads during day hours in three major cities of Oman. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2020.1795087

3. Al-Shidi, Abdullah Ambusaidi, and Hameed Sulaiman. 2021. Public awareness, perceptions and attitudes on air pollution and its health effects in Muscat, Oman. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 71 (9), 1159-1174.

4. Al-Shidi, H. K., Al-Reasi, H. A. and Hameed Sulaiman. 2022. Heavy metals levels in road dust from Muscat, Oman: Relationship with traffic volumes, and ecological and health risk assessments. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2020.1751806.

5. Abdullah Al-Nadabi and Hameed Sulaiman 2023. Quantifying urban heat island using multiple data sources for planning a sustainable city in an arid climatic zone. Environment, Development and sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04162-4.

Research Interests (Behavioral and Marine Ecology, Ethnobiology and Conservation)
Featured Publications

1. Antoine O.H.C. Leduc, Mariana Santos. 2025. The appearance of plastic debris results in impaired visually-mediated behavior in a reef fish: Evidence of visual sensory pollution. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 584, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2025.152089

2. Gabriel Soeiro, Eduardo Mendes da Silva, Antoine O.H.C. Leduc. 2022. Sea turtle hatchlings can distinguish between coastal and oceanic seawaters. Journal of Experimental Biology, jeb244702, 1–11. DOI:10.1242/jeb.244702

3. Antoine O.H.C. Leduc, Fábio H.D. De Carvalho, Nigel E. Hussey, José Amorim Reis‑Filho, Guilherme O. Longo, Priscila F.M. Lopes. 2021. Local ecological knowledge to assist conservation status assessments in data poor contexts: a case study with the threatened sharks of the Brazilian Northeast. Biodiversity and Conservation, 30, 819–845. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02119-5

4. Salma A. Al-Amrani, Al-Musharafi, S.K., Ibrahim Y. Mahmoud, Saif N. Al-Bahry, Leduc A.O.H.C. 2024. The Continued Presence of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria and Heavy Metals at one of the World’s Most Important Green Turtles’ Nesting Location, Ras al-Jinz Reserve, Oman. Sultan Qaboos University Journal for Science, 29(2), 69–81. DOI:10.53539/squjs.Splisspp69-81

5. Antoine O.H.C. Leduc, Nigel E. Hussey. 2019. Evaluation of pay-for-release conservation incentives for unintentionally caught threatened species. Conservation Biology, 33(4), 953–961. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13300

Research Interests (Molecular Microbial Ecology)
Featured Publications

1. Abed RMM, Al-Battashi H, Muthukrishnan T, Al-Bartamani H, Al-Hinai M, Al, Baluchi M. (2025). Growth of a newly isolated oleaginous microalgae strain (Asterarcys sp. RA100) in oil produced water and its potential for biodiesel production. PLOS One. 10.1371/journal.pone.0325759

2. Abed RMM, Al-Hinai M, Al-Balushi Y, Haider L, Muthukrishnan T, Rinner U (2023) Degradation of starch-based bioplastic bags in the pelagic and benthic zones of the Gulf of Oman. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 195, 115496

3. Stief, P, Schauberger C, Lund MB, Greve A, Abed, RMM, Al-Najjar MAA, Attard K, Bonaglia S, Deutzmann JS, Franco-Cisterna B, García-Robledo E, Holtappels M, John U, Maciute A, Magee MJ, Pors R, Santl-Temkiv T, Scherwass A, Sevilgen D, de Beer D, Glud RN, Schramm A, Kamp A. (2022) Intracellular nitrate storage by diatoms can be an important nitrogen pool in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Communications Earth and Environment, 3(1), 154

4. Maier S, Kratz AM, Weber J, Prass M, Liu F, Clark AT, Abed RMM, Su H, Cheng Y, Eickhorst T, Friedler S, Pöschl, U., Weber, B. Water-driven microbial nitrogen transformations in biological soil crusts causing atmospheric nitrous acid and nitric oxide emissions. ISME Journal, 2022, 16(4), pp. 1012–1024.

