Associate Professor Matloob Husain

Virologist
Co-Director, Biomedical Sciences Programme

Email matloob.husain@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 470 3420

BSc, University of Lucknow (India); MSc, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (India); PhD, IMTECH/Panjab University (India); Postdoc, National Institutes of Health (USA)

Year of appointment: 2011

Teaching roles

MICR 464 Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Convenor)
MICR 221 Microbes to Medicine
MICR 337 Virology
MICR 360 Research Perspectives
MELS 306 Medical Microbiology

Research interests

Virology (Influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2)

Current research

Influenza virus remains one of the most circulated viruses and flu remains one of the most common infectious diseases in humans, globally. This burden of influenza virus on global public health may even get worse with the co-circulation and co-infection of pandemic SARS-CoV-2. The identification of factors which govern influenza virus multiplication and determine flu severity in humans is critical to develop effective and tailored antiviral strategies. We have discovered that acetylation, an epigenetic protein modification, plays a critical role in influenza virus infection and may determine the severity of flu in humans.

Current research is focused on elucidating the role of acetylation machinery in influenza virus infection. We use human lung epithelial cells as the infection model of type A influenza virus. We manipulate the expression of genes which control acetylation by tools like RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas9 and then analyse the effect on influenza virus replication and pathogenesis and host innate immune response by RNA Sequencing, mass spectrometry, plaque assay, qRT-PCR, and western blotting.

PhD, MSc, and BSc Honours research projects are available in this space.

Contact me to discuss potential projects and visit University of Otago Graduate Research School website for information on admission and scholarships.

Email matloob.husain@otago.ac.nz

Visit the University of Otago Graduate Research School website

Husain Lab

Husain Lab group photo with Clocktower in background.

PhD students

Kartik Rawat profile Kartik Rawat
PhD student

Simran Lakhina photo Simran Lakhina
PhD student

Postgraduate students

Jessica Leong photo Jessica Leong

Wenlong An photo Wenlong An

Euan Fenwick profile Euan Fenwick

Lab Alumni

Dr Bennett Henzeler (PhD, 2024), Ludwig Maximilian University (Germany)
Reuben van Dalen (BSc Hons, 2022) - Medicine, University of Otago (NZ)
Dr Farjana Ahmed (PhD, 2021) - ESR, Wellington (NZ)
Dr Prashanth Thevkar Nagesh (PhD, 2017) - Harvard Medical School (USA)
Dr Henry David Galvin (PhD, 2019) - Logistics Industry, Wellington (NZ)
Dr Mazhar Hussain (PhD, 2020) - Senior Research Officer, Australian National University (Aus)
Dr Da-Yuan Chen (Postdoc, 2019) - Boston University School of Medicine (USA)
Ashley Nutsford (MSc, 2018) - University of Auckland (NZ)
Essie Van Zuylen (PGDipSci, 2016) - University of Canterbury (NZ)
Keanan Sylvester (PGDipSci, 2018) - Ministry of Primary Industries (NZ)

Funding

Past and present

Health Research Council
H S and J C Anderson Trust
Lottery Health Board
Maurice Wilkins Centre
Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust
School of Biomedical Sciences
University of Otago

Publications

An, W., Lakhina, S., Leong, J., Rawat, K., & Husain, M. (2024). Host innate antiviral response to influenza A virus infection: From viral sensing to antagonism and escape. Pathogens, 13, 561. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13070561 Journal - Research Other

Husain, M. (2024). Influenza virus host restriction factors: The ISGs and non-ISGs. Pathogens, 13, 127. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13020127 Journal - Research Other

Husain, M. (2024). Influenza A virus and acetylation: The picture is becoming clearer. Viruses, 16, 131. doi: 10.3390/v16010131 Journal - Research Other

Hussain, M., Ahmed, F., Henzeler, B., & Husain, M. (2023). Anti-microbial host factor HDAC6 is antagonised by the influenza A virus through host caspases and viral PA. FEBS Journal, 290(10), 2744-2759. doi: 10.1111/febs.16703 Journal - Research Article

Bennett Henzeler, L., Faya, N., & Husain, M. (2022). Class II HDACs, an antiviral toolbox in Influenza A virus infection. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Annual Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Other

