The doctoral dissertation in the field of Neurobiology will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Kuopio campus. The public examination will be streamed online.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
Air pollution and respiratory infections significantly impact global health, increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding how environmental pollutants, such as urban particulate matter (PM), interact with respiratory pathogens is crucial for identifying vulnerable populations and developing effective public health strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the role of air pollution in increasing infection risk and severity, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive research in this area. Moreover, the pandemic has revealed the potential for COVID-19 to induce neurological symptoms in certain individuals and exacerbate outcomes in those with underlying conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), adding complexity to the disease landscape.
The research investigated how urban particulate matter (PM) affects cellular responses and susceptibility to bacterial and viral pathogens. It also explored the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the olfactory mucosa (OM), a potential brain entry site linked to AD pathology. Specifically, the study aimed to understand how PM exposure and AD pathology influence cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in OM cells.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
This research unveils the interplay between environmental exposure, disease pathology, and immune responses to infections, shedding light on the critical aspects of PM effects on respiratory infections and AD. Notably, the study elucidates how fine PM exposure alters immune responses at the alveolar lung barrier, potentially influencing susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections. Moreover, it underscores the link between PM exposure, respiratory infections, and AD, offering insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying air pollution's impact on respiratory and neurological health.
The findings also highlight distinct transcriptomic responses in AD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, indicating a potential contribution to more severe COVID-19 outcomes due to pre-existing neuroinflammation. Additionally, the study suggests that PM exposure may exacerbate COVID-19 outcomes by modulating immune responses, particularly in individuals with AD, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to mitigate associated health risks effectively. Overall, these findings hold significant implications for both the scientific community in guiding further research efforts, and the general public, emphasizing the urgency of addressing environmental health concerns and understanding their impact on disease outcomes.
How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?
The findings of this doctoral research underscore the importance of interdisciplinary methods in tackling public health challenges. These implications traverse multiple domains, from tailored public health strategies for safeguarding vulnerable groups, like individuals with AD, during pollution and infection outbreaks. Healthcare professionals can use this knowledge to advise patients, especially those in high-risk groups or those living in heavily polluted areas. The research adds to the growing evidence that advocates stricter air quality regulations and securing sustained research funding from policymakers.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
The study employed a two-step exposure system to investigate the effects of sub-acute combined airborne pollutants (PM) and pathogenic exposures using an in vitro co-culture system mimicking an alveolar lung model. It also utilised olfactory mucosal (OM) cells derived from cognitively healthy individuals and AD patients, which serve as a gateway to the brain and exhibit AD pathology in the nasal cavity. An innovative 3D in vitro model of OM was developed and characterized to study the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated cellular responses were investigated in AD individual-derived OM cells. The research utilised various methods, including bioanalytical techniques such as immunoassays, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, gene expression analysis methods like qPCR and RNA sequencing, and a range of toxicological and cellular assays.
This research project exemplifies multidisciplinary collaboration, drawing upon the expertise and efforts of scientists across diverse fields such as environmental toxicology, virology, neurobiology, and molecular biology. By integrating knowledge from these various disciplines, we aim to explore complex interactions between environmental factors, pathogens, and neurological health, ultimately advancing our understanding of interconnected biological systems.
The doctoral dissertation of Muhammad Ali Shahbaz, MSc, entitled Cellular Investigations into the Interplay of Particulate Matter Exposure, Respiratory Infections, and Alzheimer’s Disease will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Opponent in the public examination will be Dr. Juana Maria Delgado-Saborit of Universitat Jaume I, Spain, and the Custos will be Professor Katja Kanninen of the University of Eastern Finland.
For further information, please contact:
Muhammad Ali Shahbaz, ali.shahbaz@uef.fi, +358413100622
