Dr. Nariman Shahhosseini

Research Scientist

1- Head of Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases

2- Chair of Animal Care Committee

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Lethbridge

Current research and/or projects

His research focuses on novel/emerging zoonotic viruses, as well as arboviruses and associated vectors.

Research and/or project statements

Project I: Vector-host interaction modeling of biting midges in Canada
Project II: Surveillance on biting midge-borne viruses in Canada with emphasis on Bluetongue virus
Project III: Climate change & projecting future high risk areas for Bluetongue virus in Canada

Project IV: Biotyping of Culex pipiens complex specimens in Canada

Project V: Emerging tick-borne viruses in Canada

Project VI: Genetic characterization of novel/emerging bat-borne viruses in Canada

Project VII: Genotyping of equine infectious anemia virus in Canada

Professional activities / interests

He integrates virological, entomological and bioinformatics (e.g. state-of-art metagenomics) approaches to better understand virus/vector ecology, and predict spillover events into humans in order to prevent future outbreaks.

Education and awards

1. 2014-2017; Philosophy of Degree (PhD), Hamburg University, Department of Biology, Hamburg, Germany.

2. 2008-2011; Master of Science (M.Sc), Biology-Microbiology, Azad University of Lahijan, Iran.

3. 2003-2008; Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Cell and Molecular Biology (Microbiology), Azad University of Lahijan, Iran.

International experience and/or work

Due to his recognition in the field of Vector-Borne Diseases, he was invited by WHO as a speaker in an international meeting on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever held in Robert Koch Institute in Germany in 2015. In addition, he was an invited speaker at a GREZOSP meeting at University of Montreal in 2020, and 6th Euro-Global Conference on Infectious Diseases in Paris in 2017.

In addition, he was invited to lead a special issue on “Novel Vector-Borne Virus Discovery” as an editor for Microorganisms (MDPI) (2021-present), and he is the editorial board of Journal of Tropical Medicine and Health (2018-present), and Herbal Medicine Journal (2017-present).

He served as reviewer for grants for Canadian Institute of Health Research and Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as well as journals such as Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Zoonoses and Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Health, Eurosurveillance, The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygien, International Journal of Acarology, Iranian Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases of Poverty, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Virological Sinica, Virulence.

