Sara-Mina

Dr. Sara Mina earned a B.Sc. in Biology (2008) and an M.Sc. in Human Molecular Diagnosis (2010) from the Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University. She also holds an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology from the Graduate School of Science and Technologies (EDST), Azm Center–Lebanese University. As part of her graduate studies, she was awarded a scholarship to complete her M.Sc. training at the University of Angers in France.

In 2014, she obtained her Ph.D. in Microbiology (specialty: Mycology, Immunology, and Biotechnology) from the University of Angers. She served as a lecturer at several universities, including the Lebanese University, Lebanese International University, and Beirut Arab University.

In 2016, she joined the Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, at Beirut Arab University as an Assistant Professor. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2025. Dr. Sara Mina has authored multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has served as a Guest Editor for Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology and is currently a member of the Editorial Board of Mycopathologia and an Associate Editor in-Chief  in the journal of Infection and Drug Resistance. 

Dr. Sara Mina adopts a student-centered approach to teaching, firmly believing that active engagement is key to meaningful learning. She employs a hybrid and interactive teaching style, integrating a variety of instructional methods such as interactive lectures, group discussions, and case studies. Her courses are designed to foster critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills essential for professional success. She also integrates Team-Based Learning (TBL) into her teaching practice to promote deeper engagement with course content and to foster meaningful collaboration among students.

Fall Courses

• HESC 201: Human Anatomy and Physiology
• COMM 201: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• MELS 301: Virology and Mycology
• MELS 307: Clinical Laboratory Immunology
• MELS 401: Genetics and Molecular Biology
• HESC 602 and NURS 602: Research Methodology

Spring Courses

• MELS 302: Toxicology for Medical Laboratory
• MELS 308: Clinical Laboratory Bacteriology
• MELS 315: Cancer Biology
• MELS 408: Clinical Seminar
• MELS 418: Clinical Bacteriology II
• HESC 302: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
   

Her doctoral research laid the groundwork for her subsequent investigations in microbial genomics, phylogeny, and evolution, with a particular focus on fungal pathogens. Dr. Mina’s research interests are diverse and interdisciplinary, encompassing host-pathogen interactions, antimicrobial resistance, and the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying microbial virulence. Her work frequently integrates translational aspects, aiming to bridge laboratory discoveries with clinical and public health applications.

Dr. Mina was awarded several grants to sustain active collaborations with research institutions across Europe and the Middle East, including joint projects on the evolution of resistance genes and virulence traits and phylogenetic analyses.

[ 11/11/2024 – 12/11/2024 ] London, UK
4th International Conference on Microbiology and Immunology
• Member of the organization committee
• Invited speaker: Oral presentation entitled: "Ecology of Scedosporium Species in Human Impacted Environments and Their Distribution in Soils of Northern Lebanon"

[ 06/11/2024 – 08/11/2024 ] Orléans, France
International ‘Drought stress signaling’ CEFIPRA Workshop
Papon N, Yaakoub H, Bidon B, Kabbara S, Landreau A, Godon C, Héricourt F, Carpin S, Dugé de Bernonville T, Courdavault V, Mina S, Hérivaux A. Evolution of Multistep Phosphorelay Signaling Systems in Eukaryotes: A Special Emphasis in the Fungal Kingdom.

[ 06/06/2024 – 07/06/2024 ] Angers, France
Sixth Meeting of the ECMM/ISHAM Working group Fungal respiratory infections in Cystic Fibrosis
Oral presentation entitled "Scedosporium species in Lebanon: First environmental survey"

[ 30/06/2018 – 04/07/2018 ] Amsterdam, The Netherlands
20th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology
• Oral presentation delivered by Pr. Jean-Philippe Bouchara entitled: "Enzymatic antioxidant defense systems in Scedosporium species"
• Poster presentation (PP3.218) entitled: "Production of Scedosporium boydii CatA1 and SodC recombinant proteins: another step towards a standardized test for serodiagnosis of Scedosporium infections"

[ 04/05/2015 – 08/05/2015 ] Melbourne, Australia
19th Congress of International Society for Human and Animal Mycology
Poster presentations:
• C. Staerck, S. Mina, S.M. d’Almeida, A. Marot, S. Giraud, Y. Delneste, J-P Bouchara, J. Tabiasco and M.J.J. Fleury. Scedosporium apiospermum defense systems against oxidative stress.
• C. Staerck, S. Mina, A. Marot, C. Godon, S. Giraud, J-P Bouchara and M.J.J. Fleury. Catalase A1 and Cu-Zn SOD recombinant proteins from Scedosporium apiospermum complex are useful tools for serodiagnosis of Scedosporium infection.

