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Supervisor: Prof Mark Willcox

Co-Supervisor: Prof Fiona Stapleton

Research

Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, a transparent and dome-like structure located at the front of the eye, covering both the pupil and iris. Keratitis is a potentially sight-threatening condition which can cause blindness if left untreated. Microbial keratitis (MK) can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites; however, bacteria are the most common cause of MK responsible for 55% to 92% cases. Many bacteria can cause MK, among them, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most frequently isolated ones & its prevalence ranges from 6.8% to 55%.

P. aeruginosa keratitis is characterized by ocular pain, infiltration of inflammatory cells, stromal destruction, and in inappropriately treated, corneal perforation, and potential vision loss. The pathogenesis of keratitis caused by P. aeruginosa is a complex process involving various virulence factors. These factors include type IV pili, flagella, proteases, and exotoxins. Among these factors, exotoxins exoU and exoS, belonging to the type III secretion system (T3SS), have been identified as significant contributors to keratitis pathogenesis. P. aeruginosa strains expressing the exoS (invasive strains) invade epithelial cells, while strains with the exoU (cytotoxic strains) gene (a potent phospholipase) kill host cells.

In contact lens-related corneal infections, exoU strains predominant over the exoS strains. In addition, exoU strains have been found to cause more severe infections than exoS strains. This might be attributed to exoU strains being more resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics and expressing different virulence factors during the disease process. Besides keratitis, P. aeruginosa is also responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs), the second most common type of infections in the body, affecting millions of people each year. Catheterization of the urinary tract makes the host susceptible to these infections.

Comparative studies on antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors of P. aeruginosa isolates from keratitis and UTIs have not been conducted and may add to the understanding of the disease pathophysiology. Therefore, my study aims to compare the prevalence rate of exoU and exoS P. aeruginosa in keratitis, their antimicrobial resistance and possession of virulence factors from Bangladesh, India, and Australia and compare these keratitis isolates with UTIs isolates from Bangladesh.

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Biography

Tanzina Akter is a current PhD student at UNSW. She received her B.Sc. & M.Sc. Degree in Microbiology in 2012 and 2013 respectively from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. After M.Sc., She worked as a Lecturer at Primeasia University (PAU), Bangladesh and she has been working as a Scientific Officer at National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB), Bangladesh from 2016.

She has vast experience in Clinical & Environmental Microbiology and successfully supervised many undergraduate & postgraduate students at PAU & NIB. She got several research grants as a researcher and has appeared in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. She also serves as a reviewer for various peer-reviewed journals.

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Education

PhD at University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney (September 2022 to current)

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Microbiology at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh (2013)

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Microbiology at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh (2012)��

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Conference Abstracts

1.����Tanzina Akter, Sanzida Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin and Md. Salimullah. Morphological and Molecular Identification of Biosurfactant Producing Brevibacillus gelatine from Hydrocarbon Contaminated�� ��Soil.�� ��Conference:�� ��10^th�� ��AFOB�� ��Regional Symposium- (ARS) 2018, organized by AFOB and Department of Microbiology at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on January 27-29, 2018. (Awarded as the best poster in Environmental Biotechnology Category)��

2.����Tanzina Akter, Shakaout Hossain, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das, Md. Abu Bin Hasan Susan and Md. Salimullah.^. Screening and Molecular Based Characterization of Biosurfactants Producing Bacteria from Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil Sample. Conference: “ASM Microbe 2020 Virtual Symposium” organized by American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Chicago, Illinois, USA on June 18-22, 2020.

3.����Tanzina Akter, Mahbuba Akter Lubna and Mohammad Jakir Hossain. Escherichia coli Isolated from Patients Suspected for Urinary Tract Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh. Conference: 30^th Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), organized by BSM and Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh on April 29, 2017.

4.���������� Tanzina Akter, Zahid Hayat Mahmud, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Mohammad Hasibur Rahman, Mohammad Anowar Khasru Parvez, and Mohammad Sirajul Islam. Comparative study on the survival of altered and hybrid Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variants in association with Anabaena variabilis. Conference: 30^th Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), organized by BSM and Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh on April 29, 2017.

