Dr. Naoufal Lakhssassi

Dr. Lakhssassi joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Hampton University as an Assistant Professor in 2024. Dr. Lakhssassi published 47 referred manuscripts, one book chapter, eight patent applications, and 15 grants from various funding agencies. Dr. Lakhssassi serves as an editor and ad hoc reviewer for several peer-reviewed scientific journals and chairman organizer of the “Functional Genomics” workshop at the Plant and Animal Genome Conference.

Education

Ph.D. [2011] Universidad de Malaga, Spain: Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, Cell & Molecular Biology

M.S. [2010] Universidad de Malaga, Spain: Biomolecular Engineering and Microbiology

DEA [2007] Universidad de Malaga, Spain: Cell and Molecular Biology

B.S. [2005] University Abdelmalek Essadi, Morocco: Biotechnology

Professional Positions Held

Assistant Professor
Hampton University (HU), Carbondale                                                                        
August 2024 – Present
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science.

Associate Scientist
Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale                                                                        
May 2018 – August 2024
Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural Sciences.

Researcher
Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale                                                                   
January 2018-May 2018
Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural Sciences.

Post-Doctoral Associate
Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale                                                       
October 2016 – December 2017
Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural Sciences.

Post-Doctoral Associate
Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale                                                            
April 2016 – September 2016
Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, College of Engineering.

Post-Doctoral Associate
Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale                                                              
October 2012 – March 2016
Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural Sciences.

Research Scientist
University of Malaga, Spain                                                                                          
October 2010 – January 2012
Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department, College of Life Science.
European Union (EU) Research program.

Awards and Recognitions

Awards:

• 2022 Inventor of the Year Award. Southern Illinois University System.
• 2018 NSF Conference Award. 17th Biennial Conference Molecular and Cellular Biology of Soybean (Soy 2018).
• 2017 NSF WSRC10 Conference Award. 10th World Soybean Research Conference.

Scholarships / Fellowships:

• 2012 Post-Doctoral Excellence Fellowship. Universidad de Malaga.
• 2007-2010 PhD Scholarship. Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• 2007 Research Scholarship of Excellence. Junta Committee Andalusia, Spain.
• 2006 DEA Scholarship. Spanish Ministry of Education and Sciences, MEC.

Other:

• https://blog.news.siu.edu/20221013-saluki-pride-naoufal-lakhssassi-uses-genes-to-help-plants-resist-diseases-and-improve-their-seed-composition/
• https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-8255-9419
• https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=30-NnXoAAAAJ&hl=en
• https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/AGH-0128-2022
• https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55070619200

Patent Applications

Naoufal Lakhssassi, Khalid Meksem. Soybean Lines with High Seed Protein and Steady to High Oil Content. Publication date. 2023/5/18. Patent office: US. Application number #18050658 https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=30-NnXoAAAAJ&cstart=20&pagesize=80&citation_for_view=30-NnXoAAAAJ:_xSYboBqXhAC

Naoufal Lakhssassi, Dounya Knizia, Zhou Zhou, Khalid Meksem. Soybean Lines with Low Saturated Fatty Acid and High Oleic Acid Contents. Publication date: 2022/12/1. Patent office: US. Application number #17827259. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=30-NnXoAAAAJ&cstart=20&pagesize=80&citation_for_view=30-NnXoAAAAJ:D03iK_w7-QYC

Naoufal Lakhssassi, Khalid Meksem, Dounya Knizia. Compositions and Methods to Increase Oleic Acid Content in Soybeans. Publication date 2022/11/17. Patent office: US. Application number #17745148. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=30-NnXoAAAAJ&cstart=20&pagesize=80&citation_for_view=30-NnXoAAAAJ:a0OBvERweLwC

Naoufal Lakhssassi, Khalid Meksem, Henry Nguyen, Mariola Klepadlo, Gunvant Patil. Broad Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode. Publication date 2020/8/27. Patent office: US. Application number #16739985. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=30-NnXoAAAAJ&cstart=20&pagesize=80&citation_for_view=30-NnXoAAAAJ:GnPB-g6toBAC

Curricula Development and Teaching Assignments

Introduction to Biology course and lab (BIO-103), School of Science, Hampton University (2024 – Present).

