Maqsudul Alam

Maqsudul Alam (14 December 1954 – 20 December 2014) was a Bangladeshi-born life-science scientist [1][2] who is known for his work on genome sequencing. His work on genome sequencing started with bacteria Idiomarina loihiensis in 2003.[3] He came into the focus of Bangladeshi people after his work on genome sequencing of tosha jute (Corchorus olitorius O4) in 2010,[4] white jute (Corchorus capsularis CVL1) in 2013[5] and jute attacking fungus (Macrophomina phaseolina) in 2012.[6]

Maqsudul Alam
Born(1954-12-14)14 December 1954
Madaripur, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan
Died20 December 2014(2014-12-20) (aged 60)
Hawaii, United States
Resting placeHawaii General Park, U.S.
NationalityBangladeshi-American
Alma materMoscow State University
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
Known forGenome sequencing of papaya, rubber, and jute
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa

Alam also worked on genome sequencing of transgenic papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus) in 2007,[7] rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in 2009,[8] bacteria Methylacidiphilum infernorum in 2007,[9] Methylocella silvestris BL2 in 2009,[10] Saprospira grandis str. Lewin in 2011,[11] Geobacillus thermoleovorans CCB_US3_UF5 in 2011,[12] Thermus sp. strain CCB_US3_UF1 in 2011,[13][14] Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Typhi P-stx-12 in 2011,[15] Thermomyces lanuginosus Strain SSBP[16] and Pantoea anthophila in 2014.[17]

Early life

Alam was born in Madaripur, Bangladesh. His parents were Dalil Uddin Ahmed, a martyr of the 1971 Liberation War and an official of East Pakistan Rifles; and Lyrian Ahmed, a teacher, and social worker.[1]

Personal life

Alam married Irina Anatolievna during his stay in Russia. Alam was a Ph.D student and Anatolievna was a medical student at that time. The couple had one daughter named Liliana Maqsudulovna Alam (born 1986). In 1992, the family moved to United States. The couple was divorced in 1997.[18]

Maqsudul with his daughter Liliana

Alam later married Rafia Hasina in 2009.

Education

Alam completed secondary and higher secondary education from Government Laboratory High School and Dhaka College, respectively. He completed his Master's in Microbiology from Moscow State University in 1979; and earned his first Ph.D degree in Microbiology from the same university in 1982. He earned his second Ph.D in Biochemistry from Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in 1987.[1][2]

Academic career

From 1988–1990, Alam was a senior research scientist at Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences. Then he was a visiting scientist of department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Washington State University from 1990–1992. Alam was an assistant director of Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center (MarBEC) at University of Hawaii.

In 1992, Alam joined the department of Microbiology at University of Hawaii, Manoa as an assistant professor. In 1997, he was promoted to associate professor. Alam became full professor in 2001, a position which he held until his death. He was also the Director of Advanced Studies in Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics at University of Hawaii, Manoa from 2003 until his death.[1][2]

Alam was the director of Centre for Chemical Biology at Universiti Sains Malaysia from 2009–2012.[2] In 2011, Alam became a member of advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet.

Alam (upper row, 6th from right), Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Yasmeen Haque and other teachers at SUST Shaheed Minar, Sylhet.

Scientific career

In 2003, Alam set up the Advanced Studies in Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics (ASGPB) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Consolidating the DNA sequencing framework of ASGPB with the bioinformatic assets at the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC), he ran a Computational Proteomics program that ranged from wet lab research to in silico informatics.[2] Alam and his team completed the genome sequencing of Idiomarina loihiensis,[3] an ancient organism found in the hydrothermal vents of Loihi during a University of Hawaii expedition in 2003.[19]

In 2007, Alam worked in the Hawaii Papaya Genome Project which aimed to sequence the complete genome of the transgenic 'SunUp' papaya. The SunUp papaya was genetically modified to confer resistance to the Papaya ringspot virus, but Hawaiian farmers could not sell the transgenic papaya in Japan; Alam and his team sequenced the transgenic papaya to help the farmers get through the regulatory process.[7][20]

Alam set up the Center for Chemical Biology at Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2009. There he established research facilities, research programs, and worked on genome sequencing of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).[8]

Bangladesh Jute Genome Project
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Alam (2nd from right) in a press conference (2010) announcing completion of jute genome sequencing.

