Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa

Dr. Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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30 August 2017 in Science Translational Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ESEtienne Simon-Loriere
Etienne Simon-Loriere
VDVeasna Duong
Veasna Duong
AMAhmed Tawfik Moustafa
Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
SUSivlin Ung
Sivlin Ung
SLSowath Ly
Sowath Ly
ASAnavaj Sakuntabhai
Anavaj Sakuntabhai
Increased activation of adaptive immunity and proper feedback mechanisms can eliminate dengue viral infection without clinical symptoms.

6 October 2023 in Expert Review of Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AMAhmed Tawfik Moustafa
Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
TKTakahisa Kawaguchi
Takahisa Kawaguchi
MTMeiko Takahashi
Meiko Takahashi
KSKazuya Setoh
Kazuya Setoh
IYIzumi Yamaguchi
Izumi Yamaguchi
FMFumihiko Matsuda
Fumihiko Matsuda
Background: The influenza vaccine administrated every year is a recommended infection control procedure for individuals above the age of six months. However, the effectiveness of repeated annual vaccination is still an active research topic. Therefore, we investigated the vaccine immunogenicity in two independent groups: previously vaccinated versus non-vaccinated individuals at three time points; prior vaccination, one week and three months post vaccination. The assessment enabled us to evaluate the elicited immune responses and the durability of the induced protection in both groups.Research Design and Methods: A research study was conducted to assess the immunogenicity of a single dose of Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B) in 278 healthy adults aged between 32 and 66 years. Almost half of the participants, 140 (50 center dot 36%), received influenza vaccination at least once precursor to past influenza seasons. One blood sample was taken prior to vaccination for complete blood analysis and baseline immunogenicity assessment. The selected study participants received a single vaccine dose on the first day, and then followed up for three months. Two blood samples were taken after one week and three months post vaccination, respectively, for vaccine immunogenicity assessment.Results: Before vaccination, the seroprotection, defined as a hemagglutination-inhibiting titer of =>1:40, was detected for the three vaccine virus strains in 20 previously vaccinated participants (1429%) [895%, 212%]. We compared the overall vaccine response for the three virus strains using a normalized response score calculated from linearly transformed titer measurements; the score before vaccination was 84% higher in the previously vaccinated group and the mean difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Three months post-vaccination, we didn't find a significant difference in vaccine responses; the number of fully seroprotected individuals became 48 (3429%) [2648%, 4277%] in the previously vaccinated group and 59 (4275%) [3437%, 5145%] in the non-vaccinated group. The calculated response score was almost equal in both groups and the mean difference was no longer statistically significant.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a single dose of influenza vaccine is equally protective after three months for annually vaccinated adults and first-time vaccine receivers.

29 January 2024 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AMAhmed Tawfik Moustafa
Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
TKTakahisa Kawaguchi
Takahisa Kawaguchi
MTMeiko Takahashi
Meiko Takahashi
KSKazuya Setoh
Kazuya Setoh
IYIzumi Yamaguchi
Izumi Yamaguchi
FMFumihiko Matsuda
Fumihiko Matsuda
The seasonal influenza vaccine remains one of the vital recommended infection control measures for the elderly with chronic illnesses. We investigated the immunogenicity of a single dose of influenza vaccine in 123 seronegative participants and classified them into four distinct groups, determined by the promptness of vaccine response, the longevity of humoral immunity, and the likelihood of exhibiting cross-reactivity. Subsequently, we used transcriptional profiling and differential gene expression analysis to identify potential genes directly associated with the robust response to the vaccine. The group of exemplary vaccine responders differentially expressed 16 genes, namely: MZB1, MYDGF, TXNDC5, TXNDC11, HSP90B1, FKBP11, PDIA5, PRDX4, CD38, SDC1, TNFRSF17, TNFRSF13B, PAX5, POU2AF1, IRF4, and XBP1. Our findings point out a list of expressed proteins that are related to B cell proliferation, unfolded protein response, and cellular haemostasis, as well as a linkage of these expressions to the survival of long-lived plasma cells.

20 February 2025 in Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ICIsabelle Casadémont
Isabelle Casadémont
RARuben Ayala-Suarez
Ruben Ayala-Suarez
NMNaphak Modhiran
Naphak Modhiran
AMAhmed Tawfik Moustafa
Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
MPMatthieu Prot
Matthieu Prot
ASAnavaj Sakuntabhai
Anavaj Sakuntabhai
Dengue virus (DENV) is a global health threat, with approximately 390 million infections annually, ranging from mild dengue fever to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. MicroRNA (miRNA) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators which may regulate host resistance to DENV infection. This study aimed to identify miRNAs involved in natural resistance to DENV infection. Individuals from a dengue-endemic area were classified as susceptible (SD) or resistant (RD) according to their anti-DENV antibody status. RD individuals were seronegative despite high local DENV infection prevalence. Monocytes susceptibility to DENV infection was assessed in vitro. The miRNome profiles of the monocytes from 7 individuals per group were assessed upon mock or DENV-2 infection. The antiviral effect of differentially expressed miRNAs was analyzed using miRNA mimics in HeLa cells followed by infection with DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 serotypes. We performed RNA-seq on miRNA mimic-transfected cells to identify miRNA-targeted genes interacting with DENV proteins. Monocytes from RD individuals exhibit lower DENV-2 production in vitro. The miRNAs miR-155, miR-132-3p, miR-576-5p were overexpressed in monocytes from RD group upon DENV-2 infection. The transfection of miR-155-5p mimic reduced DENV infection and viral production in HeLa cells, regulating 18 genes interacting with DENV proteins and downregulating target genes involved in interferon response, TP53 regulation, apoptosis, and vesicle trafficking (e.g. HSD17B12, ANXA2 ). Therefore, we show that monocytes from RD individuals show a distinct miRNA expression profile and reduced viral production. In vitro miR-155-5p upregulation induces an antiviral state, revealing potential therapeutic targets to treat dengue.

14 September 2022 in Research Square
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
AMAhmed Tawfik Moustafa
Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
TKTakahisa Kawaguchi
Takahisa Kawaguchi
MTMeiko Takahashi
Meiko Takahashi
KSKazuya Setoh
Kazuya Setoh
IYIzumi Yamaguchi
Izumi Yamaguchi
FMFumihiko Matsuda
Fumihiko Matsuda
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.

7 August 2026 in bioRxiv
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
AMAhmed Tawfik Moustafa
Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
KSKristel Van Steen
Kristel Van Steen
ASAnavaj Sakuntabhai
Anavaj Sakuntabhai
Human populations have evolved distinct immune responses to local pathogens, and investigating signatures of natural selection across populations can reveal both shared and population-specific immune response mechanisms. We compared genomic signatures of natural selection in Senegalese, Thai, and Peruvian populations using two complementary methods, hypothesising that this tri-continental comparison would reveal population-specific adaptive variants in genes regulating immune pathways. Our findings confirm that genetic diversity among these populations is reflected in their immune responses to regionally endemic pathogens. Furthermore, candidate immune-related genomic regions identified through selection scanning provide insights for ancestry-informed vaccine development by directing antigen design for region-specific pathogens, incorporating population-specific adjuvants, and tailoring administration strategies.