Sheema Mir, PhD
Associate Professor (Infectious Diseases)
College of Veterinary Medicine
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7279-8734
Join year: 2020
BS (Honors) 1999 Biochemistry - Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
MS 2001 Biochemistry - Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
PhD 2007 Biochemistry - Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
2007-2009.Post Doctorate Fellow (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA)
2009-2012.Post Doctorate Fellow (University of Florida, Gainesville, USA)
2012-2016. Research Scientist (Viracor Eurofins labs, Lee Summit, MO, USA)
2016-2020. Senior Research Scientist (Applied BioCode, Santa Fe springs, CA, USA)
2020-2026. Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases (College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA)
2026-Current. Tenured Associate Professor of Foundational Sciences (College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA)
First / Second Year Problem Based Learning
Virology, Infectious Diseases and Diagnostics (BSL/MCB)
Food and Feed (Molecular Diagnostics) Third Year
Research website: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7279-8734
Contributions to Science:
1. Infectious Disease Diagnostics (work ongoing at CVM on Tick Borne Pathogens- see publications): :
- Developed nucleic acid-based multiplex diagnostic technology for gastrointestinal, respiratory, and upper respiratory tract infectious pathogens.
- FDA Approval: Device name: BioCode Gastrointestinal Pathogen panel (GPP): 510(k)# K181548. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf18/K180041.pdf.
- FDA Approval: Device name: Biocode Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP): 510(k)# k192485. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf19/K192485.pdf.
- Current research project is to develop a diagnostic assay for 6 tickborne pathogens- developed a duplex to detect Anaplasma and Borrelia from test samples. My laboratory intents to further develop this assay to a multiplex capable of detecting 6 Tickborne pathogens groups in blood.
2. Replication of Negative Strand RNA Viruses (work ongoing at CVM- see publications):
- Demonstrated distinct RNA binding sites in the stalk and head domains of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) nucleocapsid protein.
- Established the role of panhandle binding site in the stalk domain in the replication of viral RNA genome.
- Revealed distinct 5’ cap and RNA binding sites in hantavirus nucleocapsid protein.
- Showed hantavirus RdRp requires a host cell factor for cap snatching.
3. Therapeutic Intervention of Viral Diseases (work ongoing at CVM- see publications):
- Identified a novel compound targeting the feline infectious peritonitis virus nucleocapsid protein.
- Demonstrated the use of the endogenous host factor P58IPK by hantaviruses to combat the PKR antiviral response.
- Developed a novel approach for the purification of aggregation-prone proteins.
4. DNA Repair by Nonhomologous Endjoining (my post-doctoral work):
- Investigated histone methylation's role in DNA repair, specifically in nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ).
- Identified dimethyl histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36me2) as a key event in enhancing DNA repair by NHEJ.
- Demonstrated the involvement of the DNA repair protein Metnase in mediating H3K36me2 near induced DNA double-strand breaks.
- Grant Title- Protein Kinase R’s role in HantaVirus Organ Tropism, Funding source- NIH 1R15AI194198-01A1, total costs $540,000, Years of Award July 2026 – June 2029.
- Grant Title- Unifying Medicine and Veterinary Science: Development of One Health Multiple Molecular Diagnostic Assay in Tick Pathogens, Funding source USDA NIFA, Award # 2024-67016-42398, Total costs $300,000, Years of award August 2024 – July 2027.
- Grant Title- Emerging Infectious Diseases and Diagnostics, Startup funds from CVM, WUHS, $75,000, 2020- Current.
- Grant Title- Bunyavirus cap snatching and therapeutic intervention, WUHS, $30,000, 2023-2024.
- 2024 – Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence 2024 for demonstrating outstanding achievements in Academic Research in the field of Veterinary Medicine.
- 2024 – Nomination for Distinguished Researcher from College of Veterinary Sciences, WesternU.
American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Virology
One Health
For complete list of publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1FKcedXZGgvELE/bibliography/public/
- Mir S, Peters M, Penny G, Agsaoa A, Mir M. From Challenge to Cure: A Look at Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Emerging Treatment Strategies and Breakthroughs. Vet Sci. 2025 Jul 8;12(7). doi: 10.3390/vetsci12070650. Review. PubMed PMID: 40711310; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12299834.
- Ali S, Ren S, Agsaoa A, Mir S*, Mir MA. The nucleocapsid protein of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus interacts with eIF4A to promote the translation of viral mRNA in cells. J Biol Chem. 2025 May 4;301(6):110173. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110173. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 40328362.
- Subbiah J, Royster A, Mir S*, Mir M. Development of FRET-based cap-snatching endonuclease assay. Microbiol Spectr. 2025 Mar 31;13(5):e0328924. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03289-24. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 40162770; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12054126.
- Mir S*, Mir M. The mRNA vaccine, a swift warhead against a moving infectious disease target. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2024 Jan-Dec;23(1):336-348. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2320327. Epub 2024 Mar 1. Review. PubMed PMID: 38369742.
- Royster A, Ren S, Ali S, Mir S*, Mir M. Modulations in the host cell proteome by the hantavirus nucleocapsid protein. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Jan;20(1):e1011925. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011925. eCollection 2024 Jan. PubMed PMID: 38190410; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10798635.
- Rowan S, Mohseni N, Chang M, Burger H, Peters M, Mir S. From Tick to Test: A Comprehensive Review of Tick-Borne Disease Diagnostics and Surveillance Methods in the United States. Life (Basel). 2023 Oct 13;13(10). doi: 10.3390/life13102048. Review. PubMed PMID: 37895430; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10608558.
