Walid Fouad
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
The American University in Cairo
Egypt
Biography
Education 2004; PhD, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA Horticultural sciences, plant molecular and cellular biology Dissertation: “Metabolic Engineering for Beta-alanine Overproduction and Stress Tolerance in Plants: Expression of Escherichia Coli L-aspartate-alpha-decarboxylase in Transgenic Tobacco” 1998; MSc, Cairo University, Cairo Egyptian vegetable crops (genetics), Faculty of Agriculture Thesis: “Evaluation of Pisum Genotypes on the Morphological, Biochemicaland Molecular Levels” 1993; BSc, Cairo University, Cairo Egyptian agriculture, horticultural science; Faculty of Agriculture
Research Interest
Professor Fouad is interested in the integration of genetic transformation technology and functional genomics to study, identify, isolate and engineer key factors for molecular improvement of crops in general and biomass crops in particular. His ultimate goal is to initiate and develop products that will improve agricultural production at the regional and international level. He is also interested in the use of biochemical and molecular biology tools to understand and improve environmental and biotic stress tolerance in plants to enhance their productivity and persistence, resulting in more efficient use of natural resources. He enjoys conveying his scientific experience through mentoring and teaching to create a variety of opportunities for students to learn about plant biotechnology and exciting developments in plant sciences
Publications
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Fouad WM (2004) Metabolic engineering for beta-alanine overproduction and stresstolerence in plants expression of Escherichia coil L-aspartate-alpha-decarboxylase intransgenic tobacco. Horticultural Sciences thesis, PhD University of Florida, 2004
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Haidar A, Soliman M, Fouad WM (1996) Characterization of heat shockproteins in faba bean seedlings. Egypt Journal of Genetic Cytology 25:17-26.
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Rathinasabapathi B, Fouad WM, Sigua C (2001) β-Alanine betaine synthesisin the Plumbaginaceae: Purifiction and characterization of a trifunctional, S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent N-methyltransferase from Limonium latifolium leaves. PlantPhysiology 126:1241-1249
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Fouad WM, Rathinasabapathi B (2006) Heterologous expression of Escherichia coil L-aspartate-alpha-decarboxylase in tobacco increase-alanine levels and improvesvegetative growth and thermotolerance. Plant Molecular Biology 60: 495-505.
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Fouad WM, Altpeter F (2009) Transplastomic expression of bacterial L-aspartate-alpha-decarboxylase enhances photosynthesis and biomass production in response tohigh temperature stress. Transgenic Res. 18:707-718.
