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Amine Bahi
- Associate Professor
- Ext: 5320
I am an Associate Professor in the College of Medicine at Ajman University. I teach Biochemistry, Genetics and Cellular Neuroscience. My doctorate education is in Biochemistry from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and postdoctoral training in neuroscience. My research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of microRNA-target interactions as they relate to brain development, and psychiatric diseases such as addiction, depression, and anxiety. I use a wide range of techniques such as viral-mediated gene transfer technologies, molecular biology and animal behavior to establish an understanding of the molecular and neuronal circuits that are responsible for controlling affective disorders-related behavior in rodents.
Education
- PhD, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, 2005
- MSc, Univeristy Paris XI, France, 2000
Experience
- Associate Professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ajman University, UAE, 2021
- Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ajman University, UAE, 2019
- Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, 2015
- Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, UAE, 2011
- Senior Scientist, Department of Biology, University of Regensburg, Germany, 2009
- Postdoc Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, USA, 2007
- Postdoc Associate, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, 2005
Teaching Area
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Neurobiology
Research
- Molecular Psychiatry
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Mood disorders: depression, anxiety, addiction, ASD, social stress
Publications
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2020) Lentiviral-mediated up-regulation of let-7d microRNA decreases alcohol intake through down-regulating the dopamine D3 receptor. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 37:70-81. (*corresponding author)
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Bahi A. (2020) Dopamine transporter gene expression within the nucleus accumbens plays important role in the acquisition and reinstatement of ethanol-seeking behavior in mice. Behavioural Brain Research. 238:112475..
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2020) Environmental enrichment decreases chronic psychosocial stress-impaired extinction and reinstatement of ethanol conditioned place preference in C57BL/6 male mice. Psychopharmacology. 237:707-721. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2019) No effect of sex on ethanol intake and preference after dopamine transporter (DAT) knockdown in adult mice. Psychopharmacology. 236:1349–1365. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2019) Dopamine transporter (DAT) knockdown in the nucleus accumbens improves anxiety- and depression-related behaviors in adult mice. 359:104-115. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2018) Lentiviral-mediated let-7d microRNA overexpression induced anxiolytic- and anti-depressant-like behaviors and impaired dopamine D3 receptor expression. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 28:1394-1404. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2017) Viral-mediated overexpression of the Myelin Transcription Factor 1 (MyT1) in the dentate gyrus attenuates anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in rats. Psychopharmacology. 234:1829-1840. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A. (2017) Environmental enrichment reduces chronic psychosocial stress-induced anxiety and ethanol-related behaviors in mice. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 77:65-74.
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Bahi A. (2017) Decreased anxiety, voluntary ethanol intake and ethanol-induced CPP acquisition following activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 “mGluR8”. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. 155:32-42.
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Bahi A. (2017) Hippocampal BDNF overexpression or microR124a silencing reduces anxiety- and autism-like behaviors in rats. Behavioural Brain Research. 326:281-290.
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Bahi A*, Al Mansouri S, Al Maamari A. (2016) Nucleus accumbens lentiviral-mediated gain of function of the oxytocin receptor regulates anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in adult mice. Physiology & Behavior. 164:249-258. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A. (2016) Sustained lentiviral-mediated overexpression of microRNA124a in the dentate gyrus exacerbates anxiety- and autism-like behaviors associated with neonatal isolation. Behavioural Brain Research. 311:298-308.
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Bahi A*, Sadek B, Nurulain SM, Łażewska D, Kieć-Kononowicz K. (2015) The novel non-imidazole histamine H3 receptor antagonist DL77 reduces voluntary alcohol intake and ethanol-induced conditioned place preference in mice. Physiology & Behavior. 151:189-197. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A. (2015) The oxytocin receptor impairs ethanol reward in mice. Physiology & Behavior. 139:321-327.
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Pisanu A, Lecca D, Valentini V, Bahi A, Dreyer JL, Schifo A, Piras G, Cadoni C, Di Chiara G. (2015) Impairment of acquisition of intravenous cocaine self-administration by RNA-interference of dopamine D1-receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell. Neuropharmacology. 89:396-411.
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Bahi A*, Nurulain SM, Ojha S. (2014) Ethanol intake and ethanol conditioned place preference are reduced in mice treated with the bioflavonoid agent naringin. Alcohol. 48:677-685. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2014) Lentiviral vector-mediated dopamine D3 receptor modulation in the rat brain impairs alcohol intake and ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research 38:2369–2376. (*corresponding author).
