Mohsan Saeed, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

My laboratory investigates the role that viral proteins, particularly viral proteases, play in remodeling host cells and creating a favorable environment for virus replication. To this end, we take a two-pronged approach: employ modern systems biology methods to get a global view of the virus-host interface and then use classical molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to gain deeper mechanistic insights.

The major focus of my laboratory is to identify and characterize host proteins that are cleaved by viral proteases. For this, we use a relatively unbiased approach to label and capture protein N-termini generated by proteolytic cleavage in virus-infected cells. This powerful proteomics (“degradomics”) approach not only identifies the cleaved proteins but also the site of cleavage within a protein. Once the proteins are identified and their cleavage is validated by orthogonal methods, we then ascertain the functional significance of these cleavages in the virus life cycle.

Besides studying host proteins that we have identified from the degradomics analysis of clinically important enteroviruses, we continue to extend this analysis to viruses from other families with the goal to get a global view of cellular pathways commonly targeted or co-opted by diverse viruses. These studies are expected to provide novel insights into cell biology, antiviral defenses, and disease mechanisms. Also, viral proteases are one of the prime targets for antiviral development, and therefore deeper insights into their function will help improve viral therapeutics.

Publications

  • Published 6/12/2025

    Caobi A, Su CM, Beusch CM, Kenney D, Darling TL, Feng S, Semaan M, Wacquiez A, Sanders NL, Tully ES, Chen DY, Evdokimova M, Ding Z, Jones D, Alysandratos KD, Mizgerd JP, Kirchdoerfer RN, Kotton DN, Douam F, Crossland NA, Boon ACM, Gordon DE, Baker SC, Saeed M. SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 enhances viral virulence by subverting host antiviral defenses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jun 17; 122(24):e2426528122. PMID: 40504150.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/4/2025

    Evdokimova M, Feng S, Caobi A, Moreira FR, Jones D, Alysandratos KD, Tully ES, Kotton DN, Boyd DF, Banach BS, Kirchdoerfer RN, Saeed M, Baker SC. Coronavirus endoribonuclease antagonizes ZBP1-mediated necroptosis and delays multiple cell death pathways. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Mar 11; 122(10):e2419620122. PMID: 40035769.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/6/2024

    Keiser PT, Zhang W, Ricca M, Wacquiez A, Grimins A, Cencic R, Patten JJ, Shah P, Padilha E, Connor JH, Pelletier J, Lyons SM, Saeed M, Brown LE, Porco JA, Davey RA. Amidino-rocaglates (ADRs), a class of synthetic rocaglates, are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication through inhibition of viral protein synthesis. Antiviral Res. 2024 Oct; 230:105976. PMID: 39117283.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/1/2024

    Ackermann-Gäumann R, Dentand A, Lienhard R, Saeed M, Speiser DE, MacDonald MR, Coste AT, Cagno V. A reporter virus particle seroneutralization assay for tick-borne encephalitis virus overcomes ELISA limitations. J Med Virol. 2024 Aug; 96(8):e29843. PMID: 39092814.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/21/2024

    Caobi A, Saeed M. Upping the ante: enhanced expression of interferon-antagonizing ORF6 and ORF9b proteins by SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2024 Jun; 79:102454. PMID: 38518551.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 68 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Faculty, National Emerging Infectious Disease Lab
    Boston University
  • Member, Genome Science Institute
    Boston University

Websites

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