Biotechnology at CCSF - Niloufar Ziari

Niloufar ZiAri

"I got my bachelor's degree in cell and molecular biology in Iran. After I graduated, I worked for a year as a lab assistant in a clinical lab. This was right before I moved to the United States in 2014 in pursuit of a better life.

After arriving, I attended college in San Jose, taking ESL and science classes. I was planning to get a master's degree from San Francisco State University, but I decided to volunteer in a biology lab first to gain more work experience before starting a degree program. This volunteer experience helped me realize that I was interested in pursuing a career in biotechnology.

A mentor at SFSU suggested that I look into the biotechnology program at City College of San Francisco. This turned out to be great advice. I have been very pleased with the program. After completing classes for Stem Cell Technology Certificate, I applied for and was accepted into the CIRM internship program."

Stem Cell Internship: Prosetta Biosciences

Project Title: Characterizing the Target of Anti-Rabies Drugs and their Mechanism of Actions.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that infects the central nervous system of mammals following the bite of a rabid animal. Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, there is no effective small-molecule therapy, and every year more than 50,000 humans die of rabies worldwide. Upon onset of symptoms, the disease has a nearly 100% case fatality rate– making it a worthwhile challenge for antiviral drug discovery.

Prosetta has been advancing three related candidate drugs which have worked against live rabies virus in cells according to CDC data. The drugs’ target and mechanism of action have not been fully characterized, though they are believed to have slightly different targets. My project is to use Drug Resin Affinity Chromatography, which involves incubating the drugs with an extract prepared from tissue or cells, to determine what proteins comprise the complexes targeted by the drug and the role of energy in forming the complexes and the resulting mechanisms of rabies infection. Our studies have identified several proteins from the cell extracts that our drugs bind to, including Malate Dehydrogenase, Glutamine Synthetase, and 14-3-3. Each drug binds different amounts of these proteins. We also found that the target multi-protein complex forms best in the presence of energy at room temperature, rather than at 4 degrees or 37 degrees. Through these studies, we will understand more about the mechanism of rabies infection which can result in stopping the virus from being replicated and getting to the nervous system which ultimately causes death.

Niloufar Ziari - Characterizing the Target of Anti- Rabies Drugs and their Mechanism of Actions - CCSF CIRM Intern 2021-22.pdf

Niloufar working at Prosetta Biosciences.

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Niloufar ZiAri

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