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Al Ameri M, Al Mansouri S, Al Maamari A, Bahi A*. (2014) The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor valproic acid reduces ethanol consumption and ethanol-conditioned place preference in rats. Brain Research 1583:122-131. (*corresponding and 1st co-author).
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Al Maamari A, Al Ameri M, Al Mansouri S, Bahi A*. (2014) Inhibition of urokinase plasminogen activator “uPA” activity alters ethanol consumption and conditioned place preference in mice. Drug Design, Development & Therapy. 8:1391-1403. (*corresponding and 1st co-author).
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Al Mansouri S, Ojha S, Al Maamari E, Al Ameri M, Nurulain SM, Bahi A*. (2014) The cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist, β-Caryophyllene, reduced voluntary alcohol intake and attenuated ethanol-induced place preference and sensitivity in mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. 124:260-268. (*corresponding and 1st co-author).
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Bahi A*, Al Mansouri S, Al Maamari E, Al Ameri M, Nurulain SM, Ojha S. (2014) β-Caryophyllene, a CB2 Receptor agonist produces multiple behavioral changes relevant to anxiety and depression in mice. Physiology & Behavior. 135:119-124. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Schwed S, Walter M, Stark H, Sadek B. (2014) Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities of the novel and potent non-imidazole histamine H3 receptor antagonist ST-1283. Drug Design, Development & Therapy. 8:627-637. (*corresponding author).
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Vargas-Perez H, Bahi A, Bufalino MR, Ting-A-Kee1 R, Fahmy A, Maal-Bared G, Clarke L, Lam J, Blanchard J, Larsen B, Steffensen S, Dreyer JL, van der Kooy D. (2014) BDNF signaling in the VTA links the drug dependent state to drug withdrawal aversions. The Journal of Neuroscience 34:7899-7909.
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Bahi A*, Chandrasekar V, Dreyer JL. (2014) Selective lentiviral-mediated suppression of microRNA124a in the hippocampus evokes antidepressants-like effects in rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 46:78-87. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2014) Chronic psychosocial stress causes delayed extinction and exacerbates reinstatement of ethanol-induced conditioned place-preference in mice. Psychopharmacology 231:367-377. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A. (2013) Viral-mediated knockdown of mGluR7 in the nucleus accumbens mediates excessive alcohol drinking and increased ethanol-elicited conditioned place preference in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 38:2109-2119.
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2013) Striatal modulation of BDNF expression using MicroRNA124a-expressing lentiviral vectors impairs ethanol- induced conditioned- place preference and voluntary alcohol consumption. European Journal of Neuroscience 38:2328-2337. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A. (2013) Increased anxiety, voluntary alcohol consumption and ethanol-induced place preference in mice following chronic psychosocial stress. Stress 16:441-451.
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Bahi A*, Sadek B, Schwed S, Walter M, Stark H. (2013) Influence of the novel histamine H3 receptor antagonist ST1283 on voluntary alcohol consumption and ethanol-induced place preference in mice. Psychopharmacology 228:85-95. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Tolle V, Fehrentz JA, Brunel L, Martinez J, Catherine-Laure Tomasetto CL, Sherif M. Karam MS. (2013) Ghrelin knockout mice show decreased voluntary alcohol consumption and reduced ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. Peptides 43:48-55. (*corresponding author).
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Ting-A-Kee1 R, Vargas-Perez H, Bufalino MR, Bahi A, Dreyer JL, Tyndale RF, van der Kooy D. (2013) Infusion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor into the ventral tegmental area switches the substrates mediating ethanol motivation. European Journal of Neuroscience 37:996-1003.
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Bahi A. (2013) Individual differences in elevated plus-maze exploration predicted higher ethanol consumption and preference in outbred mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 105:83-88.
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Li X, DeJoseph M, Urban J, Bahi A, Dreyer JL, Meredith G, Ford K, Ferrario C, Loweth J, Wolf W. (2013) Different roles of BDNF in nucleus accumbens core versus shell during the incubation of cue-induced cocaine craving and its long-term maintenance. The Journal of Neuroscience 33:1130-1142.
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2012) Hippocampus-specific deletion of tissue plasminogen activator "tPA' in adult mice impairs depression- and anxiety- like behaviors. European Neuropsychopharmacology 22:672-682. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2012) Involvement of nucleus accumbens dopamine D1 receptors in ethanol drinking, ethanol-induced conditioned place preference, and ethanol-induced psychomotor sensitization in mice. Psychopharmacology 222:141-153. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A. (2012) The selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 allosteric agonist AMN082 prevents reinstatement of extinguished ethanol-induced conditioned place preference in mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 101:193-200.
