Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin | Virology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin | Virology | Best Researcher Award 

Postdoctoral Fellow | UNAM | Mexico

Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin is a distinguished Iranian immunologist and molecular virologist whose academic and research pursuits bridge medical immunology, viral oncology, and immunogenetics. Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Virology at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (FESC–UNAM), his work focuses on understanding genetic variations that influence susceptibility and resistance to Bovine Leukemia Virus infection in cattle, contributing to translational advancements in comparative immunovirology. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Medical Immunology from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, where his pioneering research on HTLV-1 molecular pathogenesis, recombinant antigen development, and immunotherapeutic target design laid a foundation for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against viral-associated malignancies such as Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Dr. Akbarin has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals, covering areas such as cell signaling, host-virus interactions, and immune regulatory mechanisms, while also contributing to scientific books on human T-lymphotropic viruses and related diseases. His interdisciplinary collaborations span institutions across Iran, South Korea, and Mexico, underscoring his global engagement in biomedical research. Beyond his scholarly output, he has played instrumental roles in organizing international scientific congresses and mentoring medical and laboratory science students in immunology, bacteriology, and molecular diagnostics. His contributions to immunogenetics and translational virology have advanced the understanding of viral immune modulation and disease progression, reinforcing the link between molecular research and public health applications. Dr. Akbarin’s scientific vision centers on developing integrative molecular approaches for infectious disease control, cancer immunotherapy, and system biology-driven therapeutic innovation, embodying a commitment to advancing medical science and improving global health outcomes through precision immunology. He has 120 citations from 19 documents with an h-index of 7.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Publications

1. Tarokhian, H., Rahimi, H., Mosavat, A., Shirdel, A., Rafatpanah, H., Akbarin, M. M., et al. (2018). HTLV-1–host interactions on the development of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma: Virus and host gene expressions.

2. Akbarin, M. M., Rahimi, H., HassanNia, T., Razavi, G. S., Sabet, F., & Shirdel, A. (2013). Comparison of HTLV-I proviral load in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM-TSP) and healthy carriers.

3. Ramezani, S., Shirdel, A., Rafatpanah, H., Akbarin, M. M., Tarokhian, H., et al. (2017). Assessment of HTLV-1 proviral load, LAT, BIM, c-FOS and RAD51 gene expression in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Medical Microbiology and Immunology

4. Akbarin, M. M., Shirdel, A., Bari, A., Mohaddes, S. T., Rafatpanah, H., Karimani, E. G., et al. (2017). Evaluation of the role of TAX, HBZ, and HTLV-1 proviral load on the survival of ATLL patients. Blood Research.

5. Jafarian, M., Mozhgani, S. H., Patrad, E., Vaziri, H., Rezaee, S. A., Akbarin, M. M., et al. (2017). Evaluation of INOS, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 gene expression: A study of adult T cell leukemia malignancy associated.

Aneta Pluta | Virology | Best Infectious Disease Researcher Award

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Dr. Aneta Pluta | Virology | Best Infectious Disease Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | National Veterinary Research Institute | Poland

Dr. Aneta Katarzyna Pluta, PhD, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Omics Analyses at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Puławy, Poland, where she has been employed since 2010. She earned her PhD in Veterinary Sciences from NVRI in 2022, following her MSc in Microbiology and a Postgraduate Specialization in Medical Analytics from the Medical University of Lublin. Additionally, she completed a specialization in the Psychology of Social Communication at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. Dr. Pluta’s research focuses on veterinary virology and molecular biology, particularly the genomics, pathogenesis, and diagnostics of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV). Her work encompasses qPCR harmonization, next-generation sequencing (NGS/RNA-seq), and viral gene regulation, contributing to international collaborative studies and the WOAH (OIE) Enzootic Bovine Leukosis Reference Laboratory. She has authored numerous impactful papers in journals such as Scientific Reports, Pathogens, Retrovirology, and Viruses, advancing understanding of BLV molecular variability and host–virus interactions. As Principal Investigator of an NCN PRELUDIUM grant, she explored the effects of BLV genomic mutations on viral replication. Her scholarly excellence has earned her multiple distinctions, including the Polish Society of Veterinary Science Main Award, NVRI Scientific Council Honorable Mention, and presentation awards from DIAGMOL and All Things BLV. Dr. Pluta also contributes to the global scientific community as a peer reviewer for several international journals and as the initiator of the Breast Cancer–BLV Research Network, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in veterinary and medical virology. She has 325 citations from 23 documents with an h-index of 10.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Publications

1. Pluta, A., Rola-Łuszczak, M., Hoffmann, F. G., Donnik, I., Petropavlovskiy, M., & Kuźmak, J. (2024). Genetic variability of bovine leukemia virus: Evidence of dual infection, recombination and quasi-species.

2. Rola-Łuszczak, M., Sakhawat, A., Pluta, A., Ryło, A., Bomba, A., Bibi, N., & Kuźmak, J. (2021). Molecular characterization of the env gene of bovine leukemia virus in cattle from Pakistan with NGS-based evidence of virus heterogeneity.

3. Pluta, A., Blazhko, N. V., Ngirande, C., Joris, T., Willems, L., & Kuźmak, J. (2021). Analysis of nucleotide sequence of Tax, miRNA and LTR of bovine leukemia virus in cattle with different levels of persistent lymphocytosis in Russia.

4. Pluta, A., Jaworski, J. P., & Cortés-Rubio, C. N. (2020). Balance between retroviral latency and transcription: Based on HIV model.

5. Pluta, A., Willems, L., Douville, R. N., & Kuźmak, J. (2020). Effects of naturally occurring mutations in bovine leukemia virus 5′-LTR and Tax gene on viral transcriptional activity.

Imen Larbi | Virology | Best Academic Researcher Award

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Dr. Imen Larbi | Virology | Best Academic Researcher Award

Researcher | Institut Pasteur de Tunis | Tunisia

Dr. Imen Larbi, a distinguished Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, currently serves as the Head of the Veterinary and Microbiology Laboratory at the Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia, where she leads innovative research on infectious and zoonotic diseases. She earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, and later completed a PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Tunis El Manar, focusing on the epidemiological surveillance of avian influenza virus in Tunisia. With over 15 years of professional experience, Dr. Larbi has developed deep expertise in animal health, zoonotic disease control, food safety, biosafety, and epidemiological surveillance. Her prolific research record includes publications in high-impact journals such as Virus Research, Virology Journal, Poultry Science, and Archives of Virology, addressing viral phylogenetics, zoonotic transmission, and public health risks. She has contributed significantly to international projects supported by the FAO, CDC, and U.S. Civilian Research Program, strengthening influenza surveillance and control programs in North Africa. A Certified Professional in Biorisk Management by the IFBA, she is a recognized expert serving on the National Committee of Experts in Animal Health and the Governing Board of the Institut Pasteur de Tunis. Her leadership and scientific excellence have earned her recognition in global veterinary and biosafety circles. In addition to her research and advisory contributions, Dr. Larbi actively participates in editorial and peer review activities for scientific journals, advancing veterinary microbiology and zoonotic disease research worldwide. She has 207 citations from 21 documents with an h-index of 7.

Profile: Scopus 

Publications

1.Imen Larbi, (2025). Tracing the 2021 equine influenza outbreak: First characterization and phylogeographic analysis of H3N8 Florida clade 1 virus in Tunisia. Virology.

2. Imen Larbi, (2025). West Nile virus antibody prevalence in horses during the 2023 outbreak in Tunisia, North Africa. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.