Graduate Student Siblings Making a Difference

 

 

Tanjina and Tasmia Islam have had different academic paths leading up to their acceptance into UNCG’s Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) – an academic collaboration with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T). JSNN offers four degree programs: a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Nanoscience, a Ph.D. in Nanoscience, an M.S. in Nanoengineering, and a Ph.D. in Nanoengineering. The school also has six research focus areas —nanobioscience, nanometrology, nanomaterials (with special emphasis on nanocomposite materials), nanobioelectronics, nanoenergy, and computational nanotechnology.

 

Introduction

 

Tanjina Islam is a former student from Indiana University at Bloomington (IUB) where she pursued her MPH in the Department of Public Health. Toward the end of her time at the University, she started to research PhD programs to continue her studies. She learned about UNCG’s JSNN from a friend who had been pursuing her PhD at NC A&T. 

 

Her sister, Tasmia, had been working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Jagannath University in Bangladesh. She was interested in furthering her education and pursuing a PhD to explore techniques that were not available in Bangladesh. Her elder sister, Tanjina, invited Tasmia to look into the JSNN program here at UNCG. This led her to a discussion with UNCG faculty member Dr. Eric A. Josephs where she discovered a promising intersection in their research interests. 

 

Under the supervision of Dr. Josephs, Tasmia is researching CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology in plant breeding. Genome editing (also called gene editing) involves technologies that allow scientists to change an organism’s DNA. These technologies permit genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. One such approach to this intricate process is CRISPR-Cas9, which is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9. 

 

“The simplicity, versatility, and robustness of CRISPR/Cas systems make genome editing a powerful tool for precise crop improvement via gene knockout, knock-in, replacement, point mutations, fine-tuning of gene regulation, and other modifications at any gene locus in crops,” Tasmia explained.

 

For Tasmia, this approach will help produce improved rice varieties that sustain and increase better yields. But they can also adapt to salinity and withstand disease and the effects of climate change, including droughts or floods. All of these benefits can improve sustainable agriculture and ensure food security in places across the world.

 

Research

 

Prior to her studies in the United States, Tanjina received an education from a government Medical School in Bangladesh because she had always had a passion for work in the public health sector. She has an elder sister who works as a physician at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst at the Worcester Medical Center in the department of Hematology and Oncology. Initially, her older sister’s influence led to an interest in medical school to become a general physician. However, when she completed her medical studies, Tanjina discovered another interest in the research of public health; specifically, a fascination with preventive medicine. Upon receiving her admission to Indiana University at Bloomington with a Graduate Assistantship in 2016, she began to pursue an MPH: “I found my passion in the research of communicable or infectious disease epidemiology.”

 

Tanjina’s current research focuses on developing a gene editing tool using CRISPR to study the genetic mutation in mycobacteria which drives antibiotic resistance. “I am trying to develop gene editing techniques to study the DNA mutation in Mycobacterium smegmatis and this field remains poorly understood. We want to explore the gene editing technique on this slow growing bacteria to experiment on drug resistance. The long-term goal of my project is to provide a foundation for the drug target of Tuberculosis which is an alarming public health concern worldwide,” she explained.

 

Likewise, Tasmia intends to pursue her research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology with an agronomic (science and agriculture) application in plants to ensure food security through the production of biotic and abiotic stress tolerant crops. “I want to gain knowledge and skills on how to control the fundamental structure of the matter at its nanoscale. I want to design new products and systems with potential incidence in a variety of fields,” she explained.

 

Tasmia earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. During her time with the University, she worked as a research associate in the Plant Biotechnology laboratory for two years under the supervision of Dr. Zeba Islan Seraj. “This position allowed me to gain hands-on training in an academic reference environment. I worked on a promising halophyte Porteresia coarctata to develop salt tolerant rice varieties,” she explained.

 

Then she joined as a lecturer in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Jagannath University in 2017. One of her main responsibilities was to deliver lectures about challenging quantitative and biological concepts and to interact with students. She taught several courses, including Basic Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Plant Biochemistry, Plant Biotechnology, and Biostatistics. 

 

“I was also involved in arranging different outreach programs focusing on recent advancement in science. One of the outreach programs was to increase the knowledge of modern biotechnology and its related molecular tools among a mass group of students with the help of Farming Future Bangladesh affiliated with Cornell University and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation,” she said.