5. Meier DV, Greve AJ, Chennu A, van Erk MR, Muthukrishnan T, Abed RMM, Woebken D, de Beer D (2021) Limitation of microbial processes at saturation-level salinities in a microbial mat covering a coastal saltflat. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 87:17 e00698-21

Research Interests (Environmental Microbiology)
Featured Publications

1. Al-Hakkani MF, Gouda GA, Hassan SHA, Mohamed MMA, Nagiub AM (2022) Cefixime wastewater management via bioengineered Hematite nanoparticles and the in-vitro synergetic potential multifunction activities of Cefixime@Hematite nanosystem. Surfaces and Interfaces 30 doi:10.1016/j.surfin.2022.101877

2. Aloufi AS, Al Riyami B, Fawzy MA, Al-Yasi HM, Koutb M, Hassan SHA (2024) Model-Assisted Optimization of Cobalt Biosorption on Macroalgae Padina pavonica for Wastewater Treatment. Water (Switzerland) 16(6) doi:10.3390/w16060887

3. Khan MTA, Hassan SHA, Al-Battashi H, Abed RMM (2025) Biosorption of hexavalent chromium using algal biomass: Isotherm and kinetic studies. Algal Research 85 doi:10.1016/j.algal.2024.103867

4. Muwakhidah II, Sharma M, Hassan SHA (2026) Bioelectricity and microbial fuel cells: principles, materials, and applications. In: Salama E-S (ed) Artificial Intelligence in Biofuels Production. Woodhead Publishing, pp 319-367.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-26718-5.00004-X

5. Saleem BAA, Majeed MI, Mohamed NH, Hassan MHA, Saddik MS, Ahmed M, Hassan SHA, Al-Hakkani MF (2025) Witch-hazel-mediated hydrothermal biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles: dye removal, antibacterial potency, and anticancer synergy potential activities. New Journal of Chemistry 49(46):20290-20309 doi:10.1039/d5nj03765d

Research Interests (Cancer Research)
Featured Publications
 

1. Adviti Naik, Aida Al-Yahyaee, Nada Abdullah, Juda-El Sam, Noura Al-Zeheimi, Mahmoud W Yaish, Sirin A Adham. 2018. Neuropilin-1 promotes the oncogenic Tenascin-C/integrin β3 pathway and modulates chemoresistance in breast cancer cells. BMC Cancer, 18(1)P533. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4446-y.

2. Noura Al‐Zeheimi, Sirin A Adham. 2020. Modeling Neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance in vitro increased NRP‐1 and HER2 expression and converted MCF7 breast cancer subtype. British Journal of Pharmacology, 177 (9) P2024-2041.  https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14966Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

3. Noura Al-Zeheimi, Yan Gao, Peter A Greer, Sirin A Adham. 2023. Neuropilin-1 knockout and rescue confirms its role to promote metastasis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (9) p7792. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24097792.

4. Sirin A Adham, Azza Al Kalbani, Noura Al Zeheimi, Muna Al Dalali, Noor Al Kharusi, Azeeza Siddiqi, Aliya Al Maskari. 2024. Glycemic load impacts the response of acquired resistance in breast cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro. Plos one, 19 (11) e0311345. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311345.

5. Muna Al Dlali, Buthaina Al Amri, Noura Al Zeheimi, Raghad Al Busaidi, M Mazharul Islam, Omar Al Omari, Marwa Al Riyami, Radiya Al Ajmi, Adil Aljarrah Alajmi, Yahya Tamimi, Cheryl Crozier, John MS Bartlett, Jane Bayani, Sirin A Adham. 2025. Genomic landscape of cancer driver genes in Omani breast cancers: a pilot study. Breast Cancer Research, 27 (1) P172. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-025-02133-3

