Dr. Shittu Ismaila
Principal Research Officer Staff
Profile
NAME: Dr. ISMAILA SHITTU
POSITION/TITLE: Principal Research Officer
DEPARTMENT/DIVISION:
Virology/Regional Laboratory for Animal Influenzas and other Transboundary Animal Diseases
Summary of education and qualification:
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Department of Virology,
College of Medicine. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Virology (In view)
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Department of Virology,
College of Medicine. Master of Science (M.Sc), Virology (2009)
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Department of Microbiology
Bachelor of Science BSc. (Hons), Microbiology (1999)
Personal Statement
Generally, my interest is focused on diagnosis and research into notable transboundary animal diseases and emerging/re-emerging zoonotic infectious diseases with bias for viral pathogens. With research experience of over 15 years, much of my research has been centered around using molecular (PCR, RT-PCR, sequencing) and classical virological techniques (serology, virus isolation in embryonated eggs and cell culture) for the diagnosis of avian viral disease of the family Paramyxoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Coronaviridae. Currently, with the availability of a Biosafety laboratory-3 in our facility, our research also includes epidemiology, ecology and evolution of emerging/re-emerging zoonotic viruses like Lassa fever, Hepatitis E, West Nile, Rift valley fever etc. With the outbreaks of Monkeypox in human in Nigeria, our team has been involved in a collaborative research to establish the ecology of the disease in small mammals.
Positions and Honors:
Positions and Employment (reverse chronological)
Research Officer National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State (2001 – to date)
Professional Membership
American Society for Microbiology (Global Outreach member) from 2008 – to date
Nigerian Society for Microbiology from 2010 – to date
HONORS AND AWARDS
IAEA fellowship
SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
1. Shittu I, Adedeji AJ, Luka PD, Asala OO, Sati NM, Nwagbo IO, Chinyere CN, Arowolo OO, Adole JA, Emennaa P, Abdu PA, Joannis TM. Avian leukosis virus subgroup – J as a contaminant in live commercially available poultry vaccines distributed in Nigeria. Biologicals (2019) 57: 29-33
2. Laleye A, Joannis T, Shittu I, Meseko C, Zamperin G, Milani A, Zecchin B, Fusaro A, Monne I, and Abolnik C. A Two-Year Monitoring Period of the Genetic Properties of Clade 2.3.2.1c H5N1 Viruses in Nigeria Reveals the Emergence and Co-Circulation of Distinct Genotypes. Infection, Genetics and Evolution (2018) 57:98–105.
3. Igwe AO, Shittu I, and Okoye JOA. Response of Cyclophosphamide-Treated Broiler Chickens to Challenge with Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus. Journal of Applied Animal Research (2018) 46(1): 938–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2018.1434078.
4. Nwagbo IO, Shittu I, Qasim AMM and Joannis TM. Continuous Circulation and Mutation at the Hypervariable Region of the VP2 gene of Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 39(2): 143-150
5. Sharma P, Killmaster LF, Volkening JD, Cardenas-Garcia S, Shittu I, Meseko CA, Sulaiman LK, Joannis TM, Miller PJ, and Afonso CL. Draft Genome Sequences of Five Novel Ochrobactrum Spp. Isolated from Different Avian Hosts in Nigeria. Genome Announcements (2018) 6(11):1–3.
6. Susta L, Segovia D, Olivier TL, Dimitrov KM, Shittu I, Marcano V, and Miller PJ. Newcastle Disease Virus Infection in Quail. Veterinary Pathology (2018) 55(5): 682-692
7. Shittu I, Meseko CA, Gado DA, Olawuyi AK, Chinyere CN, Anefu E, Solomon P, Okewole PA, Shamaki D, and Joannis TM. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Nigeria in 2015: Evidence of Widespread Circulation of WA2 Clade 2.3.2.1c. Archives of Virology (2017) 162(3):841–47
8. Meseko CA, Shittu I, Bwala DG, Joannis TM, Nwosuh I. Fowlpox virus from backyard poultry in Plateau State Nigeria: isolation and phylogeny of the P4b gene compared to a vaccine strain. Nigerian Veterinary Journal (2017) 38(2): 124-128
9. Dimitrov KM,Sharma P, Volkening JD, Goraichuk IV, Wajid A, Rehmani SF, Basharat A, Shittu I, Joannis TM, Miller PJ and Afonso CL. A robust and cost-effective approach to sequence and analyze complete genomes of small RNA viruses. Virology Journal (2017) 14:72 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-017-0741-5
10. Nwagbo IO, Shittu I, Nwosuh CI, Ezeifeka GO, Odibo FJC, Michel LO, and Jackwood DJ. Molecular Characterization of Field Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Isolates from Nigeria. Veterinary World (2016) 9(12):1420–28.
11. Shittu I, Sulaiman LK, Gado DA, Egbuji AN, Ndahi MD, Pam E, Joannis TM: Sero-epizootiological investigation of infectious laryngotracheitis infection in commercial poultry of Plateau State, north central Nigeria. Journal of Immunoassay and Immunochemistry (2016), 37:368–75.
12. Shittu I, Zhu Z, Lu Y, Hutcheson JM, Stice SL, West FD, Donadeu M, Dungu B, Fadly AM, Zavala G, Ferguson-Noel N, Afonso CL: Development, characterization and optimization of a new suspension chicken-induced pluripotent cell line for the production of Newcastle disease vaccine. Biologicals (2016), 44:24–32.
13. Shittu I, Sharma P, Volkening JD, Solomon P, Sulaiman LK, Joannis TM, Williams-Coplin D, Miller PJ, Dimitrov KM, Afonso CL: Identification and Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of a Genotype XIV Newcastle Disease Virus from Nigeria. Genome Announcement (2016), 4:e01581–15.
14. Shittu I, Sharma P, Joannis TM, Volkening JD, Odaibo GN, Olaleye DO, Williams-Coplin D, Solomon P, Abolnik C, Miller PJ, Dimitrov KM, Afonso CL: Complete Genome Sequence of a Genotype XVII Newcastle Disease Virus, Isolated from an Apparently Healthy Domestic Duck in Nigeria. Genome Announcement (2016), 4:e01716–15.
15. Shittu I, Joannis TM, Odaibo GN, Olaleye DO: Epizootiology of Newcastle Disease in two Live Bird Markets in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa (2015) 63:249–55
16. Monne I., Meseko C., Joannis T., Shittu I., Ahmed M., Tassoni L., Fusaro A., Cattoli G. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Poultry, Nigeria, 2015. Emerging Infectious Diseases (2015) 21:1275–1277.
Contact Email
ismaila.shittu@nvri.gov.ng, ismaila.shittu@gmail.com or shismailus@yahoo.com