[ 23/03/2015 – 25/03/2015 ] Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
11ème Congrès National de la Société Française de Microbiologie
• Oral presentations:
• Mina S., Staerck C., Godon C., Marot A., Bouchara J.P. et Fleury M.J.J. Développement d’un test sérodiagnostic pour les infections à Scedosporium apiospermum
• Staerck C., Mina S., d’Almeida S.M., Marot A., Delneste Y., Bouchara J.P., Tabiasco J. et Fleury M.J.J. Etude de la réponse de Scedosporium apiospermum au stress oxydatif

[ 17/02/2015 – 17/02/2015 ] Paris, France
16ème colloque Français des jeunes chercheurs en mucoviscidose
• Oral presentations:
• Staerck C., Mina S., d’Almeida S.M., Marot A., Delneste Y., Bouchara J-P, Tabiasco J. et Fleury MJ.J. Etude de l’implication des gènes codant la catalase A1 et la Cu,Zn-superoxyde dismutase de Scedosporium apiospermum dans sa défense contre le stress oxydant.
• Mina S., Staerck C., Godon C., Marot A., Bouchara J-P et Fleury MJ.J. Développement d’un test sérodiagnostic aux infections à Scedosporium apiospermum chez les patients atteints de mucoviscidose.

[ 05/06/2014 – 06/06/2014 ] Angers, France
3rd meeting of ECMM/ISHAM working group on Fungal respiratory infections in Cystic Fibrosis.Oral presentation: Mina S., Staerck C., Godon C., Marot A., Bouchara J-P. and Fleury M.J.J. Recombiannt protein from
Scedosporium for serodiagnosis.

[ 18/02/2014 – 18/02/2014 ] Paris, France
15ème colloque des jeunes chercheurs en mucoviscidose
Oral presentation: Mina S., Marot A., Fleury M.J.J., Bouchara J-P. et Robert R. Identification et caractérisation d’une catalase de Pseudallescheria boydii, évaluation de son intérêt pour le sérodiagnostic des infections à Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium chez les patients atteints de mucoviscidose.

[ 09/12/2013 – 10/12/2013 ] Nantes, France
Journées Scientifiques de l'Ecole Doctorale Biologie-Santé Nantes Angers
Poster presentation: Mina S., Marot A., Fleury M.J.J., Robert R. et Bouchara J-P. Towards a standardized test for serodiagnosis of scedosporiosis.

[ 16/05/2013 – 18/05/2013 ] Innsbruck, Austria
4th International Workshop on Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium Infections
Oral presentation: Mina S., Marot A., Fleury M.J.J., Cimon B, Bouchara J-P. et Robert R. Towards a standardized test for serodiagnosis of scedosporiosis.

[ 26/02/2013 – 26/02/2013 ] Paris, France
14ème colloque des jeunes chercheurs en mucoviscidose
Poster presentation: Mina S., Marot A., Fleury M.J.J., Bouchara J-P. et Robert R. Marqueurs diagnostics des scedosporioses : Catalase cytosolique et/ou excrétée.

Mina, S., Daher, S., Jamal Elddin, Mina, N., Nasreddine, W. (2025) Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome in a paediatric population: first data in a Middle Eastern country. BMC Pediatr., 25, 531.

Mina, S., Yaakoub, H., Razafimandimby, B., et al. (2025) First environmental survey of Scedosporium species in Lebanon. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 15:1547800.

