Mohammad Hossein Banabazi

Before joining SLU, I gained over seventeen years of research experience at the Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI). I held various positions such as research assistant (research staff), assistant professor (academic staff), head of two departments (Biotechnology and Genetics), and deputy of research, technology, and extension. In addition, I represented ASRI in full authority capacities, including as FAO national coordinator on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR).

Bioinformatics (3 Units), Ph.D course of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Islamic Azad University, (Abhar Branch), 2018-2019 (Spring semester) 

Special topics in animal genetics and breeding: Next Generation Sequencing (2 Units) , Ph.D course of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Islamic Azad University, (Abhar Branch), 2018-2019 (Spring semester) 

Genetics resistance to animal diseases (2 Units), Ph.D course of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Islamic Azad University, (Abhar Branch), 2019-2020 (Fall semester) 

Animal genomic evaluations (2 Units), Ph.D course of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Islamic Azad University, (Abhar Branch), 2019-2020 (Fall semester) 

Animal breeding (practical course - one unit). B.Sc course of Animal Science. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (UTCAN), University of Tehran . Karaj, IRAN. 2011-2012 (Spring semester) 

Workshop on “Transcriptome Analysis: Differential Gene Expression (DGE)”. Kerman University of Medical Sciences (KMU), Kerman, IRAN. 18-20 April 2019.

Workshop on “Variant discovery/calling on NGS data” in the workshop series on “From Sequencing to Genomic Selection”. Animal Breeding Center (ABC), Karaj, IRAN. 22-24 August 2017.

Workshop on “Transcriptome Analysis by RNA-Seq Data”. Zifan Takvin Company, Technology incubation center, Shahid Beheshti University (SBU), Tehran, IRAN. 5-6 July 2017.

Lecture on “Why Transcriptome? Why RNA-Seq? ENCODE answers” in the course on “Next Generation Sequencing: The Basic Principles and Data Analysis of RNASeq". OMICS Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IRAN. 15-17 April 2014.

Workshop on “Horse Breeding and Genetics”. Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN. 28th April 2019.

Workshop on “Animal genome-enabled predictions; principles and methods". Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN. 7-10 October 2014.

Now, I'm doing a research project entitled "Host transcriptome determinants for resistance and susceptibility of two emerging viral animal infections; African Swine Fever (ASF) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)". This project carried out in working package 10 of DEFEND project. DEFEND is funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under agreement No 773701. 

I got my Ph.D. in animal genetics and breeding from the University of Tehran / Iran. My Ph.D. dissertation is entitled "Computational Strategies for Integration of Transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) Data into Animal Genome-enabled Predictions in Dairy Cattle". Our main aim was to apply transcriptomic data in the current genomic predictions. It may be a way to address the Genetic by Environment interactions and detach them from the genetic evaluations. Then, the animals could be ranked the same in all environments and production systems.

In addition, I spent a Ph.D. sabbatical course as visiting researcher at SLU for six months in 2015. During this course, I analyzed big data of the project about Allele-Specific Expression (ASE) and the parent of origin on two chicken weight-selection lines originating from experimental lines at VirginiaTech University. I developed personalized genomes for each parent (instead of a reference genome) to reduce mapping bias, . 

My master's thesis was entitled "Genetic variation within and between five Iranian sheep populations using microsatellite markers". In this course, I worked on the genetic diversity of the indigenous sheep populations. I have studied animal domestication and biodiversity through molecular tools, particularly DNA markers.

from Jan. 2022   Researcher, Institutionen för husdjursgenetik (Hgen), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.

 Oct. 2017 - Jan. 2022     Deputy of Research and Technology, and Extension, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN.

Aug. 2019 - Jan. 2022    FAO National Coordinator for Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR), National Center for Genetic Resources (NCGR), Tehran, IRAN.

Oct. 2017 - Jan. 2022     Director of Technology Incubator and Innovation Center, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN.

