A5051000798- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Studies
- Blood properties and coagulation
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Blood groups and transfusion
- Platelet Disorders and Treatments
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Plant Virus Research Studies
Aga Khan University Hospital
2025
Aga Khan University
2021-2024
Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi
2023
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences
2023
University of Karachi
2023
National Institute Of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation
2016-2021
Jinnah University for Women
2016
COVID-19 resulted in extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 evolved rapidly, with increasing transmission due to Variants of Concern (VOC). Identifying VOC became important but genome submissions from low-middle income countries (LMIC) remained low leading gaps genomic epidemiology. We demonstrate the use a specific mutation RT-PCR based approach identify positive samples through pandemic Pakistan. selected 2150 PCR respiratory specimens tested between April 2021 February...
A large number of mutations in the Spike (S) protein SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant have been noted to alter receptor binding domain (RBD) and increase surface enhance opening pocket. The cumulative effect S1 S2 subunit can influence conformational dynamics surface, facilitating release viral genome into host cells. This study investigates deleterious across all Omicron lineages identified our analysis their on stability RBD opening. Whole Genome Sequencing 231 positive patients Karachi,...
<title>Abstract</title> Mitochondria play a crucial role in cellular functions, including immune responses and their dysfunction is observed SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Here we investigated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations COVID-19 severity, focusing on potential impact of variants and/or haplogroups. PCR cases (n = 147) healthy controls (HC; n 40) were recruited, mt-DNA was amplified, sequenced analyzed for haplogroups genetic variations. categorized as Critical severe (CS; 40), Moderate...
COVID-19 waves caused by specific SARS-CoV-2 variants have occurred globally at different times. We focused on Omicron to understand the genomic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness of strains in various regions Pakistan.We studied 276,525 cases 1,031 genomes sequenced from December 2021 August 2022. Sequences were analyzed visualized using trees.The highest case numbers deaths recorded Sindh Punjab, most populous provinces Pakistan. comprised 93% all genomes, with BA.2 (32.6%) BA.5...
COVID-19 epidemiology changed with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants concern (VOC). Pakistan administered mostly inactivated vaccines. We investigated association between VOC and breakthrough infections in a mixed-vaccination-status population Karachi.
Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continue to emerge, and their identification is important for the public health response disease 2019 (COVID-19). Genomic sequencing provides robust information but may not always be accessible, therefore, mutation-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approaches can used rapid of known variants. International travelers arriving in Karachi between December 2020 February 2021 were tested SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. A subset...
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a clinical syndrome in which decreased number of circulating platelets (thrombocytopenia) manifests as bleeding tendency, easy bruising (purpura) or extravasation blood from capillaries into skin and mucous membranes (petechiae). The diagnosis ITP can be made clinically on the basis symptoms, we need to see if confirmed patients by quantification residual RNA containing immature (megakaryocytic mass) fraction (IPF) using automated hematology analyzers...
Abstract Identification and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Concern/Interest (VOC/VOIs) is essential to guide public health measures. We report the surveillance VOCs circulating in Karachi during pandemic between April 2021 February 2022. screened 2150 PCR positive samples received at AKUH Clinical Laboratories. VOC was identified using a PCR-based approach targeting lineage-specific mutations commercially available assays. Of samples, 81.7% had VOC/VOI, while 18.3% were undetermined....
Abstract We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants concern (VoC) in Karachi, Pakistan between April and July 2021 specimens received at Aga Khan University Clinical Laboratories. VoC were identified using a PCR based approach targeting lineage specific mutation. Of 710 clinical isolates tested, 63% comprising; 36% alpha, 37% beta, 7% gamma 21% delta variants. Alpha remained majority whilst, strains increased to 43% cases July. Thirty-six per cent all admitted COVID-19 in-patient...
Abstract Background COVID-19 waves caused by specific SARS-CoV-2 variants have occurred globally at different times. We focused on Omicron to understand the genomic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness of strains in various regions Pakistan. Methods studied 276,525 cases 1,041 genomes sequenced from December 2021 August 2022. Sequences were analyzed visualized using trees. Results The highest case numbers deaths recorded Sindh Punjab, most populous provinces comprised 95% all genomes, with...
Changing morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 across the pandemic has been linked with factors such as emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants vaccination. Mutations in Spike glycoprotein enhanced viral transmission virulence. We investigated whether mutation rates entropy were associated Pakistan, before after introduction vaccinations. analyzed 1,705 genomes using Augur phylogenetic pipeline. Substitution genome, compared between 2020, 2021 2022 (as periods A, B C). Mortality was greatest...
Introduction: The first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was imported to Pakistan in February 2020, since then 8,260 deaths have been witnessed. virus has constantly mutating and local transmission cases from different countries vary due host dependent viral adaptation. Many distinct clusters variant SARS-CoV-2 defined globally. In this study, the epidemiology studied locally transmitted isolates Karachi were sequenced compared identify any possible variants.
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Background : Changing morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 has been associated with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Whereby, acquisition mutations in Spike glycoprotein enhanced host receptor binding, cell entry antibody escape. Understanding these can help predict impact changes. We used genome sequence data to investigate mutation rates entropy during pandemic surges between 2020 2022. Methods 1,637 genomes Pakistan were analyzed using Augur phylogenetic pipeline. Substitution...
To analyse mitochondrial hypervariable segment I (HVS-I) variations in Pakistani type 2 diabetic subjects.Case-control study. Place and Duration of the Study: National Institute Diabetes Endocrinology, Dow University Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, between January 2019 to 2021.DNA from whole blood was isolated, HVS-I region (16024-16370) 92 individuals, including 47 controls 45 diabetics, amplified, sequenced, analysed.Ninety-two variable sites sequenced were identified individuals...