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Bahi A*, Dreyer JL. (2012) Involvement of tissue plasminogen activator "tPA" in ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned-place preference. Behavioural Brain Research 226: 250-258. (*corresponding author).
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Bahi A*, Fizia K, Dietz M, Gasparini F, Flor PJ. (2012) Pharmacological modulation of mGluR7 with AMN082 and MMPIP exerts specific influences on alcohol consumption and preference in rats. Addiction Biology 17:235-247. (*corresponding author).
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Karpova NN, Pickenhagen A, Lindholm J, Tiraboschi E, Kulesskaya N, Agústsdóttir A, Antila H, Popova D, Akamine Y, Bahi A, Sullivan R, Hen R, Drew LJ, Castrén E. (2011) Fear erasure in mice requires synergy between antidepressant drugs and extinction training. Science 334:1731-1734.
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Ortiz O, Delgado-Garcia JM, Espadas I, Bahi A, Trullas R, Dreyer JL, Gruart A, Moratalla R. (2010) Associative learning and CA3-CA1 synaptic plasticity are impaired in D1R null, Drd1a-/- mice and in hippocampal siRNA silenced Drd1a mice. The Journal of Neuroscience 30: 12288-12300.
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Addy NA, Bahi A, Taylor JR, Picciotto MR. (2008) Administration of the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine modulates cocaine-induced locomotor activity in rats. Psychopharmacology 200: 129-139.
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Bahi A, Boyer F, Chandrasekar V, Dreyer JL. (2008) Role of accumbens BDNF and TrkB in cocaine-induced psychomotor sensitization, conditioned-place preference, and reinstatement in rats. Psychopharmacology 199: 169-182.
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Bahi A, Kusnecov AW, Dreyer JL. (2008) Effects of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the acquisition, expression and reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned-place preference. Behavioural Brain Research 191: 17-25.
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Bahi A, Kusnecov A, Dreyer JL. (2008) The role of tissue-type plasminogen activator system in amphetamine-induced conditional place preference extinction and reinstatement. Neuropsychopharmacology. 33: 2726-2734.
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Bahi A, Dreyer JL. (2008) Overexpression of plasminogen activators in the nucleus accumbens enhances cocaine- amphetamine- and morphine-induced reward and behavioral sensitization. Genes Brain & Behavior 7: 244-256.
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48. Bahi A, Boyer F, Kafri T, Dreyer JL. (2006) Silencing urokinase in the ventral tegmental area in vivo induces changes in cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion. Journal of Neurochemistry 98: 1619-1631.
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Bahi A, Boyer F, Bussard G, Dreyer JL. (2005) Silencing dopamine D3-receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell in vivo induces changes in cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion. European Journal of Neuroscience 21: 3415-3426.
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Bahi A, Boyer F, Kolira M, Dreyer JL. (2005) In vivo gene silencing of CD81 by lentiviral expression of small interference RNAs suppresses cocaine-induced behaviour. Journal of Neurochemistry 92: 1243-1255.
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Bahi A, Dreyer JL. (2005) Cocaine-induced expression changes of axon guidance molecules in the adult rat brain. Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience 28: 275-291.
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Bahi A, Boyer F, Gumy C, Kafri T, Dreyer JL. (2004) In vivo gene delivery of urokinase-type plasminogen activator with regulatable lentivirus induces behavioural changes in chronic cocaine administration. European Journal of Neuroscience 20: 3473-3488.
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Bahi A, Boyer F, Kafri T, Dreyer JL. (2004) CD81-induced behavioural changes during chronic cocaine administration: in vivo gene delivery with regulatable lentivirus. European Journal of Neuroscience 19: 1621-1633.
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Brenz Verca MS, Bahi A, Boyer F, Wagner GC, Dreyer JL. (2003) Distribution of alpha- and gamma-synucleins in the adult rat brain and their modification by high-dose cocaine treatment. European Journal of Neuroscience 18: 1923-1938.
Conference Presentation
- SFN Minisymposium, Rat Genetics: Focus on Reward-Related Behavior, USA, 2013
- The 1st IBRO Middle East Neuroscience Conference, United Arab Emirates, 2011
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Germany, 2010
- Nathan Kline Institute, New York University School of Medicine, USA, 2008
- International & European Societies for Neurochemistry, Italy, 2005
- The 11th Biennial EBPS Meeting, Spain, 2005