Joumaa, H., Azakir, B., Itani, R., Nasreddine, W., Mina, S. (2025). Assessment of Helicobacter pylori infection in Lebanon: endoscopic and histopathological findings. J. Infect. Public Health., 18(3), 102656.

Mina, S., Daher, S., Mina, N., Khoder G. (2024) Concomitant Infection of Helicobacter pylori and Intestinal Parasites: Burden, Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents in Northern Lebanon. F1000Research.

Mina S, Khoder G, Mitri R. (2024). Helicobacter pylori Infection and Its Association with Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Lebanese Children and Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study. Arch Pediatr Infect Dis.,13(1):e146931.

Mansour, R., Halwani, J., El-Dakdouki, M. H., & Mina, S. (2024). Seasonal assessment of surface water and sediments pollution in Rachiine River, Northern Lebanon, using multivariate statistical analysis. Heliyon, 10(19), e39016.

Mina, S., Hérivaux, A., Yaakoub, H., Courdavault, V., Wéry, M., & Papon, N. (2024). Structure and distribution of sensor histidine kinases in the fungal kingdom. Current genetics, 70(1), 17.

Mansour, R., El-Dakdouki, MH., Mina S. (2024) Phylogenetic group distribution and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolates in aquatic environments of a highly populated area. AIMS Microbiology, 10(2): 340-362.

Yaakoub, H., Mina, S., Marot, A., Papon, N., Calenda, A., Bouchara, J.-P. (2023). A Stress Hub in Scedosporium apiospermum: The High Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) Pathway. Kinases Phosphatases, 1, 4-13.

Mina, S., & Azakir, B. (2022). Healthcare workers perceptions regarding antibiotic use during COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study. BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing, 4(2), 10.

Mina, S., Yaakoub, H., Annweiler, C., Dubée, V., & Papon, N. (2022). COVID-19 and Fungal infections: a double debacle. Microbes and infection, 24(8), 105039.

Yaakoub, H., Mina, S., Calenda, A., Bouchara, J. P., & Papon, N. (2022). Oxidative stress response pathways in fungi. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 79(6), 333.

Yaakoub, H., Staerck, C., Mina, S., et al (2021). Repurposing of auranofin and honokiol as antifungals against Scedosporium species and the related fungus Lomentospora prolificans. Virulence,12(1),1076–1090.

Khoder, G., Mina, S., Mahmoud, I., Muhammad, J. S., Harati, R., & Burucoa, C. (2021). Helicobacter pylori Infection in Tripoli, North Lebanon: Assessment and Risk Factors. Biology, 10(7), 599.

Mina, S., Staerck, C., Marot, A., et al. (2017). Scedosporium boydii CatA1 and SODC recombinant proteins, new tools for serodiagnosis of Scedosporium infection of patients with cystic fibrosis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 89(4), 282– 287.

Mina, S., Staerck, C., d'Almeida, S. M., et al. (2015). Identification of Scedosporium boydii catalase A1 gene, a reactive oxygen species detoxification factor highly expressed in response to oxidative stress and phagocytic cells.Fungal Biol.,119(12).

Mina, S., Marot-Leblond, A., Cimon, B., et al. (2015). Purification and characterization of a mycelial catalase from Scedosporium boydii, a useful tool for specific antibody detection in patients with cystic fibrosis.Clin Vaccine Immunol. 22(1),37–45.

Lackner, M., ...., Mina, S., … Issakainen, J. (2014) “Proposed nomenclature for Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium and related genera“, Fungal Diversity, Vol. 67, pp. 1-10.

[ 01/06/2023 – 01/07/2023 ]
International mobility Grant-University of Angers, France
Project: Structure and Distribution of Sensor Histidine Kinases in the Fungal Kingdom

[ 01/06/2022 – 01/07/2022 ]
Séjour Scientifique de Haut Niveau (SSHN)/France Excellence scholarship by the French embassy in Lebanon
Project: The pseurotin and ovalicin synthesis gene supercluster and its implications in the pathogenesis of Scedosporium apiospermum infections

[ 01/08/2018 – 01/08/2021 ]
CNRS-BAU Grant
Project: Ecology of Scedosporium apiospermum species complex in North Lebanon