Introduction to Biology lab (BIO-105), School of Science, Hampton University (2024 – Present).

Plant genetics course and lab (CSEM-305), College of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (2012 – 2022).                                                                                     

Seminar (PSAS-581), College of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (2012 – 2022). 

Molecular biology and biotechnology courses and lab, College of Life Science, Malaga University (2009 – 2012).                                                                                                                                               

Microbiology course and lab, College of Life Science, Malaga University (2006 – 2007).

Current – Hampton University

Research Interests

Dr. Lakhssassi is a plant nematologist, molecular physiologist, geneticist, and genomicist who was actively involved in discovering and cloning novel disease-resistant genes involved in nematode infections, and seed-trait improvement using modern experimental approaches, including germplasm selection, haplotype associations, marker identification, mutational breeding, hairy root transformation, breeding by design, TILLING-by-sequencing⁺, and MutMap⁺ technologies. His research mainly focuses on deciphering the mechanistic reaction of how plants can fight nematode attacks and develop plant-resistant varieties. This is in addition to the identification of gene candidates underlying economically important qualities like protein, fatty acid, vitamins, and carbohydrates.

Selected Publications

(GS-h-index: 23, GS-i10-index: 33, GS-Citations > 4200, RG-Number of reads > 28,100).

47. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Abdelhalim El Baze, Dounya Knizia, Yasser Salhi, Mohamed G Embaby, Erdem Anil, Cullen Mallory, Aicha Lakhssassi, Jonas Meksem, Haiying Shi, Tri D. Vuong, Kenza Meksem, Abdelmajid Kassem, Amer AbuGhazaleh, Henry T. Nguyen, Nacer Bellaloui, Adnane Boualem, and Khalid Meksem. A Sucrose Binding Protein and β-Conglycinins regulate soybean seed protein content and control multiple seed traits. Plant Physiology, 2024.
48. Nora Ben El Mahdi, Laurent Lemée, Quentin Blancart Remaury, Lilian Eloy, Naima Nhiri, Naoufal Lakhssassi, and Mohamed Nhiri. Potential of Sorghum Seeds in Alleviating Hyperglycemia, Oxidative Stress, and Glycation Damage. Molecules, 2024.
49. 45. Nacer Bellaloui, Dounya Knizia, Jiazheng Yuan, Qijian Song, Frances Betts, Teresa Register, Earl Williams, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Hamid Mazouz, Henry T. Nguyen, Khalid Meksem, Alemu Mengistu, and My Abdelmajid Kassem. Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes for Seed Iron and Seed Zinc Accumulation Identified in the Soybean ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ RIL Population. International Journal of Plant Biology,
50. Sandeep Goshika, Khalid Meksem, Khaled R Ahmed, and Naoufal Lakhssassi. Deep Learning Model for Classifying and Evaluating Soybean Leaf Disease Damage. International Journal of Molecular Science, 2023.
51. Nacer Bellaloui, Dounya Knizia, Jiazheng Yuan, Qijian Song, Frances Betts, Teresa Register, Earl Williams, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Hamid Mazouz, Henry T. Nguyen, Khalid Meksem, Alemu Mengistu, and My Abdelmajid Kassem. Genetic Mapping for QTL Associated with Seed Nickel and Molybdenum Accumulation in the Soybean ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ RIL Population. Plants, 2023.
52. Dounya Knizia, Nacer Bellaloui, Jiazheng Yuan, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Erdem Anil, Tri Vuong, Mohamed G. Embaby, Henry T Nguyen, Alemu Mengistu, Khalid Meksem, Abdelmajid My Kassem. QTL and Candidate Genes that Control Seed Sugars Contents in the Soybean ‘Forrest’ By ‘Williams 82’ RIL Population. Plants, 2023.