Research Interests (Microbial Biotechnology)
Featured Publications

1. Neelamegam Annamalai, Nallusamy Sivakumar. 2016. Production of polyhydroxybutyrate from wheat bran hydrolysate using Ralstonia eutropha through microbial fermentation. Journal of Biotechnology, 237, 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.09.001  

2. Anu Sadasivan Nair, Huda Al-Battashi, Ahlam Al-Akzawi, Neelamegam Annamalai, Ashish Gujarathi, Saif Al-Bahry, Gurpreet Singh Dhillon, Nallusamy Sivakumar.  2018. Waste office paper: a potential feedstock for cellulase production by a novel strain Bacillus velezensis ASN1. Waste management 79, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.08.014

3. Huda Al-Battashi, Neelamegam Annamalai, Shatha Al-Kindi, Anu Sadasivan Nair, Saif Al-Bahry, Jay Prakash Verma, Nallusamy Sivakumar. 2019. Production of bioplastic (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate) using waste paper as a feedstock: Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation employing Burkholderia sacchari, Journal of cleaner production, 214, 236-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.239 

4. Neelamegam Annamalai, Huda Al Battashi, S Nair Anu, Ahlam Al Azkawi, Saif Al Bahry, Nallusamy Sivakumar. 2020. Enhanced bioethanol production from waste paper through separate hydrolysis and fermentation. Waste and Biomass Valorization 11 (1), 121-131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0400-0

5. Gowthama Prabu Udayakumar, Subbulakshmi Muthusamy, Bharathi Selvaganesh, N Sivarajasekar, Krishnamoorthy Rambabu, Fawzi Banat, Selvaraju Sivamani, Nallusamy Sivakumar, Ahmad Hosseini-Bandegharaei, Pau Loke Show. 2021. Biopolymers and composites: Properties, characterization and their applications in food, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9, 4, 105322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105322

Research Interests (Plant Molecular Biology)
Featured Publications

1. Halo, B. A., Aljabri, Y. A., Glick, B. R., and Yaish, Mahmoud. W. (2026). Metagenomic and functional insights into root endophytic bacteria associated with drought stress in cowpea. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45459-4

2. Halo, B. A., Aljabri, Y. A., and Yaish, Mahmoud. W. (2025). Drought-induced microbial dynamics in cowpea rhizosphere: Exploring bacterial diversity and bioinoculant prospects. PLoS One 20, e0320197. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320197

3. ALKhatri, I. S., Ali, H. E., and Yaish, Mahmoud. W. (2025). Melatonin improves drought tolerance in cowpea through growth modulation, antioxidant response, and ionic homeostasis, supporting sustainable agriculture. Environmental Research Communications 7, 055019. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/add85f

4. Yaish, Mahmoud. W., Sunkar, R., Liu, J., and Varotto, S. (2023). Epigenetic modifications associated with abiotic and biotic stresses in plants: An implication for understanding plant evolution, volume II. Frontiers in Plant Science 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1117063

5. Jana, G. A., Krishnamurthy, P., Kumar, P. P., and Yaish, Mahmoud. W. (2021). Functional characterization and expression profiling of glyoxalase III genes in date palm grown under abiotic stresses. Physiologia Plantarum, https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13239.

Research Interests (Bioinformatics, CADD)
Featured Publications

1. Sufana Al Hashmi,  Rana Adnan Tahir, and Sheikh Arslan Sehgal. 2025. "Network pharmacology-based identification of potential drug targets and bioactive compounds in Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi) for the therapeutics of Parkinson’s disease." Frontiers in Pharmacology 16: 1714071. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1714071

2. Zeshan Ali, Hamad Rafique, Rana Adnan Tahir, Tania Saeed, Muhamad Amir Rasheed, Ishrat Khan, Tawfiq Alsulami et al. 2025 "Clinical and computational exploration of red date fruit vinegar: synergistic effects on cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes pathways." Frontiers in Nutrition 12: 1557733. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1557733

