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MSI Lab Molecular & Structural Immunology
Laboratory Chronicles & Updates

News and Events

Frontline updates on lab scientific achievements, international collaborations, award grants, symposiums, and public health perspectives.

Public Health Milestone · 2020–2024

Frontline Leadership: 100,000+ RT-PCR Tests at CU COVID-19 Laboratory

When COVID-19 reached Bangladesh, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam established and directed the University of Chittagong's specialized molecular testing laboratory. Beyond clinical diagnostics, this initiative yielded critical epidemiological datasets on cycle threshold (Ct) dynamics and variant lineage shifts.

Now actively repurposed for Dengue serotyping and arboviral genomic surveillance.
100,000+
Nasopharyngeal Tests Performed
4 Years Continuous Clinical Service
Delta & Omicron Genomic Surveillance

Latest Articles & Scientific Commentary

In-depth reviews authored by MSI Lab faculty and fellows.

Sadia Binte Alam JASSO Fellowship
Fellowship & Award September 13, 2026 · 3 min read

Sadia Binte Alam Awarded Prestigious JASSO Fellowship for Kuroda Lab (TUAT), Japan

By Laboratory of Molecular & Structural Immunology

MSI Lab graduate researcher Sadia Binte Alam has been selected for the prestigious Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Student Exchange Support Program to conduct research on 'Generation of Recombinant Proteins' in Kuroda Lab at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Japan.

"This remarkable opportunity is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and research excellence in protein engineering and solubility tag technology. We have no doubt she will represent our lab with great distinction during her research in Tokyo."

#JASSO #TUAT #Fellowship
LinkedIn Post ↗
Bioinformatics Pandemic Seminar
Special Seminar September 03, 2026 · 4 min read

Special Seminar: Integrating Bioinformatics for Better Understanding Pandemic Diseases

By M. Mushtak Fuad & MSI Research Group

Graduate researcher M. Mushtak Fuad presented computational and immunological findings on SARS-CoV-2 variant vaccine strategies at a university special seminar with distinguished guest speaker Prof. Dr. Shamim Ahmed from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST).

"Presented research on 'Immunological and Computational Evaluation of Vaccine Strategies Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Chattogram, Bangladesh'. It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and receive valuable feedback from Professor Dr. Shamim Ahmed."

#Bioinformatics #SARSCoV2 #SUST
LinkedIn Post ↗
HEAT-11009 Inception Seminar
Institutional Seminar April 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Inception Seminar: Institutional Readiness for Emerging & Reemerging Pandemic Diseases (HEAT-11009)

By Prof. Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam & MSI Research Group

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong successfully held the Inception Seminar for the World Bank–supported HEAT-11009 Sub-Project, inaugurating advanced research into pandemic preparedness and novel antiviral strategies.

"Keynote address by Prof. Dr. M. Monirul Islam alongside formal addresses from honorable Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan and Pro-Vice Chancellors Prof. Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin and Prof. Dr. Mohammed Shamim Uddin Khan on strengthening national health security."

#HEATProject #WorldBank #Chittagong
LinkedIn Post ↗
Rangamati Agarwood Fieldwork
Field Expedition February 07, 2026 · 4 min read

Field Research Expedition: Plant Defense Inoculation & Agarwood Resin Induction in Marishya, Rangamati

By MSI Lab Botanical & Immunology Field Team

Our research team traveled to Marishya, Rangamati, where the hills cradle mature Aquilaria malaccensis (agarwood) trees, inoculating three adult specimens with nine conditional biological formulations to explore immune-triggered resin formation.

"Armed with curiosity and preparation, we inoculated adult agarwood plants with formulations including Fusarium spp. and specialized inducers to probe how trees react, defend, and trigger sustainable resinogenesis."

#Aquilaria #Rangamati #Fieldwork
LinkedIn Post ↗
Epidemiology Opinion September 02, 2024 · 6 min read

Navigating the 2023–2024 Dengue Outbreak in Bangladesh: Structural Clues to Severe Secondary Infections

By Prof. Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam

Why antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) made the recent dengue epidemic exceptionally severe, and how epitope-focused protein engineering provides the ultimate solution.

"Serological cross-reactivity between DENV-2 and DENV-3 was particularly prominent in clinical samples examined at our university laboratory. Pre-existing antibodies bound without neutralizing, facilitating viral uptake into Fc-gamma receptor monocytes."

#Dengue #ADE
Clinical Insights ↗
Public Health November 14, 2024 · 7 min read

Frontline Molecular Diagnostics: Retrospective Lessons from 100,000+ RT-PCR Tests

By Prof. Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam & MSI Research Team

Key scientific and logistical insights gathered during the operation of the COVID-19 Testing Lab at Chittagong University, from viral load dynamics to mutant variant detection in local populations.

"Correlating cycle threshold (Ct) values with patient demographic parameters revealed critical insights into viral clearance kinetics in diabetic and immunocompromised hosts across Chittagong Division."

#COVID-19 #Diagnostics
Surveillance Report ↗