Oct. 2020  Principle coordinator of online national sessions, The 4th International and the 16th Iranian Genetics Congress (GC2020), Iranian Genetics Society (IGS), Tehran, IRAN.

Mar. 2019 - Jan. 2022    Member of Board (Treasurer), Iranian Society of Animal Science (ISAS), Karaj, IRAN.

Nov. 2016 - Oct. 2017   Head of Department, Department of Genetics and Breeding, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN.

Aug. 2016 – Jan. 2022   Assistant Professor (Research Staff), Department of Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN.

Mar. 2014 - Mar. 2016   Member of Board (Deputy dean of Animal Genetics Branch), Iranian Genetics Society (IGS), Tehran, IRAN.

Nov. 2009 - Oct. 2010   Head of Department, Department of Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN.

May. 2006 – Aug. 2016 Research Assistant (Research Instructor), Department of Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran (ASRI), Karaj, IRAN.

Researcher, from January 2022, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics (HGEN), Centre for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VHC), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.   

Visiting (Guest) Researcher, A sabbatical course from March to September 2015, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics (HGEN), Centre for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VHC), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.  

Research project: Allele-Specific Expression (ASE) in the High and Low weighted chicken lines: A case study to reduce the mapping bias by the personalized parental genomes instead of the reference genomes.

Ph.D in Animal Genetics & Breeding (Systems Biology & Bioinformatics), 2011-2016, Animal Breeding and Genetics group, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (UTCAN), University of Tehran. Karaj, IRAN.   

Ph.D Thesis: Computational strategies for integration of transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) data into animal genomeenabled predictions (Supervisor: Ardeshir Nejati Javaremi, Advisors: Ikhide Imumorin (Cornell University), Mostafa Ghaderi and Seyed Reza Miraei Ashtiani)   

M.Sc. in Animal Genetics & Breeding. 1999-2002. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran. Karaj, IRAN.   

M.Sc Thesis: Genetic variation within and between five Iranian sheep populations using microsatellites markers. (Supervisors: Dr. S. Esmaeilkhanian & Dr. S.R. Miraei Ashtiani and Advisor: Dr. M. Moradi Shahrbabak).   

B.Sc. in Animal Science. 1995-1999. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan. Rasht, IRAN.   

Associate degree in Veterinary Medicine. 1992-1995. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University. Kermanshah, IRAN.   

Supervisor and advisor of more than 40 Iranian Ph.D. and master students since 2016.

Note: The articles in Persian (Farsi) have not included.

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=15130607200
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Hw6egegAAAAJ&hl=en

Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, N., Golshani Jourshari, M., Shadparvar, A. A., Rafeie, F., Banabazi, M. H., & Johansson, A. M. (2023). Genome-wide association study on abdomen depth, head width, hip width, and withers height in native cattle of Guilan (Bos indicus). PLOS ONE, In press. 

Vahedi, S. M., Salek Ardestani, S., Brito L. F., Karimi K., Pahlavan Afshari K., & Banabazi, M. H. (2023). Expanding the application of haplotype-based genomic predictions to the wild: A case of antibody response against Teladorsagia circumcincta in Soay sheep. BMC Genomics, 24, 335. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09407-0

Vahedi, S. M., Salek Ardestani, S., Pahlevan Afshari, K., Ghoreishifar, S. M., Moghaddaszadeh-Ahrabi, S., Banabazi, M. H., & Brito, L. F. (2022). Genome-Wide Selection Signatures and Human-Mediated Introgression Events in Bos taurus indicus-influenced Composite Beef Cattle. Front Genet, 13, 844653. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.844653 

Bitaraf Sani, M., Zare Harofte, J., Banabazi, M. H., Faraz, A., Esmaeilkhanian, S., Naderi, A. S., Salim, N., Teimoori, A., Bitaraf, A., Zadehrahmani, M., Burger, P. A., Asadzadeh, N., Silawi, M., Taghipour Sheshdeh, A., Mohammad Nazari, B., Faghihi, M. A., & Roudbari, Z. (2022). Identification of Candidate Genes for Pigmentation in Camels Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing. Animals, 12(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091095

