In a new scientific achievement added to the academic accomplishments of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Nineveh, Dr. Haiman Abdul Basit Tawfiq, a faculty member at the College, has been awarded a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the College of Pharmacy at Al-Mustansiriyah University on Monday, August 31, 2026, following the successful defense of his doctoral dissertation entitled:
“Potential Treatment of Leishmaniasis through Inhibition of Poly(A)-Binding Protein (PABP) Using an Aptamer.”
The study aimed to investigate the potential use of an advanced molecular approach to target the PABP protein in the parasite Leishmania donovani, with the objective of limiting its growth and proliferation.
The findings demonstrated that the AP-11 aptamer effectively inhibited the growth and proliferation of the parasite in a concentration- and exposure time-dependent manner, exhibiting greater efficacy than the AP-7 aptamer, while showing limited effects on host cells. Furthermore, AP-11 resulted in a marked reduction in PABP protein levels and its associated mRNA expression.
These findings suggest that targeting the interaction between poly(A) and PABP may represent a promising molecular approach for inhibiting the growth of Leishmania parasites, thereby providing a basis for future studies aimed at developing potential therapeutic strategies for visceral leishmaniasis.
On this occasion, the Deanship of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Nineveh, together with its academic and administrative staff, extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Haiman Abdul Basit Tawfiq on this distinguished academic achievement, wishing him continued success and excellence, as well as further scientific contributions and achievements in support of the academic mission of the College of Pharmacy and the University of Nineveh.
