Dr Saima Shahid

School of Biosciences

Lecturer

Dr Saima Shahid
Profile picture of Dr Saima Shahid
saima.shahid@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 2224318

Full contact details

Dr Saima Shahid
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
91Ö±²¥
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2024 ‒ present: Lecturer, University of 91Ö±²¥, UK
  • 2022 ‒ 2024: Assistant professor, Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Oklahoma State University, USA
  • 2019 ‒ 2022: Simons Fellow for the Life Sciences Research Foundation, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, USA
  • 2018 ‒ 2022: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, USA
  • 2017‒ 2018: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept. of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, USA
  • 2017: PhD, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
  • 2010 – 2011: Bioinformatician, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute & University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 2009: MS, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 2008: BSc, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
     
Research interests

Mobile small RNAs in interspecies communication:
Small RNA-mediated gene silencing is a powerful mechanism conserved across diverse eukaryotes including plants, fungi, and animals. Emerging evidence suggests that small RNAs function not only within an organism but can also be trafficked to other interacting organisms where they regulate ‘non-self’ gene expression. Using the parasitic plant Cuscuta, we demonstrated for the first time the evidence of such interspecies regulatory small RNAs in plant - plant communication (Shahid et al., 2018, Nature). Our goal is to understand how interspecies small RNA trafficking influences diverse host – parasite/symbiont interactions, and develop RNA-based solutions for improved parasite resistance in crops.

De novo chromatin modification and epigenetic memory in plant parasitism:
Genomes harbour many hidden regulatory elements that can influence gene expression and reshape genome structure. These include transposable elements (TEs) which are ubiquitous DNA fragments that can move within and across genomes, thereby causing structural variations/mutation. Host genomes usually repress TE activity through chromatin modifications and RNA silencing pathways. However, TEs often escape this silencing during biotic/abiotic stress and certain developmental transitions. We are interested in how TE activity and chromatin modifications shape host – parasite interactions, trigger epigenetic memory, and facilitate host/parasite adaptation.

We use bioinformatics, genomics, molecular and synthetic biology approaches to address the above research questions. For detailed information on current research projects and available positions, please visit the lab website: .
 

Publications

Journal articles

  • Liu P, Cuerda-Gil D, Shahid S & Slotkin RK (2022) . Annual Review of Genetics, 56(1), 63-87. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2022) . The Plant Cell, 34(5), 1429-1430. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2022) . The Plant Cell, 34(2), 710-711. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2021) . The Plant Cell, 33(4), 786-787. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2020) . The Plant Cell, 32(11), 3380-3381. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2020) . The Plant Cell, 32(9), 2665-2666. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yates-Stewart AD, Daron J, Wijeratne S, Shahid S, Edgington HA, Slotkin RK & Michel A (2020) . Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 121, 103363-103363. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2020) . The Plant Cell, 32(4), 808-809. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S & Slotkin RK (2020) . Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 54, 49-56. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S (2020) . The Plant Cell, 32(2), 289-290. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yang Z, Wafula EK, Kim G, Shahid S, McNeal JR, Ralph PE, Timilsena PR, Yu W-B, Kelly EA, Zhang H , Person TN et al (2019) . Nat Plants, 5(9), 991-1001. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Choudury SG, Shahid S, Cuerda-Gil D, Panda K, Cullen A, Ashraf Q, Sigman MJ, McCue AD & Slotkin RK (2019) . The Plant Cell, 31(4), 759-774. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S, Kim G, Johnson NR, Wafula E, Wang F, Coruh C, Bernal-Galeano V, Phifer T, dePamphilis CW, Westwood JH & Axtell MJ (2018) . Nature, 553(7686), 82-85. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Islam MS, Saito JA, Emdad EM, Ahmed B, Islam MM, Halim A, Hossen QMM, Hossain MZ, Ahmed R, Hossain MS , Kabir SMT et al (2017) . Nat Plants, 3, 16223. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S, Begum R, Razzaque S, Jesmin & Seraj ZI (2016) . Journal of Cereal Science, 71, 1-9. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Coruh C, Cho SH, Shahid S, Liu Q, Wierzbicki A & Axtell MJ (2015) . The Plant Cell, 27(8), 2148-2162. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kwok CK, Ding Y, Shahid S, Assmann SM & Bevilacqua PC (2015) . Biochemical Journal, 467(1), 91-102. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Coruh C, Shahid S & Axtell MJ (2014) . Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 18, 87-95. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S & Axtell MJ (2014) . Methods, 67(1), 20-27. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Albert VA, Barbazuk WB, dePamphilis CW, Der JP, Leebens-Mack J, Ma H, Palmer JD, Rounsley S, Sankoff D, Schuster SC , Soltis DE et al (2013) . Science, 342(6165). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Azad AKM, Shahid S, Noman N & Lee H (2011) . Algorithms for Molecular Biology, 6(1). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lisa LA, Elias SM, Rahman MS, Shahid S, Iwasaki T, Hasan AKMM, Kosuge K, Fukami Y & Seraj ZI (2011) . Functional Plant Biology, 38(4), 282-282. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shahid S, Elias SM, Biswas S & Seraj ZI (2010) . Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, 20(2), 211-223. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Seraj Z, Elias S, Shahid S, Haque T, Malo R & Shohan MUS (2022) , Bioinformatics in Agriculture (pp. 561-586). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
Research group
  • Megan Adler (PBEE MS student, Oklahoma State University)
Professional activities and memberships
  • 2023 - present: Reviewing Editor for the Frontiers in Plant Physiology journal
  • 2019 - 2021: Assistant Features Editor for The Plant Cell journal