Husain, M. (2024). Influenza virus host restriction factors: The ISGs and non-ISGs. Pathogens, 13, 127. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13020127

Husain, M. (2024). Influenza A virus and acetylation: The picture is becoming clearer. Viruses, 16, 131. doi: 10.3390/v16010131

2023

Journal - Research Article

2022

Journal - Research Article

Husain, M. (2022). Identifying caspases and their motifs that cleave proteins during influenza A virus infection. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 185, e64189. doi: 10.3791/64189

Ahmed, F., & Husain, M. (2022). Human N-alpha-acetyltransferase 60 promotes influenza A virus infection by dampening the interferon alpha signaling. Frontiers in Immunology, 12, 771792. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.771792

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Bennett Henzeler Esakialraj, L., Faya, N., & Husain, M. (2022, August). The anti-viral role of host class II histone deacetylases in influenza A virus infection. Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Ahmed, F., Kleffmann, T., & Husain, M. (2021). Acetylation, methylation and allysine modification profile of viral and host proteins during influenza A virus infection. Viruses, 13(7), 1415. doi: 10.3390/v13071415

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Henzeler, B., Faya, N., & Husain, M. (2021). Anti-IAV potential of HDAC10 is confounded by compensatory expression of rest of the class II HDACs. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 179). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org

2020

Journal - Research Article

Zanin, M., DeBeauchamp, J., Vangala, G., Webby, R. J., & Husain, M. (2020). Histone deacetylase 6 knockout mice exhibit higher susceptibility to influenza A virus infection. Viruses, 12(7), 728. doi: 10.3390/v12070728

Chen, D.-Y., & Husain, M. (2020). Caspase-mediated cleavage of human cortactin during influenza A virus infection occurs in its actin-binding domains and is associated with released virus titres. Viruses, 12(1), 87. doi: 10.3390/v12010087

Lamichhane, R., Galvin, H., Hannaway, R. F., de la Harpe, S. M., Munro, F., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., McCall, J. L., Husain, M., & Ussher, J. E. (2020). Type I interferons are important co-stimulatory signals during T cell receptor mediated human MAIT cell activation. European Journal of Immunology, 50, 178-191. doi: 10.1002/eji.201948279

Journal - Research Other

Husain, M. (2020). Host factors involved in influenza virus infection. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 4, 401-410. doi: 10.1042/etls20200232

2019

Journal - Research Article

Galvin, H. D., & Husain, M. (2019). Influenza A virus-induced host caspase and viral PA-X antagonise the antiviral host factor, histone deacetylase 4. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(52), 20207-20221. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.010650

Nutsford, A. N., Galvin, H. D., Ahmed, F., & Husain, M. (2019). The class IV human deacetylase, HDAC11, exhibits anti-influenza A virus properties via its involvement in host innate antiviral response. Cellular Microbiology, 21, e12989. doi: 10.1111/cmi.12989

2018

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Ahmed, F., & Husain, M. (2018). The acetylation of Influenza A virus proteins. Proceedings of the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) Joint Annual Conference: Microbes & Molecules. (pp. 89). Retrieved from https://www.nzmsconference.org.nz

Chen, D.-Y., & Husain, M. (2018). The mechanism and significance of the degradation of human cortactin during influenza virus infection. Proceedings of the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) Joint Annual Conference: Microbes & Molecules. (pp. 73-74). Retrieved from https://www.nzmsconference.org.nz

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Chen, D., & Husain, M. (2018, August). The mechanism and significance of the degradation of human cortactin during influenza virus infection. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Hussain, M., & Husain, M. (2018, August). Sequential cleavage of antiviral host factor, histone deacetylase 6 is caused by lysosome-associated caspases in influenza A virus infected cells. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Nutsford, A. N., Galvin, H. D., & Husain, M. (2018, August). Antiviral properties of class IV human deacetylase, HDAC11 during influenza A virus infection. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Nagesh, P. T., Hussain, M., Galvin, H. D., & Husain, M. (2017). Histone deacetylase 2 is a component of influenza a virus-induced host antiviral response. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 1315. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01315

Hussain, M., Galvin, H. D., Nutsford, A. N., & Husain, M. (2017). Drug resistance in influenza A virus: The epidemiology and management. Infection & Drug Resistance, 10, 121-134. doi: 10.2147/idr.s105473

