Dr Rukshan Ahamed Mohamed Rafeek
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - School of Science and Technology
Biography
Rukshan Ahamed is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (NHMRC) at School of Science & Technology. He obtained his bachelor’s degree (BSc) at the University of Mysore India and completed his MPhil in Virology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. From 2018-2022, he completed his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at UNE under the supervision of Professor Natkunam Ketheesan.
Rukshan joined the staff of UNE as a Research Associate in 2022. He has a keen interest in understanding the pathophysiology of post streptococcal autoimmune complications and discovering biomarkers using animal models. He has been involved in a variety of other projects such as determination of immune response to Q fever vaccine (Q-VAX) and investigating the role of specific proteins in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease.
Before joining UNE Rukshan worked at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka as a Research Assistant and Lecturer. Rukshan has a background in Microbiology and Immunology and he brings over 10 years of experience in conducting research across a broad range of areas such as epidemiology of respiratory virses, hepatitis B and pathophysiology of post streptococcal autoimmune complications.
Qualifications
BSc, M.Phil, PhD
Publications
Divarathna MVM, Rafeek RAM, Morel AJ, Aththanayake C, Noordeen F. Epidemiology and risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus associated acute respiratory tract infection in hospitalized children younger than 5 years from Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2023: 14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1173842
Reynolds S, Rafeek RAM, Hamlin AS, Lepletier A, Pandey M, Ketheesan N and Good MF. Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine candidates do not induce autoimmune responses in a rheumatic heart disease model. npj Vaccines. 2023; 8:9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-023-00604-2
The PROUD (Preventing RespiratOry syncytial virUs in unDerdeveloped countries) Taskforce. Identifying the research, advocacy, policy and implementation needs for the prevention and management of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in low- and middle-income countries. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2022: 9;10:1033125.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.1033125
Rafeek RAM, Divarathna MVM, Morel AJ, Noordeen F. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of influenza virus infection in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections in Sri Lanka. PLoS ONE. 2022; 17(9):e0272415.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272415
Divarathna MVM, Rafeek RAM, Jayaweera S, Morel AJ, Noordeen F. Prevalence, pattern of distribution and characterization of respiratory syncytial virus associated acute respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children less than 5 years in a general hospital in Sri Lanka from 2016 – 2018. Journal of Clinical Virology Plus. 2022;2(4).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcvp.2022.100107
Rafeek RAM, Hamlin AS, Lawlor C, Andronicos NM, McMillan DJ, Sriprakash KS, Ketheesan N. Characterization of an experimental model to determine streptococcal M protein-induced autoimmune cardiac and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Immunology and Cell Biology. 2022;100(8):653-666. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12571
Rafeek RAM, Divarathna MVM, Morel AJ, Noordeen F. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with human parainfluenza virus associated acute respiratory infection in a General Hospital in Sri Lanka. Journal of Clinical Virology Plus. 2021;1 (4).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100049
McMillan DJ, Rafeek RAM, Norton RE, Good MF, Sriprakash KS, Ketheesan N. In search of the Holy Grail: a specific diagnostic test for rheumatic fever. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2021. 14;8:674805. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.674805
Rafeek RAM, Sikder S, Hamlin AS, Andronicos NM, McMillan DJ, Sriprakash KS, Ketheesan N. Requirements for robust animal model to investigate the disease mechanism of autoimmune complications associated with ARF/RHD. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2021. 5;8:675339.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.675339
Rafeek RAM, Lobbe CM, Wilkinson EC, Hamlin AS, Andronicos NM, McMillan DJ, Sriprakash KS, Ketheesan N. Group A Streptococcal antigen exposed rat model to investigate neurobehavioral and cardiac complications associated with post-streptococcal autoimmune sequelae. Animal Models and Experimental Medicine. 2021; 4: 151– 161.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ame2.12164
Shafras M, Monaragala L, Samarakkody I, Rafeek RAM, Nawarathna L, Sanas M, Antonypillai C. Comparison of Glycaemic control and Anthropometric parameters before and after Ramadan fasting in a selected cohort of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2020; 65: 79-85.
DOI:http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v65i4.9276
Rafeek RAM, Divarathna MVM, Noordeen F. A review on disease burden and epidemiology of childhood parainfluenza virus infections in Asia including Sri Lanka. Reviews in Medical Virology - 2020;e2164. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rmv.2164
Divarathna MVM, Rafeek RAM, Noordeen F. A review on epidemiology and impact of human metapneumovirus infections in children using TIAB search strategy on PubMed and PubMed Central articles. Reviews in Medical Virology. 2020; 30:e2090.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rmv.2090
Noordeen F, Pitchai FNN, Kudagammana ST, Rafeek RAM. A mini outbreak of human metapneumovirus infection with severe acute respiratory symptoms in a selected group of children presented to a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. Virusdisease. 2019; 30(2)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-019-00522-9
Divarathna MVM, Rafeek RAM, Noordeen F. The Impact of RSV-Associated Respiratory Disease in Children in Asia. Journal of Pediatric Infectious Disease. 2018; 13(1).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1637752
Rafeek RAM, Divarathna MVM, Noordeen F. History and current trends in influenza virus infections with special reference to Sri Lanka. Virusdisease. 2017; 28(3):225-232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-017-0390-8
Noordeen F, Pitchai FNN, Rafeek RAM. A review of hepatitis B virus infection in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2015; 5(2):42-50.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v5i2.8087
Memberships
Lancefield Society
NSW Cardiovascular Research Network
Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
Australasian and New Zealand Society for Immunology
Australian Academy of Science
International Society of Infectious Diseases
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)
