Associate Professor, Equine Reproduction

Research Interests

Dr. El-Sheikh Ali’s research program leverages cutting-edge omics technologies along with classical molecular techniques to advance our understanding of equine placental physiology and pathology, particularly in areas critical to the equine industry such as equine placentitis (ascending and nocardioform types). His research helped to understand the hormonal changes and molecular mechanisms associated with equine placentitis, which could facilitate the development of efficient therapies and new diagnostic tools to prevent placentitis-induced preterm labor. Currently, Dr. El-Sheikh Ali is utilizing proteomics to identify potential serum biomarkers for equine placentitis. This translational research program aims to equip veterinarians with improved diagnostic tools and treatment methods, ultimately leading to better pregnancy outcomes for mares and healthier foals. The current research interests include:

• Equine placentitis (Ascending and Nocardioform)
• Equine Placental Biology
• Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy

Selected Awards

2024: Equine Research Award – Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, 70th AAEP Convention, USA

2023: Professor W.R. (Twink) Allen ISER Registration Award, International Symposium of Equine Reproduction, Brazil.

2022: Best International Abstract Award, Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), USA.

2022: State Encouragement Award, Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt.

2022: Encouragement Award, Mansoura University, Egypt.

2022: Best Laboratory Award, Mansoura University, Egypt.

2020: Dr. Jerry Rains Memorial Abstract Competition Award for the best presentation (First Place), The Society for Theriogenology, USA.

2020: USDA-NRSP8 Coordinators’ Travel Award, Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG XXIX).

2019: USDA-NRSP8 Coordinators’ Travel Award. Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG XXVIII).

2018: Horse Genome Coordinator Fund Travel Award, Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG XXVII).

2018: John Hughes Memorial Travel Scholarship, International Symposium of Equine Reproduction, Cambridge, UK.

2017: Larry Ewing Memorial Trainee Travel Fund (LEMTTF), Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), USA.

2017: Zemjanis Outreach Fund Award, The Society for Theriogenology.

2017: Albert and Lorraine Clay fellowship, Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, USA.

2017: Best Paper Award, University of Miyazaki, Japan.

2016: Best Research Award, The Japanese Society for Farm Animal Veterinary Medicine.

2016: Junior Scientist Development Visit Award, The U.S. - Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund.

2015: Best Ph.D. Award, University of Mansoura, Egypt.

2014: Postdoctoral Scholarship Award, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education, Egypt

2010: Channel System Scholarship Award (Egypt and Japan), Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education.

2004: Valedictorian with Honor Class in BVSc, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Synergistic Activities

Invited speaker in the U.S., Japan, Turkey, Egypt.

Editor, Journal of Reproduction and Development (2024-present)

Section and Guest Editor, Veterinary Sciences (2022-present)

Reviewer for more than 25 international journals.