Barman, S., Krylov, P. S., Turner, J. C., Franks, J., Webster, R. G., Husain, M., & Webby, R. J. (2017). Manipulation of neuraminidase packaging signals and hemagglutinin residues improves the growth of A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) influenza vaccine virus yield in eggs. Vaccine, 35(10), 1424-1430. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.01.061

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Hussain, M., & Husain, M. (2017). Lysosome-associated apoptotic pathway mediates the cleave of antiviral host factor HDAC6 in influenza virus inflected cells. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 34-35). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research/scholarships/otago643219.html

Husain, M. (2017). The redundancy in anti-influenza viral mechanism and antagonism of host histone deacetylase ‘twins’. Proceedings of the 9th Australasian Virology Society Meeting. #127. [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Husain, M. (2017, September). The restriction of influenza A virus by host: A new player in the game. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2016

Journal - Research Article

Chen, D.-Y., & Husain, M. (2016). Caspase-mediated degradation of host cortactin that promotes influenza A virus infection in epithelial cells. Virology, 497, 146-156. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.07.017

Nagesh, P. T., & Husain, M. (2016). Influenza A virus dysregulates host histone deacetylase 1 that inhibits viral infection in lung epithelial cells. Journal of Virology, 90(9), 4614-4625. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00126-16

Journal - Research Other

Husain, M., Gray, A., & Carlos Torr, R. (2016). The awareness and uptake of free flu vaccination offered to University of Otago staff. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1443), 92-93. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Hussain, M., & Husain, M. (2016, August-September). Influenza A virus downregulates the expression and induces proteolytic cleavage of antiviral host factor histone deacetylase 6. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Galvin, H., & Husain, M. (2016, November). Identifying the role of host histone deacetylase 4 in influenza A virus infection. Verbal presentation at the Joint Meeting of the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) and the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB), Christchurch, New Zealand.

Hussain, M., & Husain, M. (2016, November). Lysosome-associated apoptotic pathway mediates the cleavage of antiviral host factor HDAC6 in influenza virus infected cells. Verbal presentation at the Joint Meeting of the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) and the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB), Christchurch, New Zealand.

Husain, M., & Chen, D.-Y. (2016, November). Host cortactin promotes influenza virus infection, but undergoes degradation by lysosome-associated apoptotic pathway during late infection. Verbal presentation at the Joint Meeting of the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) and the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB), Christchurch, New Zealand.

Nagesh, P. T., & Husain, M. (2016, August-September). Histone deacetylase 1 is an important component of host innate antiviral response against influenza A virus. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

Husain, M., & Chen, D. (2016, August-September). Host actin filament-stabilising protein, cortactin promotes influenza virus infection, but undergoes caspase-mediated degradation in epithelial cells. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Poonthiyil, V., Nagesh, P. T., Husain, M., Golovko, V. B., & Fairbanks, A. J. (2015). Gold nanoparticles decorated with sialic acid terminated bi-antennary N-glycans for the detection of influenza virus at nanomolar concentrations. ChemistryOpen, 4(6), 708-716. doi: 10.1002/open.201500109

Zaraket, H., Baranovich, T., Kaplan, B. S., Carter, R., Song, M.-S., Paulson, J. C., … Husain, M., … Webby, R. J. (2015). Mammalian adaptation of influenza A(H7N9) virus is limited by a narrow genetic bottleneck. Nature Communications, 6, 6553. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7553

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Poonthiyil, V., Nagesh, P. T., Husain, M., Golovko, V. B., & Fairbanks, A. J. (2015). Gold nanoparticles decorated with sialic acid terminated bi-antennary N-glycans for the detection of influenza virus at nanomolar concentrations [Cover picture]. ChemistryOpen, 4(6), 661. doi: 10.1002/open.201500183

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Webby, R., DeBeauchamp, J., Galvin, H., Zanin, M., Nagesh, P. T., & Husain, M. (2015). The class I and class II histone deacetylases are novel anti-influenza virus host factors. Proceedings of the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) 60th Conference. (pp. 40). Retrieved from http://www.nzmsconference.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Nagesh, P. T., & Husain, M. (2015, August-September). Influenza A virus dysregulates host histone deacetylase 1 to efficiently replicate. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Zanin, M., DeBeauchamp, J., Webby, R. J., & Husain, M. (2015, August-September). The pathogenesis of influenza A virus in histone deacetylase 6-knockout mice. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2014