Taherkhani, L., Banabazi, M. H., EmamJomeh-Kashan, N., Noshary, A., & Imumorin, I. (2022). The Candidate Chromosomal Regions Responsible for Milk Yield of Cow: A GWAS Meta-Analysis. Animals, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050582

Nazari, F., Seyedabadi, H. R., Noshary, A., Emamjomeh-Kashan, N., & Banabazi, M. H. (2022). A Genome-Wide Scan for Signatures of Selection in Kurdish Horse Breed. J Equine Vet Sci, 113, 103916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103916

Bitaraf Sani, M., Hosseini, S. A., Asadzadeh, N., Ghavipanje, N., Afshin, M., Jasouri, M., Banabazi, M. H., Esmaeilkhanian, S., Zare Harofte, J., Shafei Naderi, A., & Burger, P. A. (2022). A New Approach in the Evaluation of Dairy Camels: Using Test Day Milk and Morphometric Records. Dairy, 3(1), 78-86. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy3010006

Vahedi, S. M., Salek Ardestani, S., Karimi, K., & Banabazi, M. H. (2022). Weighted Single-Step GWAS for Body Mass Index and Scans for Recent Signatures of Selection in Yorkshire Pigs. J Hered, 113(3), 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esac004

Bitaraf Sani, M., Roudbari, Z., Karimi, O., Banabazi, M. H., Esmaeilkhanian, S., Asadzadeh, N., Zare Harofte, J., Shafei Naderi, A., & Burger, P. A. (2022). Gene-Set Enrichment Analysis for Identifying Genes and Biological Activities Associated with Growth Traits in Dromedaries. Animals, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020184

Naserkheil, M., Ghafouri, F., Zakizadeh, S., Pirany, N., Manzari, Z., Ghorbani, S., Banabazi, M. H., Bakhtiarizadeh, M. R., Huq, M. A., Park, M. N., Barkema, H. W., Lee, D., & Min, K. S. (2022). Multi-Omics Integration and Network Analysis Reveal Potential Hub Genes and Genetic Mechanisms Regulating Bovine Mastitis. Curr Issues Mol Biol, 44(1), 309-328. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44010023

Varkoohi, S., Banabazi, M. H., & Ghsemi-Siab, M. (2021). Allele Specific Expression (ASE) analysis between Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus cows using RNA-Seq data at SNP level and gene level. An Acad Bras Cienc, 93(3), e20191453. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202120191453

Bitaraf Sani, M., Zare Harofte, J., Banabazi, M. H., Esmaeilkhanian, S., Shafei Naderi, A., Salim, N., Teimoori, A., Bitaraf, A., Zadehrahmani, M., Burger, P. A., Landi, V., Silawi, M., Taghipour Sheshdeh, A., & Faghihi, M. A. (2021). Genomic prediction for growth using a low-density SNP panel in dromedary camels. Sci Rep, 11(1), 7675. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87296-7

Salek Ardestani, S., Aminafshar, M., Zandi Baghche Maryam, M. B., Banabazi, M. H., Sargolzaei, M., & Miar, Y. (2020). A genome-wide signatures of selection study of Welsh ponies and draft horses revealed five genes associated with horse type variation. Gene Reports, 21, 100833. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genrep.2020.100833

Lado, S., Elbers, J. P., Doskocil, A., Scaglione, D., Trucchi, E., Banabazi, M. H., Almathen, F., Saitou, N., Ciani, E., & Burger, P. A. (2020). Genome-wide diversity and global migration patterns in dromedaries follow ancient caravan routes. Commun Biol, 3(1), 387. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-1098-7

Bitaraf Sani, M., Zare Harofte, J., Bitaraf, A., Esmaeilkhanian, S., Banabazi, M. H., Salim, N., Teimoori, A., Shafei Naderi, A., Faghihi, M. A., Burger, P. A., Silawi, M., & Taghipour Sheshdeh, A. (2020). Genome-Wide Diversity, Population Structure and Demographic History of Dromedaries in the Central Desert of Iran. Genes, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11060599