 

She also emphasized that her knowledge of bioinformatics allowed her to analyze a published transcriptome data – the information that indicates the full range of messenger RNA, or mRNA, molecules that are expressed by an organism. She chose to analyze the transcriptome data of P. coarctata – a relative of rice with a high salinity and submergence tolerance to identify Na+ transporters and understand the expression studies of these Na+ transporter genes under different salt stress (which is very detrimental to the plant).

 

“I also addressed the desalination ability and genetic diversity from other rice cultivars through marker-based analyses. I attempted wide hybridization between P. coarctata and Oryza sativa and successfully found two putative hybrids. I confirmed these two putative hybrids through physiological and molecular screening,” she explained. 

 

From the Lab to the Rest of the World

 

Tanjina also added that she’s looking at different applications of genome methodologies to study the molecular mechanism of DNA mutation in mycobacteria – a potential antitubercular drug target. She hopes that her research will provide a foundation to experiment with the mechanism that drives drug resistance and possibly open new possibilities to overcome antibiotic resistance. 

 

One such method is called Oligonucleotide Recombination – a unique tool to investigate the replication-coupled DNA mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism in living cells. In simplistic terms, DNA mismatch repair (MMR) recognizes and repairs erroneous insertion and deletion of bases that can arise during DNA replication and recombination. “The lack of canonical MMR pathway and components causes mycobacteria to become mutant strains and enhance the rate of DNA repair components and eventually produce drug resistance,” she said.

 

Tanjina also spoke about the issue of diseases that have the ability to evade traditional drugs and medicine. “Tuberculosis infection has persisted as a crucial cause of death regardless of the availability of drugs to cure it since the 1940s. It is a public health problem due to the enormous burden of disease and short-course chemotherapy (SCC),” she explained.

 

She told the Graduate School that 50% of reported cases of Tuberculosis occur every year in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan with Bangladesh ranked among one of the top 10 highest TB and MDR (multidrug resistant) burdened countries. The rate of TB in Bangladesh in 2018 was almost twice the global average. 

 

“Drug resistant TB has become a public health threat globally with about half a million new cases…The disease’s resurgence was worsened by the progression of drug resistance which arises from genetic mutation in the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes TB infection,” she said.

 

However, the molecular mechanism that causes mutation to occur in the bacteria is poorly understood. For Tanjina, her research aims to identify and characterize unique proteins that drive genetic mutation in mycobacteria. She wants to explore antibiotic resistance in Tuberculosis. As someone who was born in Bangladesh, she had been a firsthand witness to her people suffering from drug resistant tuberculosis. But drug resistant TB has become a global issue which requires an extensive research approach.

 

For both sisters, global threats to our health and well-being are consistent. For example, Tasmia discussed how soil salinity is a widespread problem, especially in Bangladesh. She explained that soil salinity is a major abiotic stress for all stages of rice production. 

 

“About 1.02 million hectares of coastal land of Bangladesh are affected by varying degrees of salinity. It is observed from the recent study that the salinity zone of the south and south-east region of Bangladesh is continuing to expand. In order to utilize the coastal area for rice cultivation, production of salt tolerant varieties has become a necessity,” she said.

 

There is a pressing need for innovative breeding technology to increase access to foods worldwide and improve higher agricultural production. She mentioned Precision Breeding Techniques (PBTs) as a technology that is used to develop new varieties more precisely and rapidly. 

 

“Since the twentieth century the field of plant physiology and molecular biology accelerated the development of new varieties that would probably not have been achieved by breeders using traditional selection alone. I believe that the research project of mine will give me a solid background to work in Precision Breeding at JSNN and allow me to learn new methods vigorously,” she explained.

 

For the farmers in Bangladesh, these techniques will help mitigate farming problems that require more traditional practices and improve agriculture in the country.

 

The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

 

Tanjina and Tasmia have both had an opportunity to work under the mentorship of UNCG Faculty member Dr. Eric A. Josephs. Tanjia told us that her advisor has been a great support system, and she is fascinated and awed by his work and achievements. 

 

“I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with him. I am encouraged by him every day and he is a strong support for all my lab mates. I cannot thank my advisor enough for the continuous support and care he has been providing me,” she said.

 

Similarly, Tasmia also extended her gratitude to Dr. Josephs as an extraordinary supervisor and person. 

