Rate My Professor Matloob Husain

Associate Professor Matloob Husain is a virologist and Co-Director of the Biomedical Sciences Programme in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Otago, to which he was appointed in 2011. His academic background includes a BSc from the University of Lucknow (India), an MSc from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (India), a PhD from the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) and Panjab University (India), and postdoctoral research at the National Institutes of Health (USA). Husain's research specializes in the molecular basis of virus-host interactions, particularly the role of host acetylation machinery in influenza virus infection and pathogenesis using human lung epithelial cells as an in vitro model. His laboratory utilizes advanced methodologies including RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, RNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, plaque assays, qRT-PCR, and western blotting to dissect impacts on viral replication, host immune responses, and overall pathogenesis. Current investigations also extend to SARS-CoV-2.

Husain has published extensively on influenza virology, with highly cited works such as "Drug resistance in influenza A virus: the epidemiology and management" (Hussain et al., 2017, Infection and Drug Resistance), "Histone deacetylase 6 inhibits influenza A virus release by downregulating the trafficking of viral components to the plasma membrane via its substrate, acetylated microtubules" (Husain and Cheung, 2014, Journal of Virology), "Influenza A virus dysregulates host histone deacetylase 1 that inhibits viral infection in lung epithelial cells" (Nagesh and Husain, 2016, Journal of Virology), "Enhanced acetylation of alpha-tubulin in influenza A virus infected epithelial cells" (Husain and Harrod, 2011, FEBS Letters), and recent publications including "Host innate antiviral response to influenza A virus infection: From viral sensing to antagonism and escape" (An et al., 2024, Pathogens) and "Influenza A virus H5N1 subtype: Resurgent interspecies and intercontinental transmission, and a new host" (Husain, 2026, Pathogens). His research has been funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, H S and J C Anderson Trust, Lottery Health Board, Maurice Wilkins Centre, Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the University of Otago Faculty of Biomedical Sciences. As an educator, he convenes MICR 464: Medical Microbiology and Immunology and teaches courses in virology, microbiology, and medical sciences. Husain directs a vibrant laboratory, supervising PhD students such as Kartik Rawat and Simran Lakhina, and has mentored numerous alumni to degree completion.