3. Zeshan Ali, Zinanone Rosaire Brottier, Jameel M. Al-Khayri, Rana Adnan Tahir, Sam Al-Dalali, Othman Al-Dossary, Bader Alsubaie, and Mustafa I. Almaghasla. 2025. "Sun-aged red date vinegar-based beverage: integrated analysis of fermentation, sensory, volatile, and bioactive properties." Food Chemistry: X: 103023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochx.2025.103023

4. Zheng Da, Rana Adnan Tahir, Yan Yan, Juan Zhao, Zhenzhen Quan, Guixia Kang, Ying Han, and Hong Qing. 2022.  "Screening of human circular RNAs as biomarkers for early onset detection of Alzheimer’s disease." Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16. 878287. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.878287

5. Rana Adnan Tahir, Afsheen Bashir, Muhammad Noaman Yousaf, Azka Ahmed, Yasmine Dali, Sanaullah Khan, and Sheikh Arslan Sehgal. 2020. "In Silico identification of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from MRJP1." PloS one 15, no. 2 e0228265. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228265

Research Interests (Plant Biotechnology)
Featured Publications

1. Gerken M, Kakorin S, Chibani K, Dietz KJ. 2020. Computational simulation of the reactive oxygen species and redox network in the regulation of chloroplast metabolism. PLoS Comput Biol. 17;16(1):e1007102. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007102

2. Maynard D, Chibani K, Schmidtpott S, Seidel T, Spross J, Viehhauser A, Dietz K-J. 2021. Biochemical Characterization of 13-Lipoxygenases of Arabidopsis thaliana. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22(19):10237. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910237

3. Chibani K, Pucker B, Dietz KJ, Cavanagh A. 2021. Genome-wide analysis and transcriptional regulation of the typical and atypical thioredoxins in Arabidopsis thaliana. FEBS Lett. 595(21):2715-2730.  https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.14197

4. Chibani K, Gherli H, Fan M. 2025. The role of blue light in plant stress responses: modulation through photoreceptors and antioxidant mechanisms. Front Plant Sci. May 16; 16:1554281. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1554281

5. Chibani K, Fan M, Ali HE, Al-Kharusi L. 2026. Unraveling the invasiveness of Prosopis juliflora (Neltuma juliflora): seed traits and ecological implications. Front Plant Sci. Jan 27;16:1721722. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1721722

Research Interests (Functional Plant Ecology)
Featured Publications

1. Hamada E. Ali, Ahmed M. Al-Wahibi .2025. High species diversity and biochar can mitigate drought effects in arid environments. Frontiers in Plant Science 16:1563585. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1563585

2. Hamada E. Ali, Ahmed M. Al-Wahibi, Muhammed S. Shahid. 2024. Plant-soil feedback and plant invasion: effect of soil conditioning on native and invasive plants using plant functional traits approach. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:1321950. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1321950

3. Hamada E. Ali, Solveig F. Bucher, Markus Bernhardt-Römermann, Christine Römermann. 2023. Biochar application can mitigate the negative impacts of drought in invaded experimental grasslands as shown by a functional traits approach. NeoBiota 89:239-259. (IF: 5.1, Q1) doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.89.109244

4. Hamada E. Ali, Solveig F. Bucher. 2022. Effect of drought and nutrient availability on invaded plant communities in a semi-arid ecosystem. Ecology and Evolution 12, e9296. (IF: 3.17, Q1) doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9296

5. Hamada E. Ali, Solveig F. Bucher. 2021. Ecological impacts of megaprojects: species succession and functional composition. Plants (10)11: 2411. (IF: 4.65, Q1) doi.org/10.3390/plants10112411

Research Interests (Freshwater Ecology, Ecotoxicology)
Featured Publications

1. Al Marshoudi, Maklas, Hassan A. Al Reasi, Aziz Al Habsi, and Michael J. Barry. 2023. “Additive Effects of Microplastics on Accumulation and Toxicity of Cadmium in Male Zebrafish.” Chemosphere, May, 138969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138969.