In 2009, Alam joined the Basic and Applied Research on Jute Project of Jute Research Institute, Bangladesh, as principal investigator. He hoped genome sequencing of a cash crop like jute would help Bangladesh economically because jute can be made disease resistant if the genome sequence is known. Alam's team worked on genome sequencing of tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius O4)[4] and in 2010, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina publicly announced that jute genome had been decoded and several patent applications would be filed.[21][22] Alam's team went on to work on sequencing a jute attacking fungus (Macrophomina phaseolina)[6] in 2012 and white jute (Corchorus capsularis CVL1)[5] in 2013.[1]

Death

On December 20, 2014 Alam died at the Queen's medical center, Honolulu, Hawaii. He was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. On December 23, 2014 he was buried at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery as per his desire.[23][24]

Awards

Alam was awarded excellence of research award from University of Hawaii in 2001, NIH Shannon Award in 1997, Humboldt Research Fellow in 1987 from German Science Foundation.[1] In 2016, Alam was awarded Independence Day Award posthumously by the Government of Bangladesh.[25]

"Maqsudul Alam Graduate Research Award Fund" was created by University of Hawaii Foundation to support the education of graduate students and to honor Alam.[2]

Publications

Book Chapters
  • Synteny and Collinearity in Plant Genomes (2008).[26]
  • Protoglobin and globin-coupled sensors (2008).[27]

