Ali Ouaissi

Ali Ouaissi received the M.A. degree from the University of Paris VI in 1974 and the Ph.D. and D.S. degrees from the University of Lille, France, in 1977 and 1980, respectively. He has published widely in the areas of molecular biology and immunology of parasitic diseases with over 130 articles and several book chapters. He was a Senior Investigator (1977–1982); Scientist in charge of research teams, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), research unit no. 167, during 1992–1989; Director of research at INSERM (1989 unitl present); Head of CJF INSERM, no. 96-04 (1996–2000), Faculty of Medicine, Montpellier, France; and Head of Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), research unit no. 008, “Trypanosomatids Pathogeny” (2001–2007). His research has received financial support from National (INSERM and Medical Research Foundation) and International (WHO, EEC, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research, IFCPAR) institutions. He contributed since several years to the magisterial teachings of parasite immunology and molecular biology. He served as a Supervisor of 18 Ph.D. theses and 13 M.A. degrees. He was a Vice President of the “INSERM Nord-Pas de Calais-Grand Ouest” of the Regional Advisory Scientific Counsel (CSCRI) during 1993–1995. He serves as a member of the Scientific Commission no. 2 of IRD (2003–2007), a member of the Regional Ethical Committee of Animal Experimentation (2002–2009), and a member of the Administrative Council of the French Society of Immunology (2005–2007). He is an Expert consulted by international scientific journals and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, and a Guest Editor of the Special Issue on Immunology and Molecular Biology of Protozoan Infections.

Biography Updated on 17 March 2008

Articles in Scholarly Journals [Incomplete List]

  1. Advances and perspectives in Leishmania cell based drug-screening procedures
    Parasitology International, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 3–7, 2007
  2. Comparative evaluation of therapeutic DNA vaccines against Trypanosoma cruzi in mice
    FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 333–341, 2007
  3. Immunology and Molecular Biology of Protozoan Infections
    Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2007, Article ID 67210, 1 pages, 2007
  4. Regulatory Cells and Immunosuppressive Cytokines: Parasite-Derived Factors Induce Immune Polarization
    Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2007, Article ID 94971, 10 pages, 2007
  5. Histone Deacetylase Enzymes as Potential Drug Targets in Cancer and Parasitic Diseases
    Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2006, Article ID 13474, 10 pages, 2006
  6. Leishmania cytosolic silent information regulatory protein 2 deacetylase induces murine B-cell differentiation and in vivo production of specific antibodies
    Immunology, vol. 119, no. 4, pp. 529–540, 2006
  7. Looking for putative functions of the Leishmania cytosolic SIR2 deacetylase
    Parasitology Research, vol. 100, no. 1, pp. 1–9, 2006
  8. Proof of interaction between Leishmania SIR2RP1 deacetylase and chaperone HSP83
    Parasitology Research, vol. 100, no. 4, pp. 811–818, 2006
  9. Kinetoplastid Biology and Disease, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 6, 2006
  10. Kinetoplastid Biology and Disease, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 1, 2005
  11. Conversion of Tc52 released factor to a protein inducing apoptosis
    Tissue and Cell, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 469–478, 2005
  12. Targeted disruption of cytosolic SIR2 deacetylase discloses its essential role in survival and proliferation
    Gene, vol. 363, pp. 85–96, 2005
  13. Differential effects of polyamine derivative compounds against promastigotes and axenic amastigotes
    International Journal for Parasitology, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 637–646, 2005
  14. Antibodies against a peroxiredoxin as a possible marker for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis and for monitoring the efficacy of treatment
    Immunology Letters, vol. 101, no. 1, pp. 18–23, 2005
  15. Stage-specific antileishmanial activity of an inhibitor of SIR2 histone deacetylase
    Acta Tropica, vol. 94, no. 2, pp. 107–115, 2005
  16. In Vitro Antileishmanial Activity of Nicotinamide
    Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 808–812, 2005
  17. Differential infectivity and immunopathology in murine experimental infections by two natural clones belonging to the Trypanosoma cruzi I lineage
    Parasitology, vol. 131, no. 1, pp. 109–119, 2005
  18. Host Cell Phenotypic Variability Induced by Trypanosomatid-Parasite-Released Immunomodulatory Factors: Physiopathological Implications
    Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2004, no. 3, pp. 167–174, 2004
  19. Entérocolite nécrosante en fin de grossesse chez une femme opérée à l'âge de six mois d'une maladie de Hirschsprung
    Annales de Chirurgie, vol. 129, no. 1, pp. 34–36, 2004
  20. Immunological alterations induced by polyamine derivatives on murine splenocytes and human mononuclear cells
    International Immunopharmacology, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 547–556, 2004
  21. Traitement cœlioscopique d'une polykystose pancréatiqueCœlioscopic treatment of pancreatic polycystic disease
    Annales de Chirurgie, vol. 128, no. 2, pp. 109–111, 2003
  22. Kinetoplastid Biology and Disease, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 5, 2003
