:: Welcome to GNOBB ::

View your Updated Profile on the GNOBB website immediately through Online Submission of the Participation Form (Attention)
Austin March 28, 2005. Some of our members have expressed their intention to update information about various items such as change of job, email address, new publications etc or add something which they may have missed in their previous communication to the forum.
We have great pleasure in informing such members and those who would join us in the future that by filling in online participation form they can replace the older information. However, they need to provide all information including those which were provided earlier. What is amazing of the new arrangement is that as soon as one clicks the submit button, it is automatically uploaded and listed in an alphabetical order in the section, "Member's profile" without any human intervention. One could retrieve important information also immediately about the new participant using search scientist box on the home page.
__________________

Dr. Abul K. M. Ekramoddoullah, Senior Research Scientist, Tree Biotechnology and Advanced Genetics, Canadian Forest Service, at the Pacific Forestry Center, Victoria, B.C. has recently received the outstanding research award from the Canadian Phytopathological Society in recognition of his outstanding achievements in forest pathology research (See Can. J. Plant Pathol. Vol. 26, 604-06 (2004). His innovative research approach and collaboration with national and international research organizations have earned for him a coveted place in the community of forest Pathology Group, using molecular techniques including novel (Proteomics) approaches to the analysis of plant defense responses. Molecular Forest Breeders now use his innovative strategies to genetically engineer single chain antibodies. Below are given two of his recent publications. Anyone browsing this site may request for the reprints by sending him an email.

Austin October 4, '05. GNOBB extends their cordial welcome to Dr. Gour P. Das, the Country Coordinator, Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) funded by USAID. He is an M.Sc. in Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh and Ph.D. Entomology (with specialization in IPM), from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB) His field of specialty is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Dr Das had an active involvement in the development of IPM packages for the management of the insect pests of vegetables including the tuber crops. As an Adjunct Faculty he taught post graduate courses at Bangabandhu Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur for nearly 5 years. To encourage and facilitate the biotechnology research and development in Bangladesh is his mission.
His research interest lies in facilitating the development of transgenics resistant to the biotic and abiotic stresses within the purview of policies of the country. His future plan focuses on providing encouragement to biotechnological research for increasing productivity of crops by combining IPM with state of the art molecular tools. GNOBB would feel very happy to cooperate with ABSPII in implementing its objectives as outlined by its director Dr. Frank Shotkoski in their Newsletter..

Welcome Professor Mozammel Hoque to GNOBB
Austin May 31, '05. We cordially welcome Professor Md. Mozammel Hoque at the Department of Microbiology, Dhaka University amidst us. His masters is from the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka University. After doing his Ph.D. degree in "Fermentation and Enzyme Biotechnology" from Nagoya University, Japan (1986), Prof. M. Hoque joined the National Center for Biotechnological Research (GBF), at Braunschweig, Germany as a post doctoral fellow. The area of his specialization covers a wide range of fields, namely, Microbial Biotechnology, Fermentation and Enzyme Biotechnology.

Professor M. Hoque and his associates have developed a process for a high level production of thermostable and cellulase free xylanase enzymes by Thermomyces lanuginosus. The experimental results are ready to be scaled up for pilot plant production. Another accomplishment in Professor’s laboratory is the development of Bacillus licheniformis strains for the production of alkaline protease and keratinase enzymes. In their laboratory, these enzymes have proved to be efficacious as dehairing as well as bating agents in leather processing. Production of these enzymes on a commercial scale would be an excellent substitute in leather industry for chemicals which are at present polluting the rivers, threatening fish and human lives. Professor M. Hoq has his former students who are well established in industries and research laboratories both within the country and abroad. GNOBB hopes that his valuable contribution will enrich the forum and the members in general and particularly those who are working in his area of interest. GNOBB requests the Professor to pass on our message to his former students to join this forum so that we can strengthen the cause of biotechnology on a united platform. For details please click member's profile.
___________
Welcome Dr. Shahidul Islam to the GNOBB Forum
Austin September 2, '05. We most cordially welcome our newest member, Dr. Shahidul Islam. Dr. Shahid, an M.Sc. from Bangladesh Agriculture University is now serving as an Associate Professor. He did his Ph.D. from the United Graduate School of Agric Sciences, Ehime University, Japan. He has the most distinctive post doctoral experience in as much as he worked for 4 different institutions, namely, Kgwaga Univ., Japan, Chiba Univ. (JSPS-Japan), National Research Center (STA-Japan), and the University of Arkansas, USA.
His research projects cover an important field of biotechnology, namely, isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from different plant parts. He is at present engaged in the study of antioxidants and drugs reported to be anti-mutagenic and anti-diabetic. He has shown that the leaves of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatus) contain bioactive compounds that can prevent cancer and occurrence of other cardiovascular diseases. He is also credited in standardizing production methods of various crop plants including characterization of carbohydrate metabolism in tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), and purification of some of its enzymes.
Next few years will see him involved in research work pertaining to environmental stress faced by crop plants seeking solution from physiological and biochemical standpoint. He would also be engaged in productive tissue culture research for improvement of crops. Some of his important publications have featured in peer reviewed journals, namely, HortSci, J. Agric and Food Chemistry and Acta Horticulturae. Pl see his CV under member’s profile for further details.
We sincerely hope that Dr. Shahidul Islam would help the GNOBB forum grow further and transform it to an organization that will have significant impact on the promotion and development of biotech in Bangladesh. email:shahidul02@yahoo.com
___________________________