5.���������� Tanzina Akter, Kaniz Fatema, Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Shamsun Nahar and Md. Anowar Khasru Parvez. Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of pathogens isolated from patients of ventilator associated pneumonia in intensive care unit. Conference: 31^st Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), organized by BSM and Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh on March 10, 2018.

6.���������� Tanzina Akter, Kaniz Fatema, Md. Anowar Khasru Parvez, Shamsun Nahar, Tasmia Farzana, Mohammad Jakir Hossain and Md Sumon Khan. Antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli from urine samples of urinary tract infected patients in Bangladesh.���� Conference: 31^st Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), organized by BSM and Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh on March 10, 2018.

7.���������� Tasmia Farzana, Tanzina Akter and Mahmudul Haque. Prevalence of Salmonellosis in Pediatric Patients from a Tertiary Clinic in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Conference: 10^th AFOB Regional Symposium- (ARS) 2018, organized by AFOB and Department of Microbiology at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on January 27-29, 2018.

8.���������� Mohammad Jakir Hossain, Tanzina Akter, Md Sumon Khan, Hasan Al Monem, Tasmia Farzana, Md. Anowar Khasru Parvez, and Shamsun Nahar. Analysis of prevalence and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae from sputum sample of a tertiary care hospital. Conference: 10^th AFOB Regional Symposium- (ARS) 2018, organized by AFOB and Department of Microbiology at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on January 27-29, 2018.

9.���������� Mohammad Jakir Hossain and Tanzina Akter. Determination of Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Blood Samples. Conference: 30^th Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), organized by BSM and Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh on April 29, 2017.��

10.�� Shamsun Nahar, Bibi Ayesha Dhalia, Tanzina Akter, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Screening of phosphate solubilization by diazotrophic bacteria isolated from rhizhospheric soil. Conference: 33^rd Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM) organized by BSM and Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 26, 2019.

11.�� Tanzina Akter, Shiful Islam, Shamsun Nahar, Md Abu Sayem Khan, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Screening, optimization and molecular based characterization of extracellular pectinase enzyme producing Klebsiella aerogenes from soil samples. Conference:4^th Young Scientist Congress organized by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences at National Museum of Science and Technology Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on December 13-15, 2019.

12.�� Shamsun Nahar, Md. Shahinul Yeamin, Bibi Ayesha Dhalia, Tanzina Akter, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Screening and molecular identification of phosphate solubilizing bacteria for their plant growth promoting activities. Conference:4^th Young Scientist Congress organized by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences at National Museum of Science and Technology Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on December 13-15, 2019.

13.�� Md. Abu Sayem Khan, Afroza Akter, Shamsun Nahar, Tanzina Akter, Md. Salimullah, and Shamima Akhtar Sharmin. Detoxification of hexavalent chromium by potential chromate reducing bacteria isolated from tannery dump. Conference:4^th Young Scientist Congress organized by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences at National Museum of Science and Technology Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on December 13-15, 2019.

14.�� Tanzina Akter, Shakaout Hossain, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Characterization of petroleum degrading and biosurfactant producing bacteria from hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Conference: CESSD 2019 organized by Conference on ��environmental solutions for sustainable development: towards developed Bangladesh at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, and CIRDAP, Chameli House, 17 Topkhana Road, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on November 27-28, 2019.

15.�� Tanzina Akter, Shiful Islam, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Isolation, determination and growth optimization of pectin degrading and pectinase enzyme producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa from rotten vegetables samples. Conference: CESSD 2019 organized by Conference on environmental solutions for sustainable development: towards developed Bangladesh at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, and CIRDAP, Chameli House, 17 Topkhana Road, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on November 27-28, 2019.

16.�� Shamsun Nahar, Md. Shahinul Yeamin, Tanzina Akter, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Co-relation of Indole Acetic Acid production with nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization of some diazotrophic bacteria. Conference: 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019 organized by Global networks of Bangladeshi biotechnologists (GNOBB) and 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019 at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on November 11-13, 2019.