Key publications

2022; G. Babuadze, H. Fausther-Bovendo, M. deLaVega, B. Lillie, M. Naghibosadat, N. Shahhosseini, M. A. Joyce, H. A. Saffran, D. L. Tyrrell, D. Falzarano, C. Senthilkumaran, N. Christie-Holmes, S. Ahn, S. D. Gray-Owen, A. Banerjee, S. Mubareka, K. Mossman, C. Dupont, J. Pederson, M. A. Lafrance, G. P. Kobinger, R. Kozak. Two DNA vaccines protect against severe disease and pathology due to SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian hamsters. npj Vaccines. 2022. 7, 49. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-022-00461-5
2022; N. Shahhosseini*. Characterization of Mutations Modulating Enhanced Transmissibility of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Variant (B.1.617) Using In Silico Tools. Gene Reports. 2022. 101636. DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2022. 101636. Senior author.
2021; N. Shahhosseini*, G. Babuadze, G. Wong, G. P. Kobinger. Mutation Signatures and In Silico Docking of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Microorganisms. 2021. 9, 926. doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050926. Senior author.
2021; N. Shahhosseini*, G. Wong, G. P. Kobinger, S. Chinikar. SARS-CoV-2 spillover transmission due to recombination event. Gene Reports. 2021. 23. 101045. doi.org/10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101045. Senior author.
2021; N. Shahhosseini, G. Wong, G. Babuadze, J. V. Camp, O. Ergonul, G. P. Kobinger, S. Chinikar, N. Nowotny.. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in Asia, Africa, Europe. Microorganisms. 2021. 9, 1907. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/microorganisms9091907.
2021; N. Shahhosseini, C. Frederick, M-P. Letourneau-Montminy, B-B. Marie-Odile, G. P. Kobinger, G. Wong. Computational genomics of Torque teno sus virus and Porcine circovirus in swine samples from Canada. Research in Veterinary Science. 2021. 134: 171-180. DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.12.010.
2021; N. Shahhosseini*, C. Frederick, T. Racin, G. P. Kobinger, G. Wong. Modeling Host-Feeding Preference and Molecular Systematics of Mosquitoes in Different Ecological Niches in Canada. Acta Tropica. 2021. 213. 105734. doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105734. Senior author.
2020; N. Shahhosseini*, S. H. Moosa-Kazemi, M. M. Sedaghat, G. Wong, S. Chinikar, N. Nowotny, Z. Hajivand, H. Mokhayeri, M. H. Kayedi. Autochthonous transmission of West Nile virus by a new vector in Iran, vector-host interaction modeling, and virulence gene determinants. Viruses. 2020. 12, 1449; doi:10.3390/v12121449. Senior author.
2020; N. Shahhosseini, G. Wong, C. Frederick, G. P. Kobinger. Mosquito species composition and abundance in Quebec, eastern Canada. Journal of Medical Entomology. 2020. 57 (4):1025-31. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaa020.
2020; M.H. Kayedi, F. Sepahvand, E. Mostafavi, S. Chinikar, H. Mokhayeri, A. Chegheni Sharafi, G. Wong, N. Shahhosseini*, S. H. Moosa Kazemi. Ecology and fauna of Culicidae mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Lorestan province, western Iran. Heliyon. 2020. 6 (8): e04480. Senior author.
2018; N. Shahhosseini, J. Friedrich, S. H. Moosa-Kazemi, M. M. Sedaghat, M. H. Kayedi, E. Tannich, J. Schmidt-Chanasit, R. Lühken. Host-feeding patterns of Culex mosquitoes in Iran. Parasites & Vectors. 2018. 11: 669. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3237-2.
2018; N. Shahhosseini*, M. H. Kayedi, M. M. Sedaghat, T. Racine, G. P. Kobinger, S. H. Moosa-Kazemi. DNA barcodes coroborating identification of mosquito species and multiplex real-time PCR differentiating Culex pipiens complex and Culex torrentium in Iran. PLOSONE. 2018. 13 (11): e0207308. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207308. Senior author.
2018; F. Faghihi, Z. Telmadarraiy, S. Chinikar, N. Nowotny, A. R. Fooks, and N. Shahhosseini*. Spatial and Phylodynamic Survey on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Strains in Northeast of Iran. Jundishapur Journal Microbiol. 2018. 11 (3): e59412. Senior author.
2018; N. Shahhosseini, G.A. Azari-Garmjan, M. Khadem Rezaiyan, A. Haeri, N. Nowotny, A. R. Fooks, S. Chinikar, M. Youssefi. Factors Affecting Transmission of Crimean - Congo Hemorrhagic Fever among Slaughterhouse Employees: A Serosurvey in Mashhad, Iran. Jundishapur Journal Microbiol. 2018. 11 (3): e57980.