2. Al Shuraiqi, Asma, Aziz Al-Habsi, and Michael J. Barry. 2021. “Time-, Dose- and Transgenerational Effects of Fluoxetine on the Behavioural Responses of Zebrafish to a Conspecific Alarm Substance.” Environmental Pollution 270 (February): 116164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116164.

3. Al Shuraiqi, Asma, and Michael J. Barry. 2025. “Urban Stressors: Interactive Effects of Noise, Light Regime and Fluoxetine on Zebrafish Behavior.” Science of The Total Environment 972 (April): 179101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179101.

4. Barry, Michael J. 2013. “Effects of Fluoxetine on the Swimming and Behavioural Responses of the Arabian Killifish.” Ecotoxicology 22 (2): 425–32.

5. Jabri, Nawal Al, Raeid M. M. Abed, Aziz Al Habsi, Aliya Ansari, and Michael J. Barry. 2024. “The Impacts of Microplastics on Zebrafish Behavior Depend on Initial Personality State.” Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, September, 104561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104561.

Research Interests (Technology in Environmental Science)
Featured Publications

1. Farrukh Jamil, P. S. Murphin Kumar, Lamya Al-Haj, Myo Tay Zar Myint, and Ala'a H. Al-Muhtaseb. 2021. Heterogeneous carbon-based catalyst modified by alkaline earth metal oxides for biodiesel production: Parametric and kinetic study. Energy Conversion and Management: X, 10, 100047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2020.100047

2. Ahmed I. Osman, Usama Qasim, Farrukh Jamil, Ala'a H. Al-Muhtaseb, Ahmed A. Jrai, Mushtaq Al-Riyami, and Lamya Al-Haj. 2021. Bioethanol and biodiesel: Bibliometric mapping, policies and future needs. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 152, 111677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111677

3. Farrukh Jamil, Ala'a H. Al-Muhtaseb, Myo Tay Zar Myint, Mohab A. Al-Hinai, Lamya Al-Haj, Mahad Baawain, Mohammed Al-Abri, Gopalakrishnan Kumar, and A. E. Atabani. 2018. Biodiesel production by valorizing waste Phoenix dactylifera L. Kernel oil in the presence of synthesized heterogeneous metallic oxide catalyst (Mn@MgO-ZrO2). Energy Conversion and Management, 155, 128-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.10.064

4. Lamya Al-Haj, Yee-Thun Lui, Raeid M. M. Abed, Mohamed A. Gomaa, and Saul Purton. 2016. Cyanobacteria as chassis for industrial biotechnology: progress and prospects. Life, 6 (4), 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/life6040042

5. Ala'a H. Al-Muhtaseb, Farrukh Jamil, Lamya Al-Haj, Myo Tay Zar Myint, Eyas Mahmoud, Mohammad N. M. Ahmad, Ahmad O. Hasan, and Sikander Rafiq. 2018. Biodiesel production over a catalyst prepared from biomass-derived waste date pits. Biotechnology Reports, 20, e00284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00284

Research Interests (Plant Physiology)
Featured Publications

1. Peng Lu, Azam Zehtab Yazdi, Xinxin Han, Khalsa Al Husaini, Jennifer Haime, Nicholas Waye, Peng Chen. 2020. Mechanistic insights into the cytotoxicity of graphene oxide derivatives in mammalian cells. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 33(9), 2247–2260. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00218

2. Khalsa Al Husaini, Jennifer Haime, Peng Chen. 2020. Graphene oxide-based nanomaterials for enhanced anticancer activity: Mechanisms and biomedical applications. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 6(9), 4968–4980. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00867

Research Interests (Microbiology, Environmental Biotechnology)
Featured Publications

1. Abed, Raeid MM, Huda Al Battashi, Thirumahal Muthukrishnan, Hamzah Al-Bartamani, Mahmood Al-Hinai, and Maryam Al-Baluchi. "Growth of a newly isolated oleaginous microalgal strain (Asterarcys sp. RA100) in oil produced water and its potential for biodiesel production." PLoS One 20, no. 6 (2025): e0325759.