Journal - Research Article

Husain, M. (2014). Avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection in humans: Epidemiology, evolution, and pathogenesis. Infection, Genetics & Evolution, 28, 304-312. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.10.016

Husain, M., & Cheung, C.-Y. (2014). Histone deacetylase 6 inhibits influenza A virus release by downregulating the trafficking of viral components to the plasma membrane via its substrate, acetylated microtubules. Journal of Virology, 88(19), 11229-11239. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00727-14

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Husain, M. (2014, June). Histone deacetylase 6 is a novel host restriction factor of influenza A virus. Poster session presented at the 33rd American Society for Virology Annual Meeting, Fort Collins, USA.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Singh, S. P., Gundavarapu, S., Smith, K. R., Chand, H. S., Saeed, A. I., Mishra, N. C., … Husain, M., … Sopori, M. L. (2013). Gestational exposure of mice to secondhand cigarette smoke causes bronchopulmonary dysplasia blocked by the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamin. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(8), 957-964. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1306611

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Husain, M., & Cheung, C.-Y. (2013). Human histone deacetylase 6 negatively regulates the influenza A virus replication. Proceedings of the Australasian Virology Society (AVS) Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.avs.org.au/scientific-program/

2012

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Husain, M., & Cheung, C.-Y. (2012, November). Human histone deacetylase: A family of novel host factors that regulate influenza virus pathogenesis. Verbal presentation at the 57th New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2011

Journal - Research Article

Husain, M., & Harrod, K. S. (2011). Enhanced acetylation of alpha-tubulin in influenza A virus infected epithelial cells. FEBS Letters, 585(1), 128-132. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.11.023

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Husain, M. (2011, September). Influenza A virus induces the acetylation of host microtubules to promote polarized trafficking of viral components. Verbal presentation at the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) Congress: The Unlimited World of Microbes, Sapporo, Japan.

Husain, M. (2011, December). Modulation of the post-translational modifications of host microtubules during influenza A virus infection. Verbal presentation at the 6th Australasian Virology Society (AVS) Meeting, Kingscliff, Australia.

2010

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Husain, M., & Harrod, K. S. (2010). Rho GTPase is involved in the enhanced acetylation of tubulin in influenza A virus-infected epithelial cells. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 181, A2638. [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Husain, M., & Harrod, K. (2010, December). Post-translationally modified microtubules are potentially involved in the polarized transport of influenza A virus components. Poster session presented at the Cell Symposia: Influenza: Translating Basic Insight, Washington D.C.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Husain, M., & Harrod, K. S. (2009). Influenza A virus-induced caspase-3 cleaves the histone deacetylase 6 in infected epithelial cells. FEBS Letters, 583(15), 2517-2520. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.07.005

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Husain, M., & Harrod, K. S. (2009). Influenza A virus modulates the apical and cytoplasmic microtubule networks in airway epithelial cells. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 179, A1226. [Abstract]

2007

Journal - Research Article

Husain, M., Weisberg, A. S., & Moss, B. (2007). Sequence-independent targeting of transmembrane proteins synthesized within vaccinia virus factories to nascent viral membranes. Journal of Virology, 81(6), 2646-2655. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02631-06

Husain, M., Weisberg, A. S., & Moss, B. (2007). Resistance of a vaccinia virus A34R deletion mutant to spontaneous rupture of the outer membrane of progeny virions on the surface of infected cells. Virology, 366(2), 424-432. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.05.015

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Husain, M., & Moss, B. (2007, July). Poxvirus primary membrane proteins follow a default pathway from endoplasmic reticulum to nascent viral membrane. Verbal presentation at the 26th American Society for Virology Annual Meeting, Corvallis, Oregon.

2006

Journal - Research Article

Husain, M., Weisberg, A. S., & Moss, B. (2006). Existence of an operative pathway from the endoplasmic reticulum to the immature poxvirus membrane. PNAS, 103(51), 19506-19511. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0609406103

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Husain, M., Weisberg, A., & Moss, B. (2006, June). Trafficking of vaccinia virus membrane proteins. Verbal presentation at the FASEB Summer Research Conferences: Poxviruses, Indian Wells, California.