A. Nasir

A monkeypox mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine targeting virus binding, entry, and transmission drives protection against lethal orthopoxviral challenge

This paper develops an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine targeting four conserved MPXV surface proteins, showing superior protection against VACV compared to MVA.

Cross-sectional study of antimicrobial resistance and ecology in gastrointestinal and oral microbial communities of urban Pakistani adults

This study links microbial assembly and covariates to gut microbiome structure in urban Pakistani adults, finding tap water as a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.

Bivalent SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines increase breadth of neutralization and protect against the BA.5 Omicron variant

This study evaluates bivalent SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines and finds they induce broader neutralizing antibodies and better protection against BA.5 Omicron compared to monovalent vaccines.

Zebrafish xenografts to isolate unique human breast cancer metastatic cell populations

This paper develops a zebrafish xenograft model to isolate and study human breast cancer metastatic cells, identifying genes and pathways involved in invasion.

Fibroblast activation protein regulates natural killer cell migration, extravasation and tumor infiltration

This study shows that fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed by human NK cells and promotes their migration, extravasation, and tumor infiltration, suggesting FAP as a target to enhance NK cell-based therapies.

The integration of Tgfβ and Egfr signaling programs confers the ability to lead heterogeneous collective invasion

The paper identifies a Tgfβ-induced trailblazer population that integrates with Egfr signaling to promote collective invasion and shows this integration can be therapeutically targeted.

Environmentally Induced Sperm RNAs Transmit Cancer Susceptibility to Offspring in a Mouse Model

This study shows that DDT exposure in male mice alters sperm RNAs, which transmit cancer susceptibility to female offspring through miRNA-10b, leading to increased tumor aggressiveness.

Inflammation promotes tumor aggression by stimulating stromal cell-dependent collagen crosslinking and stromal stiffening

This study shows that inflammation promotes tumor aggression by stimulating stromal cell-dependent collagen crosslinking and stiffening, identifying lysyl hydroxylase two as a biomarker.

Initial Sequencing and Characterization of Gastrointestinal and Oral Microbiota in Urban Pakistani Adults Reveals Abnormally High Levels of Potentially Starch Metabolizing Bacteria in the General Population

The paper characterizes the gut and oral microbiota of urban Pakistani adults, finding high levels of starch-metabolizing bacteria and associations with dietary and lifestyle factors.