Before joining LSHTM, I worked on developing a chemically conjugated vaccine against Salmonella Typhi at the Egyptian Company for the Production of Vaccines, Sera, and Drugs in Cairo, Egypt. At that time, I wondered whether there was any enzyme capable of catalyzing the complex chemical reactions required to chemically link a glycan to a protein. This curiosity led me to explore the research from Wren's laboratory. I subsequently joined the Wren Lab as a research assistant, where I focused on developing glycoengineering tools, specifically targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae.
I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, which inspired me to pursue a PhD in glycobiology. This time, I set myself a more challenging goal: to investigate the role of bacterial N-glycosylation. My PhD research resulted in key publications in the field. After completing my PhD in 2019, I returned to work on the translational aspects of glycobiology, primarily focusing on vaccine development and the production of glycoproteins. In 2024, I decided to allocate more time to teaching. I am now a DL tutor in IDM213. I am planning to enrich my teaching experience by joining other modules.
Affiliations
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Research
My research interests are divided into two main areas: basic biology and applied science. In the field of basic biology, I focus on understanding the biological roles of N-linked glycans and exploring the functions of glycosylation systems in various organisms. I use Campylobacter jejuni, which has one of the most extensively studied glycosylation systems in bacteria, to investigate the fundamental functional roles of N-linked glycans.
In parallel with my basic biology research, I also work on biotechnological applications derived from my findings, particularly in utilizing bacterial oligosaccharyltransferases and/or glycosyltransferases to develop conjugate vaccines and potentially humanized glycoproteins.
My curiosity drives me to explore how orchestrated biological processes work. Therefore, in addition to my primary research, I am eager to learn more about how biological systems function and how we can harness the molecular machinery to develop biomimetic or bio-inspired tools.
Selected Publications