  23. Peptide-based analysis of the amino acid sequence important to the immunoregulatory function of Trypanosoma cruzi Tc52 virulence factor
    Immunology, vol. 109, no. 1, pp. 147–155, 2003
  24. Fatal bowel infarction due to aspergillosis after chemotherapy
    European Journal of Surgical Oncology, vol. 29, no. 7, p. 628, 2003
  25. Identification of antibodies to Leishmania silent information regulatory 2 (SIR2) protein homologue during canine natural infections: pathological implications
    Immunology Letters, vol. 86, no. 2, pp. 155–162, 2003
  26. Trypanosoma cruzi carrying a targeted deletion of a Tc52 protein-encoding allele elicits attenuated Chagas' disease in mice
    Immunology Letters, vol. 89, no. 1, pp. 67–80, 2003
  27. isoenzyme variability in Ecuador: first observation of zymodeme III genotypes in chronic chagasic patients
    Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 96, no. 4, pp. 378–382, 2002
  28. Glutathione S-transferases and related proteins from pathogenic human parasites behave as immunomodulatory factors
    Immunology Letters, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 159–164, 2002
  29. Cytoplasmic SIR2 homologue overexpression promotes survival of Leishmania parasites by preventing programmed cell death
    Gene, vol. 296, no. 1-2, pp. 139–150, 2002
  30. Traitement chirurgical de l'incontinence analeSurgical treatment of anal incontinence
    Annales de Chirurgie, vol. 127, no. 9, pp. 670–679, 2002
  31. Experimental studies on the evolution of antimony-resistant phenotype during the in vitro life cycle of Leishmania infantum: implications for the spread of chemoresistance in endemic areas
    Acta Tropica, vol. 80, no. 3, pp. 195–205, 2001
  32. Endogenous Trypanosoma cruzi Tc52 protein expression upregulates the growth of murine macrophages and fibroblasts and cytokine gene expression
    Immunology Letters, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 127–134, 2001
  33. Antimonial-Mediated DNA Fragmentation in Leishmania infantum Amastigotes
    Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 45, no. 7, pp. 2064–2069, 2001
  34. Dual Role of the Leishmania major Ribosomal Protein S3a Homologue in Regulation of T- and B-Cell Activation
    Infection and Immunity, vol. 69, no. 11, pp. 6588–6596, 2001
  35. Trypanosoma Cruzi-Induced Host Immune System Dysfunction: A Rationale for Parasite Immunosuppressive Factor(s) Encoding Gene Targeting
    Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 11–17, 2001
  36. N-Acetylcysteine and glutathione modulate the behaviour of Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infection
    Immunology Letters, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 79–83, 2000
  37. Identification and molecular characterization of two novel Trypanosoma cruzi genes encoding polypeptides sharing sequence motifs found in proteins involved in RNA editing reactions
    Gene, vol. 253, no. 2, pp. 271–280, 2000
  38. Cloning of a Leishmania major gene encoding for an antigen with extensive homology to ribosomal protein S3a
    Gene, vol. 240, no. 1, pp. 57–65, 1999
  39. Intracellular growth and metacyclogenesis defects in Trypanosoma cruzi carrying a targeted deletion of a Tc52 protein-encoding allele
    Molecular Microbiology, vol. 32, no. 6, pp. 1273–1286, 1999
  40. A 24 000 MW Trypanosoma cruzi antigen is a B-cell activator
    Immunology, vol. 94, no. 2, pp. 189–196, 1998
  41. Leishmania major: Cell type dependent distribution of a 43 kDa antigen related to silent information regulatory-2 protein family
    Biology of the Cell, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 239–245, 1998
  42. Phenotype of recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi which overexpress elongation factor 1-?: possible involvement of EF-1? GST-like domain in the resistance to clomipramine
    Gene, vol. 198, no. 1-2, pp. 259–267, 1997
  43. A Leishmania major protein with extensive homology to silent information regulator 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Gene, vol. 169, no. 1, pp. 115–118, 1996
  44. Trypanosoma cruzi elongation factor 1-a: nuclear localization in parasites undergoing apoptosis
    Gene, vol. 174, no. 1, pp. 19–26, 1996
  45. 2-Amino diphenylsulfides as new inhibitors of trypanothione reductase
    International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 111–118, 1995
  46. High Circulating Levels of Fibronectin and Antibodies against Its RGD Adhesion Site during Mouse Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: Relation to Survival
    Experimental Parasitology, vol. 80, no. 3, pp. 499–506, 1995
  47. Trypanosoma cruzi: A 52-kDa Protein Sharing Sequence Homology with Glutathione S-Transferase Is Localized in Parasite Organelles Morphologically Resembling Reservosomes
    Experimental Parasitology, vol. 81, no. 4, pp. 453–461, 1995
  48. Use of a recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi protein antigen to monitor cure of Chagas disease
    Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 89, no. 4, pp. 447–448, 1995
  49. A novel and basic mechanism of immunosuppression in Chagas' disease: releases in vitro and in vivo a protein which induces T cell unresponsiveness through specific interaction with cysteine and glutathione
    Immunology Letters, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 221–224, 1995
  50. : Analysis of cellular and humoral response against a protective recombinant antigen during experimental Chagas' disease
    Immunology Letters, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 193–200, 1995
  51. Molecular cloning of aTrypanosoma cruzi cDNA encoding a protein homologous with mammalian elongation factor 1?
    Parasitology Research, vol. 80, no. 7, pp. 626–628, 1994
  52. Trypanosoma cruzi cDNA encodes a tandemly repeated domain structure characteristic of small stress proteins and glutathione S-transferases
    Biology of the Cell, vol. 80, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 1994
  53. Molecular and immunological characterization of a Trypanosoma cruzi protein homologous to mammalian elongation factor 1 gamma
    Biology of the Cell, vol. 82, no. 1, pp. 39–44, 1994
  54. glutathione-binding proteins (TcGBP) : protection induced by native proteins in an experimental model and analysis of the antibody response
    Research in Immunology, vol. 144, no. 8, pp. 553–563, 1993
  55. attachment of from mouse and rat origin
    Biology of the Cell, vol. 77, pp. 209–217, 1993
  56. Cloning and sequencing of a 24-kDa Trypanosoma cruzi specific antigen released in association with membrane vesicles and defined by a monoclonal antibody
    Biology of the Cell, vol. 75, no. 1, pp. 11–17, 1992
  57. Trypanosoma cruzi: Infection of T lymphocytes and their destruction by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
    European Journal of Immunology, vol. 21, no. 9, pp. 2145–2152, 1991
  58. Trypanosoma cruzi: Differential expression and distribution of an 85-kDa polypeptide epitope by in vitro developmental stages
    Experimental Parasitology, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 207–217, 1990
  59. Some aspects of protozoan parasite-host cell interactions with special reference to RGD-mediated recognition process
    Microbial Pathogenesis, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–5, 1989
  60. Role of the RGD sequence in parasite adhesion to host cells
    Parasitology Today, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 169–173, 1988
  61. The major surface protein ofleishmania promastigotes is a fibronectin-like molecule
    European Journal of Immunology, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 473–476, 1988
  62. Identification of anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-idiotype antibodies in human and experimental Chagas+ disease: pathological implications
    European Journal of Immunology, vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 1889–1894, 1988
  63. Fluorescence-Activated Cell-Sorting Analysis of Fibronectin Peptides Binding to Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes
    The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 111–114, 1988
  64. Trypanosoma cruzi: Ultrastructural visualization of fibronectin bound to culture forms
    Experimental Parasitology, vol. 63, no. 1, pp. 112–114, 1987
  65. Trypanosoma cruzi: Cell type dependent distribution of a tubulin domain in mammalian stages
    Experimental Parasitology, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 133–138, 1987
  66. Identification and isolation of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote cell surface protein with properties expected of a fibronectin receptor
    Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 201–211, 1986
  67. Trypanosoma cruzi: modulation of parasite-cell interaction by plasma fibronectin
    European Journal of Immunology, vol. 15, no. 11, pp. 1096–1101, 1985
  68. Fibronectin receptors on Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and their biological function
    Nature, vol. 308, no. 5957, Article ID 308380a0, 2 pages, 1984
  69. Schistosoma mansoni: Ultrastructural damages due to complement on schistosomula in vitro
    Experimental Parasitology, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 74–82, 1980
  70. Interaction between Schistosoma mansoni and the complement system. Receptors for C3b on cercariae and schistosomula
    Immunology Letters, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 197–201, 1980
  71. Freeze-fracture study of immune-induced Schistosoma mansoni membrane alterationsI. Complement-dependent damage in the presence of antisera to host antigenic Determinants
    Journal of Ultrastructure Research, vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 276–287, 1979
  72. Receptor for IgG(Fc) and human ß2-microglobulin on S. mansoni schistosomula
    Nature, vol. 278, no. 5703, Article ID 278447a0, 2 pages, 1979