2. Khan, Mohammad Tariq Ali, Huda Al-Battashi, Mahmood Al-Hinai, Malak Almdawi, Bernhard Pracejus, El-Said I. Elshafey, and Raeid MM Abed. "Isolation of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from a microbial mat with the ability to grow on and remove hexavalent chromium through biosorption and bioreduction." Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 197, no. 1 (2025): 94-112.

3. Al-Battashi, Huda, Neelamegam Annamalai, Shatha Al-Kindi, Anu Sadasivan Nair, Saif Al-Bahry, Jay Prakash Verma, and Nallusamy Sivakumar. "Production of bioplastic (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate) using waste paper as a feedstock: Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation employing Burkholderia sacchari." Journal of cleaner production 214 (2019): 236-247.

4. Annamalai, Neelamegam, Huda Al Battashi, S. Nair Anu, Ahlam Al Azkawi, Saif Al Bahry, and Nallusamy Sivakumar. "Enhanced bioethanol production from waste paper through separate hydrolysis and fermentation." Waste and Biomass Valorization 11, no. 1 (2020): 121-131.

5. Al Battashi, Huda, Shatha Al-Kindi, Vijai Kumar Gupta, and Nallusamy Sivakumar. "Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production using volatile fatty acids derived from the anaerobic digestion of waste paper." Journal of Polymers and the Environment 29, no. 1 (2021): 250-259.

Research Interests (Medical Genomics)
Featured Publications

1. Johnstone DL, Al-Shekaili HH, Tarailo-Graovac M, Wolf NI, Ivy AS, Demarest S, Roussel Y, Ciapaite J, van Roermund CWT, Kernohan KD, Kosuta C, Ban K, Ito Y, McBride S, Al-Thihli K, Abdelrahim RA, Koul R, Al Futaisi A, Haaxma CA, Olson H, Sigurdardottir LY, Arnold GL, Gerkes EH, Boon M, Heiner-Fokkema MR, Noble S, Bosma M, Jans J, Koolen DA, Kamsteeg EJ, Drögemöller B, Ross CJ, Majewski J, Cho MT, Begtrup A, Wasserman WW, Bui T, Brimble E, Violante S, Houten SM, Wevers RA, van Faassen M, Kema IP, Lepage N; Care4Rare Canada Consortium; Lines MA, Dyment DA, Wanders RJA, Verhoeven-Duif N, Ekker M, Boycott KM, Friedman JM, Pena IA, van Karnebeek CDM. 2019. PLPHP deficiency: clinical, genetic, biochemical, and mechanistic insights. Brain, 142(3):542-559. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awy346

2. Al-Shekaili HH, Petkau TL, Pena I, Lengyell TC, Verhoeven-Duif NM, Ciapaite J, Bosma M, van Faassen M, Kema IP, Horvath G, Ross C, Simpson EM, Friedman JM, van Karnebeek C, Leavitt BR. 2020. A novel mouse model for pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy due to antiquitin deficiency. Human Molecular Genetics, 25;29(19):3266-3284. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa202. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddaa202

3. H. Al-Shekaili, H., van Karnebeek, C., & R. Leavitt, B. (2022). Vitamin B6 and Related Inborn Errors of Metabolism. In B-Complex Vitamins - Sources, Intakes and Novel Applications. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99751

4. Van Raamsdonk JM, Al-Shekaili HH, Wagner L, Bredy TW, Chan L, Pearson J, Schwab C, Murphy Z, Devon RS, Lu G, Kobor MS, Hayden MR, Leavitt BR. 2023. Huntingtin Decreases Susceptibility to a Spontaneous Seizure Disorder in FVN/B Mice. Aging and Disease, 14(6):2249-2266. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2023.0423

5. Johal AS, Al-Shekaili HH, Abedrabbo M, Kehinde AZ, Towriss M, Koe JC, Hewton KG, Thomson SB, Ciernia AV, Leavitt B, Parker SJ. 2024. Restricting lysine normalizes toxic catabolites associated with ALDH7A1 deficiency in cells and mice. Cell Reports, 43(12):115069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115069