17.�� Tanzina Akter, Shakaout Hossain, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Screening and molecular characterization of biosurfactant producing and diesel degrading bacteria from hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Conference: 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019 organized by Global networks of Bangladeshi biotechnologists (GNOBB) and 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019 at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on November 11-13, 2019.

18.�� Tanzina Akter, Shiful Islam, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Isolation and molecular based identification of pectinase enzyme producing Bacillus flexus from soil samples. Conference: 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019 organized by Global networks of Bangladeshi biotechnologists (GNOBB) and 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019 at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh on November 11-13, 2019.

19.�� Shamsun Nahar, Md. Shahinul Yeamin, Bibi Ayesha Dhalia, Tanzina Akter, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Corelation of phosphate solubilizing activity of bacteria along with P^H change for production of biofertilizer. Conference: International Conference ��������on Advancement of Life�� Sciences 2019,�� organized by Mawlana������ ��Bhashani Science and Technology University, Bangladesh on April 5-6, 2019.

20.�� Tanzina Akter, Shah Rucksana, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akthar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md. Salimullah. Isolation and molecular characterization of pectinase enzyme producing Enterobacter hormaechei from rotten vegetables samples. Conference: International Conference on Advancement of Life Sciences 2019, organized by Mawlana�������� ��Bhashani Science and Technology University, Bangladesh on April 5-6, 2019.

21.�� Bibi Ayesha Dhalia, Shamsun Nahar, Tanzina Akter, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Screening of phosphate solubilizing capacity of some nitrogen fixing bacteria isolated from rice root and root associated soil. Conference: 6^th International Conference on Natural Science and Technology (ICNST'19), organized by Asian University for Women (AUW), Chittagong, Bangladesh on March 29-30, 2019.

22.�� Tanzina Akter, Shiful Islam, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Screening and molecular characterization of pectinase enzyme producing Enterobacter cloacae from rotten fruits samples. Conference: 6^th International Conference on Natural Science and Technology (ICNST'19), organized by Asian University for Women (AUW), Chittagong, Bangladesh on March 29-30, 2019.

23.�� Tanzina Akter, Shakaout Hossain, Shamsun Nahar, Shamima Akhtar Sharmin, Keshob Chandra Das and Md Salimullah. Isolation and molecular characterization of biosurfactant producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa from hydrocarbon contaminated soil samples. Conference: 6^th International Conference on Natural Science and Technology (ICNST'19), organized by Asian University for Women (AUW), Chittagong, Bangladesh on March 29-30, 2019.

24.��Tanzina Akter, Md. Mahaddes Ali, Kaniz Fatema, Shiful Islam, Maruf Abony, Mahbuba Akter Lubna, Fiona Stapleton and Mark Willcox. Detection of blaSHV, blaTEM,blaCTX-M and blaOXA genes and determination of their correlation of biofilm production in ESBL producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from Bangladesh. Conference: 11^st Annual Conference of International Chemical Biology Society (ICBS) organized by ICBS at Brisbane, Australia on December 3-7, 2022.

Affilations and memberships

1.���������� February 2015 to June 2016-Faculty Member (Lecturer), Department of Microbiology, Primeasia University (PAU), Banani, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh.

2.���������� From June 2016 to till date- Scientific Officer, National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB), Dhaka-1349, Bangladesh.

3.������������American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

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Conference Presentations

1.�������� 30^th Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), Bangladesh (2017).

2.�������� 10^th�� ��AFOB�� ��Regional Symposium- (ARS) 2018, Bangladesh (2018).

3.�������� 31^st Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), Bangladesh (2018).

4.�������� 33^rd Annual Conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), Bangladesh (2019).

5.�������� 4^th Young Scientist Congress, Bangladesh (2019).

6.�������� CESSD 2019- Conference on ��������������������������������������environmental solutions for sustainable development: towards developed Bangladesh, Bangladesh (2019).

7.�������� 4^th IPFS-ICBHA 2019, Bangladesh (2019).

8.�������� ASM Microbe 2020 Virtual Symposium, Illinois, USA (2020).

9.�� ��11^st Annual Conference of International Chemical Biology Society (ICBS), Australia (2022).