Bangladesh Maritime University

Department of Genetic Engineering and Marine Biotechnology

Welcome to the Department of Genetic Engineering and Marine Biotechnology at the Bangladesh Maritime University (BMU).

Genetic engineering and Marine Biotechnology is a rapidly growing science and has already shown its impact on different aspects of day-to-day human life such as public health, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, industry, bioenergetics and information technology. Now it is very clear that biotechnology will be a key technology for the 21st century and the science of the future. It has the potential to ensure food security, dramatically reduce hunger and malnutrition, and reduce rural poverty, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh. With the vision of making skilful researchers and entrepreneurs, the department of Genetic engineering and Marine Biotechnology has been established in BMU. Currently, this department is offering Masters in Marine Biotechnology programme as a specialized post-graduate course. The department aims to open an undergraduate programme within 2021. At BMU, the Genetic engineering and Marine Biotechnology Department is being run under the Faculty of Earth and Ocean Science (FEOS).

Marine Biotechnology Lab:

We have a modern and world-class lab facility in our Marine Biotechnology lab. Students are able to conduct their MS thesis work by using the current lab facilities. We have many sophisticated equipment like PCR, Real-time PCR, DNA gel electrophoresis & Gel-doc systems, double beam UV spectrophotometer, colorimeter, modern pH measurement system, sophisticated microscopes, automated water-bath, shaking incubator, laminar air-flow cabinets, fume-hood, plethysmometer, refrigerated-centrifuge machine, automated cooling homogenizer, Nano-drop machine and some other relevant equipment to support the molecular-based research in genetic engineering. To further improve and upgrade our lab facility we are going to establish an animal house to conduct in vivo study, and also a human and animal cell culture laboratory to satisfy our research with the international scientific grade. So that, our students will get world-class research facilities from our department.

Current Research:

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Marine Bioactive Compounds from Sea Weeds (isolated from The Bay of Bengal) and screening of their pharmacological effect in murine model and microbes.

Project director (PD): Dr. Mohammad Nazir Hossain.

Associate project director (APD): Dr. Md. Morshedul Alam.

Funding source: University Grants Commission (UGC)

1.         Natsuki Yamada, Kensuke Miki, Yoko Yamahuchi, Yuki Takuji, Yoshimi Yamakami, Mohammad Nazir Hossain, Dai Ayusawa, Michihiko Fujii (2020). “Extract of Plumbago zeylanica enhances the growth of hair follicle dermal papilla cells with down‐regulation of 5α‐reductase type II”. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; 00:1-8. (Impact factor: 1.311)

2.         Tasnuva Ferdous, Prativa and Mohammad Nazir Hossain* (2020). “A review on traditional medicinal plants used to treat gynaecological disorder in Bangladesh”. Bioresearch Communications (BRC); 6(1): 844-858.

3.         Tasnuva Ferdous, Sanzida Shuchi, Asma Begum, Md Shohag Hossen and Mohammad Nazir Hossain* (2020). “Mobile phone using pattern and the perception amongst university students in Dhaka city”. Bioresearch Communications (BRC); 6 (1): 872-881.

Manuscripts under review:

1.         Tamim Ahsan, Toufiqul Islam, Md. Abdul Alim, Md. Farzanoor Rahman, Mohammad Nazir Hossain* and Md. Morshedul Alam*. “Potential cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity screening of marine seaweed, Halimeda opuntia”.

2.         Toufiqul Islam, Tamim Ahsan, Md. Farzanoor Rahman Md. Abdul Alim, Mohammad Nazir Hossain* and Md. Morshedul Alam*. “Phytochemical screening and evaluation of potential cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of Cladophoropsis sp., a marine seaweed”.

3.         Md. Abdul Alim, Tamim Ahsan, Md. Farzanoor Rahman, Toufiqul Islam, Md. Morshedul Alam* and Mohammad Nazir Hossain*. “Phytochemical screening of marine seaweed, Rosenvingae and investigation of its antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity”.

4.         Md. Farzanoor Rahman, Tamim Ahsan, Md. Abdul Alim, Toufiqul Islam, Md. Morshedul Alam* and Mohammad Nazir Hossain*. “Phytochemical screening and evaluation of cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the marine seaweed Padina gymnospora”.

5.         Md. Mostofa Shakil, Md. Abu Jubayer Hossain, Mohammad Abu Sayem Karal, Md. Zohurul Islam, Md. Sadrul Hasan Chowdhury, Md. Anwarul Haque* and Md. Morshedul Alam*. “Antibacterial drugs-induced killing of bacteria dependent on their target site of action”.

6.         Mohammad Nazir Hossain*. “Oncoprotective role of Ayurvedic herbs and their contained phytochemicals in cancer therapy”.

Abstract/Poster in international scientific conferences:

Md. Morshedul Alam, Hiroki Sekine, Hozumi Motohashi (2019). “Selenophosphate synthetase 1 stabilizes NRF2 and regulates its antioxidant response pathway”. 85^th Japan Biochemical Society Tohoku Branch Annual Meeting, Tohoku University Seiryo Auditorium, Sendai, Japan, 2019.06.08-09.

Collaboration:

International collaborations:

•     Tohoku University, Japan
•     Yokohama City University, Japan
•     Wonkwang University, Republic of Korea
•     Jeju National University, Republic of Korea
•     King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
•     Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar
•   Monash University, Malaysia.

Domestic collaborations:

•     University of Dhaka
•     Jahangirnagar University
•     University of Chittagong
•     Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)
•     Bangladesh University of Health Science (BUHS)
•     National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB)
•     ICDDR’B
•     Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
•   Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI)