Sumayyah Muhammad Qasim Ahmad

Sumayyah Muhammad Qasim Ahmad

JRF-ICMR
  • MSc (Area): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • sumayyahmqa12@gmail.com

Profile

I have completed MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Central University of Kerala and BSc in Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Zoology (St. Aloysius College-Autonomous, Mangalore). During bachelor’s degree, I worked on a project titled “Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Analysis of Cyanthillium cinereum H.Rob, Moringa oleifera Lam. and Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L Extracts” and my master’s thesis work was on Triclosan Upregulates TGFβ3 in MCF-7 cell line”. After completion of masters, I have joined in Yenepoya Research Centre as a Ph.D. Scholar and currently working on the project “Development towards early detection of cervical cancer”.

Awards/ Honors

  • Rashtrapati Award in Bharat Scouts and Guides

 

 

 

Research

 

Research Interest/Area

Cervical cancer, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunocytochemistry

Research

Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of cervix which is caused mostly by Human papillomavirus, a DNA tumor virus which act as HPV mediated carcinogenesis leading to cell proliferation and malignant progression called cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN). These cell modifications can be classified as low grade precursor lesions (CIN 1) and high grade lesions (CIN 2 and CIN 3). Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease which can be treated if diagnosed at early stages. Routine screening involves Papanicolau (PAP) Test and Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or Lugol’s solution. Since these tests include staining methods, its accuracy varies and the cytology based assay have some of the drawbacks of low sensitivity, inadequate collection, sample preparation errors, and the possibility of inaccurate microscopic examination. So we will be looking for biomarkers which will be sensitive and specific for early detection of cervical cancer and correlate with its staging.

Publications

  1. Das SP, Ahmed SMQ, Naik B, Laha S, Bejai V. The human fungal pathogen Malassezia and its role in cancer. Fungal Biology Reviews. 2021 Dec 1;38:9–24.
  2. Naik B, Ahmed SMQ, Laha S, Das SP. Genetic Susceptibility to Fungal Infections and Links to Human Ancestry. Frontiers in Genetics. 2021;12:1417.