Maneli Zamani, McMaster University

Research

Maneli earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Tehran, where she investigated microbial interactions and communication. As part of her training, she completed a year-long research internship at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Her work there focused on cell-cell communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, specifically examining the impact of quorum quenching in mixed bacterial populations. Following her Ph.D., Maneli joined McMaster University as a postdoctoral fellow, where she specialized in synthetic biology and functional genomics. Her research aimed to identify the minimal genomic components required for biological nitrogen fixation in Sinorhizobium meliloti. She later started a second postdoctoral position at McMaster, expanding her focus to the characterization of phage defence mechanisms in S. meliloti. Dr. Zamani is deeply committed to education and student mentorship. She was awarded a competitive two-year teaching fellowship by the School of Interdisciplinary Science at McMaster University, during which she taught courses in synthetic biology, genome editing technologies, and molecular plant-microbe interactions. Her dedication to fostering student growth and engagement has been a consistent hallmark of her academic career. In 2022, driven by her passion for both teaching and laboratory work, Dr. Zamani joined the School of Interdisciplinary Science as a Level IV Instructional Assistant, where she continues to contribute to interdisciplinary science education and research.

Research areas, by share of publications

Legume Nitrogen Fixing SymbiosisAgricultural and Biological Sciences
Plant nutrient uptake and metabolismAgricultural and Biological Sciences
Plant-Microbe Interactions and ImmunityAgricultural and Biological Sciences
Genomics and Phylogenetic StudiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research areas are derived from OpenAlex topics of their publications.

Latest papers

A minimized symbiotic gene set from the 1.68 Mb pSymB chromid of Sinorhizobium meliloti reveals auxiliary symbiotic loci
Journal of Biology · 2025
A broadly distributed predicted helicase/nuclease confers phage resistance via abortive infection
Cell Host and Microbe · 2023
Minimal gene set from Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti pSymA required for efficient symbiosis with Medicago
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2021

All 14 publications

Researchers with similar interests

Rosa Da Silva

Biology

Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism

Robin Cameron

Biology

Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity

Lindsay Kalan

Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Andrew McArthur

Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Brian Golding

Biology

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Ben Evans

Biology

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

14 publications.

01

A minimized symbiotic gene set from the 1.68 Mb pSymB chromid of Sinorhizobium meliloti reveals auxiliary symbiotic loci

Kearsley JVS, Geddes BA, diCenzo GC, Zamani M, Finan TM

Journal of Biology20254 citations

DOI: 10.1186/s12915-025-02298-5

02

A broadly distributed predicted helicase/nuclease confers phage resistance via abortive infection

Sather LM, Zamani M, Muhammed Z, Kearsley JVS, Fisher GT, Jones KM, Finan TM

Cell Host and Microbe202330 citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.01.010

03

Minimal gene set from Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti pSymA required for efficient symbiosis with Medicago

Geddes BA, Kearsley JVS, Huang J, Zamani M, Muhammed Z, Sather L, Panchal AK, diCenzo GC, Finan TM

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America202138 citations

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018015118

04

Multidisciplinary approaches for studying rhizobium–legume symbioses

diCenzo GC, Zamani M, Checcucci A, Fondi M, Griffitts JS, Finan TM, Mengoni A

Canadian Journal of Microbiology201982 citations

DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2018-0377

05

Designer Sinorhizobium meliloti strains and multi-functional vectors enable

Brumwell SL, MacLeod MR, Huang T, Cochrane RR, Meaney RS, Zamani M, Matysiakiewicz O, Dan KN, Janakirama P, Edgell DR

PLoS ONE201934 citationsOpen Access

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206781 PMID: W2949719113

06

Designer Sinorhizobium meliloti strains and multi-functional vectors for direct inter-kingdom transfer of high G+C content DNA

Brumwell SL, MacLeod MR, Huang T, Cochrane R, Meaney RS, Zamani M, Matysiakiewicz O, Janakirama P, Edgell DR, Charles TC

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)20181 citationsOpen Access

DOI: 10.1101/449991 PMID: W2896158302

07

Multi-disciplinary approaches for studying rhizobium – legume symbioses

diCenzo GC, Zamani M, Checcucci A, Fondi M, Griffitts JS, Finan TM, Mengoni A

PeerJ PrePrints20181 citations

DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.27033

08

Multi-disciplinary approaches for studying rhizobium – legume symbioses

diCenzo GC, Zamani M, Checcucci A, Fondi M, Griffitts JS, Finan TM, Mengoni A

PeerJ PrePrints20181 citations

DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.27033v1

09

Multi-disciplinary approaches for studying rhizobium – legume symbioses

diCenzo GC, Zamani M, Checcucci A, Fondi M, Griffitts JS, Finan TM, Mengoni A

PeerJ PrePrints2018

DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.27033v2

10

PhoU Allows Rapid Adaptation to High Phosphate Concentrations by Modulating PstSCAB Transport Rate in Sinorhizobium meliloti

diCenzo GC, Sharthiya H, Nanda A, Zamani M, Finan TM

Journal of Bacteriology201762 citations

DOI: 10.1128/jb.00143-17

Courses taught

9

Communicating Science for Public Audiences
LIFESCI 3P03 · last taught 2026
Undergraduate
Foundations in Science Communication
SCICOMM 2A03 · last taught 2026
Undergraduate
Communicating Science for Public Audiences
SCICOMM 3P03 · last taught 2026
Undergraduate
Investigating Science: Opportunities & Experiences
SCIENCE 1A03 · last taught 2025
Undergraduate
Living Systems Laboratory
LIFESCI 2L03 · last taught 2024
Undergraduate
Medical Imaging Physics
LIFESCI 1D03 · last taught 2023
Undergraduate
Introduction to Topics in Life Sciences
LIFESCI 2AA3 · last taught 2023
Undergraduate
Research Seminar
LIFESCI 4N03 · last taught 2022
Undergraduate
Research Seminar
LIFESCI 4Q03 · last taught 2021
Undergraduate

Frequent collaborators

Turlough Mary Finan

Mathematics and Statistics

14 shared papers, latest 2025

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Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis Dear Professor Zamani, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "A minimized symbiotic gene set from the 1.68 Mb pSymB chromid of Sinorhizobium meliloti reveals auxiliary symbiotic loci" (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

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