2017; N. Shahhosseini, R. Lühken, H. Jöst, S. Jansen, J. Börstler, T. Rieger, A. Krüger, A. Yadouleton, R. de Mendonça Campos, C. Cesar Cirne-Santos, D. Fernandes Ferreira, R. Garms, N. Becker, E. Tannich, D. Cadar, J. Schmidt-Chanasit. Detection and characterization of a novel rhabdovirus in Aedes cantans mosquitoes and evidence for a mosquito-associated new genus in the family Rhabdoviridae. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2017. 55: 260–268.
2017; N. Shahhosseini, S. Chinikar, S. H. Moosa-Kazemi, M. M. Sedaghat, M. Kayedi, R. Lühken, J. Schmidt-Chanasit. West Nile Virus lineage-2 in Culex specimens from Iran. Tropical Medicine & International Health. 2017. 22 (10): 1343–1349.
2017; E. Mostafavi, B. Pourhossein, S. Esmaeili, F. Bagheri Amiri, S. Khakifirouz, N. Shahhosseini, S.M. tabatabaei. Seroepidemiology and risk factors of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever among butchers and slaughterhouse workers in southeastern Iran. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2017. 64:85-89.
2017; N. Shahhosseini*, S. Chinikar, E. Shams, N. Nowotny and A. R. Fooks. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases in the North of Iran have three distinct origins. Journal of Virus Disease. 2017. 28: 50-53. Senior author.
2017; N. Shahhosseini, A. Jafarbekloo, Z. Telmadarraiy, S. Chinikar, A. Haeri, N. Nowotny, M. H Groschup, A. R. Fooks. Co-circulation of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus strains Asia 1 and 2 between the border of Iran and Pakistan. Heliyon. 2017. 3 (11): 439.
2017; M. M. Sedaghat, M. Sarani, S. Chinikar, Z. Telmadarraiy, A. S. Moghadam, K. Azam, N. Nowotny, M. H. Groschup, A. R. Fooks and N. Shahhosseini*. Vector prevalence and detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in Golestan Province, Iran. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases. 2017. 54 (4): 353-357. Senior author.
2016; F. Farhadpour, Z. Telmadarraiy, S. Chinikar, M. R. Fakoorziba, K. Akbarzadeh, M. J. Moemenbellah-Fard, T. Jalali, E. Mostafavi, D. Faghihi, N. Shahhosseini, M. Mohammadian. Molecular Detection of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks Collected From Infested Livestock Populations in a New Endemic Area, South of Iran. Tropical Medicine & International Health. 2016. 21: 340-347.
2016; P. Biglari, S. Chinikar, H. Belqeiszadeh, Z. Telmadarraiy, E. Mostafavi, M. Ghaffari, S. Javaherizadeh, N. Nowotny, A. R. Fooks and N. Shahhosseini*. Phylogeny of the tick-derived Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strains in Iran. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. 2016. 76: 1216-21. Senior author.
2016; N. Shahhosseini*, S. Chinikar, N. Nowotny, A. R. Fooks and J. Schmidt-Chanasit. Genetic analysis of imported dengue virus strains by Iranian travelers. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. 2016. 6: 850-853. Senior author.
2016; M. Champour, S. Chinikar, G. Mohammadi, G. Razmi, E. Mostafavi, N. Shahhosseini, S. Khakifirouz, T. Jalali. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in East and Northeast of Iran. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases. 2016. 10: 168-177.
2016; S. Chinikar, S. Bouzari, M. A. Shokrgozar, E. Mostafavi, T. Jalali, S. Shokrgozar, N. Nowotny, A. R. Fooks and N. Shahhosseini. Genetic diversity of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus strains from Iran. Journal of Arthropod- Borne Diseases. 2016. 10: 127-140. Senior author.
2016; S. Chinikar, N. Shahhosseini, S. Bouzari, T. Jalali, M. A. Shokrgozar, E. Mostafavi, M. H. Groschup, M. Niedrig. Assessment of recombination in the S-segment genome of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in Iran. Journal of Arthropod- Borne Diseases. 2016. 10: 12–23.
2016; M. Champour, S. Chinikar, G. Mohammadi, G. Razmi, N. Shahhosseini, S. Khakifirouz, E. Mostafavi, T. Jalali. Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus isolated from ticks of one humped camels (Camelus Dromedarius) population in the Northeast of Iran. Journal of Parasitic Disease. 2016. 40: 110-115.
2016; M. Mohammadian, S. Chinikar, Z. Telmadarraiy, H. Vatandoost, M. A. Oshaghi, A. A. Hanafi-Bojd, M. M. Sedaghat, M. Noroozi, F. Faghihi, T. Jalali, S. Khakifirouz, N. Shahhosseini, F. Farhadpour. Molecular Assay on Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from Kermanshah Province, Western Iran. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases. 2016. 10: 383-393.
