Muneer Abbas | Howard Profiles

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Faculty

Muneer Abbas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Microbiology

m_abbas@Howard.edu

(202) 2507345

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https://www.quantumbiolab.com/about-us.html

Department/Office

Microbiology

School/College

College of Medicine

Additional Positions

Research Core Investigator

Cancer Center
Bioresitory Director

Center For Sickle Cell Disease

Biography

Muneer Abbas, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the microbiology department and a member of the Molecular Genetics Research Group at Howard University's Cancer Center/National Human Genome Center (NHGC). His expertise in DNA analyses and HLA genotyping plays a crucial role in NHGC's ongoing research program, particularly in the field of cancer research and addressing health disparities. Additionally, Dr. Abbas serves as an Associate Professor of Microbiology in the College of Medicine, having obtained his Ph.D. from Howard University (HU).

The primary focus of Abbas's research revolves around investigating polymorphisms in genes associated with innate and acquired immune responses, with a specific emphasis on their relevance to health disparities. His research stems from the understanding that the host immune system's primary function is to adapt to environmental pathogens, leading to the emergence of genomic polymorphisms that confer protection against these pathogens. Dr. Abbas's interests in immunogenetics also extend to immunoreactive cancers. As an influential figure in the HU-NHGC, he currently oversees the evaluation and cataloging of cancer specimens displaying lymphocyte infiltration, with the ultimate goal of analyzing the expression profiles of these cancers and identifying neo-antigens presented by such tumors.

Furthermore, Abbas is an investigator and member of the Quantum Biology Lab, led by Philip Kurian, Ph.D., where he has secured grants to study quantum phenomena in biological systems. He also serves as the supervisor of the Howard University-National Human Genome Center (HU-NHGC) sequencing core and holds the position of Molecular Genetics Director. Additionally, he acts as the Director of the NHGC/HU Sickle Cell Disease Center Biorepository, overseeing the collection, handling, processing, and storage of valuable clinical and environmental samples obtained through specific projects. These collective efforts aim to establish a centralized Biorepository infrastructure at HU, facilitating the rapid translation of basic research findings into effective treatments and cures.

Abbas has also fostered collaborations to explore genetic and epigenetic variations in neurotransmitter receptor genes and their associations with certain behaviors such as addiction and exposure to violence. This collaborative work has led to a pilot grant investigating genetic variations in the human serotonin receptor gene (5-HT7) and its potential connection to immune response and HIV/AIDS. Currently, Abbas serves as a co-investigator on an R01 grant that focuses on studying violence exposure, immune functions, and HIV/AIDS risks in African Americans. The primary objective of this grant is to identify subgroups of African American young adults who may be at a higher risk of HIV exposure, thereby enabling targeted prevention programs.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Microbiology/Immunogenetics
Howard University
2008

Master of Science (M.S.)

Biology/Immunoparasitology
Yarmouk University
1996

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Biology
Yarmouk University
1993

Expertise

Research Training, Teaching Immunology, Biobanking, Biorepository

Academics

2017-present Focused review sessions for Medical student, College of Medicine

2015-present Molecules and Cell II for Medical Students, College of Medicine

2015-present 231-303. Biology of Pathogen II, Graduate Students

INDI 102, Unit II Molecules and Cells,

MICR 228, Research in Microbiology

MICR 600, Dissertation Research

MICR 418, Special Topics

Biology of Pathogens I

Virology, Graduate Students

Dental Microbiology

Cell and Molecular Immunology, Graduate Students

Research

Specialty

Immunogenetics in Health And Disease

Funding

CO-PI, RCMI/NIH :"Fast Optical Detection and Discrimination of Viral Pathogens" (On-Going). (March 2022 -Present). We constructed a precise model of the tryptophan chromophore network present in the external structures of SARS-CoV-2, which encompassed the spike trimer, membrane, and nucleocapsid protein structures sourced from the Protein Data Bank. Our computational analysis revealed that the UV superradiant enhancement of a single virion surpassed the spontaneous emission rate of a single tryptophan by over a thousand-fold. Notably, the optical response of SARS-CoV-2 differed from that of simpler viruses such as rhinoviruses and enteroviruses. To experimentally verify the collective optical behavior and downstream coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signatures, we intend to explore the application of femtosecond adaptive spectroscopic techniques with enhanced resolution, known as FASTER CARS. Over the past two decades, this approach has shown promise in investigating vibrational features in Raman scattering at the individual virion level.

