Mohsan Saeed, PhD
Assistant Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Biochemistry & Cell Biology

PhD, University of Tokyo
DVM, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
MPhil, Quaid-i-azam Univ



My laboratory investigates the role that viral proteins, particularly viral proteases, play in remodeling host cells and creating a favorable environment for virus replication. To this end, we take a two-pronged approach: employ modern systems biology methods to get a global view of the virus-host interface and then use classical molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to gain deeper mechanistic insights.

The major focus of my laboratory is to identify and characterize host proteins that are cleaved by viral proteases. For this, we use a relatively unbiased approach to label and capture protein N-termini generated by proteolytic cleavage in virus-infected cells. This powerful proteomics (“degradomics”) approach not only identifies the cleaved proteins but also the site of cleavage within a protein. Once the proteins are identified and their cleavage is validated by orthogonal methods, we then ascertain the functional significance of these cleavages in the virus life cycle.

Besides studying host proteins that we have identified from the degradomics analysis of clinically important enteroviruses, we continue to extend this analysis to viruses from other families with the goal to get a global view of cellular pathways commonly targeted or co-opted by diverse viruses. These studies are expected to provide novel insights into cell biology, antiviral defenses, and disease mechanisms. Also, viral proteases are one of the prime targets for antiviral development, and therefore deeper insights into their function will help improve viral therapeutics.

Faculty
Boston University
National Emerging Infectious Disease Lab


Member
Boston University
Genome Science Institute




Functional characterization of the enteroviral degradome
07/07/2022 - 06/30/2027 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
5R01AI170877-03

Defining the role of site-specific proteolysis in innate defense signaling
07/01/2022 - 04/30/2027 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5R35GM147483-03

Investigating Interferon Antagonists in Delaying Innate Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2
07/09/2021 - 06/30/2026 (Subcontract PI)
Loyola University of Chicago NIH NIAID
4R01AI159945-03

Deciphering the Immune Evasion Mechanisms of Arboviruses in Mosquitoes
02/01/2024 - 01/31/2026 (PI)
The Smith Family Foundation


Deciphering the determinants of coronaviral tissue tropism
07/01/2023 - 06/30/2025 (PI)
American Lung Association


Development of DF-COV for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 and associated immunopathologic respiratory complications
01/15/2021 - 01/14/2025 (Multi PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute DOD Army Med Resrch


Probing Pathomechanisms of Enterovirus D68 Infection
03/01/2020 - 03/31/2023 (PI)
Charles H. Hood Foundation


Mapping Pathogenic Coronavirus Viral-Host Protein Interaction Environments for Target Discovery
08/03/2020 - 01/02/2022 (Multi-PI)
PI: Mohsan Saeed, PhD
Merck, Sharp & Dohme LLC




Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Keiser PT, Zhang W, Ricca M, Wacquiez A, Grimins A, Cencic R, Patten JJ, Shah P, Padilha E, Connor JH, Pelletier J, Lyons SM, Saeed M, Brown LE, Porco JA, Davey RA. Amidino-rocaglates (ADRs), a class of synthetic rocaglates, are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication through inhibition of viral protein synthesis. Antiviral Res. 2024 Aug 06; 230:105976.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39117283
     
  2. Ackermann-Gäumann R, Dentand A, Lienhard R, Saeed M, Speiser DE, MacDonald MR, Coste AT, Cagno V. A reporter virus particle seroneutralization assay for tick-borne encephalitis virus overcomes ELISA limitations. J Med Virol. 2024 Aug; 96(8):e29843. PMID: 39092814
     
  3. Caobi A, Saeed M. Upping the ante: enhanced expression of interferon-antagonizing ORF6 and ORF9b proteins by SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2024 Jun; 79:102454.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38518551; PMCID: PMC11162932; DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102454;
     
  4. Weingarten-Gabbay S, Chen DY, Sarkizova S, Taylor HB, Gentili M, Hernandez GM, Pearlman LR, Bauer MR, Rice CM, Clauser KR, Hacohen N, Carr SA, Abelin JG, Saeed M, Sabeti PC. The HLA-II immunopeptidome of SARS-CoV-2. Cell Rep. 2024 Jan 23; 43(1):113596. PMID: 38117652; PMCID: PMC10860710; DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113596;
     
  5. Lin L, Chen DY, Scartelli C, Xie H, Merrill-Skoloff G, Yang M, Sun L, Saeed M, Flaumenhaft R. Plant flavonoid inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease and viral replication. iScience. 2023 Sep 15; 26(9):107602. PMID: 37664626; PMCID: PMC10470319; DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107602;
     
