Dr. Sahar Hasim

Assistant Professor of Biology

Sahar HasimDr. Sahar Hasim received her Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular biology as well as her B.S. in biology, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to joining Mercer University, she served as a lecturer in biology at Columbus State University. Additionally, she held postdoctoral research associate positions at Auburn University and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Hasim became a part of Mercer’s Biology Department in 2020.

Education

  • Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Specialty

Microbiology and immunology

Professional Interests

  • Exploring the growth behavior of fungal pathogen Candida albicans and biofilm formation on various nanomaterials coatings
  • Investigating 2D materials-based biosensor for fungal detection
  • Inhabiting the cell to cell communication, future antifungal agents to combat Candida auris resistance strains
  • Studying the potential ß-(1,3)-glucan unmasking genes for drug targeting in Candida albicans to promote detection by innate immune cells.

Recent Publications

  • Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani, +Co-first author Hunter B. Tinker, +Co-first author, Johnathan B. Vickers, Masoud Mahjouri-Samani,* Corresponding author Sahar Hasim* Corresponding author, (2023) “Effects of TiS2 on Inhibiting Candida albicans Biofilm Formation and Its Compatibility with Human Gingival Fibroblasts in Titanium Implants.” ACS Applied Bio Materials. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00707.
  • Jheel Patel, Victoria Gomez , Lauryn McGahee, Benjamin Parisi, Dorina Mihut, and Sahar Hasim. (2022) “Mechanical Engineering – Biology Collaborative Independent Study for Students for Research on Controlling the Biofilm Formation,” American Society for Engineering Education, Southeastern Section (ASEE).
  • Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani, Nurul Azam, Lu Wang, Marcelo Kuroda, Michael Hamilton, Sahar Hasim, Masoud Mahjouri-Samani. (2022) “Monolayer WSe2 field-effect transistor biosensor for detecting COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2).” Nanoscale and Quantum Materials: From Synthesis and Laser Processing to Applications.
  • Fathi-Hafshejani, Parvin; Azam, Nurul; Wang, Lu; Kuroda, Marcelo; Hamilton, Michael; Hasim, Sahar, Mahjouri-Samani, Masoud. (2021) “2D-Material Based Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor for Detecting COVID-19 Virus (SARS-CoV-2).” ACS Nano.
  • K. S. Bonifer, X. Wen, S. Hasim, E. K. Phillips, E. R. Gann, J. M. DeBruyn and T. B. Reynolds. (2019) “An environmental isolate of Bacillus pumilus alters degradation of polylactic acid films in response to changing nutrient conditions.” Frontiers in Microbiology.
  • S. Vijaya-Kumar, G. Taylor, S. Hasim, D. P. Allison, S. T. Retterer, C. P. Collier, A. N. Webb, M. J. Doktycz, J. Morrell-Falvey. (2019) “Deletion of carotenoids from membranes of Pantoea sp. YR343 results in altered lipid composition and changes in membrane biophysical properties.” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Biomembranes. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.05.009.
  • S. Hasim and J. J. Coleman. (2019) “Targeting the fungal cell wall: current therapies and implications for development of alternative antifungal agents.” Future Medicinal Chemistry. doi: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0465.
  • S.E. Davis, R.N. Tams, N. Solis, A.S. Wagner, T. Chen, J.W. Jackson, S. Hasim, A.E. Montedonico, J. Dinsmore, T.E. Sparer, S.G. Filler, T.B. Reynolds. (2018) “Candida albicans cannot acquire sufficient ethanolamine from the host to support virulence in the absence of de novo phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis.” Infection and Immunity. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00815-17.
  • S. Hasim, D. Allison, B. Mendez, A. Farmer, D.A. Pelletier, S. Retterer, S. Campagna, T.B. Reynolds, and M.J. Doktycz. (2018) “Elucidating duramycin’s bacterial selectivity and mode of action on the bacterial cell envelope.” Frontiers in Microbiology.9 (219).
  • S. Hasim, E.N. Vaughn, D. Donohoe, D.M. Gordon, S. Pfiffner, and T.B. Reynolds. (2017) “Influence of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine on farnesol tolerance in Candida albicans.” Yeast. doi: 10.1002/yea.3297.
  • J. A. Aufrecht, J. M. Ryan, S. Hasim, D. P. Allison, A. Nebenführ, M. J. Doktycz, S. T. Retterer. (2017) “Imaging the Root Hair Morphology of Arabidopsis Seedlings in a Two layer Microfluidic Platform.” Journal of Visualized Experiments. (126), e55971, doi:10.3791/55971.
  • N. Ahmad Hussin, R.U. Pathirana, S. Hasim, S. Tati, J. A. Scheib-Owens, and K. W. Nickerson. (2016) “Biotin Auxotrophy and Biotin Enhanced Germ Tube Formation in Candida albicans.” Microorganisms. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms4030037.
  • S. Hasim, D. P. Allison, S. T. R., Alex Hopke, R. T. Wheeler, M. J. Doktycz, and T. B. Reynolds. (2016) “ß-glucan unmasking in some Candida albicans mutants correlates with increases in cell wall surface roughness and decreases in cell wall elasticity.” Infection and Immunity. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00601-16. Article was spotlighted in this issue.
  • S. Hasim, N. Ahmad Hussin, F. Alomar, K. R. Bidasee, K. W. Nickerson and M. A. Wilson. (2014) “A Glutathione-Independent Glyoxalase DJ-1 Superfamily Plays an Important Role in Managing Metabolically Generated Methylglyoxal in Candida albicans.” Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289(3):1662-74.
  • S. Hasim, S. Tati, N. Madyiputhiya, and K.W. Nickerson. (2013) “Histone biotinylation in Candida albicans.” FEMS Yeast Research. 13, 529-39.
  • K.W. Nickerson, A.L Atkin, J.C. Hargarten, R. Pathirana, and S. Hasim. (2012) “Thoughts on quorum sensing and fungal dimorphism.” Biocommunication of Fungi, G.Witzany ed., p189-204, Springer, Heidelberg.
  • M.L. Langford, S. Hasim, K.W. Nickerson, and A.L. Atkin. (2010) “Activity and toxicity of farnesol towards Candida albicans are dependent on growth conditions.” Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 54, 940-942.
  • A. C. Witt, M. Lakshminarasimhan, B. C. Remington, S. Hasim, E. Pozharski and M. A. Wilson. (2008) “Cysteine pKa Depression by a Protonated Glutamic Acid in Human DJ-1.” Biochemistry, 47, 7430–7440.

For access to Dr. Hasim’s self-archived articles, please see her Research Gate page.

Contact Dr. Sahar Hasim

(478) 301-2048
hasim_s@mercer.edu
Godsey Science Center, Room 324