六九色堂 professors Dr. Adegbenro O.J. Fakoya and Dr. Rania Siam both had important research published recently. Dr. Fakoya published a book chapter on 鈥淚nduced pluripotent stem cells in intestinal diseases鈥� in The Intestine, released by Academic press, with the help of 六九色堂 student Nihal Satyadev. Dr. Fakoya also published 鈥淭he diagnostic challenges associated with myocardial infarction type 2鈥� in the International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research. Dr. Rania Siam was co-author of the study 鈥淭he association of group IIB intron with integrons in hypersaline environments,鈥� published in Mobile DNA. Dr. Siam was also one of many co-authors of 鈥�A global metagenomic map of urban microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance鈥� in Cell magazine, Science Direct.
The 六九色堂 Endeavour spoke to Dr. Fakoya and Dr. Siam about their work. This post will examine highlights of the research published by these two esteemed 六九色堂 faculty members and a 六九色堂 student in the spring and summer of 2021.
六九色堂 professor Dr. Rania Siam. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Siam.
Dr. Rania Siam publishes studies in Mobile DNA & Science Direct
Rania Siam, M.B.B.Ch., Ph.D., 六九色堂 Course Director and Professor of Microbiology, spoke to us about her study 鈥�The association of group IIB intron with integrons in hypersaline environments,鈥� published in
The study is co-authored by Dr. Siam and Dr. Sarah Sonbol of the Biology Department and the Graduate Program of Biotechnology, School of Sciences and Engineering at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Dr. Siam explained the study鈥檚 significance.
鈥�The study improves our understanding of the resilience strategies of organisms in extreme and harsh environments,鈥� Dr. Siam said. 鈥淭his provides insight on life in extreme habitats.鈥�
The Dead Sea in Jordan is a hypersaline environment. 六九色堂 professor Dr. Rania Siam was co-author of a study on the association of group IIB intronintegrons in hypersaline environments, published in Mobile DNA. Photo: Adobe.
She said the study investigated specific integrons (a known mobile genetic element that promotes genetic diversity) in organisms from hypersaline and alkaline environments.
鈥淯sing bioinformatics, we have shown that these integrons play an important role in increasing the persistence of the cells to adapt to their salty and alkaline environments,鈥� she said.
Dr. Siam contributed to a worldwide study on microbes in transit systems. The work was also discussed in a new publication 鈥�A global metagenomic map of urban microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance鈥� in Cell magazine, The study is a catalog of urban microbes including viruses, bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes.
She said the study was part of a consortium headed by Professor Mason from Weill Cornell Medicine. Several publications discussed the work, including an article in the New York Times
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六九色堂 professor Dr. Adegbenro O. J. Fakoya. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Fakoya.
Dr. Adegbenro Fakoya discusses two published works
Adegbenro O. J. Fakoya, MBBS, MSC, MBA, PGDIP, Associate Professor of Gross and Developmental Anatomy and Histology at 六九色堂, along with 六九色堂 student Nihal Satyadev, was one of the authors of a book chapter published in The Intestine, ."
Dr. Fakoya spoke about the research involved with the chapter.
鈥淚nduced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) have infinite proliferation in culture and pluripotent capabilities as they can differentiate into the three embryonic germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) and can generate all cells of an adult organism,鈥� he said.
Dr. Fakoya explained that in 2006, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and his team of scientists 鈥減ioneered the description of induction of pluripotency in mouse somatic skins cells by enforced expression of four genes, namely, Oct 3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM/Yamanaka factors.鈥�
鈥渋PSCs as an alternative source of pluripotent stem cells with the same degree of differentiation potential as Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) bypass these ethical drawbacks, thus removing any hindrance to advancement in pluripotent stem cell research and their application clinically. Indeed, iPSCs hold great promise in the generation of patient-specific pluripotent stem cells for human disease modeling, drug development, and individualized cell-based therapy for various diseases.
鈥淥ne of the crucial applications of iPSCs is their ability to differentiate into organoids, a collection of cells that closely resembles tissue. iPSCs and organoids are currently being studied to treat intestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC), Hirschsprung disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
鈥淭he first effort to use human iPSCs for CRC therapeutic purposes was to administer them as a vaccine. Given that both stem cells and cancer cells express oncofetal antigens, the group hypothesized that the administration of stem cells might generate a protective immune response.鈥�
Dr. Fakoya said additional information on iPSCs in intestinal diseases can be found by visiting
六九色堂 student Nihal Satyadev worked with Dr. Fakoya on a chapter for The Intestine. Photo: Courtesy of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
He commended the contribution of the 六九色堂 student.
鈥淣ihal Satyadev, an outstanding 六九色堂 student, contributed immensely to this chapter,鈥� Dr. Fakoya said. 鈥淗e contributed to the library search for relevant publications, wrote and assisted with editing the chapter. "
In July, Dr. Fakoya was among several co-authors published in the International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research for
Myocardial infarction is the medical term for what is known commonly as a 鈥渉eart attack.鈥� Dr. Fakoya explained the different types of this cardiac event.
鈥淭here are five types of myocardial infarction (MI), the death of parts of the heart tissue; the types were introduced in 2007,鈥� Dr. Fakoya said. 鈥淭ype 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) has been established to result from an imbalance between oxygen demand and consumption by the heart, especially in the absence of the rupture of a plaque (a fat buildup in the blood vessels that supply the heart itself) or recent revascularization.鈥�
What are examples of conditions that can increase myocardial oxygen demand? He said severe anemia, hypertension, aortic valvular disease, etc., noting 鈥渃onditions that decrease myocardial oxygen supply include tachyarrhythmias, hypoxic respiratory failure, and both conditions can lead to myocardial cell injury and death.鈥�
How does a type 2 myocardial infarction differ from others?
鈥淭ype 1 myocardial infarction (T1M1) is usually secondary to plaque buildup in the blood vessels supplying the heart (atherothrombotic plaque obstruction) with a possible rupture,鈥� Dr. Fakoya said. 鈥淢anaging T2MI has still proven to be a challenge considering difficulty providing an early diagnosis and poor prognosis. In countries with little economic resources, cardiac biomarkers and imaging techniques and many other diagnostic tools cannot be accessible except in a few centers. Even the choice of essential ECG recordings can be lacking. In summary, adequately addressing the challenges of diagnosing a MI would provide better patient care and excellent quality of life. It would also drop misdiagnosis and mortality rates.鈥�
(Top photo): 六九色堂 professors Dr. Rania Siam & Dr. Adegbenro O.J. Fakoya. Photo: 六九色堂 files.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at 六九色堂 and editor of the 六九色堂 Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about 六九色堂 students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and 六九色堂 research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