53. Sarbottam Piya, Vince Pantalone, Sobhan Bahrami Zadegan, Sarah Shipp, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Dounya Knizia, Hari B Krishnan, Khalid Meksem, Tarek Hewezi. Soybean gene co-expression network analysis identifies two co-regulated gene modules associated with nodule formation and development. Molecular Plant Pathology, 2023.
54. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Dounya Knizia, Abdelhalim El Baze, Aicha Lakhssassi, Jonas Meksem, and Khalid Meksem. Proteomic, transcriptomic, mutational and functional assays reveal the involvement of both THF and PLP sites at the GmSHMT08 in resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2022.
55. Dounya Knizia, Jiazheng Yuan, Naoufal Lakhssasi, Abdelhalim El Baze, Mallory Cullen, Tri Vuong, Henry T. Nguyen, My Abdelmajid Kassem and Khalid Meksem. QTL and Candidate Genes for Seed Tocopherol Content in ‘Forrest’ By ‘Williams 82’ Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) Population of Soybean. Plants, 2022.
56. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Valeria L. Caitar, Dounya Knizia, Mallory A. Cullen, Oussama Badad, Abdelhalim El Baze, Zhou Zhou, Mohamed G. Embaby, Jonas Meksem, Aicha Lakhssassi, Pengyin Chen, Amer AbuGhazaleh, Tri D. Vuong, Henry T. Nguyen, Tarek Hewezi and Khalid Meksem. TILLING-by-Sequencing⁺ reveals the role of novel Fatty acid desaturases (GmFAD2-2s) in increasing soybean seed oleic acid content. Cells, 2021.
57. Lakhssassi, N.; Zhou, Z.; Cullen, M.A.; Badad, O.; El Baze, A.; Chetto, O.; Embaby, M.G.; Knizia, D.; Liu, S.; Neves, L.G.; Meksem, K. TILLING-by-Sequencing⁺ to Decipher Oil Biosynthesis Pathway in Soybeans: A New and Effective Platform for High-Throughput Gene Functional Analysis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021.
58. Mariola Klepadlo*, Naoufal Lakhssassi*, Gunvant Patil, Tri D. Vuong, Sarbottam Piya, Tarek Hewezi, Robert T. Robbins, Robert M. Stupar, Khalid Meksem, Henry T. Nguyen. Dissecting nematode resistance regions in soybean reveals pleiotropic effect of soybean cyst and reniform nematode resistance genes. Plant Genome, 2021.
59. Oussama Badad, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Nabil Zaid, Abdelhalim El Baze, Younes Zaid, Jonas Meksem, David A Lightfoot, Huseyin Tombuloglu, El Houcine Zaid, Turgay Unver, Khalid Meksem. High-resolution DNA methylation profiling of wild and cultivated olives reveals Domestication fingerprint on phenolic compounds metabolism. Plants, 2021.
60. Zhou Zhou, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Dounya Knizia, Abdelhalim El Baze, Zhou Zhou, Cullen Mallory, Oussama Badad, Jonas Meksem, Aicha Lakhssassi, Tri D. Vuong, Henry T. Nguyen, and Khalid Meksem. Characterization and functional genomic studies of soybean acyl-acp thioesterase gene family reveal novel alleles of FAT to alter fatty acid composition in soybean seed. TAG, 2021.
61. Dounya Knizia, Jiazheng Yuan, Nacer Bellaloui, Tri Vuong, Mariola Usovsky, Qijan Song, Frances Betts, Teresa Register, Earl Williams, Naoufal Lakhssasi, Henry T. Nguyen, Khalid Meksem, Alemu Mengistu, and My Abdelmajid Kassem. The Soybean High Density ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ SNP‐Based Genetic Linkage Map Identifies QTL and Candidate Genes for Seed Isoflavone Content. Plants, 2021.
62. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Zhou Zhou, Shiming Liu, Sarbottam Piya, Gunvant B. Patil, Mallory A. Cullen, Abdelhalim El Baz, Oussama Badad, Mohamed G. Embaby, Jonas Meksem, Aicha Lakhssassi, Amer AbuGhazaleh, Michael Fromm, Henry Nguyen, Tarek Hewezi, and Khalid Meksem. Soybean TILLING-by-Sequencing⁺ reveals the role of novel GmSACPD members in the unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis while maintaining healthy nodules. Experimental Botany, 2020.
63. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Azam Baharlouei, Jonas Meksem, Scott D. Hamilton-Brehm, David A. Lightfoot, Khalid Meksem, and Yanna Liang. EMS-induced mutagenesis of Clostridium carboxidivorans for increased atmospheric CO₂ reduction efficiency and solvent production. Microorganisms, 2020.
64. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Sarbottam Piya, Dounya Knizia, Abdelhalim El Baze, Cullen Mallory, Jonas Meksem, Aicha Lakhssassi, Tarek Hewezi, and Khalid Meksem. Mutations at the Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase impact its interaction with a Soluble NSF Attachment Protein and a Pathogenesis‐Related Protein in soybean. Vaccines, 2020, (8) 349.
65. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Sarbottam Piya, Sadia Bekal, Shiming Liu, Zhou Zhou, Catherine Bergounioux, Long Miao, Jonas Meksem, Aicha Lakhssassi, Karen Jones, My Abdelmajid Kassem, Moussa Benhamed, Abdelhafid Bendahmane, Kris Lambert, Adnane Boualem, Tarek Hewezi, and Khalid Meksem. A pathogenesis related protein GmPR10-08 promotes a molecular interaction between the GmSHMT08 and GmSNAP18 in resistance to Heterodera glycines. Plant Biotechnology, 2020.
66. Zhou Zhou*, Naoufal Lakhssassi*, Mallory A. Cullen, Abdelhalim El Baz, Tri D. Vuong, Henry T. Nguyen, and Khalid Meksem. Assessment of phenotypic variations and correlation among seed composition traits in mutagenized soybean populations. Genes, 2019. 27;10(12). pii: E975. doi: 10.3390/genes10120975.
67. Naoufal Lakhssassi, Gunvant Patil, Sarbottam Piya, Zhou Zhou, Azam Baharlouei, Abdelmajid Kassem, David Lightfoot, Dr. Tarek Hewezi, Abdelali Barakat, Henry Nguyen, and Khalid Meksem. Genome reorganization of the GmSHMT gene family in soybean showed a lack of functional redundancy in resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Scientific report, 2019. 9:1506 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37815-w.
68. Gunvant B. Patil*, Naoufal Lakhssassi*, Jinrong Wan, Li Song, Zhou Zhou, Mariola Klepadlo, Tri D. Vuong, Adrian O. Stec, Sondus S. Kahil, Vincent Colantonio, Babu Valliyodan, Hollis Rice, Sarbottam Piya, Tarek Hewezi, Robert M. Stupar, Khalid Meksem and Henry T. Nguyen. Whole genome re-sequencing reveals the impact of copy number variants of the Rhg4 gene on broad-based resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Plant Biotechnology, 2019. doi: 10.1111/pbi.13086.
69. Vitor Amorim-Silva, Álvaro García-Moreno, Araceli Castillo, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Alicia Esteban, Abel Rosado, Jéssica Pérez-Sancho, Yansha Li, Pepa Pérez-Rodriguez, Victoriano Valpuesta, Cyril Zipfel, Alberto Macho, Miguel A Botella. TTL proteins scaffold brassinosteroid signaling components at the plasma membrane to optimize signal transduction in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 2019. (31):1807–1828, doi/10.1105/tpc.19.00150.
70. James Anderson*, Naoufal Lakhssassi*, Stella K. Kantartzi, and Khalid Meksem. Non-hypothesis Analysis of a Mutagenic Soybean (Glycine max [L.]) Population for Protein and Fatty Acid Composition. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2018. DOI 10.1002/aocs.12063.
71. Lakhssassi N, Colantonio V, Flowers ND, Zhou Z, Henry J, Liu S, Meksem K. Stearoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Desaturase Mutations Uncover an Impact of Stearic Acid in Leaf and Nodule Structure. Plant Physiology, 2017. Jul;174(3):1531-1543. doi: 10.1104/pp.16.01929. Epub 2017 May 1.
72. Lakhssassi N, Liu S, Bekal S, Zhou Z, Colantonio V, Lambert K, Barakat A, Meksem K. Characterization of the Soluble NSF Attachment Protein gene family identifies two members involved in additive resistance to a plant pathogen. Scientific Reports, 2017. Mar 24;7:45226. doi: 10.1038/srep45226.
73. Lakhssassi N, Zhou Z, Liu S, Colantonio V, AbuGhazaleh A, Meksem K. Characterization of the FAD2 Gene Family in Soybean Reveals the Limitations of Gel-Based TILLING in Genes with High Copy Number. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2017. Mar 13;8:324. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00324. eCollection 2017.