Selected Publications

1. Ajran Kabir, Bibek Lamichhane, Tasmia Habib, Alexis Adams, El-Sheikh Ali, H, Nathan M. Slovis, Mats H. T. Troedsson and Yosra A. Helmy. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond— A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics 2024, 13(8), 713. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13080713
2. Fedorka, C.E, Scoggin, K.E, El-Sheikh Ali, H, Troedsson, M.H.T. Evaluating the IL-6 Family of Cytokines Throughout Equine Gestation. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13910
3. Sophia Panelli Marchio, Claudia Barbosa Fernandes, Erica Macon, El-Sheikh Ali, H, Beatriz Bringel, Robert Douglas, Yatta Boakaria. The Effects of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction on Mare Fertility: A Review of the Literature70th Annual Convention, Review Article. AAEP, Accepted
4. Fedorka, C.E, El-Sheikh-Ali, H, Scoggin, K.E, Humphrey, E.A, Troutt, L, Troedsson, M.H.T. The effect of seminal plasma on the equine endometrial transcriptome, Accepted
5. Machteld van Heule, El-Sheikh Ali, H, Hugo Fernando Monteiro, Kirsten Scoggin, Carleigh Fedorka, Bart Weimer, Barry Ball, Peter Daels, Pouya Dini. Characterization of the Equine Placental Microbial Population during Nocardioform Placentitis. Theriogenology, 2024; 206: 60-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.05.025
6. Fedorka CE*, El -Sheikh Ali H*, Troedsson MH. Galectinology of Equine Pregnancy. Animals. 2023 Aug 1;152:103655. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010129
7. Fedorka CE*, El -Sheikh Ali H*, Troedsson MH. Galectins in Equine Placental Disease. Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(3), 218. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030218
8. Murase H, El‐Sheikh Ali H, Ruby RE, Scoggin KE, Ball BA. Transcriptomic analysis of the chorioallantois in equine premature placental separation. Equine Veterinary Journal 2023, 55(3): 405-418. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13602
9. Daniela Orellana-Guerrero, José M Uribe-Salazar*, El -Sheikh Ali H*, Kirsten E Scoggin, Barry Ball, Peter Daels, Carrie J Finno, Pouya Dini. Dynamics of the Equine Placental DNA Methylome and Transcriptome from Mid-to Late Gestation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7084. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087084
10. Rakha SI, Elmetwally MA, El -Sheikh Ali H, Balboula AZ, Mahmoud AM, Zaabel SM. Lycopene Improves Maturation Rate and Antioxidant Status of in vitro Matured Mouse Oocytes. International Journal of Veterinary Science. 2023, 12(2): 248-254. https://doi.org/10.47278/journal.ijvs/2022.183
11. Machteld van Heule, Hugo Fernando Monteiro, Ali Bazzazan, Kirsten Scoggin, Matthew Rolston, Hossam El-Sheikh Ali, Bart C. Weimer, Barry Ball, Peter Daels. Characterization of the Equine Placental Microbial Population in Healthy Pregnancies. Theriogenology, 2023; 206: 60-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.022
12. El -Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin K, Murase H, Norris J, Menarim B, Dini P, Ball B. Transcriptomic and histochemical analysis reveal the complex regulatory networks in equine Chorioallantois during spontaneous term labor. Biology of Reproduction. 2022. 107(5): 1296-1310. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioac154
13. Fedorka CE, El -Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin KE, Loux SC, Ball BA, Troedsson MH. Tumor necrosis factor signaling during equine placental infection leads to pro-apoptotic and necroptotic outcomes. Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 2022 Aug 1;152:103655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2022.103655
14. Rakha SI, Elmetwally MA, El -Sheikh Ali H, Balboula AZ, Mahmoud AM, Zaabel SM. Lycopene Reduces the In Vitro Aging Phenotypes of Mouse Oocytes by Improving Their Oxidative Status. Veterinary Sciences. 2022 Jul;9(7):336. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070336
15. Rakha SI, Elmetwally MA, El -Sheikh Ali H, Balboula AZ, Mahmoud AM, Zaabel SM. Importance of Antioxidant Supplementation during In Vitro Maturation of Mammalian Oocytes. Veterinary Sciences. 2022 August;9(8):439. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9080439
16. El -Sheikh Ali H, Loux SC, Kennedy L, Kalbfleisch TS, Scoggin KE, A Esteller-Vico, Horohov DW, E Erol, Careter CN, Smith JL Ball BA, Transcriptomic Analysis of Equine Chorioallantois Reveals Immune Networks and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Nocardioform Placentitis, Veterinary Research, 2021; 52:103. 10.1186/s13567-021-00972-4