- Royster A, Ren S, Ma Y, Pintado M, Kahng E, Rowan S, Mir S , Mir M. SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Anticoronavirus Drug Discovery. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Jun 15;11(3):e0118623. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01186-23. Epub 2023 May 18. PubMed PMID: 37199631; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1026970.
- Mohseni N, Chang M, Garcia K, Weakley M, Do T, Mir S. Development of a Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Assay for Tick-Borne Pathogens Using Barcoded Magnetic Bead Technology. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Jun 15;11(3):e0439522. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.04395-22. Epub 2023 May 11. PubMed PMID: 37166314; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10269837.
- Mohseni N, Royster A, Ren S, Ma Y, Pintado M, Mir M, Mir S. A novel compound targets the feline infectious peritonitis virus nucleocapsid protein and inhibits viral replication in cell culture. J Biol Chem. 2023 Mar;299(3):102976. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102976. Epub 2023 Feb 3. PubMed PMID: 36738790; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10011503.
- Royster A, Mir S.Purification of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) Nucleocapsid Protein Using Detergent Gradient and Freeze Thawing. Bio Protoc. 2022 Aug 5;12(15). doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4483. eCollection 2022 Aug 5. PubMed PMID: 36082370; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9411011.
- Garcia K, Weakley M, Do T, Mir S. Current and Future Molecular Diagnostics of Tick-Borne Diseases in Cattle. Vet Sci. 2022 May 21;9(5). doi: 10.3390/vetsci9050241. Review. PubMed PMID: 35622769; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9146932.
- Mir S. Hantavirus Induced Kidney Disease. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:795340. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.795340. eCollection 2021. Review. PubMed PMID: 35118091; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8804099.
- Royster A, Mir S, Mir MA. A novel approach for the purification of aggregation prone proteins. PLoS One. 2021;16(11):e0260143. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260143. eCollection 2021. PubMed PMID: 34807939; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8608356.
- Wang Z, Ren S, Li Q, Royster AD, Lin L, Liu S, Ganaie SS, Qiu J, Mir S, Mir MA. Hantaviruses use the endogenous host factor P58IPK to combat the PKR antiviral response. PLoS Pathog. 2021 Oct;17(10):e1010007. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010007. eCollection 2021 Oct. PubMed PMID: 34653226; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8550428.
- Jeeva S, Mir S, Velasquez A, Ragan J, Leka A, Wu S, Sevarany AT, Royster AD, Almeida NA, Chan F, O'Brien L, Mir MA. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus nucleocapsid protein harbors distinct RNA-binding sites in the stalk and head domains. J Biol Chem. 2019 Mar 29;294(13):5023-5037. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.004976. Epub 2019 Feb 5. PubMed PMID: 30723154; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6442043.
- Jeeva S, Mir S, Velasquez A, Weathers BA, Leka A, Wu S, Sevarany AT, Mir M. Hantavirus RdRp Requires a Host Cell Factor for Cap Snatching. J Virol. 2019 Mar 1;93(5). doi: 10.1128/JVI.02088-18. Print 2019 Mar 1. PubMed PMID: 30541836; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6384069.
- Llah ST, Mir S, Sharif S, Khan S, Mir MA. Hantavirus induced cardiopulmonary syndrome: A public health concern. J Med Virol. 2018 Jun;90(6):1003-1009. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25054. Epub 2018 Mar 15. Review. PubMed PMID: 29446472.
- Hussein IT, Cheng E, Ganaie SS, Werle MJ, Sheema S, Haque A, Mir MA. Autophagic clearance of Sin Nombre hantavirus glycoprotein Gn promotes virus replication in cells. J Virol. 2012 Jul;86(14):7520-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.07204-11. Epub 2012 May 2. PubMed PMID: 22553339; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3416297.
- Cheng E, Haque A, Rimmer MA, Hussein IT, Sheema S, Little A, Mir MA. Characterization of the Interaction between hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (N) and ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19). J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 1;286(13):11814-24. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.210179. Epub 2011 Feb 4. PubMed PMID: 21296889; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3064232.
- Mir MA, Sheema S, Haseeb A, Haque A. Hantavirus nucleocapsid protein has distinct m7G cap- and RNA-binding sites. J Biol Chem. 2010 Apr 9;285(15):11357-68. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.102459. Epub 2010 Feb 17. PubMed PMID: 20164193; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2857014.
- Samudio-Ruiz SL, Allan AM, Sheema S, Caldwell KK. Hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit expression profiles in a mouse model of prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2010 Feb;34(2):342-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01096.x. Epub 2009 Nov 24. PubMed PMID: 19951292; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3600588.
- Wray J, Williamson EA, Sheema S, Lee SH, Libby E, Willman CL, Nickoloff JA, Hromas R. Metnase mediates chromosome decatenation in acute leukemia cells. Blood. 2009 Aug 27;114(9):1852-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-08-175760. Epub 2009 May 20. PubMed PMID: 19458360; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2738570.
- Caldwell KK, Sheema S, Paz RD, Samudio-Ruiz SL, Laughlin MH, Spence NE, Roehlk MJ, Alcon SN, Allan AM. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder-associated depression: evidence for reductions in the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in a mouse model. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008 Oct;90(4):614-24. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2008.05.004. PubMed PMID: 18558427; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2762406.
Innovative scientist and dedicated educator specializing in infectious diseases, molecular diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. Over 20 years of progressive research experience spanning virology, microbiology, and translational diagnostics with a strong record of grant acquisition, high-impact publications, and FDA-approved technologies. As an Associate Professor at WesternU (2020–present), I have built an independent research program advancing One Health diagnostics and antiviral therapeutics, mentored over 20 veterinary students and trainees, and provided sustained contributions to teaching, service, and academic leadership.