Salek Ardestani, S., Aminafshar, M., Zandi Baghche Maryam, M. B., Banabazi, M. H., Sargolzaei, M., & Miar, Y. (2020). Signatures of selection analysis using whole-genome sequence data reveals novel candidate genes for pony and light horse types. Genome, 63(8), 387-396. https://doi.org/10.1139/gen-2020-0001

Canales Vergara, A. M., Landi, V., Delgado Bermejo, J. V., Martínez, A. M., Cervantes Acosta, P., Pons Barros, A., Bigi, D., Sponenberg, P., Helal, M., Banabazi, M. H., & Camacho Vallejo, M. E. (2020). Design and development of a multiplex microsatellite panel for the genetic characterisation and diversity assessment of domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo). Italian Journal of Animal Science, 19(1), 392-398. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2020.1745695

Salek Ardestani, S., Aminafshar, M., Zandi Baghche Maryam, M. B., Banabazi, M. H., Sargolzaei, M., & Miar, Y. (2019). Whole-Genome Signatures of Selection in Sport Horses Revealed Selection Footprints Related to Musculoskeletal System Development Processes. Animals, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010053

Canales Vergara, A. M., Landi, V., Delgado Bermejo, J. V., Martínez, A., Cervantes Acosta, P., Pons Barro, Á., Bigi, D., Sponenberg, P., Helal, M., Banabazi, M. H., & Camacho Vallejo, M. E. (2019). Tracing Worldwide Turkey Genetic Diversity Using D-loop Sequence Mitochondrial DNA Analysis. Animals, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110897

Farzaneh Dizaj, R., Aminafshar, M., Esmaeilkhanian, S., EmamJomeh-Kashan, N., & Banabazi, M. H. (2022). Comparison of allele‑specific expression in Sistani cattle and its crossbreed with Holstein, Simmental, and Montbeliarde breeds. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 55(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03422-1

Golshani Jourshari, M., Shadparvar, A. A., Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, N., Rafeie, F., Banabazi, M. H., & Johansson, A. M. (2022). Principal Component Analysis of Biometric Traits in Guilan Native Cattle of Iran. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 12(1), 23-31.

Banabazi, M. H., Najati-Javaremi A., Imumorin, I. G., Ghaderi-Zafrei, M., & Miraei Ashtiani, S. R. (2016). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on the transcriptome of Holstein cows shared with Illumina bovine SNP arrays. Online Journal of Veterinary Research, 20(3), 177-182.

Asadi, N., Rahimi, A., Ghaheri, M., Kahrizi, D., Bagheri Dehbaghi, M., Khederzadeh, S., Banabazi, M. H., Esmaeilkhanian, S., Veisi, B., Geravandi, M., Karim, H., Vaziri, S., Daneshgar, F., & Zargooshi, J. (2016). Genetic diversity of the Dwarf honeybee (Apis florea Fabricius, 1787) populations based on microsatellite markers. Cellular and Molecular Biology (Noisy-le-grand), 62(12), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2016.62.12.9

Asadi, N., Khederzadeh, S., Nanekarani, S., Abdali, N., & Banabazi, M. H. (2016). Polymorphisms in Calpastatine gene of Lori fat tailed sheep. Online Journal of Veterinary Research, 20(4), 237-242.