Austin Aug. 7, '05. GNOBB feel happy to welcome Dr. Khondoker M. Nasiruddin as a forum member. Before he joined as the National Co-ordinator, Bangladesh Biotechnology Information Centre (BdBIC) of Intl. Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), he was Professor & Head of Biotechnology Department, Bangladesh Agric University where he also did his M. Sc. in Horticulture. His has a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Wye College, London University and thereafter he enjoyed a post doc fellowship at the Intl. Center for Genetic Engineering. & Biotechnology (ICGEB) in New Delhi. Some of his achievements are: cryv gene transfer in potato, GFP gene cloning in tobacco, nucleolin gene expression and enzyme purification & characterization.
Dr. Nasiruddin’s research interest covers a multitude of fields: (a) biotechnological approaches for virus resistant potato production; (b) Production of quality seed potatoes through biotechnological and conventional approaches; (c) Integrated approaches for vegetable production in hill slopes; (d) Embryogenic regeneration and Agrobacterium- mediated genetic transformation of potato for late blight resistance. GNOBB congratulate Dr. Nasiruddin for his new position as the National Co-ordinator and wish him God speed in his mission.
He may be reached at k.nasiruddin@isaaa.org.
GNOBB are looking forward to his valuable assistance towards promotion and development of this forum leading to state of the art biotech research for the economic benefit of the country.
__________________________
Professor Dr. Mohammad Rahmatullah: Welcome to GNOBB Group (Pl. click here to go to Member's profile for details)

We heartily welcome to the GNOBB Group Professor Dr. Mohammad Rahmatullah, Dean, Life Sciences at the University of Development Alternative (UoDA) Dhaka. He is a Ph.D. from Hong Kong University and post doc from Kansas State University. He also worked in the prestigious institute under Geisinger Health System, USA and continued his appointment after its merger with Penn State University College of Medicine.

He is in the forefront of productive research on fish biotechnology. Professor Rahmatullah heads a team of scientists engaged in various biotechnological research activities at UODA. Research projects include development of low cost poultry and fish feed, induced breeding and cocultivation of various endangered indigenous fish species, development of a low cost immunomodulator from indigenous sources, experiments on diuretic activity of medicinal plants. We are looking forward to his suggestions and contributions to the enrichment of this forum.
email: rahamatm@hotmail.com, rahmatm@uoda.org
_________________

Austin, July 10/July 15, 05. We heartily welcome our new member Mr. Mohammad Nurul Islam, an M. Sc. from Botany Department, DU. He is about to complete his Ph.D. at ICGEB. He went to the Institute on a pre-doctoral fellowship. He has succeeded in constructing a gene-silencing vector based on a DNA Mungbean yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV). His prime focus has been in three areas: To use the new vector for (a) analyzing gene function, ii) stepping up level of expression of a gene of interest in plants in a transient manner, and iii) obtaining transgenic plants with a loss of function of any harmful genes such as those responsible for producing debilitating diseases such as lathyrism etc.

We also heartily welcome to our forum another newcomer, Mr. M. Mobashwer Alam, an M.Sc in genetics and plant breeding from Bangladesh Agric. Univ., Mymensingh. Mr. Alam is currently a lecturer in the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Patuakhali Science and technology University. He conducted breeding-related research on Lablab bean, onion and tomato. His research interest is in the following areas: Germplasm conservation, Stress breeding, Genotypic characterization using DNA markers and Plant Tissue culture.

