Amal Bajaffer

Dr. Amal Bajaffer

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Jeddah, Makkah al Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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4 March 2022 in Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MYMuhammad Yasir
Muhammad Yasir
Asad Mustafa KarimAsad Mustafa Karim
Asad Mustafa Karim
SMSumera Kausar Malik
Sumera Kausar Malik
ABAmal Bajaffer
Amal Bajaffer
EAEsam I. Azhar
Esam I. Azhar
The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that can inhibit the visible growth of a microorganism after overnight incubation is called as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the drug prescriptions are made on the basis of MIC data to ensure successful treatment outcomes. Therefore, reliable antimicrobial susceptibility data is crucial, and it will help clinicians about which drug to prescribe. Although few prediction studies based on strategies have been conducted, however, no single machine learning (ML) modelling has been carried out to predict MICs in N. gonorrhoeae. In this study, we propose a ML based approach that can predict MICs of a specific antibiotic using unitigs sequences data. We retrieved N. gonorrhoeae genomes from European Nucleotide Archive and NCBI and analysed them combined with their respective MIC data for cefixime, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin and then we constructed unitigs by using de Brujin graphs. We built and compared 35 different ML regression models to predict MICs. Our results demonstrate that RandomForest and CATBoost models showed best performance in predicting MICs of the three antibiotics. The coefficient of determination, R2, (a statistical measure of how well the regression predictions approximate the real data points) for cefixime, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin was 0.75787, 0.77241, and 0.79009 respectively using RandomForest. For CATBoost model, the R2 value was 0.74570, 0.77393, and 0.79317 for cefixime, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin respectively. Lastly, using feature importance, we explore the important genomic regions identified by the models for predicting MICs. The major mutations which are responsible for resistance against these three antibiotics were chosen by ML models as a top feature in case of each antibiotics. CATBoost, DecisionTree, GradientBoosting, and RandomForest regression models chose the same unitigs which are responsible for resistance. This unitigs-based strategy for developing models for MIC prediction, clinical diagnostics, and surveillance can be applicable for other critical bacterial pathogens.

10 November 2022 in Antibiotics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MYMuhammad Yasir
Muhammad Yasir
Asad Mustafa KarimAsad Mustafa Karim
Asad Mustafa Karim
SMSumera Kausar Malik
Sumera Kausar Malik
ABAmal Bajaffer
Amal Bajaffer
Esam AzharEsam Azhar
Esam Azhar
Timely and efficacious antibiotic treatment depends on precise and quick in silico antimicrobial-resistance predictions. Limited treatment choices due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlight the necessity to optimize the available diagnostics. AMR can be explicitly anticipated on the basis of genome sequence. In this study, we used transcriptomes of 410 multidrug-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We trained 10 machine learning (ML) classifiers on the basis of data on gene expression (GEXP) information and generated predictive models for meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime drugs. Among all the used ML models, four models showed high F1-score, accuracy, precision, and specificity compared with the other models. However, RandomForestClassifier showed a moderate F1-score (0.6), precision (0.61), and specificity (0.625) for ciprofloxacin. In the case of ceftazidime, RidgeClassifier performed well and showed F1-score (0.652), precision (0.654), and specificity (0.652) values. For meropenem, KNeighborsClassifier exhibited moderate F1-score (0.629), precision (0.629), and specificity (0.629). Among these three antibiotics, GEXP data on meropenem and ceftazidime improved diagnostic performance. The findings will pave the way for the establishment of a resistance profiling tool that can predict AMR on the basis of transcriptomic markers.

10 June 2021 in FEBS Open Bio
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ABAmal Bajaffer
Amal Bajaffer
KMKatsuhiko Mineta
Katsuhiko Mineta
TGTakashi Gojobori
Takashi Gojobori
Memory has an essential function in human life as it helps individuals remember and recognize their surroundings. It is also the major form of cognition that controls behavior. As memory is a function that is highly characteristic of humans, how it was established is of particular interest. Recent progress in the field of neurosciences, together with the technological advancement of genome-wide approaches, has led to the accumulation of evidence regarding the presence and similar/distinct mechanisms of memory among species. However, the understanding of the evolution of memory obtained utilizing these genome-wide approaches remains unclear. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the literature on the evolution of the memory system among species and the genes involved in this process. This review also discusses possible approaches to study the evolution of memory systems to guide future research.

2 June 2026 in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ABAmal Bajaffer
Amal Bajaffer
LALutfi Afiq‐Rosli
Lutfi Afiq‐Rosli
KLKah Kheng Lim
Kah Kheng Lim
SFSofia Frappi
Sofia Frappi
MHMichelle‐Nicole Havlik
Michelle‐Nicole Havlik
CDCarlos M. Duarte
Carlos M. Duarte
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized the study of ecology and biodiversity, enabling species detection without direct observation in the environment. However, the implications of detection errors, specifically false positives and false negatives, are poorly reported in eDNA studies, significantly hindering our understanding of the technique's limitations and the contexts in which it may not work. To improve transparency, strengthen methodologies and support more accurate ecological interpretations, this paper advocates for the comprehensive reporting of all findings in eDNA studies, especially detection errors arising from issues in sampling, preservation, laboratory workflow and bioinformatics. By pointing out the methodological challenges associated with eDNA research, we highlight the importance of methodological rigour and the need for comprehensive reporting procedures. This approach not only encourages scientific advancement but also enables sound ecological inference. We conclude by calling for standardized practices and transparency in eDNA research to advance a more sophisticated understanding of ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity.