Posted By: The American Journal of Human Genetics, AJHG
Each month, the editors of The American Journal of Human Genetics interview an author of a recently published paper. This month we check in with Tala (X: @TalaShahin1, BlueSky: tala-shahin@bsky.social) to discuss her recent paper “Single-cell transcriptomics reveals inter-ethnic variation in immune response to Falciparum malaria.”
AJHG: What motivated you to start working on this project?
TS: Expanding from rare inborn errors of immunity to population-scale genomics has been a transformative experience for me. While single-gene disorders gave me a strong foundation in genetics and immunology, I was particularly motivated to explore and gain a different perspective on how genetic and environmental factors interact across diverse groups to shape health and disease. Therefore, this project, focusing on variable malaria susceptibility in the Fulani and Mossi African ethnic groups, offered a compelling opportunity to explore these dynamics and learn from natural variation in human populations. This also came with the exciting opportunity to learn and integrate different tools and approaches, like single-cell transcriptomics, enabling me to uncover deeper insights into ethnic and cell-subtype-specific immune responses.
AJHG: What about the papers/project most excites you?
TS: What excites me most about this paper is the depth of insight we gained into how genetics and lifestyle differences dynamically reshape the transcriptome at the single-cell level. For example, we observed striking contrasts in the monocyte subsets between the Fulani, with their milk-based diet, and the Mossi, whose diet differs significantly, while uncovering cell-type and ethnic-specific genetic variations. Capturing these nuanced changes in gene expression and linking them to upstream genetic and lifestyle interaction effects, as well as downstream variations in immune response revealed how profoundly adaptable and responsive our systems are. This level of resolution was incredibly rewarding and has made me excited to push even further in understanding how we can harness these insights to improve health and tailor interventions to diverse populations.
AJHG: Thinking about the bigger picture, what implications do you see from this work for the larger human genetics community?
TS: Holistically, our work calls for greater attention to genomic diversity across global populations, particularly in underrepresented regions like Africa, where such studies are critically needed. It also highlights the impact of lifestyle and diversity on our biology, emphasizing that our environment and daily choices leave a profound molecular signature, particularly in the immune system. Moreover, our findings advocate for using novel and multiple modalities to capture the dynamic interplay between genes, environment, and lifestyle. Therefore, our study’s implications motivate the human genetics community to embrace this complexity and consistently account for these factors, while prioritizing diversity in their experimental design to uncover richer, more inclusive insights into human biology that benefit everyone.
AJHG: What advice do you have for trainees/young scientists?
TS: My advice to young scientists is to embrace versatility in your skillset. My own journey started with a focus on single-gene disorders, primarily involving wet lab work. However, venturing into computational biology opened up new horizons and allowed me to bridge my previous experiences in meaningful ways. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone—your previous experiences are a strength, and you can always find ways to leverage them in unexpected ways. Equally important is surrounding yourself with mentors—learn as much as you can from them and cultivate multiple mentor-mentee relationships throughout your career. These connections can offer invaluable guidance, diverse perspectives, and support both professionally and personally. Finally, always follow your scientific passion and curiosity, even beyond geographical borders—science is a universal and collaborative endeavor with no limits!
AJHG: And for fun, tell us something about your life outside of the lab.
TS: One of the many reasons I love being a scientist is the thrill of applying the scientific method—designing experiments, troubleshooting, and discovering new insights. Interestingly, I bring this same passion into my kitchen! Cooking has become a creative outlet for me, where I experiment with different flavors, techniques, and dishes. Whether it’s trying a new recipe or tweaking an existing one, I love the process of bringing family and friends together to share my final “results”. It’s a reminder that curiosity and experimentation aren’t just confined to the lab—they can spice up life outside of it, too!
Tala Shahin, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Idaghdour Lab at New York University Abu Dhabi.