N. Ismail

Integrative in vivo analysis of the ethanolamine utilization bacterial microcompartment in Escherichia coli.

This study characterizes the ethanolamine utilization BMC in E. coli using genetic, omics, and modeling approaches, revealing ethanolamine as a dual carbon and nitrogen source.

Centrin-deficient Leishmania mexicana confers protection against Old World visceral leishmaniasis

This study shows that centrin-deficient L. mexicana parasites protect against Old World visceral leishmaniasis in a hamster model by reducing parasite burden and altering cytokine responses.

Skin resident memory cells generated by the L. major centrin gene deleted parasites mediate protective immune response analogous to leishmanization

This study shows that a genetically modified Leishmania vaccine generates skin-resident memory T cells that provide protection similar to leishmanization.

Cysteine dependence in Lactobacillus iners constitutes a novel therapeutic target to modify the vaginal microbiota

This study identifies cysteine dependence in Lactobacillus iners as a therapeutic target to shift vaginal microbiota from L. iners-dominant to L. crispatus-dominant states.

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Classification Using Phase Imaging with Computational Specificity

This work proposes a rapid (<1 min.), label-free testing method for SARS-CoV-2 detection using quantitative phase imaging and deep learning with 96% accuracy.

Preclinical validation of a second generation leishmanization vaccine against vector transmitted fatal visceral leishmaniasis

This study evaluates the protective efficacy of a CRISPR-edited Leishmania major strain against visceral leishmaniasis in hamsters and shows it induces a pro-inflammatory immune response and prevents disease.

Population structure, biogeography and transmissibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study analyzes the population structure, biogeography, and transmissibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using genomic data from thousands of strains, identifying new clades and sub-lineages.

Characterization of genomic variants associated with resistance to bedaquiline and delamanid in naïve Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical strains

This study identifies genetic mutations associated with resistance to bedaquiline and delamanid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains using whole genome sequencing and in silico analysis.

A Second Generation Leishmanization Vaccine with a Markerless Attenuated Leishmania major Strain using CRISPR gene editing

This paper describes a CRISPR-edited Leishmania major strain for a second-generation leishmanization vaccine that is marker-free and safe, showing protection in mice comparable to traditional leishmanization.

Horseshoe crab genomes reveal the evolutionary fates of genes and microRNAs after three rounds (3R) of whole genome duplication

Integrated Single-Cell Analysis of Multicellular Immune Dynamics during Hyper-Acute HIV-1 Infection

The paper uses single-cell RNA-sequencing to study immune dynamics in HIV-1 infection, identifying key cellular responses and their temporal progression in untreated individuals.

Frequencies of circulating Th1-biased T follicular helper cells in acute HIV-1 infection correlate with the development of HIV-specific antibody responses and lower set point viral load

This study shows that higher frequencies of Tfh1 cells during acute HIV-1 infection correlate with stronger antibody responses and lower viral load.