2016; N. Shahhosseini*, S. Chinikar. Genetic evidence for circulation of Kunjin-related West Nile virus strain in Iran. Journal of Vector-Borne Disease. 2016. 53: 384-386. Senior author.
2015; M. H. Kayedi#, S. Chinikar, E. Mostafavi, S. Khakifirouz, T. Jalali, A. Hosseini-Chegeni, A. Naghizadeh, M. Niedrig, A. R. Fooks, and N. Shahhosseini#. Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Clade IV (Asia 1) in Ticks of Western Iran. Journal of Medical entomology. 2015. 910: 1-6. (Equally contributed as first author#). Senior author.
2015; Z. Meshkat, S. Chinikar, M. T. Shakeri, L. Manaviear, T. Jalali, S. Khakifirouz, and N. Shahhosseini. The prevalence of West Nile virus in Mashhad, Iran: A population based study. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2015. 8: 203-205. Senior author.
2014; M. M. Garigliany, R. Mathias, H. Frickmann, J. May, N. Georg Schwarz, A. Perse, H. Jörst, J. Börstler, N. Shahhosseini, D. Desmecht, H. A. Mbunkah, D. A. Mbunkah, M. T. Kingsley, R. M. Campos, V. S. Paula, N. Randriamampionona, S. Poppert, E. Tannich, R. Rakotozandrindraniny, D. Cadar, J. Schmidt-Chanasit. Cyclovirus CyCV-VN species distribution is not limited to Vietnam and extends to Africa. Scientific Reports. 2014. 4: 1-7
2014; N. Shahhosseini, S. Chinikar, B. Ataei, A. R. Fooks, M. H. Groschup. Phylogenetic Analysis of West Nile Virus Genome, Iran. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2014. 20: 1419-1420.
2014; S. Chinikar, A. A. Javadi, A. Hajiannia, B. Ataei, T. Jalali, S. Khakifirouz, N. Nowotny, J. Schmidt-Chanasit and N. Shahhosseini. First evidence of Hantavirus in central Iran as an emerging viral disease. Advances in Infectious Diseases. 2014. 4:173-177. Senior author.
2014; M. Champour, G. Mohammadi, S. Chinikar, G. Razmi, N. Shahhosseini, S. Khakifirouz, E. Mostafavi, T. Jalali. Seroepidemiology of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in one humped camels (Camelus Dromedarius) population in the Northeast of Iran. Journal of Vector Borne Disease. 2014. 51: 62–65.
2013; S. Chinikar, N. Shahhosseini, S. Bouzari, T. Jalali, M. A. Shokrgozar, E. Mostafavi. New circulating genomic variant of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the North of Iran. Archive of virology. 2013. 158: 1085-1088.
2013; S. Chinikar, N. Shahhosseini, E. Mostafavi, M. Moradi, S. Khakifirouz, T. Jalali, M. M. Goya, M. R. Shirzadi, M. Zainali, A. R. Fooks. Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus in Iran. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease. 2013. 13: 586-589.
2013; S. Chinikar, S. M. Ghiasi, N. Shahhosseini, E. Mostafavi, M. Moradi, S. Khakifirouz, F. S. Varaie, M. Rafigh, T. Jalali, M. M. Goya, M. R. Shirzadi, M. Zainali, A. R. Fooks. Preliminary study of Dengue Virus infection in Iran. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2013. 11: 166-169.
2013; A. Mehravaran, M. Moradi, Z. Telmadarraiy, E. Mostafavi, A. Moradi, S. Khakifirouz, N. Shahhosseini, F. S. Varaie, T. Jalali, S. Hekmat, S. M. Ghiasi, S. Chinikar. Molecular detection of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Virus in the tick population of southeast Iran. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. 2013. 4: 35-38.
2012; S. Chinikar, M. Shayesteh, S. Khakifirouz, T. Jalali, F. S. Varaie, M. Rafigh, E. Mostafavi and N. Shahhosseini. Nosocomial infection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in eastern Iran: Case report. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2012. 11: 252-255. Senior author.

B) Books:

2014; S. Chinikar, N. Shahhosseini. Neglected Tropical Diseases-Middle East and North Africa. Chapter 8 (Hemorraghic Fevers): Dengue Fever in Asia and Africa. Series: Neglected Tropical Diseases. Springer. 2014. ISBN 978-3-7091-1612-8
2013; N. Shahhosseini*, M. Alaei-Beirami, S. Shafiee-Lialestani. Medical aspect of Aspergillus fumigatus: a guide for physicians. LAMBERT academic publisher. ISBN 978-3-659-35750-3. Senior author.
2012; S. Chinikar, N. Shahhosseini, T. Jalali. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and experimental lessons in Iran. LAMBERT academic publisher. ISBN 978-3-659-21422-6