CO-PI, NSF 19-599, QLCI - CG: Conceptualizing a Quantum Information Bioscience Institute for Quantum Sensing and Simulations in Novel Hybrid Architectures, $103,701.

Investigator, SR01MD005851-02 (Sdaatmand, Frough, PI), 09/01/2015- 02/15/2017 $60,000, Gender stratification of behavioral and biological pathways associated with violence exposure, depression, immune function, and risks to HIV/AIDS. The primary goal of this trans-disciplinary study of African American young adults is to develop a predictive model to identify gender differences which, based on their exposure to urban violence, may be at greater risk for HIV/AIDS and should be targeted for existing prevention programs.

Principal Investigator, Howard University College of Medicine Bridge Funds and Pilot Award Program, 11/23/2015-11/21/2016, $25,000. “Association of Genetic Variation in Serotonin Receptor 5HT2A with Markers of Innate and Adaptive Immunity” The goal of this research project is to examine the hypothesis that innate and specific immune markers are associated with genetic polymorphism in Serotonin receptor 5-HT2A expressed on immune cells. This will help to identify African Americans that are at risk for inflammatory diseases related to environmental stressors and increase the risk of health disparities.

Co-Investigator/ Director of Biorepository Core. P50HL118006 (Robert Taylor PI) 7/1/2014-present, NIH/P50 Center for Hemoglobin Research in Minorities (CHaRM). The aim of this funding is to establish a centralized Biorepository infrastructure at the Sickle Cell Center. This will speed the translation of basic research to treatments and cures.

Principal investigator, a Pilot project awarded from 5R24DA021470-04 (P.I. Kathy Sanders-Phillips) NIH/NIDA, 8/1/20012-5/1/2013, $14,431.45. Research Training in the prevention of drug abuse &AIDS in communities of color. Pilot Project Title: Genetic Variation in the Human Serotonin Receptor Gene (5- HT7) and Its Association with Immune Response and HIV/AIDS. This pilot study examined potential relationships between serotonin receptors and immune function utilizing data that has been collected in a study titled “Biological and Social Correlates of Drug Use in African American Emerging Adults.”

Co-investigator, 1R01MD005851-01A1(P.I. Forough Sadaatmand), 7/12/2012-1/31/2017, $359,440.00, NIH/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Grant Title: Violence exposure, immune functions &HIV/AIDS risks in African Americans. The primary goal of this study is to identify subgroups of African American young adults who may be at greater risk for exposure to HIV and should be targeted for prevention programs.

Director of the NHGC, HU Sickle Cell Disease Center, and the RCMI Biorepositories. The goal of this research is to coordinate the collection, handling, processing, and bio-banking of valuable clinical and environmental samples collected under specific projects.

Investigator, W. Montague Cobb Research Laboratory at Howard University. My role is to supervise and assist in ancient DNA extraction and genotyping from over 400 years of African American bone collections. This will help trace recent historical events by integrating ancient genomics and modern genomics.

Group Information

https://www.quantumbiolab.com/research-areas.html

Accomplishments

The Special Unit Award, Howard University College of Medicine, 2018

Howard University Bridge Fund/Pilot Study Award Program Recipient. 2015-2016., Howard University/ College of Medicine. (2016).

Bridge Funds and Pilot Study Awards program, Howard University, College of Medicine. (2015).

HU Junior faculty scholar/ RCMI supplement award ($20,000), 2017

Scholar-in-Training Award supported by Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) of the National Cancer Institute., Howard University

Howard University Bridge Fund/Pilot Study Award Program Recipient, 2015-2016

Education and Monitoring Core, 2012

Support for the summer Health Disparities Scholars Research Training program., Howard/Hopkins Cancer Center Partnership

Publications and Presentations

Selected Articles

Brim, Afsari, A., Atefi, N., Retland, N., Abbas, M., Naab, T., Shokrani, B., Laiyemo, A., Lee, E.,
Nouraie, S., Ashktorab, H. (2018). Abstract 5056: HPV, HIV and male gender as major risk factors
for anal neoplastic transformation in African Americans (13 Supplement ed., vol. Yes, pp. 5056).
Cancer Research/ Tumor Biology.

Paller, C., Zhou, X., Heath, E., Taplin, M., Mayer, T., Stein, M., Bubley, G., Pili, R., Hudson,
T.,
Kakarla, R., Abbas, M., Andres, N., Dowling, D., King, S., Burns, A., Wangler, W., Drake, C.,
Antonarakis, E., Eisenberger, M., Denmeade, S., Rudek, M., Rosner, G., Carducci, M. (2018).
Muscadine grape skin extract (MPX) in men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer: a
randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clinical Cancer Research, 24(2),
306-315.