17. El-Sheikh Ali H, Ball BA, Scoggin KE, Fedorka C, Scoggin K, Schnobrich M,  Erol E, Ruby R, Loynachan A, Smith JL, Careter CN, Dini P, Nocardioform Placentitis: A Continuing Question. Invited review: AAEP 2021. https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Dini,%20Pouya.pdf
18. El-Sheikh Ali H, Pouya Dini, Kirsten Scoggin, Shavahn Loux, Carleigh Fedorka, Yatta Boakari, Jamie Norris, Alejandro Esteller-Vico, Theodore Kalbfleisch, Barry Ball, Transcriptomic Analysis of Equine Placenta Reveals Key Regulators and Pathways Involved in Ascending Placentitis, Biology of Reproduction, 2021; 104(3): 638–656. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa209
19. El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin KE, Boakari YL, Dini P, Loux SC, Esteller-Vico A, Kalbfleisch T, Ball BA. Equine Cervical Remodeling during Placentitis and the Prepartum Period: A Transcriptomic Approach. Reproduction 2021: 161(6):603-621. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-21-0008
20. El-Sheikh Ali H, Kirsten Scoggin, Yatta Linhares Boakari, Pouya Dini, Shavahn Loux, Carleigh Fedorka, Alejandro Esteller-Vico, Barry Ball, Kinetics of Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) in equine placenta during pregnancy and placentitis, Theriogenology 2021 Sep 160:81-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.10.041
21. Ball BA,  Loux SC, Dini P, Murase H, El-Sheikh Ali H. Genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics of the normal and abnormal equine placenta: A better understanding of late gestational function and dysfunction. VIII International Symposium on Animal Rev Bras Reprod Anim, v.45, n.4, p.369-375, out./dez. 2021. 10.21451/1809-3000.RBRA2021.049
22. Bruno C. Menarim, Hossam El-Sheikh Ali, Kirsten Scoggin, Ted Kalbfleisch, James MacLeod, Linda A. Dahlgren. Transcriptional and histochemical signatures of bone marrow mononuclear cell-mediated resolution of synovitis. Frontiers in Immunology 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.734322
23. Boakari YL, Ball BA, El-Sheikh Ali H, Loux S, Dini P, Fernandes C.F., Alejandro Esteller-Vico, Kirsten Scoggin, Laurie Lawrence, Effects of a systemic high urea concentration on the endometrial and embryonic. Rev Bras Reprod Anim, v.45, n.4, p.502-504, out./dez. 2021. 10.21451/1809-3000.RBRA2021.068
24. Boakari Y, Esteller-Vico A, Loux S, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Fernandes C, Scoggin K, c Cary, Ball B., Serum Amyloid A, Serum Amyloid A1 and Haptoglobin in pregnant mares and their fetuses after experimental induction of placentitis. Animal Reproduction Science. 229 (2021) 106766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106766
25. Dini P, Kalbfleisch T, Uribe-Salazar J, Carossino M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Shavahn C Loux , Alejandro Esteller-Vico , Norris J, Anand L, Scoggin K, Lopez C, Breen J, Bailey E, Daels P, Ball B. Parental bias in expression and interaction of genes in the equine placenta, PNAS 2021, 2021, 118 (16) e2006474118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006474118
26. Dini P., Carossino M., Balasuriya U.B.R., El-Sheikh Ali H,, Loux S.C., Esteller-Vico A., Scoggin K.E., Loynachan A.T., Kalbfleisch T., De Spiegelaere W., Daels P., Ball B.A., Paternally expressed retrotransposon Gag like 1 gene, RTL1, is one of the crucial elements for placental angiogenesis in horses, Biology of Reproduction. (2021); 104 (6), 1386-1399. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioab039
27. Fedorka, C. E., H. El-Sheikh Ali, O. F. Walker, K. E. Scoggin, P. Dini, S. C. Loux, M. H. T. Troedsson, and B. A. Ball. "The imbalance of the Th17/Treg axis following equine ascending placental infection." Journal of Reproductive Immunology 144 (2021): 103268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2020.103268
28. Boakari YL, El-Sheikh Ali H, Maria Schnobrich, Kristina Lofrumento, Charlie Scoggin, Etta Bradecamp, Kirsten Scoggin, Alejandro Esteller-Vico, Anthony Claes, Laurie Lawrence, Ball BA, Relationships between blood and follicular fluid urea nitrogen concentrations and between blood urea nitrogen and embryo survival in mares, Theriogenology 2021: 160:142-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.10.039
29. Scheeren, V.F., Sancler-Silva, Y.F., El-Sheikh Ali H, Kastelic, J.P., Alvarenga, M.A. and Papa, F.O., Update on seminal vesiculitis in stallions. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2020. p.103234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103234
