Saydur Rahman, M.D, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Associate Professor
Office: BLHSB 2.812
Phone: (956) 882-5041
Email: md.rahman@utrgv.edu 


Currently Teaching

  • EEMS 7100 - Continuing Thesis
  • BIOL 1406 - Gen Bio I
  • BIOL 6185 - Graduate Research
  • MARS 3420 - Marine Biology Field Methods
  • MARS 4301 - Marine Science Communication
  • BIOL 7300 - Thesis I
  • EEMS 7300 - Thesis I
  • BIOL 7100 - Thesis Proposal

Education

  • 2001 Ph.D. Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Japan 1998 M.Sc. Marine Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
  • 1992 M.S. Fisheries Biology and Limnology, Bangladesh Agricultural University
  • 1989 B.S. Fisheries (Honors), Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University

Areas of Expertise

  • Environmental toxicology
  • Molecular endocrinology
  • Stress physiology
  • Epigenetics
  • Environmental DNA

Research

One of the most significant impacts of global climate changes due to human activities over the past decades has been increased worldwide in the incidence of coastal hypoxia (dissolved oxygen <2.0 mg/L) and environmental contaminants. The coastal region of the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) is one of

the largest petroleum‐producing regions in the United States and the second‐largest hypoxic ‘dead’ zone in the world, affecting an average area of 16,700 km2 during the summer months. However, the long‐ term impacts of the extensive hypoxia on nGOM ecosystems and fisheries cannot be accurately predicted at present due to an incomplete understanding of the effects of hypoxia on individual‐level processes that can affect population abundances such as reproduction, growth, and development.

Moreover, the interactive effects of hypoxia/temperature (due to climate change), hypoxia/salinity (due to large freshwater diversions), temperature/pesticides, and hypoxia/ocean acidification, and migration on these critical functions are unknown. The exposure of motile animals such as fish and shellfish to these hypoxic waters and the long‐term effects of multiple environmental stressors on molecular, physiological, and epigenomic responses are largely unknown. An understanding of the interactive effects of these environmental stressors on coastal fish and shellfish will be required in order to make accurate predictions of the ecosystem impacts.


Recent Publications

Rishan, S.T., R.J. Kline, and S. Rahman, 2023. Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect subterranean and aquatic invasive species: A critical review on the challenges and limitations of eDNA metabarcoding. Environmental Advances, 100370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2023.100370

Lacy, B., M. Rivera, L. Flores, and S. Rahman. 2023. Combined effects of high temperature and pesticide mixture exposure on free‐swimming behaviors and hepatic cytochrome P450 1A expression in goldfish, Carassius auratus. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 86 (5), 144‐ https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2023.2174463.

Morales‐Zamudio, L., A. Fierro‐Cabo, S. Rahman, and M.A. Dominguez‐Crespo. 2023. Metal contents in house geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from industrial and urban areas of southern Tamaulipas, Mexico and western Andalucía, Spain, may reflect airborne metal pollution. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 86 (4), 103‐118. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2023.2170941
 
Dash, M, and S. Rahman. 2023. Molecular and biochemical responses to tributyltin (TBT) exposure in the American oyster: Triggers of stress‐induced oxidative DNA damage and prooxidant‐antioxidant imbalance in tissues by TBT. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 264, 109523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109523
Lacy, , and M.S. Rahman. 2022. Interactive effects of high temperature and pesticide exposure on oxidative status, apoptosis, and renin expression in kidney of goldfish: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of widespread kidney damage and renin attenuation. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 42(11), 1787‐1806. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.4357

Lacy, , M.S. Rahman, and Rahman, M.S. 2022. Potential mechanisms of Na+/K+‐ATPase attenuation by heat and pesticides co‐exposure in goldfish: role of cellular apoptosis, oxidative/nitrative stress, and antioxidants in gills. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1‐19. 9:57376‐57394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356‐022‐19779‐7
 
Wang, D.H., Z. Wang, X. Li, S. Martinez, G. James, S. Rahman, and J.T. Brenna. 2022. Unusual polymethylene‐interrupted, Δ5 monounsaturated and omega‐3 fatty acids in sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata) from the Gulf of Mexico identified by solvent mediated covalent adduct chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Food Chemistry 371, 131131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131131
 
Ruppert, K.M., D.R. Davis, S. Rahman, R.J. Kline. 2022. Development and assessment of an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for a cryptic Siren (Amphibia: Sirenidae). Environmental Advances, 7, 100163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100163
 