References
  1. "About Professor Maqsudul Alam". Basic & Applied Research on Jute Project (BARJ), Bangladsh.
  2. "MAQSUDUL ALAM GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARD FUND". UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I FOUNDATION.
  3. Hou, Shaobin; Saw, Jimmy H.; Lee, Kit Shan; Freitas, Tracey A.; Belisle, Claude; Kawarabayasi, Yutaka; Donachie, Stuart P.; Pikina, Alla; Galperin, Michael Y. (2004-12-28). "Genome sequence of the deep-sea γ-proteobacterium Idiomarina loihiensis reveals amino acid fermentation as a source of carbon and energy". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 101 (52): 18036–18041. Bibcode:2004PNAS..10118036H. doi:10.1073/pnas.0407638102. PMC 539801. PMID 15596722.
  4. "Jute genome decoded". The Daily Star. June 17, 2010.
  5. "Maqsudul Alam declares Genome Sequence of Deshi Jute". Somoy TV News.
  6. Islam, Md Shahidul; Haque, Md Samiul; Islam, Mohammad Moinul; Emdad, Emdadul Mannan; Halim, Abdul; Hossen, Quazi Md Mosaddeque; Hossain, Md Zakir; Ahmed, Borhan; Rahim, Sifatur (2012-09-19). "Tools to kill: Genome of one of the most destructive plant pathogenic fungi Macrophomina phaseolina". BMC Genomics. 13 (1): 493. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-13-493. ISSN 1471-2164. PMC 3477038. PMID 22992219.
  7. Ming, Ray; Hou, Shaobin; Feng, Yun; Yu, Qingyi; Dionne-Laporte, Alexandre; Saw, Jimmy H.; Senin, Pavel; Wang, Wei; Ly, Benjamin V. (April 2008). "The draft genome of the transgenic tropical fruit tree papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus)". Nature. 452 (7190): 991–996. Bibcode:2008Natur.452..991M. doi:10.1038/nature06856. ISSN 0028-0836. PMC 2836516. PMID 18432245.
  8. Rahman, Ahmad Yamin Abdul; Usharraj, Abhilash O.; Misra, Biswapriya B.; Thottathil, Gincy P.; Jayasekaran, Kandakumar; Feng, Yun; Hou, Shaobin; Ong, Su Yean; Ng, Fui Ling (2013-02-02). "Draft genome sequence of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis". BMC Genomics. 14 (1): 75. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-14-75. ISSN 1471-2164. PMC 3575267. PMID 23375136.
  9. Hou, Shaobin; Makarova, Kira S.; Saw, Jimmy HW; Senin, Pavel; Ly, Benjamin V.; Zhou, Zhemin; Ren, Yan; Wang, Jianmei; Galperin, Michael Y. (2008-07-01). "Complete genome sequence of the extremely acidophilic methanotroph isolate V4, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, a representative of the bacterial phylum Verrucomicrobia". Biology Direct. 3 (1): 26. doi:10.1186/1745-6150-3-26. ISSN 1745-6150. PMC 2474590. PMID 18593465.
  10. Chen, Yin; Crombie, Andrew; Rahman, M. Tanvir; Dedysh, Svetlana N.; Liesack, Werner; Stott, Matthew B.; Alam, Maqsudul; Theisen, Andreas R.; Murrell, J. Colin (2010-07-15). "Complete Genome Sequence of the Aerobic Facultative Methanotroph Methylocella silvestris BL2". Journal of Bacteriology. 192 (14): 3840–3841. doi:10.1128/JB.00506-10. ISSN 0021-9193. PMC 2897342. PMID 20472789.
  11. Saw, Jimmy H. W.; Yuryev, Anton; Kanbe, Masaomi; Hou, Shaobin; Young, Aaron G.; Aizawa, Shin-Ichi; Alam, Maqsudul (2012-03-19). "Complete genome sequencing and analysis of Saprospira grandis str. Lewin, a predatory marine bacterium". Standards in Genomic Sciences. 6 (1): 84–93. doi:10.4056/sigs.2445005. ISSN 1944-3277. PMC 3368406. PMID 22675601.
  12. Sakaff, Muhd Khairul Luqman Muhd; Rahman, Ahmad Yamin Abdul; Saito, Jennifer A.; Hou, Shaobin; Alam, Maqsudul (2012-03-01). "Complete Genome Sequence of the Thermophilic Bacterium Geobacillus thermoleovorans CCB_US3_UF5". Journal of Bacteriology. 194 (5): 1239. doi:10.1128/JB.06580-11. ISSN 0021-9193. PMC 3294819. PMID 22328744.
  13. Teh, Beng Soon; Rahman, Ahmad Yamin Abdul; Saito, Jennifer A.; Hou, Shaobin; Alam, Maqsudul (2012-03-01). "Complete Genome Sequence of the Thermophilic Bacterium Thermus sp. Strain CCB_US3_UF1". Journal of Bacteriology. 194 (5): 1240. doi:10.1128/JB.06589-11. ISSN 0021-9193. PMC 3294796. PMID 22328745.
  14. Teh, Beng Soon; Lau, Nyok-Sean; Ng, Fui Ling; Abdul Rahman, Ahmad Yamin; Wan, Xuehua; Saito, Jennifer A.; Hou, Shaobin; Teh, Aik-Hong; Najimudin, Nazalan (2015-10-08). "Complete genome sequence of the thermophilic Thermus sp. CCB_US3_UF1 from a hot spring in Malaysia". Standards in Genomic Sciences. 10 (1): 76. doi:10.1186/s40793-015-0053-6. ISSN 1944-3277. PMC 4599208. PMID 26457128.
  15. Ong, Su Yean; Pratap, Chandra Bhan; Wan, Xuehua; Hou, Shaobin; Rahman, Ahmad Yamin Abdul; Saito, Jennifer A.; Nath, Gopal; Alam, Maqsudul (2012-04-15). "Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Typhi P-stx-12". Journal of Bacteriology. 194 (8): 2115–2116. doi:10.1128/JB.00121-12. ISSN 0021-9193. PMC 3318496. PMID 22461552.
  16. Mchunu, Nokuthula Peace; Permaul, Kugen; Rahman, Ahmad Yamin Abdul; Saito, Jennifer A.; Singh, Suren; Alam, Maqsudul (2013-06-27). "Xylanase Superproducer: Genome Sequence of a Compost-Loving Thermophilic Fungus, Thermomyces lanuginosus Strain SSBP". Genome Announcements. 1 (3): e00388–13. doi:10.1128/genomeA.00388-13. ISSN 2169-8287. PMC 3707600. PMID 23788551.
  17. Wan, Xuehua; Hou, Shaobin; Phan, Nolwenn; Moss, Jennifer S. Malone; Donachie, Stuart P.; Alam, Maqsudul (2015-06-25). "Draft Genome Sequence of Pantoea anthophila Strain 11-2 from Hypersaline Lake Laysan, Hawaii". Genome Announcements. 3 (3): e00321–15. doi:10.1128/genomeA.00321-15. ISSN 2169-8287. PMC 4432323. PMID 25977417.
  18. "Biography-Liliana". Google Sites.
  19. "Small UH gene team achieves big-time feat". Star bulletin. 2003.
  20. Borrell, Brendan (2008-04-23). "Papaya genome project bears fruit". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2008.772. ISSN 0028-0836.
  21. "Jute Genome Sequence Unveiled". Bangladesh Awami League.
  22. "Jute genome sequence decoded by Bangladeshi scientists". Hindustan Times.
  23. "Scientist Maqsudul Alam passes away". Prothom-Alo. December 21, 2014.
  24. "Jute genome decoder Maqsudul Alam passes away". Daily Star. Dec 20, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  25. "Independence Day Award" (PDF). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  26. Tang, Haibao; Bowers, John E.; Wang, Xiyin; Ming, Ray; Alam, Maqsudul; Paterson, Andrew H. (2008-04-25). "Synteny and Collinearity in Plant Genomes". Science. 320 (5875): 486–488. Bibcode:2008Sci...320..486T. doi:10.1126/science.1153917. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 18436778.
  27. Freitas, Tracey Allen K.; Saito, Jennifer A.; Wan, Xuehua; Hou, Shaobin; Alam, Maqsudul (2008), "Protoglobin and Globin-coupled Sensors", The Smallest Biomolecules: Diatomics and their Interactions with Heme Proteins, Elsevier, pp. 175–202, doi:10.1016/b978-044452839-1.50008-5, ISBN 9780444528391
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