Brim, H., Yooseph, S., Lee, E., Sherif, Z., Abbas, M., Layemo, A., Varma, S., Torralba, M., Dowd,
S., Nelson, K., Pathmasiri, W., Sumner, S., de Vos, W., Liang, Q., YU, J., Zoetendal, E.,
Ashktorab, H. (2017). A Microbiomic Analysis in African Americans with Colonic Lesions Reveals
Streptococcus sp.VT162 as a Marker of Neoplastic Transformation. Genes, 8(11), Marshall Islands.

Ricks-Santi, L., McDonald, T., Gold, B., Dean, M., Thompson, N., Abbas, M., Wilson, B., Kanaan, Y.,
Naab, T., Dunston, G. (2017). Next Generation Sequencing Reveals High Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2
Variants of Unknown Significance in Early-Onset Breast Cancer in African American Women. Ethnicity
and Disease, 27(2), 169-178.

Paller, C., Taplin, M., Stein, M., Bubley, G., Pili, R., Mayer, T., Zhou, C., Hudson, T., Abbas,
M., Andres, N., Dowling, D., King, S., Drake, C., Antonarakis, E., Eisenberger, M., Denmeade, S.,
Rudek, M., Carducci, M. (2017). A phase II study of muscadine grape skin extract in men with
biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. (Award ed., vol. Funded, pp. 284-284). Journal of Clinical
Oncology.

Swanson, G., Miller, S., Alyahyawi, A., Wilson, B., Sadaatmand, F., Lee, C., Dunston, G., Abbas,
M. (2017). Genetic polymorphisms in the serotonin receptor 7 (HTR7) gene are associated with
cortisol levels in African American young adults. f1000 Research, 1-12.

Wilson, B., Ettienne, E., Apprey, V., Ofeogbu, A., Abbas, M., Dunston, G., Sadaatmand, F. (2017).
Opioid Metabolizing Enzyme Allele Frequencies and Drug Use in a Cohort of African American Young
Adults. ARC Journal of Addiction, 2(2), 4-9.

Abbas, M., Berka, N., Khraiwesh, M., Ramadan, A., Apprey, V., Furbert-Harris, P., Quinn, T.,
rphisms of TLR4 and MICA are Associated
ith Severity of Trachoma Disease in Tanzania. Autoimmune Infect Dis, 2(3), 1-14.

Inverse Correlation of KISS1 and KISS1R Expression

Inverse Correlation of KISS1 and KISS1R Expression in Triple-negative Breast Carcinomas from African American Women

Our study showed a significant inverse correlation between KISS1 and KISS1R in TNBC. This investigation implicates a role for KISS1 and KISS1R in the pathogenesis of TNBCs in AA women.

Sex differences in saliva-based DNA methylation

Sex differences in saliva-based DNA methylation changes and environmental stressor in young African American adults

Our preliminary observation of significant DNA methylation changes in neuronal and immune genes in saliva samples supports our recently published genome-wide DNA methylations changes in blood samples from young AA male adults indicating that saliva offers a non-invasive means for DNA methylation prediction of exposure to environmental stressors in a gender-specific manner.

A Chirality-Based Quantum Leap

This forward-looking Review provides a survey of the experimental and theoretical fundamentals of chiral-influenced quantum effects and presents a vision for their possible future roles in enabling room-temperature quantum technologies.

Quantum probes in cancer research

The gut microbiome in sickle cell disease

The gut microbiome in sickle cell disease: Characterization and potential implications

A major dysbiosis was observed in SCD patients for bacteria that are known strong pro-inflammatory triggers. The Townes mouse showed dysbiosis as well and might serve as a good model to study gut microbiome modulation and its impact on SCD pathophysiology.

The role of human 5-HTR2A in miRNA expression

The role of human 5-HTR2A in miRNA expression in the triple negative breast cancer cell line

This study elucidates miRNAs contributing to TNBC development and progression in correlation with 5-HTR2A activity in vitro. Specifically, two oncogenic miRNAs were identified, has-mir-205-5p and hsa-miR-221-3p. Although their involvement in breast cancer progression has been studied, has-mir-205-5p and hsa-miR-221-3p should be validated as a consequence of 5-HTR2A biological activity. These miRNAS may be used as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer management.