Dr Samina Naseeb

Senior Lecturer

School of Health, Science and Wellbeing

My research combines high-throughput genome sequencing, phenotyping, transcriptomics, and genetic association analyses to understand the genetic basis of functionally relevant and industrially important traits.

I am also interested in understanding the role of non-coding RNA in cell function and gene regulation and studying the mechanisms required for evolutionary adaptations of organisms to environmental change.

I believe in integrating research and teaching activities as it builds up the knowledge transfer process and prepares students to be lifelong learners. Previously, while teaching undergraduate field courses at the University of Manchester, I developed studies on the biodiversity of microorganisms at Alpine environments which lead to the discovery of novel yeast species. I am actively involved in research outreach as I believe that public engagement in science can educate and involve the community and increase their support in scientific research.

Professional memberships and activities

Microbiology Society
American Society for Microbiology
Genetics Society of America
European Society for Evolutionary Biology

Academic qualifications

PhD. 2011. ‘Molecular evolution in yeast: Role of chromosomal inversions and translocations in speciation, adaptation and gene expression processes.’ The University of Manchester, UK.
MSc. 2007. Microbiology. University of Karachi, Pakistan
BSc (Hons). 2006. Microbiology. University of Karachi, Pakistan.

Expertise

Molecular Biology and Microbiology
Yeast Genetics and Biotechnology
Synthetic Biology
Isolation of microbial species from natural environments

Research interests

Applying synthetic biology and quantitative genetics to study yeast hybrids for biotechnological purposes.
Study the role of chromosomal rearrangements on fitness adaptation and global gene expression.
Understanding the role of non-coding RNA in cell function and gene regulation.
Determining the environmental factors affecting the microbial biodiversity and understanding their physiological and evolutionary adaptation.

Teaching

Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering
Current Advances in Molecular Biology
Bioinformatics
Research projects

Publications

- Naseeb S, Visinoni F, Hu Y, Hinks Roberts AJ, Maslowska A, Walsh T, Smart KA, Louis EJ, Delneri D. Restoring fertility in yeast hybrids: Breeding and quantitative genetics of beneficial traits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Sep 21;118(38)
- Hewitt SK, Duangrattanalert K, Burgis T, Zeef L, Naseeb S, and Delneri D. Plasticity of mitochondrial DNA inheritance and its impact on nuclear gene transcription in yeast hybrids. Microorganisms. Mar 31;8(4). pii: E494
- Alsammar HF, Naseeb S, Brancia LB, Gilman RT, Wang P and Delneri D. Targeted metagenomics approach to capture the biodiversity of Saccharomyces genus in wild environments. Environmental microbiology reports. 11(2):206-214.
- Naseeb S, Alsammar H, Burgis T, Donaldson I, Knyazev N, Knight C, and Delneri D. Whole genome sequencing, de novoassembly and phenotypic profiling for the new budding yeast species Saccharomyces jurei. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 2018. 8(9):2967-2977.
- Fraczek MG, Naseeb S and Delneri D. History of genome editing in yeast. Yeast. 35(5):361-368.
- Naseeb S, Ames RM, Delneri D and Lovell SC. Rapid functional and evolutionary changes follow gene duplication in Yeast. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 284: 20171393.
- Naseeb S, James SA, Alsammar H, Michaels CJ, Gini B, Nueno-Palop C, Bond CJ, McGhie H, Roberts NI, and Delneri D. Saccharomyces jurei nov., Isolation and genetic Identification of a novel yeast species from Quercus robur. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2017. 67: 2046-2052. (Press release by the University of Manchester media (https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/new-species-of-yeast-could-help-beer-brewers-reach-new-heights/) and by Quadram Institute, Norwich, 2017; https://quadram.ac.uk/new-species-yeast-discovered-head-heights/).
- Naseeb S, Carter Z, Minnis D, Donaldson I, Zeef L and Delneri D. Widespread impact of chromosomal inversions on gene expression uncovers robustness via phenotypic buffering. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2016. 33(7): 1679–1696.
- Hooks KB*, Naseeb S*, Parker S, Griffiths-Jones S and Delneri D. Novel intronic RNA structures contribute to maintenance of phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2016. 203(3): 1469-81. (*Equal contributions) (highlighted by Starr B. in New & Noteworthy, Saccharomyces Genome Database, 2016; https://www.yeastgenome.org/blog/keep-only-what-you-need).
- Naseeb S, Sohail M, Ahmed A and Khan SA. Production of xylanases and cellulases by Aspergillus fumigatus MS16 using crude lignocellulosic substrates. Pakistan Journal of Bot 2015. 47(2): 779-784.
- Piatkowska EM, Naseeb S, Knight D, and Delneri D. Chimeric protein complexes in hybrid species generate novel phenotypes. PLoS Genetics. 2013. 9(10): e1003836. (highlighted by Stower H., in Nature Reviews Genetics, Vol 14; https://www.nature.com/articles/nrg3617).
- Naseeb S and Delneri D. Impact of chromosomal inversions on yeast DAL cluster. PLoS One. 7(8): e42022.
For full publication list see the below google scholar link:

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=f8YLddEAAAAJ&hl=en

samina.naseeb@staffs.ac.uk