Research Interests (Biomedical Sciences)
Featured Publications

1. Buthaina Al Shueili, Arthur Dantas, Etienne Mahe, Tak Ho Chu, Yang Yang, Elodie Labit, Eren Kutluberk, Nicolas Lasaleta, Anand Masson, Hiba Omairi, Kenichi Ito, Roman J Krawetz, Rajiv Midha, Gregory Cairncross, Karl Riabowol (2025). Knockout of the ING5 epigenetic regulator confirms roles in stem cell maintenance and tumor suppression in vivo. PLoS One 9;20(1). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313255

2. Arthur Dantas, Buthaina Al Shueili, Yang Yang, Arash Nabbi, Dieter Fink, Karl Riabowol. (2019). Biological Functions of the ING Proteins. Cancers, 11(11).DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111817.

3. Arthur Dantas, Buthaina Al Shueili, Jeongah Park, Suleyman Abdullah, Jessica Bertschmann, Hokan Krowicki, Mahbod Djamshidi, Yang Yang, Karen Blote, Subhash Thalappilly, Karl Riabowol (2025). Tissue-specific localization of the ING4 targeting subunit of the HBO1 histone acetyltransferase in the cytoplasm and nucleus of secretory cells. Histochem Cell Biol 163(1):56 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-025-02385-2

Research Interests (Ecological Physiology)
Featured Publications

1. Nawal Al Jabri , Raeid M.M. Abed , Aziz A Al-Habsi , Aliya Ansari , Michael J. Barry (2024). The impacts of microplastics on zebrafish behavior depend on initial personality state. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 111, 104561.

2. Asma Al Shuraiqi, Raeid M.M. Abed, Aziz Al-Habsi, Michael J. Barry (2023). Personality affects zebrafish to sertraline. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Volume 43, Number 1—pp. 132–146.

3. Maklas Al Marshoudi, Hassan A. Al Reasi, Aziz A Al-Habsi, Michael J. Barry. (2023). Additive effects of microplastics on accumulation and toxicity of cadmium in male zebrafish. Chemosphere, 138969.

4. Aziz A Al-Habsi, Andrey Massarsky, Thomas W Moon. (2018). Atorvastatin alters gene expression and cholesterol synthesis in primary rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 224, 262-269.

5. Aziz A Al-Habsi, Andrey Massarsky, Thomas W Moon. (2016). Exposure to gemfibrozil and atorvastatin affects cholesterol metabolism and steroid production in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 199, 87-96.

Research Interests (Immunogenetics and Molecular Biodiversity)
Featured Publications

1. AlShareedah A, Zidoum H, Al-Sawafi S, Al-Lawati B, Al-Ansari A. 2023. Machine Learning Approach for Predicting Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in an Oman-Based Cohort. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 23(3):328-335. https://doi: 10.18295/squmj.12.2022.069. PMID: 37655084; PMCID: PMC10467556.

2. Al-Balushi M, Al-Badi S, Al-Yaarubi S, Al-Riyami H, Al-Shidhani A, Al-Hinai S, Alshirawi A, Hasson S, Said E, Al-Jabri A, Al Ansari A. 2023. The Association of Human Leukocyte Antigens Complex with Type 1 Diabetes in the Omani Population. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 23(1):68-75. https://doi: 10.18295/squmj.2.2022.016.

3. Alalawi, Z., Al Naabi, A. S., Al Kharusi, M., Al Azri, I. S., Al Abri, M. A., Al Jahdhami, M. H., Al Bulushi, M. F., & Al Ansari, A. S. 2025. Genetic diversity of the Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica) from three captive breeding centres in Oman. Zoology in the Middle East, 71(4), 367-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2562612

4. Al Lawati F, Al Khabori M, Al Harrasi S, Al Ansari A. 2025.  Potential Impact of HLA DQB1*05 on Identical Sibling Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Outcome. J Clin Med. 14(19):6798. https://doi: 10.3390/jcm14196798. PMID: 41095878.