  6. Datta S, Chen DY, Tavares AH, Reyes-Robles T, Ryu KA, Khan N, Bechtel TJ, Bertoch JM, White CH, Hazuda DJ, Vora KA, Hett EC, Fadeyi OO, Oslund RC, Emili A, Saeed M. High-resolution photocatalytic mapping of SARS-CoV-2 spike interactions on the cell surface. Cell Chem Biol. 2023 Oct 19; 30(10):1313-1322.e7.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37499664
     
  7. Feng S, O'Brien A, Chen DY, Saeed M, Baker SC. SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 6 from Alpha to Omicron: evolution of a transmembrane protein. mBio. 2023 Aug 31; 14(4):e0068823. PMID: 37477426; PMCID: PMC10470488; DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00688-23;
     
  8. Weingarten-Gabbay S, Chen DY, Sarkizova S, Taylor HB, Gentili M, Pearlman LR, Bauer MR, Rice CM, Clauser KR, Hacohen N, Carr SA, Abelin JG, Saeed M, Sabeti PC. The HLA-II immunopeptidome of SARS-CoV-2. bioRxiv. 2023 Jun 01. PMID: 37398281; PMCID: PMC10312465; DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.542482;
     
  9. Yang L, Han Y, Zhou T, Lacko LA, Saeed M, Tan C, Danziger R, Zhu J, Zhao Z, Cahir C, Giani AM, Li Y, Dong X, Moroziewicz D, Paull D, Chen Z, Zhong A, Noggle SA, Rice CM, Qi Q, Evans T, Chen S. Isogenic human trophectoderm cells demonstrate the role of NDUFA4 and associated variants in ZIKV infection. iScience. 2023 Jul 21; 26(7):107001. PMID: 37534130; PMCID: PMC10391681; DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107001;
     
  10. Chen DY, Turcinovic J, Feng S, Kenney DJ, Chin CV, Choudhary MC, Conway HL, Semaan M, Close BJ, Tavares AH, Seitz S, Khan N, Kapell S, Crossland NA, Li JZ, Douam F, Baker SC, Connor JH, Saeed M. Cell culture systems for isolation of SARS-CoV-2 clinical isolates and generation of recombinant virus. iScience. 2023 May 19; 26(5):106634.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37095858; PMCID: PMC10083141; DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106634;
     
Showing 10 of 65 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 65 publications over 17 distinct years, with a maximum of 13 publications in 2020

YearPublications
20071
20091
20101
20112
20122
20131
20142
20152
20161
20172
20184
20192
202013
202112
20227
20239
20243

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South End Resident Honored with Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award

My South End 11/16/2023

American Lung Association Funds $13.6 Million in Research for a Future Free of Lung Disease

BioSpace 10/12/2023

BU researchers discover a mutation that may be weakening COVID

WBUR 1/12/2023

NEIDL Researchers Discover New SARS-CoV-2 Weak Spot—Which Could Inspire Improved Vaccines

The Brink 1/11/2023

Coronavirus ‘chimera’ made in lab shows what makes omicron seemingly less deadly

The Washington Post 1/11/2023

Best of The Brink 2022: BU’s Most-Read Science and Research Stories

BU Today 12/13/2022

BU to Require Boosters, Will Stop Daily Attestation Requirement

BU Today 12/13/2021

Researchers identify coronavirus proteins that could make new, more powerful vaccines

The Hill 6/23/2021

New ‘Recipe’ Could Lead To Better COVID-19 Vaccines

Futurity 6/15/2021

Study Reveals Recipe for Even More Powerful COVID-19 Vaccines

BU Today 6/11/2021

Is there a limit to how much the coronavirus can mutate?

Live Science 2/11/2021

What Sets Off Deadly Levels of Lung Inflammation in Some COVID-19 Patients?

BU Today 9/8/2020

A popular heartburn medicine doesn’t work as a COVID-19 antiviral

Science News 7/27/2020

BU Scientists Awarded $1.9 Million to Accelerate Coronavirus Research

BU Today 5/13/2020

BU Labs, Researchers and Students Fight COVID-19

The Daily Free Press 4/29/2020

BU Labs Exploring COVID-19 Vaccines

The Daily Free Press 3/17/2020

Coronavirus Declared a Pandemic, Cases in U.S. and Massachusetts Continue to Rise

The Boston Herald: 3/11/2020

COVID-19: What You Should And Shouldn’t Do Now

Futurity 3/4/2020

Coronavirus Is Coming: Dos and Don’ts for Protecting Yourself

BU Today 2/27/2020

Update: Latest BU News on Coronavirus

BU Today 2/3/2020

BU Postpones Shanghai Study Abroad Program Amid Coronavirus Fears

BU Today 1/30/2020

Coronavirus Outbreak Resembles SARS, But Virus Experts Say Science Moves Far Faster Now

WBUR 1/29/2020

Outbreak Experts: What to Expect Next from Coronavirus

BU Today 1/27/2020

BU Closely Monitoring Coronavirus Outbreak

BU Today 1/22/2020
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Virology
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