GNOBB cordially welcomes Dr. Manujendra N. Saha
Austin 22^nd June. GNOBB most cordially welcomes Dr. Manujendra N. Saha as its latest members. An M. Sc. in Biochemistry from Dhaka University, he did his Ph.D. from the Dept of Virology and Preventive Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan. After his Ph.D. he is working in the same Department as a Research Associate occupying a faculty position. His current research interest is in epidemiology and study on the molecular mechanism of early infection including infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae or viruses like HBV, HCV, HIV or HTLV. He has an impressive list of publications mostly relating to the study of Vibrio cholerae. His study comprises diverse clones of epidemic and non-epidemic strains derived from multiple Vibrio cholerae O1 or non-O1 progenitors
___________________________

Austin 15th June. GNOBB heartily welcomes both Dr. M. Jahangir Alam and his wife Dr. Khurshida Begum. While Dr Alam is an M.Sc. in Microbiology from Dhaka University, Dr. Khurshida is an M.Sc. in Zoology from Eden Girls' College. Both did their Ph.D. and postdoc from Okayama University, Japan. Both of them have now moved to Kansas State University where they are currently employed as postdoctoral scholars. While Dr. Alam's research interest is in the field of environmental, food and pathogenic microbiology, that of Dr. Khurshida is in the field of Parasitology, drug development and biomedical sciences. Dr. Alam's commendable achievement is his valuable findings in the ecology of human pathogenic bacteria associated with insects and antibiotic resistances (Cf. Publication # 1 in his profile). Dr. Khurshida's accomplishment is in the field of drug development against malaria. Both of them maintain their individual websites where the members of the forum will get detailed information about their research contributions and achievements. We sincerely hope that they will work for the forum to improve it further and turn it into a powerful medium to serve the community. For details please Click Dr J. Alam. and Dr. Khurshida Begum respectively.

Dr. M. M. Shahabuddin Alam: Welcome to GNOBB Group (Pl. click here to go to Member's profile for details)

We heartily welcome to the GNOBB Group Dr. M. M. Shahabuddin Alam, Associate Director, Gene Technologies, Maryland, USA. His masters was from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University and Ph.D. from Kyushu University, Japan. He did his post doc at two places: Uniformed University of Health Science USA and at the prestigious research establishment, the National Institute of Health (NIH). During his five years’ tenure at NIH, he made commendable contributions to the areas of health science related to diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration of eyes.

Two Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (Dr. Syed Ashrafuddin Ahmed and Mr. Anowar Hossain) have joined our forum.
Two Bangladeshi Biotechnologists have joined our forum. One of them is Dr. Syed Ashrafuddin Ahmed, currently employed as a Research Chemist, Integrated Toxicology Division, USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA. His Masters is from the Biochemistry Department, Dhaka university, Ph. D. from Kyoto University, Japan. Before he joined his present post, he served as a postdoctoral fellow in the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Dr Ashraf’s expertise is in the area of protein chemistry, enzymology, structural biology. Recently he has been able to solve and characterize the 3-D structure of the first multienzyme complex, the bacterial tryptophan synthase. Among his many publications with his associates, the most recent one is as follows:
Jayaraman S., S. Eswaramoorthy, S.A. Ahmed, L.A. Smith and S. Swaminathan (2005) N-terminal helix reorients in recombinant C-fragment of Clostridium botulinum type B. Biochem Biophys Res. Commun. 330:97-103.

Further information about the research activity of Dr. Ashraf is available in the website with url as shown below:
http://www4.nas.edu/pga/rap.nsf/ByTitle/97.20.35.B4627?OpenDocument

GNOBB congratulates him warmly and hopes that his contribution will enrich the GNOBB website and the members in general and particularly those who are working in his area of interest.

We also warmly welcome the other member, Mr. Anowar Hossain, Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University. He is Masters in Biochemistry from the same University where he is working at present. We also expect valuable input and suggestions from him for the improvement of this website.

Dr. Md. Abdur Razzaque joins GNOBB
Austin, May 17. Today witnesses the joining of a new member to our forum. The new member's name is Md. Abdur Razzaque. He did his Masters from DU, second Masters, and Ph.D. from Himeji Institute of Technology, University of Hyogo, Japan (2005). He is continuing as a post doc in the same University. His field is animal biotechnology with specialization in nuclear receptor signaling in animals. His paper has just been published in the October issue of Gene. See details under his name in the Member's Profile section.