5. Al-Mamari W, Elhag Y, Al Bulushi S, Rekha RS, Mörman C, Bergman P, Al-Ansari A and Al-Adwani S. 2026. Identification and characterization of novel antimicrobial peptides from Camelus dromedarius: a combined bioinformatics and experimental study. Front. Immunol. 17:1745714. https://doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1745714

Research Interests (Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology)
Featured Publications

1. Alamri A, Alharrasi O, Alkhayat A, Al-Khabori M, AlRawas A, Wali Y. Characterization of Factor 8 Gene Variants in Patients With Hemophilia A. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2025 Jan 1;47(1):47-48. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002962. Epub 2024 Nov 18. PMID: 39737630.

2. Tábara LC, Al-Salmi F, Maroofian R, Al-Futaisi AM, Al-Murshedi F, Kennedy J, Day JO, Courtin T, Al-Khayat A, Galedari H, Mazaheri N, Protasoni M, Johnson M, Leslie JS, Salter CG, Rawlins LE, Fasham J, Al-Maawali A, Voutsina N, Charles P, Harrold L, Keren B, Kunji ERS, Vona B, Jelodar G, Sedaghat A, Shariati G, Houlden H, Crosby AH, Prudent J, Baple EL. TMEM63C mutations cause mitochondrial morphology defects and underlie hereditary spastic paraplegia. Brain. 2022 Sep 14;145(9):3095-3107. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac123. Erratum in: Brain. 2022 Oct 21;145(10):e103. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac254. PMID: 35718349; PMCID: PMC9473353.

3. Ahmed MY, Al-Khayat A, Al-Murshedi F, Al-Futaisi A, Chioza BA, Pedro Fernandez-Murray J, Self JE, Salter CG, Harlalka GV, Rawlins LE, Al-Zuhaibi S, Al-Azri F, Al-Rashdi F, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Wenk MR, Al-Salmi F, Patton MA, Silver DL, Baple EL, McMaster CR, Crosby AH. A mutation of EPT1 (SELENOI) underlies a new disorder of Kennedy pathway phospholipid biosynthesis. Brain. 2017 Mar 1;140(3):547-554. doi: 10.1093/brain/aww318. PMID: 28052917; PMCID: PMC5382949.

4. Zollo M, Ahmed M, Ferrucci V, Salpietro V, Asadzadeh F, Carotenuto M, Maroofian R, Al-Amri A, Singh R, Scognamiglio I, Mojarrad M, Musella L, Duilio A, Di Somma A, Karaca E, Rajab A, Al-Khayat A, Mohan Mohapatra T, Eslahi A, Ashrafzadeh F, Rawlins LE, Prasad R, Gupta R, Kumari P, Srivastava M, Cozzolino F, Kumar Rai S, Monti M, Harlalka GV, Simpson MA, Rich P, Al-Salmi F, Patton MA, Chioza BA, Efthymiou S, Granata F, Di Rosa G, Wiethoff S, Borgione E, Scuderi C, Mankad K, Hanna MG, Pucci P, Houlden H, Lupski JR, Crosby AH, Baple EL. PRUNE is crucial for normal brain development and mutated in microcephaly with neurodevelopmental impairment. Brain. 2017 Apr 1;140(4):940-952. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx014. PMID: 28334956; PMCID: PMC5382943.

5. Ahmed MY, Chioza BA, Rajab A, Schmitz-Abe K, Al-Khayat A, Al-Turki S, Baple EL, Patton MA, Al-Memar AY, Hurles ME, Partlow JN, Hill RS, Evrony GD, Servattalab S, Markianos K, Walsh CA, Crosby AH, Mochida GH. Loss of PCLO function underlies pontocerebellar hypoplasia type III. Neurology. 2015 Apr 28;84(17):1745-50. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001523. Epub 2015 Apr 1. PMID: 25832664; PMCID: PMC4424132.