Zulkar Nain, MSc

Laboratory of Microbiology, Islamic University; Photo Credit: Iftekhar Rossy

"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"- Theodosius Dobzhansky

From the beginning of life, microorganisms reign over this planet and fight for their survival. As a by-product, we experience life-threatening diseases and pandemic outbreaks. The situation is more adverse in developing countries like Bangladesh due to the lack of good healthcare practice & advanced research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have revealed the pathogenetic link between COVID-19 & SARS-like viruses, and their pathophysiological impact on predominant health conditions. Thus, I realized that the pathophysiological interplay is complex and associated with protein complexes involved in disease development. Therefore, a great deal of study should be done from the structural-functional viewpoint to fight these diseases. In my MSc thesis, I explored the biofilm development and virulence factors in P. aeruginosa and eventually identified two antibiofilm compounds. I also worked on several projects focusing on protein structure and dynamics in silico. Thus, I became motivated to study macromolecular structures and their association with diseases. Currently, I am working at Baylor College of Medicine, USA.

Research Interest: Macromolecular structure and organization, Genetic regulation, Liquid-liquid phase separation, RNA biology, Host-pathogen relationships, Translational bioinformatics.

Skills & Expertise: Cell culture (bacteria, insect, mammalian), PCR and gene cloning, SDS-PAGE and western blotting, Transfection and transformation, Protein purification, Affinity chromatography and HPLC, Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Negative and silver staining, Enzyme inhibition assay, RNA-Seq and microarrays, Fluorescence polarization assay, Drug discovery and vaccine design, Molecular dynamics simulation, Immune simulations, etc.

Notable Peer-Reviewed Publications

Nain Z, Barman SK, Sheam MM, Syed SB, Samad A, Quinn JMW, Himel MK, Karim MM, Moni MM, Biswas SK* (2021) Transcriptomic studies revealed pathophysiological impact of COVID-19 to predominant health conditions. Briefings in Bioinformatics (Oxford University Press), 22(6): bbab197. DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab197. [IF: 13.99; Q1]
Islam MB†, Chowdhury UN†, Nain Z, Uddin S, Ahmed MB, Moni MA* (2021) Identifying molecular insight of synergistic complexities for SARS-CoV-2 infection with pre-existing type 2 diabetes. Computers in Biology and Medicine (Elsevier), 136: 104668. DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104668. [IF: 6.69; Q1]
Nain Z, Mansur FJ, Syed SB, Islam MA, Azakami H, Islam MR, Karim MM* (2021) Inhibition of biofilm formation, quorum sensing & other virulence factors in P. aeruginosa by polyphenols of Gynura procumbens leaves. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (Taylor & Francis), 40(12): 5357-5371. DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1870563. [IF: 5.23; Q1]
Nain Z, Karim MM* (2020) Whole-genome sequence, functional annotation, and comparative genomics of the high biofilm-producing multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa MZ4A isolated from clinical waste. Gene Reports (Elsevier), 22 (2021): 100999. DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2020.100999. [CS: 1.6; Q4]
Nain Z, Rana HK, Liò P, Islam SMS, Summers MA, Moni MA* (2020) Pathogenetic profiling of COVID-19 and SARS-like viruses. Briefings in Bioinformatics (Oxford University Press), 22(2): 1175-1196. DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa173. [IF: 13.99; Q1]
Nain Z, Adhikari UK, Abdulla F, Hossain N, Barman NC, Mansur FJ, Azakami H, Karim MM* (2020) Computational prediction of active sites and ligands in different AHL quorum quenching lactonases and acylases. Journal of Biosciences (Springer). 45: 26. DOI: 10.1007/s12038-020-0005-1. [IF: 2.79; Q1]
Samad A, Haque F, Nain Z, Alam R, Noman MAA, Hossen MA, Islam MR, Khan MI, Ahammad F* (2020) Computational assessment of MCM2 transcriptional expression and identification of the prognostic biomarker for human breast cancer. Heliyon (Cell Press), 6(10): e05087. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05087. [IF: 3.77; Q1]
Nain Z, Karim MM, Sen MK, Adhikari UK* (2020) Structural basis and designing of peptide vaccine using PE-PGRS family protein of Mycobacterium ulcerans - an integrated vaccinomics approach. Molecular Immunology (Elsevier), 120: 146-163. DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.02.009. [IF: 4.17; Q2]
Nain Z, Sayed SB, Karim MM, Islam MA, Adhikari UK* (2019) Energy-optimized pharmacophore coupled virtual screening in the discovery of quorum sensing inhibitors of LasR protein of P. aeruginosa. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (Taylor & Francis), 38(18): 5374-5388. DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1700168. [IF: 5.23; Q1]
Nain Z, Islam MA, Karim MM* (2019) Antibiotic resistance profiling and molecular phylogeny of biofilm forming bacteria from clinical and non-clinical environment in southern part of Bangladesh. International Journal of Enteric Pathogens (Alborz University of Medical Sciences), 7(2):37-43. DOI: 10.15171/ijep.2019.10. [ISC indexed]
Islam MA, Nain Z, Alam MK, Banu NA, Islam MR* (2018) In vitro study of biocontrol potential of rhizospheric Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control (Springer), 28:90. DOI: 10.1186/s41938-018-0097-1. [IF: 2.05; Q3]

*View all published works in MyBibliography: https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1-1nzb66lwhQj/bibliography/public/

Honors & Awards

☼ Fellowships, Grants, & Scholarships

NST Fellowships, Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, 2017/18.
Special Research Allocations, University Grants Commission, Bangladesh, 2017/18.
Best Presentation Award, American Society for Microbiology, 10th ARS, 2018.
University Merit Scholarships, Islamic University, Bangladesh, 2013-2016, 2018.
National Board Scholarship, Junior School Certificate (JSC) Examination, 2004.

☼ Memberships & Affiliations

Advisor & Trainer, Biological Solution Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2020-Present.
Research Assistant, Islamic University (IU), Bangladesh, 2018-2020.
Global Outreach Student Member, American Society for Microbiology, 2018-2021.
General Secretary, Islamic University Film Society, Islamic University, 2016-2018.
General Member, Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB), 2018 - Present.