Hernandez, E, O.A. Vázquez, A. Torruco, and S. Rahman. 2022. Histological evidence of lunar reproductive rhythm of Atlantic sea urchin Arbacia punctulata (Echinodermata: Arbaciidae) in the Gulf of Mexico. Biological Rhythm Research, 53 (3): 455‐467. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2020.1758418
 
Billah, M.M., and S. Rahman. 2022. Impacts of anthropogenic contaminants and elevated temperature on prevalence and proliferation of Escherichia coli in the wild‐caught American oyster, Crassostrea virginica in the southern Gulf of Mexico coast. Marine Biology Research 17, (9‐10): 775‐ 793. (corresponding author). https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2022.2053161

Rahman, M.S., and S. Rahman. 2021. Elevated seasonal temperature disrupts prooxidant‐ antioxidant homeostasis and promotes cellular apoptosis in the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, in the Gulf of Mexico: A field study. Cell Stress and Chaperones 26, 917‐936. (corresponding author). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192‐021‐01232‐2
 
Rahman, M.S., and Thomas. 2021. Molecular Characterization and Expression of Cytochrome P450 Aromatase in Atlantic Croaker Brain: Regulation by Antioxidant Status and Nitric Oxide Synthase During Hypoxia Stress. Frontiers of Physiology 12:720200. http://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.720200
DuBois, , B. Lacy, A.F. Rahman, and M.S. Rahman. 2021. Elevated CYP1A expression detected in pinfish collected from coastal lagoon in the southern Texas Gulf coast: Indicative of exposure to microplastics or pollutants? Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 28, 32066‐32073. (corresponding author). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356‐021‐14351‐1
 
Vázquez, O.A., and S. Rahman. 2021. An ecological approach to microplastics on terrestrial and aquatic organisms: A systematic review in assessment, monitoring and biological impact.

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 84, 103615. (corresponding author). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2021.103615 

Rahman, M.S., and S. Rahman. 2021. Effects of elevated temperature on prooxidant‐antioxidant homeostasis and redox status in the American oyster: Signaling pathways of cellular apoptosis during heat stress. Environmental Research, 196, 110428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110428
Hernandez, E, A. Vázquez, A. Torruco, and M.S. Rahman. 2019. Reproductive cycle and gonadal development of Atlantic sea urchin Arbacia punctulata in the Gulf of Mexico: changes in nutritive‐ phagocytes in relation to gamatogenesis. Marine Biology Research, 16, 177‐194. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2020.1731758
 
Rahman, M.S., J. Kline, O.A. Vázquez, I.A. Khan, P. Thomas. 2020. Molecular characterization and expression of arginine vasotocin V1a2 receptor in Atlantic croaker brain: potential mechanisms of its downregulation by PCB77. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, e22500, 1‐
https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.22500
 
Nash, S., and S. Rahman. 2019. Short‐term heat stress impairs testicular functions in the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica: molecular mechanisms and induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis in spermatogenic cells. Molecular Reproduction & Development 86:1444‐1458. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.23268
 
Ruppert, , R. Kline, and M.S. Rahman. 2019. Past, present, and future perspective of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding: A systematic review in methods, monitoring, and applications of global eDNA. Global Ecology and Conservation. 17: e00547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00547
 
Faulkner, C., D. Hala, M.S. Rahman, and L.H. Petersen. 2019. Short‐term exposure to 12‰ brackish water has significant effects on the endocrine physiology of juvenile American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 236:110531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110531
 
Rahman, M.S., and P. Thomas. 2019. Molecular cloning and characterization of two ARNT (ARNT‐1 and ARNT‐2) genes in Atlantic croaker and their expression during coexposure to hypoxia and Environmental Toxicology 34(2): 160‐171.https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.22670
 
Johnstone, J., Nash, S., Hernandez, E., and S. Rahman. 2019. Effects of elevated temperature on gonadal functions, cellular apoptosis, and oxidative stress in Atlantic sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata. Marine Environmental Research 149: 40‐49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.05.017
Nash, , J. Johnstone, and M.S. Rahman. 2019. Elevated temperature attenuates ovarian functions and induces apoptosis and oxidative stress in the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica: potential mechanisms and signaling pathways. Cell Stress and Chaperones 24: 957‐967. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192‐019‐01023‐w

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For questions or assistance please reach out to:

School Director
Robert K. Dearth, Ph.D.

School Associate Director
Kathryn E. Perez, Ph.D.

Biology Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Tobias Weinrich, Ph.D.

Biology and Chemistry Graduate Program Coordinator
Frank Dirrigl, Ph.D.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program Coordinator
Yonghong Zhang, Ph.D.

Edinburg
Julie Perez,
Administrative Assistant II

Brownsville
Daisy Garcia,
Administrative Assistant II

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