74. Liu S, Kandoth PK, Lakhssassi N, Kang J, Colantonio V, Heinz R, Yeckel G, Zhou Z, Bekal S, Dapprich J, Rotter B, Cianzio S, Mitchum MG, Meksem K. The soybean GmSNAP18 gene underlies two types of resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Nature Communications, 2017. Mar 27;8:14822. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14822.
75. Kandoth PK, Liu S, Lakhssassi N, Dhroso A, Ludwig AP, Elizabeth KJ, Heinz, Robert H, Amanda P, Wayne LP, Tucke D, Jacobs T, Korkin D, Meksem K, Mitchum M. Role of Rhg4-encoded serine hydroxymethyltransferase in resistance to SCN. Phytopathology, 2017. 107(1): 5.
76. Kandoth PK, Liu S, Prenger E, Ludwig A, Lakhssassi N, Heinz R, Zhou Z, Howland A, Gunther J, Eidson S, Dhroso A, LaFayette P, Tucker D, Johnson S, Anderson J, Alaswad A, Cianzio SR, Parrott WA, Korkin D, Meksem K, Mitchum MG. Systematic mutagenesis of serine hydroxymethyltransferase reveals essential role in nematode resistance. Plant Physiology, 2017. Nov;175(3):1370-1380. doi: 10.1104/pp.17.00553. Epub 2017 Sep 14.
77. Meksem K, Liu S, Pramod K, Lakhssassi N, Colantonio V, Kang Jingwen; HR, Yeckel G, Zhou Z, Bekal S, Dapprich, J, Rotter B, Cianzio S, Mitchum, Melissa G. The GmSNAP18 is the Peking-type rhg1-a gene for resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Phytopathology, 2017. 107.
78. Bekal S, Domier LL, Gonfa B, Lakhssassi N, Meksem K, Lambert KN. A SNARE-Like Protein and Biotin Are Implicated in Soybean Cyst Nematode Virulence. PLoS One, 2015. Dec 29;10(12):e0145601. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145601. eCollection 2015.
79. Lakhssassi N, Doblas VG, Rosado A, del Valle AE, Posé D, Jimenez AJ, Castillo AG, Valpuesta V, Borsani O, Botella MA. The arabidopsis TETRATRICOPEPTIDE THIOREDOXIN-LIKE gene family is required for osmotic stress tolerance and male sporogenesis. Plant Physiology, 2012. Mar;158(3):1252-66. doi: 10.1104/pp.111.188920. Epub 2012 Jan 9.
80. Book Chapter:
81. Liu Shiming, Naoufal Lakhssassi, Zhou Zhou, Vincent Colantonio, My Abdelmajid Kassem, and Khalid Meksem.Soybean Genomic Libraries, TILLING, and Genetic Resources. Springer-Nature soybean genome book, 2017. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64198-0_9.

Professional Affiliations

Chairman Workshop Organizer:

1. Functional Genomics workshop, Plant and Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, CA (since 2020). https://plan.core-apps.com/pag_2023/event/3cee484866e6d00c5e492240c4d5549c.
2. American Moroccan Agricultural, Health, and Life Sciences (AMAHLS) conference, Morocco (since 2013). https://amahls.org/program/

 Editorial Board Member:

1. Special issue editor “Plant Development and Hormonal Signaling” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IF= 6.2) since 2023. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/_plant_hormonal
2. Special issue editor “Advances in Research for Legume Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding 1.0 & 2.0” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IF= 6.2) since 2021. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/Legume_Genetics
3. Special issue editor “Special Issue on Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Resistance to Nematodes and Fungi” in Plants (IF= 4.0, ISSN 2223-7747) since 2024. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants/special_issues/3RE032C4N6
4. Topical Advisory Panel in Antibiotics journal (IF= 4.63) since 2021. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/antibiotics/topic_editors
5. Editorial Board Member in SciTechnol journal since 2018. https://www.scitechnol.com/editor-profile/Naoufal_Lakhssassi_PhD/
6. Board of directors of the High Council of Moroccan American Scholars and Academics (HC-MASA https://hc-masa.org/board-of-directors/