TEACHING

In Basic Medical Science Course:
The molecular and cell biology of infectious agents of medical importance. Principles of host-parasite relationship and pathogenesis of viral, bacterial and parasitic infectons. Toxonomy and classification of pathogenic microorganisms and laboratory identification of those microorganisms. Principles of immune reactivity and its applications for detection and follow-up of infection.

In Organ Systems Course:
Fundamentals of etiology, pathogenesis and laboratory diagnosis of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections in different organ systems. The structural and molecular basis of immune system. The basic mechanisms of immune reactivity to tumor and graft and general characteristics of immunodeficiencies and hypersensitivity reaction. Pathogenesis, immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of organ specific and systemic immune mediated disease.

In Clinical Sciences Course:
Problem solving based teaching of clinical laboratory medicine (in close collaboration with the Department of Pathology and clinical departments). Substantial contribution to the clinical clerkships in multi-disciplinary seminars.



RESEARCH

Bacteriology

Studies of mycosal, mycobacterial and emerging respiratory pathogens.
The carrier rates of Streptococci pyogenes serotypes and their pathogenic impact in children.
Mechanisms to Staphylococcus haemolyticus by beta-lactams resistance.
Prevalence of Group B streptococci in pregnant women in Al Ain.
Prevalence of H.pylori and its treatment with triple regimen in UAE.
Microbiological and epidemiological studies on Invasive Group A Streptococcus (GAS) in the United Arab Emirates.
Molecular analysis of species representation and drug resistance of mycobacteria in the UAE.
Immunology

T cell subsets and cytokine interplay in autoimmunity.
Immunodisregulation in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Molecular basis of T lymphocyte activation, anergy and apoptosis.
Role of T lymphocytes and the Th1/Th2 balance in intracellular microbial infections.
Parasitology

Parasite molecules as adjuvants and their potential application in immunotherapy of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Immune modulation by parasites and signal transduction mechanisms.
Virology

Study of the molecular biology of viruses.
Development of recombinant vaccines produced in plants.
Subunit vaccine for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
Plant viruses as a "surrogate" for HCV antiviral studies.
Ribozyme and self-splicing of some satellite viruses.
Molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation of translation in Pro- and Eukaryotes.
Viruses and internal ribosome entry site in Eukaryotes.
Antiviral proteins and their mode of action on animal viruses.