CHS Office of Research

Mohammad Ahmad Bani-Ahmad

Mohammad Bani Ahmad got his Bachelor’s degree (2001) in Medical Technology from Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST)/Jordan. His five-year undergraduate study and his practical field experience enforced his confidence in the necessity and humanity as well as perspicacity, accuracy, honesty, and responsibility required by the medical field. Our teachers shared the message that one day we should give back to those who come after us. Mohammad’s teaching experience helped him recall, with respect and appreciation, those who guided his steps and enlightened his mind and soul with their knowledge and encouragement.

Research is the foundation of all great findings and is the root of sciences, and science has no limits; there are always many new things to learn, new areas of inquiry and new discoveries to be found. This inspired Mohammad to continue his higher education. He obtained his Master’s degree in 2004 in hematology and blood banking from JUST/Jordan. And now he is a D.Sc. candidate in the hematology and transplantation program / College of Health Sciences / University of Kentucky.

He is basically interested in understanding the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of blood disorders which can be greatly helpful in defining the associated distinctive abnormalities that can be used as markers for an early and accurate diagnosis of disease. A better understanding in this area can also lead to more effective controlling and monitoring of the course of a disease in an attempt to reduce the suffering of patients, especially children. One of Mohammad’s biggest ambitions is to find a place where he could be helpful in limiting their suffering

As a D.Sc. candidate; Mohammad is a research assistant (RA) in Dr. Oakley’s lab working on his project. He presented his preliminary data from his ongoing project in the 35th Annual Autumn Immunology conference 2006, Chicago, IL.

Mohammad's Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a serious medical situation that is life threatening in immunocompromised patients. A wide variety of the host immune system elements, including complement system, have been suggested to play an influential role in the defense against viral infection. Decay accelerating factor (DAF/CD55) is a major down-regulator of complement activities by accelerating the decay of C3-converatase. DAF is also involved in the down regulating the adaptive immunity through suppressing the proliferative capacity of T cells. This study aimed to study the role of DAF in the immune response against CMV infection and subsequently the effect of DAF expression on the surveillance of CMV within infected tissues.

To achieve our goals, DAF wild-type and knockout C57BL/6 murine models have been infected with a sublethal dose of a wild-type murine CMV (MCMV). Mice were monitored for and euthanized ten days post-infection. The preliminary data have shown that the mice with the DAF-WT phenotype are characterized by a better clinical status represented by 7.8% weight loss, of their initial weight, within the first four days post-infection after which they started recovery. This is compared to the DAF-KO mice which started recovery six days post-infection by which they lost 19.4% of their initial weight. Ten days after infection; Flow cytometric analysis of lung digests, from those mice, has shown that MCMV infection is associated with a significant increase in the infiltration of inflammatory cells, basically CD8+ T lymphocytes, into the sites of infection. As a major mediators of immune responses, serum level of TNF and IFN- has been markedly increased in the DAF-KO mice compared to the infected WT mice. Unlike DAF-WT mice; more viral genome copies has been detected in the spleenocytes from DAF-KO with active replication still being detected. These data suggest that DAF is an intermediate in the immunopathogenecity of MCMV.

Mohammad Bani-Ahmad is a doctoral student in Clinical Sciences / Hematology and Transplantation Sciences.