Md Oliullah Rafi

Hometown: Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Education:
B.S., Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh

M.S., Microbiology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh

This is Md Oliullah Rafi, and I am from Bangladesh. Studying Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in my bachelor program has provided me with a solid background knowledge for academic and scientific careers. My research work began with viral drug discovery. The main protease and RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 have a significant role in the viral replication process. With the help of my team members, I designed and filtered out some analogs that had higher binding affinity with enzymes. In my masters, I worked on identifying multi-drug-resistant Escherichia coli.

My current research interests focus on understanding the molecular and structural basis of protein-ligand interaction. In particular, primary research aims to design and discover drugs that will inhibit the action of receptors of disease tissue. I am interested to know how small molecules or phytochemicals inhibit the action of proteins and how we can develop drug candidates based on these molecules against infectious and therapeutic diseases. Pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma is going to be an excellent choice for me to continue my research. With my diverse research experience in wet and dry labs, I am eager to contribute cutting-edge research in biochemical science. My long-cherished dream is to establish a research lab, where I can develop antiviral and anticancer drugs as well as train new advisees.

Publications & Awards

Publications

Rafi, M.O., Hasan, M.A.E., Fahim, N.A.I. et al. Environmental distribution of biofilm-forming antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli associated with plastic surface materials. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36835-0
Rafi, M.O.; Al-Khafaji, K.; Sarker, M.T.; Taskin-Tok, T.; Rana, A.S.; Rahman, M.S. Design of a multi-epitope vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: immunoinformatic and computational methods. RSC Adv. 2022, 12, 4288–4310, doi:10.1039/D1RA06532G. [IF: 4.036; Q1]
Rafi, M.O.; Bhattacharje, G.; Al-Khafaji, K.; Taskin-Tok, T.; Alfasane, M.A.; Das, A.K.; Parvez, M.A.K.; Rahman, M.S. Combination of QSAR, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation and MM-PBSA: analogues of lopinavir and favipiravir as potential drug candidates against COVID-19. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 2020, 1–20, doi:10.1080/07391102.2020.1850355. [IF: 5.235; Q1]
Mahmud, S#.; Rafi, M.O#.; Paul, G.K.; Promi, M.M.; Shimu, M.S.S.; Biswas, S.; Emran, T. Bin; Dhama, K.; Alyami, S.A.; Moni, M.A.; et al. Designing a multi-epitope vaccine candidate to combat MERS-CoV by employing an immunoinformatics approach. Sci. Rep. 2021, 11, 15431, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92176-1. [IF: 4.996; Q1]
Rafi, M.O.; Al-Khafaji, K.; Tok, T.T.; Rahman, M.S. Computer-based identification of potential compounds from Salviae miltiorrhizae against Neirisaral adhesion A regulatory protein. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 2020, 1–13, doi:10.1080/07391102.2020.1856189. [IF: 5.235; Q1]
Rafi, M.O.; Al-Khafaji, K.; Mandal, S.M.; Meghla, N.S.; Biswas, P.K.; Rahman, M.S. A subunit vaccine against pneumonia: targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Netw. Model. Anal. Heal. Informatics Bioinforma. 2023, 12, 21, doi:10.1007/s13721-023-00416-3. [IF: 2.34; Q2]
Halder, S.K#.; Rafi, M.O#.; Shahriar, E.B.; Identification of the most damaging nsSNPs in the human CFL1 gene and their functional and structural impacts on cofilin-1 protein. Gene 2022, 146206, doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146206. [IF: 3.91; Q1]
Hossain, M.J.; Jannat, T.; Brishty, S.R.; Roy, U.; Mitra, S.; Rafi, M.O.; Islam, M.R.; Nesa, M.L.; Islam, M.A.; Emran, T. Bin Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Antiviral Drugs in the Extended Use against COVID-19: What We Know So Far. Biologics 2021, 1, 252–284, doi:10.3390/biologics1020016.
Sarker, M.; Takim, H.; Rafi, M.O, H.; Capasso, R.; Emran, T. Bin; others A Comprehensive Overview of the Newly Emerged COVID-19 Pandemic: Features, Origin, Genomics, Epidemiology, Treatment, and Prevention. Biologics 2021, 357–383. [IF: 6.34; Q2]
Hossain, M.J.; Ahmmed, F.; Sarker, M.M.R.; Sarwar, S.; Bari, M.S.; Khan, M.R.; Shahriar, S.; Rafi, M.O.; Emran, T. Bin; Mitra, S.; et al. Factors Associated Underprivileged E-Learning, Session Jam Phobia, and the Subsequent Mental Distress Among Students Following the Extended University Closure in Bangladesh. Front. Public Heal. 2022, 9, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.807474. [IF: 6.345; Q1]
El-Mageed, H.R.A.; Abdelrheem, D.A.; Rafi, M.O.; Sarker, M.T.; Al-Khafaji, K.; Hossain, M.J.; Capasso, R.; Emran, T.B. In Silico Evaluation of Different Flavonoids from Medicinal Plants for Their Potency against SARS-CoV-2. Biologics 2021, 1, 416--434 2021.
Al-Shuaeeb, R.A.A.; El-Mageed, H.R.A.; Ahmed, S.A.; Mohamed, H.S.; Hamza, Z.S.; Rafi, M.O.; Rahman, M.S. Identification of potent COVID-19 main protease inhibitors by loading of favipiravir on Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters: an in silico strategy for COVID-19 treatment. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 2023, 0, 1–13, doi:10.1080/07391102.2022.2162967. [IF: 5.235; Q1]
Sarker, M.T.; Saha, S.; Biswas, P.; Islam, M.T.; Sheikh, M.A.; Hasan, M.N.; Islam, N.; Rabbe, M.M.I.; Rafi, M.O. Identification of blood-based inflammatory biomarkers for the early-stage

Awards

Best Udvashito Mukh Award, Udvash Engineering Coaching Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2016)
Jashore University of Science and Technology Admission Test Stipend (2017)
Merit Scholarship, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology (2019)