Welcome to the MAO Lab.
About us.
The MAO Lab specializes in neuroscience, neurometabolism, and cognition. Our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to unraveling the intricate connections between metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Our research includes animal studies and translational research, where we delve into the molecular and behavioral aspects of neurometabolism.
Our commitment extends to the utilization of PET scanning technology, providing unprecedented insights into the dynamic interplay of metabolic processes within the brain. At MAO Lab, we strive to bridge the gap between bench and bedside, advancing understanding and paving the way for innovative interventions in the realm of neuroscientific research
Research themes: neuroinflammation, neurometabolism neurogenesis, cognition, neurodegeneration, PET/CT Scans.
Team.
College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Dasman Diabetes Institute
Kawthar Braysh, PhD
Research Associate
Leora D’Souza, MSc
Research Assistant
Fares AlHawaj, MSc
Research Assistant
Dalal AlAsousi
Undergraduate researcher
Nour Khanafer Undergraduate researcher
Batool Samaro
Undergraduate researcher
Dana AlObaid
Undergraduate researcher
Malak AlQaddoumi
Researcher
Hawraa Mohammed
MSc. Student
Malak AlMojel
Medical Researcher
Wafaa AlDuhaimi
Undergraduate researcher
Zahraa Abdulrasoul
Undergraduate researcher
Eman Alenezi
Undergraduate researcher
Collaborators.
Heba AlHussaini, PhD
Faculty of Medicine,
Kuwait University
Selma AlKefeef, PhD
Faculty of Medicine,
Kuwait University
Dana AlTarrah, PhD
Faculty of Public Health,
Kuwait University
Shurouk Dannon, PhD
Faculty of Medicine,
Kuwait University
Maha Hammad, PhD
Faculty of Medicine,
Kuwait University
Ibrahim AlMasoud, PhD
Faculty of Science,
Kuwait University
Selected publications.
Glucose intolerance induces anxiety-like behaviors independent of obesity and insulin resistance in a novel model of nutritional metabolic stress. M Al-Onaizi, K Braysh, S Alkefeef, D Altarrah, S Dannoon, D Alasousi, H Adel, M Al-Ajmi, A Kandari, R Najem, R Nizam, MR Williams, S John, TA Tharanj, R Ahmed, H Al-Hussaini, F Al-Mulla, F Alzaid. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2024
Neurotransmitters in Type 2 Diabetes and the Control of Systemic and Central Energy Balance. A Al-Sayyar, MM Hammad, MR Williams, M Al-Onaizi, J Abubaker, F Alzaid. Metabolites. 2023
Impaired spatial navigation and age‐dependent hippocampal synaptic dysfunction are associated with chronic inflammatory response in db/db mice. M Al‐Onaizi, A Al‐Sarraf, K Braysh, F Kazem, H Al‐Hussaini, M Rao, ... European Journal of Neuroscience. 2022
Early monocyte modulation by the non-erythropoietic peptide ARA 290 decelerates AD-like pathology progression. MA Al-Onaizi, P Thériault, S Lecordier, P Prefontaine, S Rivest, A ElAli. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2022
Publications
Cholinergic transmission from the basal forebrain modulates social memory in male mice. O Kljakic, M Al‐Onaizi, H Janíčková, KS Chen, MS Guzman, MAM Prado, European Journal of Neuroscience 54 (6), 6075-6092. 2021
Chronic hM3Dq signaling in microglia ameliorates neuroinflammation in male mice. W Binning, AE Hogan-Cann, DY Sakae, M Maksoud, V Ostapchenko, MA Al-Onaizi, S Matovic, WY Lu,... Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 88, 791-801. 2020
Role of microglia in modulating adult neurogenesis in health and Neurodegeneration. M Al-Onaizi, A Al-Khalifah, D Qasem, A ElAli. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 (18), 6875. 2020
MouseBytes, an open-access high-throughput pipeline and database for rodent touchscreen-based cognitive assessment. FH Beraldo, D Palmer, S Memar, DI Wasserman, WJV Lee, S Liang, ...MA Al-Onaizi…Elife 8, e49630. 2019
Forebrain cholinergic signaling regulates innate immune responses and inflammation. Lehner KR, Silverman HA, Addorisio ME, Roy A, Al-Onaizi MA, Levine Y, Olofsson PS, Chavan SS, Gros R, Nathanson NM, Al-Abed Y, Metz CN, Prado VF, Prado MAM, Tracey KJ, Pavlov VA. 2019. Frontiers in Immunology. 2; 10:585. 2019
Cholinergic influence in brain pathology and cognition. B Kolisnyk, M Al-Onaizi, MAM Prado, V Prado. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 29, S268-S269. 2019
Physiological roles of glutamate secreted from VGLUT3-expressing neurons. Kljakic, H Janickova, M Al-Onaizi, S Mestikawy, M Prado, V Prado. Journal of Neurochemistry. 142, 123-124. 2017
Cholinergic circuits in cognitive flexibility. VF Prado, H Janickova, MA Al-Onaizi, MAM Prado. Neuroscience. 345, 130-141. 2017
Deletion of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter from pedunculopontine/laterodorsal tegmental neurons modifies gait. H Janickova, K Rosborough, M Al‐Onaizi, O Kljakic, MS Guzman, R Gros, M Prado, V Prado. Journal of Neurochemistry. 140 (5), 787-798. 2017
Cholinergic surveillance over hippocampal RNA metabolism and Alzheimer’s-like pathology. B Kolisnyk, M Al-Onaizi, L Soreq, S Barbash, U Bekenstein, N Haberman, Hanin G, Kish MT, Souza da Silva J, Fahnestock M, Ule J, Soreq H, Prado VF, Prado MAM.. Cerebral Cortex. 27 (7), 3553-3567. 2016
Regulation of Cognitive Processing by Hippocampal Cholinergic Tone. Al-Onaizi MA, Parfitt GM, Kolisnyk B, Law CS, Guzman MS, Barros DM, Leung LS, Prado MA, Prado VF. Cerebral Cortex: bhv349v1-bhv349. 2016
Cholinergic regulation of hnRNPA2/B1 translation by M1 muscarinic receptors. Kolisnyk B, Al-Onaizi MA, Xu J, Parfitt GM, Hanin G, Soreq H, Prado MAM, Prado VF. The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 33:14908-14920. 8;36(23):6287-96. 2016
alpha7 nicotinic ACh receptor-deficient mice exhibit sustained attention impairments that are reversed by beta2 nicotinic ACh receptor activation. Kolisnyk B, Al-Onaizi MA, Prado VF, Prado MA. British journal of pharmacology. 172:4919-4931. 2015
ALPHA7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-deficient mice exhibit sustained attention impairments that are reversed by ABT-418. B Kolisnyk, M Al-Onaizi, V Prado, M Prado. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2015
Forebrain deletion of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter results in deficits in executive function, metabolic, and RNA splicing abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex. Kolisnyk B, Al-Onaizi MA, Hirata PH, Guzman MS, Nikolova S, Barbash S, Soreq H, Bartha R, Prado MA, Prado VF. The Journal of Neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 33:14908-14920. 2013