Nabi

My name is Geety Nabi. I was born in Afghanistan and my parents migrated to Australia in 1985. I have completed my bachelors degree in Applied Sciences majoring in Pharmacology at the University of Queensland. I have also completed an honours (class I) degree in the field of neuroscience. My project was on the effects of x-irradiation on the glial cells and neurons. Previous research had shown that x-irradiation of the CNS alters the CNS environment in such a way that it becomes more supportive of axonal regeneration. It has been suggested that x-irradiation of the CNS reduces the numbers of glial cells, thereby reducing one of the major influences that is thought to be inhibitory to axonal regeneration. However, there was very little quantitative information available on the effects of x-irradiation on glial cell numbers and the level of cell apoptosis in the CNS.
The proportion of the spinal cord occupied by the grey matter was significantly increased in the 7-day post-irradiated rats but not in any of the other experimental rats compared to controls. The numerical density of neurons was found to be significantly increased 30-days post irradiation but was unchanged at the other time points examined. The numerical density of glial cells and the glial-to-neuron cell ratios were not significantly altered at any of the time points examined compared to control animals. Paradoxically, counts of the TUNEL-labelled cells showed that there was a significant increase in the numbers of dying cells in the spinal cord 30 and 60 days following the x-irradiation compared to control animals. My study was designed to provide such information. Qualitative examination of the anti-GFAP-stained sections indicated that irradiation may have induced some decrease in the numbers of astrocytes as well as some morphological disruption of their cell processes compared to controls. The effects of x-irradiation on the anti-RIP-labelled oligodendrocytes were uncertain from such a qualitative examination in this study. It was concluded that there may be mechanisms which allows an animal to maintain its glial-to-neuron cell ratio despite the clear indication of an increased level of cell apoptosis following x-irradiation.

I am currently doing a PhD looking at functional testing of the virus-like particles (VLPs). Research will be taken towards assembly, site specificity, cellular entry and disassembly of virus capsids into mammalian cells. I will investigate what factors influence the function of bioengineered particles in vitro and in vivo, and how can function be monitored or controlled. Therefore, this study will control, modify and monitor the cellular tropism as well as the immunogenicity of bioengineered particles and I will explore new methods of functional testing and vivo imaging.