Alexander Bukreyev | Virology | Excellence in Research

Published on by Global Academic Awards

Prof. Dr. Alexander Bukreyev | Virology | Excellence in Research

Prof. Dr. Alexander Bukreyev, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Excellence in Research

Prof. Dr. Alexander Bukreyev is a Distinguished Professor of Virology and Vaccinology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He serves in the Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology and holds senior roles in multiple UTMB research centers, including the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences and the Center for Biodefense. An expert in emerging infectious diseases, he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. With decades of experience in RNA virus research and BSL-4 pathogen handling, he contributes globally through advisory roles, WHO collaborations, and international vaccine initiatives. 🇺🇸

Publication Profile

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🎓 Education

Prof. Bukreyev earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in 1993 from the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” in Russia, where he completed the full nucleotide sequencing of the Marburg virus genome. He obtained his M.S. in Pharmacy from Pyatigorsk Pharmaceutical Institute in 1984. His postgraduate education includes extensive biosafety, immunology, and virology training at institutions such as NIH and UTMB. His education reflects a lifelong commitment to combating viral diseases and advancing vaccine science through foundational knowledge and specialized high-containment lab training. 🧬📘

💼 Experience

Prof. Bukreyev currently serves as a professor at UTMB and has been affiliated with the university since 2010. Prior to this, he was a Staff Scientist and Research Fellow at the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1995 to 2010, working under Dr. Robert Chanock and Dr. Peter Collins. His early career in Russia included senior research roles at the Vector Institute, where he specialized in RNA viruses and high-level biosafety. Across his career, he has led multiple research teams, mentored fellows, and managed work in BSL-3 and BSL-4 labs. 🧪🔬

🏆 Awards and Honors

Prof. Bukreyev was elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2025 and received the UT System STAR Award in 2024. He has convened and co-chaired major international workshops on RNA vaccines and host defense, including for the International Society for Vaccines and the American Society for Virology. He has served on the WHO COVID-19 Animal Model Expert Group and numerous scientific planning committees. His honors reflect global recognition of his leadership in vaccine development, viral immunology, and infectious disease research. 🌍🥇

🔬 Research Focus

Prof. Bukreyev’s research centers on the molecular biology, immunopathology, and vaccinology of emerging RNA viruses, including filoviruses (e.g., Ebola and Marburg), respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2. He develops and evaluates novel vaccine candidates, focusing on live-attenuated and vector-based platforms, and studies viral mechanisms that interfere with host immunity. His lab also explores immune correlates of protection and animal model development. With extensive expertise in BSL-4 pathogens, his work supports global biodefense and pandemic preparedness. 🦠💉

Publication Top Notes

  • 📚 Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2016 – 568 citations, 2016

  • 🦠 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein expressed by attenuated vaccinia virus protectively immunizes mice – 532 citations, 2004

  • 🧬 2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota… – 398 citations, 2020

  • 📖 Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2019 – 380 citations, 2019

  • 🧫 Infection of ciliated cells by human parainfluenza virus type 3… – 372 citations, 2005

  • 🧪 Recombinant respiratory syncytial virus with deleted SH gene… – 337 citations, 1997

  • 🧍‍🦍 Recombinant RSV with deletion of NS2 or SH gene attenuated in chimpanzees – 333 citations, 1999

  • 💉 Mucosal immunisation in African green monkeys using attenuated parainfluenza virus… – 332 citations, 2004

  • 🛡 Structural proteins of SARS-CoV contribute to protective immunity – 314 citations, 2004

  • 🔬 Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2017 – 275 citations, 2017

Hamideh Najafi | Virology | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Hamideh Najafi | Virology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Hamideh Najafi, University of Tehran, Iran

Assist. Prof. Dr. Hamideh Najafi is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Iran. Her research focuses on viral epidemiology in poultry and fish populations, metagenomics of newly detected viruses, and in-silico studies for effective antiviral compounds. She has also worked on molecular characterization of Newcastle disease virus and foot-and-mouth disease virus. Dr. Najafi holds a PhD in Virology from the University of Tehran, where she studied avian coronaviruses. Her academic background includes a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and experience at the University Autonoma of Barcelona. 🦠🐔📚

 

Publication Profile

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Professional Experience 🦠👩‍🔬

Assist. Prof. Dr. Hamideh Najafi is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, where her research focuses on viral epidemiology in poultry and fish populations, metagenomics, and in-silico studies for antiviral compounds, especially against coronaviruses. Previously, at Shiraz University, she conducted molecular characterization of viruses such as Newcastle disease and foot-and-mouth disease viruses. She also worked on detecting bovine viruses in water buffaloes. During her sabbatical at the University Autonoma of Barcelona, she developed a real-time PCR method to detect avian infectious bronchitis virus. 🐔💉🌍

 

Education 🎓📚

Dr. Hamideh Najafi earned her PhD in Virology from the University of Tehran (2012-2016), where her thesis focused on the isolation and pathogenicity study of Iranian avian coronaviruses under the supervision of Dr. Arash Ghalyanchilangeroudi. Prior to this, she completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the same university (2006-2012), researching the molecular prevalence of feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus in Iran, supervised by Dr. Omid Madadgar. Her academic journey has equipped her with a deep understanding of viral diseases affecting both animals and poultry. 🦠🐱📖

 

Research Focus

Assist. Prof. Dr. Hamideh Najafi’s research is centered on veterinary virology with a particular focus on avian and animal viruses. Her work includes the molecular characterization and genotyping of viruses such as Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) in Iran. She investigates viral epidemiology, pathogenicity, and genetic diversity to understand disease transmission in poultry and livestock. Dr. Najafi also conducts metagenomics studies on newly emerging viruses and works on in-silico approaches for antiviral compound discovery. 🐔🐄🦠

 

Publication Top Notes

  • Molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis viruses isolated from broiler chicken farms in Iran, 2014-2015 🦠 – Cited by: 67, Year: 2016
  • Emergence of a virulent genotype VIIi of Newcastle disease virus in Iran 🐔 – Cited by: 55, Year: 2018
  • Genotyping of Avian infectious bronchitis viruses in Iran (2015–2017) reveals domination of IS-1494 like virus 🦠 – Cited by: 39, Year: 2017
  • Molecular and clinical study on prevalence of feline herpesvirus type 1 and calicivirus in correlation with feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses 🐱 – Cited by: 36, Year: 2014
  • Seroprevalence and genotyping of avian infectious bronchitis virus detected from Iranian unvaccinated backyard chickens 🐓 – Cited by: 16, Year: 2018
  • Pathogenicity characteristics of an Iranian variant-2 (IS-1494) like infectious bronchitis virus in experimentally infected SPF chickens 🦠 – Cited by: 15, Year: 2016
  • The first full genome characterization of an Iranian foot and mouth disease virus 🐄 – Cited by: 11, Year: 2020
  • The emergence of Q1 genotype of avian infectious bronchitis virus in Iran, 2019: the first report 🦠 – Cited by: 8, Year: 2020
  • Molecular and Serological Evaluation of Bovine Leukemia Virus in Water Buffaloes of Southern Iran 🐄 – Cited by: 8, Year: 2020
  • Molecular detection of gamma coronaviruses in bird parks of Iran 🦠 – Cited by: 8, Year: 2019