My main research is focused on understanding the host-pathogen interaction and functional role of innate immune system components, Toll and Imd pathways, in response to bacterial and fungal infections such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas entomophila in the insect model system, Tenebrio molitor.

The global rise in number of ineffective antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria, which leads to patient deaths from minor infections caused by resistant strains of bacteria, has attracted so much attention from researchers. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as an alternative for conventional antibiotics to be used in the clinical and veterinary settings. Currently, I am interested in elucidating the effect of AMPs silencing on the insect survival and secondly on the bacteria survival. This research will provide significance information about the adaptive significance of AMPs cocktails, as an emergent property. This insight will almost certainly allow to inform and study new combined therapeutic approaches, in which AMPs combine with traditional antibiotics, or AMPs combine for medical and agricultural applications.

Maryam Keshavarz, Yong Hun Jo, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa and Yeon Soo Han (2020). Tenebrio molitor PGRP-LE plays a critical role in gut antimicrobial peptide production in response to Escherichia coli. Frontiers in Physiology. 10.3389/fphys.2020.00320.

Maryam Keshavarz, Yong Hun Jo, Bharat Bhusan Patnaik, Ki Beom Park, Hye Jin Ko, Chang Eun Kim, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Seok Lee, and Yeon Soo Han (2020), TmRelish is required for regulating the antimicrobial responses to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in Tenebrio molitor. Scientific report (Nature research). 10.1038/s41598-020-61157-1.

Maryam Keshavarz, Yong Hun Jo, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Young Min Bae and Yeon Soo Han (2020). TmPGRP-SA regulates Antimicrobial Response to Bacteria and Fungi in the Fat Body and Gut of Tenebrio molitor. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10.3390/ijms21062113.

Maryam Keshavarz, Yong Hun Jo, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa and Yeon Soo Han (2020). Two roles for Tenebrio molitor Relish in the regulation of antimicrobial peptides and autophagy-related genes in response to Listeria monocytogenes. Insects. 10.3390/insects11030188.

Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Hun Jo, Maryam Keshavarz, Ki Beom Park, Young Min Bae, Dong Hyun Kim Yong Seok Lee, Yeon Soo Han (2020). TmSpz4 Plays an Important Role in Regulating the Production of Antimicrobial Peptides in Response to Escherichia coli and Candida albicans Infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10.3390/ijms21051878.

Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Hun Jo, Maryam Keshavarz, Ki Beom Park, Jun Ho Cho, Young Min Bae, Bobae Kim, Yong Seok Lee, Yeon Soo Han (2020). TmAtg6 plays an important role in anti-microbial defense against Listeria monocytogenes in the mealworm, Tenebrio molitor. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10.3390/ijms21041232.

Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Hun Jo, Maryam Keshavarz, Young Min Bae, Dong Hyun Kim, Yong Seok Lee, Yeon Soo Han (2020), TmSpz6 Is Essential for Regulating the Immune Response to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Infection in Tenebrio molitor. Insects. 10.3390/insects11020105.

Chang Eun Kim, Ki Beom Park, Hye Jin Ko, Maryam Keshavarz, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Young Min Bae, Bo Bae Kim, Bharat Bhusan Patnaik, Ho Am Jang, Yong Seok Lee, Yeon Soo Han and Yong Hun Jo (2020). Aedes albopictus autophagy-related gene 8 (AaAtg8) is required to confer anti-bacterial gut immunity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10.3390/ijms21082944.

Maryam Keshavarz, Yong Hun Jo, Ki Beom Park, Hye Jin Ko, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa,Yong Seok Lee & Yeon Soo Han (2019). TmDorX2 positively regulates antimicrobial peptides in Tenebrio molitor gut, fat body, and hemocytes in response to bacterial and fungal infection. Scientific report (Nature research). 10.1038/s41598-019-53497-4.

Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Hun Jo, Maryam Keshavarz, Young Sang Anh, Mi Young Noh, Yeon soo Han (2018). Current Status of the Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea: Management Perspectives, Journal of Applied Entomology, 10.1111/jen.12562.

Maryam Keshavarz, Marjan Seiedy, and Hossein Allahyari (2015). Preference of two populations of Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Coleoptra: Coccinellidae) for Aphis fabae and Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae). European Journal of Entomology. European Journal of Entomology. 10.14411/eje.2015.065.

Maryam Ali Mohammadie Kojour, Ho Am Jang, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Maryam Keshavarz, Bharat Bhusan Patnaik, Bo Bae Kim, Young Min Bae, Yeon Soo Han, and Yong Hun Jo., (2020) Identification, Bioinformatics Characterization and Expression Analysis of Tenebrio molitor Cecropin2. Entomological Research. 10.1111/1748-5967.12476

Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Hun Jo, Maryam Keshavarz, In Seon Kim, Yeon soo Han (2020). Biosurfactants induce antimicrobial peptide production through the activation of TmSpätzles in Tenebrio molitor. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10.3390/ijms21176090

Hye Jin Ko, Yong Hun Jo, Bharat Bhusan Patnaik, Ki Beom Park, Chang Eun Kim, Maryam Keshavarz, Ho Am Jang, Yong Seok Lee, and Yeon Soo Han., (2020). IKKγ/NEMO is required to confer antimicrobial innate immune responses in the Ceoleopteran pest, Tenebrio molitor. 10.3390/ijms21186734

Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Yong Hun Jo, Maryam Keshavarz, In Seon Kim, Yeon soo Han (2020). Biosurfactants induce antimicrobial peptide production through the activation of TmSpätzles in Tenebrio molitor. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10.3390/ijms21176090