 

“He has believed in me, guided me, and mentored me since I first joined the graduate program. He has been especially supportive of international graduate students like me, who must deal with the difficulty of being far from their families and homelands. I could not have dreamt of a better supervisor. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Josephs for his mentorship and support,” she said.

 

But they also expressed their gratitude to all of the faculty members at JSNN. For both sisters, another common theme emerged in which they spoke highly of the camaraderie in the department. Especially as students who are exploring their own choices and expertise.

 

They also commended the school’s facilities and resources as being of tremendous help during their time thus far in the program. The environment itself is conducive to their continued research and allows them to access a variety of tools. 

 

“This school has a diverse training process in different fields from nanoengineering to nanobiology. Graduate students get to learn from interdisciplinary sectors and work in collaboration with faculties,” Tanjina explained.

 

“The most important thing I like about JSNN is diversity inclusion. Officials and faculties are very helpful here which is beyond my imagination. Also, there are a wide range of opportunities for training and exploring new learning tools. JSNN is very student friendly,” Tasmia added.

 

Both sisters encouraged students interested in furthering their research studies to explore opportunities in the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. 

 

“I would like to inspire students to look into the nanoscience program at JSNN for their higher studies. This institution has outstanding faculties and many well-equipped laboratories. The mission of this school is to prepare students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds to conduct basic and advanced research in nanoscience in industrial, governmental, or academic settings,” Tasmia said.

 

“I would encourage students to look into this program and contact the faculties. JSNN has a great environment and mentors,” Tanjina said.

 

Lastly, the Graduate School asked Tanjina and Tasmia what it’s like to have siblings in the same program. Perhaps a future collaboration is in store somewhere down the road? 

 

“I feel extremely lucky to have my sister in the same program. I get any kind of help from her when I need it. If there is any opportunity, I will be happy to collaborate with her,” Tasmia said.

 

“I am happy to have my sister around me. I found JSNN a great place to pursue a graduate program, that is why I wanted to have her here as well. I believe that this program is a great fit for her as well. We are working in the same lab under Dr. Josephs, and I will look forward to collaborating with my sister in the near future if there is any opportunity,” Tanjina said.

 

Beyond Graduate School

 

Finally, the Graduate School inquired about their future plans after finishing their studies in the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. 

 

For Tanjina, a career in the health field is of the utmost importance: “I have a diverse background of clinical and preventive medicine. I want to work for a health organization involved in improving population health. I come from a developing country where people lack the proper health care system at the root level. I want to be part of a health organization where I can impart knowledge and skills to improve population health,” she explained.

 

Likewise, Tasmia spoke to a long and storied academic career. After UNCG, she would love more opportunities to continue her research. “I want to see myself as a successful academician with a strong research career and mentor of the youth of our country. I want to make contributions in education and research policy as well as make our females more inquisitive about science,” Tasmia said.

 

You can also check out some of Tasmia’s publications here:

 

•  Tasmia Islam, Sudip Biswas, Most Umme Habiba, R.H. Sarker, M. Sazzadur Rahman, M. Ansar Ali, K.M.S. Aziz, Zeba I. Seraj (2017); Characterization of Progenies from Intergeneric Hybridization Between Oryza sativa L. and Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka, Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology 27 (1): 63-76

 

•  Tokee M Tareq, M Sazzadur Rahman, Nurnabi A Jewel, Tasmia Islam, Hiroyuki Shimono, Zeba I Seraj; Relative Response of Indigenous Rice Genotypes to Low Versus Normal Planting Density for Determination of Differential Phenotypic Plasticity in Traits Related to Grain Yield; Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology, Vol.-28 No.-1, Page: 109-124, June, 2018, ISSN:1817-3721

 

•  Tasmia Islam, Sudip Biswas, Sabrina M. Elias, Sarah Sarker, Nurnabi A. Jewel, Farida Yasmin and Zeba I. Seraj; Altering Expression of Regulatory Genes for Enhancing Yields and Stress Tolerance in Rice; Bioresearch Communications, Vol.-5 Issue.-2, Page: 689-694, July, 2019, ISSN 2411-0485 (Print), ISSN 2411-0272 (Online)

 

•  Tasmia Islam; Phylogenetic Analysis of NHX1 Gene in Different Species of Plants Based on Coding Sequences; Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology 30 (2): 307-313, December 2020.

 

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