30. Fedorka, C. E., Scoggin, K. E., El‐Sheikh Ali, H., Loux, S., Dini, P., Troedsson, M. H., & Ball, B. A. (2020). Interleukin‐6 pathobiology in equine placental infection. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 2020: 85(5):e13363. https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13363
31. El-Sheikh Ali H, Boakari YL, Loux SC, Dini P, Scoggin KE, Esteller-Vico A, Kalbfleisch T, Ball BA. Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Key Regulators and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Myometrial Activation during Equine Placentitis. Biology of Reproduction 2020; 102(6): 1306-1325. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa020
32. El-Sheikh Ali H, Legacki EL, Loux SC, Esteller-Vico A, Dini P, Scoggin KE, Conley AJ, Stanley SD, Ball BA. Steroid synthesis and metabolism in the equine placenta during placentitis. Reproduction 2020; 159:389-302. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-19-0420
33. Boakari Y, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Loux S, Fernandes C, Scoggin K, Esteller-Vico A, Ball B. Elevated blood urea nitrogen alters the transcriptome of equine embryos. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2020: 32 (16), 1239-1249. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD20088
34. Boakari YL, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Loux SC, Fernandes CB,  Esteller-Vico A, Scoggin KE, Lawrence L, Ball BA. Effect of oral urea supplementation on the endometrial transcriptome of mares. Animal Reproduction Science 2020; 216: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106464
35. Loux SC, Conley A, Scoggin KE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Ball BA. New Insights in Equine Steroidogenesis: An In-Depth Look at Steroid Signaling in the Placenta. Reproduction 2020; 160 (1), 65-82. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-20-0015
36. Dini P, Carossino M, Loynachan A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Wolfsdorf K, Scoggin K, Deals P, Ball B. Equine hydrallantois is associated with impaired angiogenesis in the placenta. Placenta 2020; 93: 101-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2020.03.001
37. Fernandes CB, Ball BA, Loux SC, Boakari YL, Scoggin KE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Cogliati B, Esteller-Vico A. Uterine cervix as a fundamental part of the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss associated with ascending placentitis in mares. Theriogenology 2020; 145: 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.10.017
38. El-Sheikh Ali H, Ball BA. Cervix and myometrium:  Role in preterm and normal term birth in the mare. Clinical Theriogenology 2020; 12(3): 340-345. https://doi.org/10.58292/ct.v12.9697
39. Ball BA,  Loux SC, Dini P, Murase H, El-Sheikh Ali H. Genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics of the normal and abnormal equine placenta. Clinical Theriogenology 2020; 12(3): 333-339.
40. Dini P*, El-Sheikh Ali H*, Carossino M, S CL, Esteller-Vico A, K ES, Daels P, B AB. Expression Profile of the Chromosome 14 MicroRNA Cluster (C14MC) Ortholog in Equine Maternal Circulation throughout Pregnancy and Its Potential Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20246285
41. El-Sheikh Ali H, Legacki EL, Loux SC, Esteller-Vico A, Dini P, Scoggin KE, Conley AJ, Stanley SD, Ball BA. Equine placentitis is associated with a downregulation in myometrial progestin signaling. Biology of Reproduction 2019; 101:162-176. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioz059
42. Loux SC, Dini P, El-Sheikh Ali H, Kalbfleisch T, Ball BA. Characterization of the placental transcriptome through mid to late gestation in the mare. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224497. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224497
43. Ball BA, El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin KE, Riddle WT, Schnobrich M, Bradekamp E, Agnew M, Squires EL, Troedsson MHT. Relationship between anti-Mullerian hormone and fertility in the mare. Theriogenology 2019; 125:335-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.11.005
44. Boakari YL, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Loux S, Fernandes CB, Scoggin K, Esteller-Vico A, Lawrence L, Ball B. A High Protein Model Alters the Endometrial Transcriptome of Mares. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10080576
45. Dini P, Norris J, El-Sheikh Ali H, Loux SC, Carossino M, Esteller-Vico A, Bailey E, Kalbfleisch T, Daels P, Ball BA. Landscape of Overlapping Gene Expression in the Equine Placenta. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10070503

*Both authors equally contributed