email: mdabdur@yahoo.com

New Members in our Forum
Austin, May 22. Besides Dr. Abul Ekramoddoullah and Dr. Md. A. Razzaque, a few more scientists have joined the forum. They are: Dr. Muhammad Ali, a Ph.D. in nutrition biotechnology, Gifu University, Japan; Ms. Mirza Shamaruh M.Sc. (New South Wales), Lecturer at BRAC University and Istiaque Uddin Ahmed, Product Officer, The ACME Laboratories, Dhaka. Ms. Shamaruh is a recipient of AMGEN award for the best performance in the Master of Science in Biopharmaceuticals Program, sponsored by Amgen Australia Pty Ltd.
Md. Ashraful Hoque, Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Rajshahi, studying Protein Technology; Kazi Abdus Salam, Lecturer at the same Department, studying Enzyme Technology; Md. Saleh Ahmed Chowdhury, a Ph.D. Student at the Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, working in biopolymers; Atiar Rahman, Lecturer at the University of Chittagong, working on alkaloids and steroids from Litsea glutinosa including its cytotoxic and biological activities and Shafiul Alam, Scientific Officer at the National Forensic DNA Profiling Lab, GoB. The most recent to join the group is Mr. K. M. Rashid, Regional Manager (Biotech), Roche Bangladesh Ltd. After his M.Sc. in Biochemistry from D. U., he went through a number of training courses in oncology including Breast Cancer Management in Switzerland, Biotech SPF training at Humburg, Pharma International Biotech Marketing training in Spain. This year his SPF training in Oncology was in Dubai.

GNOBB welcomes all of them most cordially to its group. Their suggestions will surely go a long way to strengthen the activities of this forum whose membership has now risen to 51. Please go to the individual members' Profile to know more about them.

Area of Specialization : Agronomy/Physiology and facilitating biotech and developing world scientists.
Dr. Meisner’s current program among others comprise

Dr. Craig Meisner garnered for CIMMYT Bangladesh from 1992-2004 a total of twelve million USD including an overhead expenses of nearly one-tenth of that amount for CIMMYT HQ.

Dr. Meisner’s attention is now directed to a food system approach to nutrient delivery for improved nutrition and health in Bangladesh. Another project of great importance to Bangladesh which he has launched recently in collaboration with Dennis Gonsalves at Cornell University is the production of transgenic virus free Bangladeshi papaya varieties. Hawaiian varieties of virus-free are already available. on a commercial scale. Production of Bangladesh version of the resistant papaya varieties is now under way under the direction and guidance of Professor Gonslaves

Currently he is advising 6 graduate students attached to various research institutions in Bangladesh.

The team headed by Dr. Meisner won the 2004 CGIAR King Baudouin Award in recognition of his meritorious research contribution in the Rice-Wheat Consortium.

Austin March 27, 2005. We warmly welcome Dr. Quoreshi for joining the GNOBB forum. Dr. Quoreshi is the Principal Investigator in Symbiotech Research, Edmonton, Canada. He has developed a new fertilization technique combining ectomycorrhizal inoculation for producing improved forest tree seedlings in nursery. His future plan is to continue research on further development and use of mycorrhizal technology in an efficient manner for ecological restoration of Alberta Oil sands area and other degraded lands. The following provide other important pieces of information about his career along with his research interest. We wish him all success in his career and hope that he would enrich the forum with his advice and ideas to make it more meaningful for the promotion of biotech in Bangladesh.

M.Sc.: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ph.D.: Forest Biology and Seedling Nutrition, University of Toronto, Canada
Post Doctorate: Hokkaido University, Japan and at the University of Laval, Canada
Present Position: Principal Investigator, Symbiotech Research Inc. Edmonton, Canada
E-mail: ali.symbio@telusplanet.net / ali.quoreshi@sbf.ulaval.ca

April 10, 2005.GNOBB heartily welcomes Dr. Syed Ashrafuddin Ahmed, Research Chemist, Integrated Toxicology Division, USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702, USA, Md. Saleh Ahmed Chowdhury Ph.D. Student, Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, Japan and Minhaz Uddin Ahmed, Scientific Officer, National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, GOB. Of the three new members, we received photo only from Mr. M. U. Ahmed. Therefore, for the present we have fixed only Mr Ahmed's photo; we will add two more asa we receive the remaining two photos. We will be pleased to publish any interesting news related to their respective subject. Members are requested to go to the member's profile page and click individual name in order to know more about our new members.
_________________

Dr. Abdul Khaleque joins GNOBB
We welcome Dr. Abdul Khaleque in our group. We hope that he will enrich the forum by playing an active role in promoting its interest.

M.Sc. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dhaka University
Ph.D. Molecular Genetics, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan
Post Doctorate: Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Publication
Dan Tang, Md Abdul Khaleque, Ellen L. Jones, Jimmy R. Theriault, Cheng Li, Wing Hung Wong, Mary Ann Stevenson and Stuart K. Calderwood. (2005) Expression of heat shock proteins and HSP mRNA in human prostate carcinoma in vitro and in tumors. Cell Stress & Chaperones 10 (1), 46-58.