Almathen, F., Charruau, P., Mohandesan, E., Mwacharo, J. M., Orozco-terWengel, P., Pitt, D., Abdussamad, A. M., Uerpmann, M., Uerpmann, H. P., De Cupere, B., Magee, P., Alnaqeeb, M. A., Salim, B., Raziq, A., Dessie, T., Abdelhadi, O. M., Banabazi, M. H., Al-Eknah, M., Walzer, C., Faye, B., Hofreiter, M., Peters, J., Hanotte, O., & Burger, P. A. (2016). Ancient and modern DNA reveal dynamics of domestication and cross-continental dispersal of the dromedary. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 113(24), 6707-6712. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1519508113

Gharahdaghi, A. A., Asadi, N., & Banabazi, M. H. (2014). Genetic structure of Caspian Sea southern area honeybee populations, based on microsatellite polymorphism. Journal of Livestock Science and Technologies, 2(2), 26-31. https://doi.org/10.22103/jlst.2014.876

Hashemi, M., Amirinia, C., Harkinezhad, M. T., Banabazi, M. H., Javanmard, A., & Amiri, F. (2013). Validation of Pedigree Relationships Using a Multiplex Microsatellite Marker Assay in Iranian Holstein Cattle. Annals of Animal Science, 13(3), 481-493. https://doi.org/doi:10.2478/aoas-2013-0042

Karami, M., Amirinia, C., EmamJomehKashan, N., Amirmozafari, N., Chamani, M., & Banabazi, M. H. (2011). Polymorphisms of the prion protein gene Arabi sheep breed in Iran. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(70), 15819-15822. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB10.1780

Seyedabadi, H. R., Banabazi, M. H., Afraz, F., Asadzadeh, N., Javanmard, A., & Javanrouh Aliabad, A. (2011). Molecular investigation on DNA-PKcs gene and identification of SCID carriers among Iranian Arab horses using a test based on PCR. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10(7), 865-867. https://doi.org/10.3923/javaa.2011.865.867

Maghsoodi, S. M., Miraei-Ashtiani, S. R., Banabazi, M. H., & Mehrabani Yeganeh, H. (2011). Polymorphism of Prion Protein Gene (PRNP) in Iranian Holstein and two local cattle populations (Golpayegani and Sistani) of Iran. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology, 9(2), 115-119.

Zamani, P., Akhondi, M., Mohammadabadi, M. R., Saki, A. A., Ershadi, A., Banabazi, M. H., & Abdolmohammadi, A. R. (2011). Genetic variation of Mehraban sheep using two intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(10), 1812-1817. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB10.1986

Chessa, B., Pereira, F., Arnaud, F., Amorim, A., Goyache, F., Mainland, I., Kao, R. R., Pemberton, J. M., Beraldi, D., Stear, M. J., Alberti, A., Pittau, M., Iannuzzi, L., Banabazi, M. H., Kazwala, R. R., Zhang, Y. P., Arranz, J. J., Ali, B. A., Wang, Z., Uzun, M., Dione, M. M., Olsaker, I., Holm, L. E., Saarma, U., Ahmad, S., Marzanov, N., Eythorsdottir, E., Holland, M. J., Ajmone-Marsan, P., Bruford, M. W., Kantanen, J., Spencer, T. E., & Palmarini, M. (2009). Revealing the history of sheep domestication using retrovirus integrations. Science, 324(5926), 532-536. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1170587

Amirinia, C., Seyedabadi, H., Banabazi, M. H., & Kamali, M. A. (2007). Bottleneck study and genetic structure of Iranian Caspian horse population using microsatellites. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(9), 1540-1543. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2007.1540.1543

Seyedabadi, H., Amirinia, C., Banabazi, M. H., & Emrani, H. (2006). Parentage Verification of Iranian Caspian Horse Using Microsatellites Markers. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology, 4(4), 260-264. 

Esmaeilkhanian, S., & Banabazi, M. H. (2006). Genetic variation within and between five Iranian sheep populations using microsatellite markers. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 9(13), 2488-2492. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2006.2488.2492

Javanmard, A., Asadzadeh, N., Banabazi, M. H., & Tavakolian, J. (2005). The Allele and Genotype Frequencies of Bovine Pituitaryspecific Transcription Factor and Leptin Genes in Iranian Cattle and Buffalo Populations Using PCR-RFLP. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology, 3(2), 104-108.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/banabazi/