Iris

Researcher with a Ph.D. in Virology and Gene Therapy with an extensive background in virology, molecular biology, and cell biology. Research experience and expertise includes bioinformatics variant analysis of viral genomes (measles virus and SARS-CoV2), engineering recombinant measles viruses, characterization of rescued measles viruses and relevant assay development. Additional laboratory experience in characterizing oncolytic adenovirus behavior in hypoxic conditions. I am looking for translational platforms that use measles virus vectors for reprogramming, gene editing or oncolytic virotherpay to expand my knowledge of and experience in measles virus biology.

• 05/2019 to 09/2024, Research Student under supervision of Dr. Roberto Cattaneo, PhD, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Sciences

Analyzed RNAseq data from brain infected with measles virus MeV (viral reads, frequencies and variant analysis). Cloned and rescued recombinant MeV and performed various assays to determine mutant virus fitness on different cell types. Performed Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization on human brain tissues and cell lines. Helped establish assay for SARS CoV2 RNA detection in wastewater to monitor and predict local COVID-19 outbreaks.

• 10/2016 to 05/2018, Research Student under supervision of Dr. Leonard Seymour, PhD, University of Oxford

Identified a novel mechanism of adenovirus induced upregulation of a cellular gene called Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Cloned and purified oncolytic adenovirus. Performed tissue culture in hypoxic conditions (both induced and in hypoxia chamber) to study virus behavior. Analyzed effects of hypoxia on virus via protein and RNA levels analyses.

• 05/2014 to 08/2015, Research Student under supervision of Dr. Natasha Anwar, PhD, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University),

Performed DNA extraction from Hepatitis C virus patient blood samples. Developed an assay to detect single cell polymorphism in Il28b in patients with HCV.

• 08/2009, 12/2009, Lab Assistant, Lifeline Christian Development Services

Performed diagnostic tests on samples from Tuberculosis patients.

• From pandemic to endemic: Divergence of COVID-19 positive-tests and hospitalization numbers from SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in wastewater of Rochester, Minnesota, Heliyon, 10, 6, Majumdar, R., Taye, B., Bjornberg, C., Giljork, M., Lynch, D., Farah, F., Abdullah, I., Osiecki, K., Yousaf, I., Luckstein, A., Turri, W., 2024
• Brain tropism acquisition: The spatial dynamics and evolution of a measles virus collective infectious unit that drove lethal subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, PLoS pathogens, 19, 12, Yousaf, I., Hannon, W.W., Donohue, R.C., Pfaller, C.K., Yadav, K., Dikdan, R.J., Tyagi, S., Schroeder, D.C., Shieh, W.J., Rota, P.A., Feder, A.F., 2023
• A single-center assessment of mental health and well-being in a biomedical sciences graduate program, Nature biotechnology, 41, 5, Jachim, S. K., Bowles, B. S., Panicker, A. J., Yousaf, I., Brown, A. D., Zoroufy, A. J., ..., Schulze, A. J., 2023
• Receptor-mediated cell entry of paramyxoviruses: Mechanisms, and consequences for tropism and pathogenesis, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 295, 9, Navaratnarajah, C. K., Generous, A. R., Yousaf, I., Cattaneo, R., 2020
• The C protein is recruited to measles virus ribonucleocapsids by the phosphoprotein, Journal of virology, 94, 4, Pfaller, C.K., Bloyet, L.M., Donohue, R.C., Huff, A.L., Bartemes, W.P., Yousaf, I., Urzua, E., Clavière, M., Zachary, M., de Masson d’Autume, V., Carson, S., 2019
• Attenuation of the hypoxia inducible factor pathway after oncolytic adenovirus infection coincides with decreased vessel perfusion, Cancers, 12, 4, Yousaf, I., Kaeppler, J., Frost, S., Seymour, L. W., Jacobus, E. J., 2020
• Turning cold tumours hot: oncolytic virotherapy gets up close and personal with other therapeutics at the 11th Oncolytic Virus Conference, Cancer gene therapy, 26, 3, Dyer, A., Baugh, R., Chia, S.L., Frost, S., Yousaf, I., Jacobus, E.J., Khalique, H., Pokrovska, T.D., Scott, E.M., Taverner, W.K., Seymour, L.W., Lei, J., 2019

• 06/2024, American Society of virology travel award
• 06/2023, American Society of virology travel award
• 09/2016, 08/2018, Vicky Noon Education Foundation Oxford Scholarship
• 01/2015, 05/2015, Global Undergraduate Exchange in United States Scholarship

• 06/2024, American Society of virology, Columbus, OH, USA
• 06/2023, American Society of virology, Athens, GA, USA
• 07/2022, American Society of virology, Madison, WI, USA
• 06/2022, Negative Strand RNA meeting, Braga, Portugal
• 05/2022, 18th annual Institute for molecular virology Symposium, University of Minnesota, USA
• 09/2021, Mayo Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Student Symposium, Rochester, MN, USA
• 07/2021, American Society of virology (Virtual)
• 06/2021, 17th annual Institute for molecular virology Symposium, University of Minnesota (Virtual)
• 09/2020, Mayo Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Student Symposium, Rochester, MN, USA
• 07/2020, American Society of virology (Virtual)
• 04/2018, 11th International Oncolytic Virus conference, University of Oxford, England
• 07/2018, Annual Oncology Student Symposium 2017-2018, University of Oxford, England
• 07/2017, Annual Oncology Student Symposium 2016-2017, University of Oxford, England
• 11/2015, 38th Annual/ 3rd Joint Conference of societies of Pathology in Collaboration with the Royal College of Pathologists and British Association of Pakistani Pathologists, Pakistan
• 10/2014, International Conference on Emerging trends in Life Sciences for Sustainable Development, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Pakistan

• 09/2020, 01/2023, Student Representative, EverybodyIn committee, Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Responsible for proposing and implementing measures to foster an inclusive environment in the department. Lead an open forum to increase awareness about topics related to Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
• 09/2020, 01/2023, Student Leader, Student life and wellness committee, MCGSBS, Responsible for carrying out annual survey to determine student mental health. Working on a manuscript summarizing pre and post pandemic mental health data from MCGSBS.
• 09/2019, 09/2020, Co-Track representative, Virology and Gene therapy track, MCGSBS, Responsible for bringing forward student issues and concerns to track administration. Participated in student selection process for incoming PhD students. Organized two interview weekends for grad school.
• 10/2017, 08/2018, BME (Black and Minority Ethnicity) Representative, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Responsible for bringing forward concerns from BME students. Proposed and implemented measures to foster an inclusive environment on campus.
• 06/2017, 08/2018, Peer Supporter, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Got training to listen to and help students in distress. Responsible for measures to foster an inclusive environment on campus.
• 09/2014, 06/2015, General Secretary, The Philosophy society, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University)
• 02/2014, 05/2014, Student representative, Admission committee, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University)

• Dr. Roberto Cattaneo, PhD, Cattaneo.Roberto@mayo.edu
• Dr. Zubin Master, PhD, zmaster@wakehealth.edu