Marjana Akter
| Marjana Akter | |
|---|---|
| Native name | মারজানা আক্তার |
| Born | |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Bangladesh Agricultural University (MS) |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Reporting a complete genome of chicken anemia virus (CAV) from Bangladesh; selection for UNODA Young Women for Biosecurity Fellowship 2025 |
Marjana Akter is a Bangladeshi microbiologist whose research focuses on avian virology and biosafety. She is known for reporting a complete genome sequence of chicken anemia virus (CAV) from a field outbreak in Bangladesh and for being named to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Young Women for Biosecurity Fellowship 2025.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
Akter completed a master’s degree in Microbiology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), where her work centred on poultry virology and public-health relevant pathogens.[2][3]
Career
Akter is affiliated with BAU’s Department of Microbiology and Hygiene. Her early work included molecular detection and genomic characterization of avian viruses in Bangladesh.[3] She has also taken part in public engagement on laboratory biosafety and science communication.[2][4]
Research
Chicken anemia virus (CAV) in Bangladesh
In 2025, Akter and colleagues reported the complete genome of a CAV strain from a commercial layer flock in Bangladesh, contributing to local genomic surveillance resources where published reference genomes were limited.[1] The report documented a Bangladeshi field outbreak and deposited the full genome sequence.
A subsequent article in Microbiology Spectrum provided genomic and pathological insights into the first identified genotype IIIb CAV strain in Bangladesh, combining clinical pathology, phylogenomics and protein-level analysis.[5] The study reported a ~2,330 bp genome that clustered within genotype IIIb, close to a Chinese reference strain; histopathology showed lymphoid depletion in thymus, spleen and bursa consistent with CAV-associated immunosuppression; and mutational profiling highlighted amino-acid changes particularly in VP3, with structural modelling suggesting potential effects on antigenicity and phosphatase activity in VP1/VP2.[5]
Honours
- Selected as one of ten participants worldwide for the UNODA Young Women for Biosecurity Fellowship 2025, a special edition programme marking the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention.[3][2] The fellowship is organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs; programme details are described by UNODA.[6]
Selected publications
- Akter, M.; Hasan, S.M.N.; Jeba, N.; et al. (2025). "Complete genome sequence of chicken anemia virus from a field outbreak in Bangladesh". Microbiology Resource Announcements 14 (4): e01095-24. doi:10.1128/mra.01095-24. PMID 39998195.[1]
- Akter, M.; Mia, R.; Hasan, S.M.N.; et al. (2025). "Genomic and pathological insights into the first identified genotype IIIb chicken anemia virus strain in Bangladesh". Microbiology Spectrum. doi:10.1128/spectrum.00796-25. PMID 41071091.[5]
Media coverage
Profiles and news features about Akter’s research and fellowship have appeared in national outlets including The Business Standard and Prothom Alo, and in Bangladesh’s state news agency BSS.[2][4][3][7]
See also
- Biosecurity
- Bangladesh Agricultural University
- Biological Weapons Convention
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Akter, Marjana; Hasan, S M Nazmul; Jeba, Nurejunnati; Mozumder, Anandha; Mou, Moslema Jahan; Araf, Yusha; Mia, Roni; Akter, Sharmin; Salauddin, Md; Rahman, Md Zaminur; Hossain, Muhammad Shahdat; Saha, Sukumar; Islam, Tofazzal; Hossain, Md Golzar (10 April 2025). "Complete genome sequence of chicken anemia virus from a field outbreak in Bangladesh". Microbiology Resource Announcements. 14 (4): e01095–24. doi:10.1128/mra.01095-24. PMID 39998195 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Shuvo, Ariful Hasan (14 October 2025). "Balancing motherhood and microbiology: How Marjana Akter became Bangladesh's first UN Biosecurity Fellow". The Business Standard. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "BAU's Marjana first Bangladeshi to win UN Biosecurity Fellowship". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). 6 October 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "গবেষণার জন্য মারজানা পেয়েছেন জাতিসংঘের পুরস্কার" [For her research, Marjana received a United Nations fellowship]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 12 October 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Akter, Marjana; Mia, Roni; Hasan, S M Nazmul; Mozumder, Anandha; Jeba, Nurejunnati; Farazi, Raduyan; Akter, Farzana; Akter, Sharmin; Rahman, Md Zaminur; Saha, Sukumar; Islam, Tofazzal; Hossain, Md Golzar (10 October 2025). "Genomic and pathological insights into the first identified genotype IIIb chicken anemia virus strain in Bangladesh". Microbiology Spectrum. doi:10.1128/spectrum.00796-25. PMID 41071091 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ "Apply for the Young Women for Biosecurity Fellowship 2025". UNODA. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ↑ "From Chandpur to Geneva: Marjana Akter joins UN's biosecurity program". The Daily Corporate. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
External links
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