Zhannur Niyazbekova – PhD in Veterinary Science, Head of the Reference Center for Safety and Quality of Agricultural Products, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biological Safety, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University.
Born in 1990, Kazakh nationality. In 2013, she graduated with honors from Kazakh National Agrarian University with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. In 2015, she completed her Master’s degree with distinction and defended her thesis with an “excellent” grade. During her studies, she was awarded the Presidential Scholarship of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
She was a recipient of two prestigious programs at Northwest A&F University (Yangling, Shaanxi, China):
- 2017–2022: PhD program under the “Belt and Road” initiative;
- 2022–2024: Postdoctoral research program in China.
ACHIEVEMENTS
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- State Scientific Scholarship for Talented Young Scientists (Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2025);
- “Outstanding International Student” Scholarship of the People’s Republic of China (2020);
- Presidential Scholarship of Northwest A&F University for outstanding academic and research achievements (2020);
- Silver award winner of the “Colourful China” international communication competition organized by China Media Group (CRI Online);
- Bronze award winner of the Shaanxi Women's E-commerce Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (2022).
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Zhannur Niyazbekova is a leading young Kazakhstani scientist specializing in molecular genetics and multi-omics research in livestock. She initiated the first whole-genome sequencing of two major national cattle breeds of Kazakhstan – Kazakh White-headed and Alatau cattle. These studies provided new insights into their genetic architecture and established a scientific basis for modern breeding programs.
Her research identified three major ancestral components shaping the genetic structure of Kazakh cattle: European, Eurasian, and East Asian taurine clusters. Additionally, Kazakh cattle were shown to possess high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding.
A significant finding includes strong selection signals in the genomic region containing PDGFRA, KIT, and KDR genes on chromosome 6, associated with the characteristic white-headed phenotype.
In Alatau cattle, key genomic regions associated with productivity traits were identified. Genes related to meat production include KCNMA1, PDGFRA, HIF1A, ANTXR1, while milk production is associated with ATP2B1, DHX15, FUK, NEGR1, CCDC91, COG4, PTK2B.
She also actively conducts research in animal microbiota, focusing on the development of gut microbiota in mammals from birth to adulthood using advanced omics technologies and metagenomic approaches.
In 2022, she successfully defended her PhD thesis at Northwest A&F University titled: “The maternal milk and fecal microbial communities of dairy goats and their potential roles in the establishment of kids’ gut microbiota”.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
- Bioinformatics tools for omics data analysis: Plink, Snptest, FastQC, BLAST, BWA, SAMtools, GATK, Bcftools, Vcftools, Bowtie2, ANGSD, MEGA, fineSTRUCTURE, ChromoPainter, RAxML, PhyML, Harvest, FastTree, SMC++, PSMC, SweeD, Dsuite, ADMIXTOOLS, OMICtools, Selscan, smartPCA, and various R packages.
- Functional annotation tools: g:Profiler, DAVID, Ingenuity, WebGestalt, FunRich, PANTHER.
- Programming languages: R, C++, Perl.
Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
2008–2013
Major: 5B120100 – Veterinary Medicine
Qualification: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (GPA 3.77)
Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
2013–2015
Major: 6M120100 – Veterinary Medicine
Qualification: Master of Veterinary Sciences (GPA 3.89)
Northwest A&F University, People’s Republic of China
2018–2022
Major: 8D091 – Veterinary Science
Qualification: PhD in Veterinary Science (Preventive Veterinary Medicine), GPA 3.89
Northwest A&F University, People’s Republic of China
2022–2023
Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Ruminant Evolution and Genetics
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Zhannur Niyazbekova is a leading young Kazakhstani scientist specializing in molecular genetics and multi-omics research in livestock. She initiated the first whole-genome sequencing of two major national cattle breeds of Kazakhstan – Kazakh White-headed and Alatau cattle. These studies provided new insights into their genetic architecture and established a scientific basis for modern breeding programs.
Her research identified three major ancestral components shaping the genetic structure of Kazakh cattle: European, Eurasian, and East Asian taurine clusters. Additionally, Kazakh cattle were shown to possess high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding.
A significant finding includes strong selection signals in the genomic region containing PDGFRA, KIT, and KDR genes on chromosome 6, associated with the characteristic white-headed phenotype.
In Alatau cattle, key genomic regions associated with productivity traits were identified. Genes related to meat production include KCNMA1, PDGFRA, HIF1A, ANTXR1, while milk production is associated with ATP2B1, DHX15, FUK, NEGR1, CCDC91, COG4, PTK2B.
She also actively conducts research in animal microbiota, focusing on the development of gut microbiota in mammals from birth to adulthood using advanced omics technologies and metagenomic approaches.
In 2022, she successfully defended her PhD thesis at Northwest A&F University titled: “The maternal milk and fecal microbial communities of dairy goats and their potential roles in the establishment of kids’ gut microbiota”.
SCOPUS / WEB OF SCIENCE ДЕРЕКҚОРЛАРЫНДАҒЫ МАҚАЛАЛАР
- Zhannur Niyazbekova, Yuan Xu, Min Qiu, Hao-Ping Wang, Ibragimov Primkul, Hojjat Asadollahpour Nanaei, Yessengali Ussenbekov, Kuanysh Kassen, Yi Liu, Cai-Yue Gao, Shynar Akhmetsadykova, Nuriddin Ruzikulov, Yu Jiang, Yu Dong Cai. 2025. Whole-genome sequencing reveals genetic architecture and selection signatures of Kazakh cattle. Zoological Research, 46(2): 301-311. https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.235 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 4.0; Percentile: 95th).
- Tao Shi, Huiquan (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 4.0; Shan, Haoping Wang, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Jilong Ren, Yaqi Zhou, Qi Zhang, Weijie Zheng, Minghui Jia, Ao Zhang, Xuesha Cao, Huizeng Sun, Dongxiao Sun, Lingzhao Fang, Yi Zheng, Xihong Wang, Yu Jiang, et al. “Single-Cell Transcriptomic Atlases of Camels and Cattle Unravel Molecular Evolution of Digestive and Metabolic Systems.” Advanced Science (2026): e19346. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202519346 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 14.1; Percentile: 99th)
- Hojjat Asadollahpour Nanaei, Chenxi Zhang, Niloufar Jafarpour Negari, Mahmoud Amiri Roudbar, Zeinab Amiri Ghanatsaman, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Xiaojun Yang. Genomic analysis uncovers novel candidate genes related to adaptation to tropical climates and milk production traits in native goats. BMC Genomics 25, 477 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10387-y (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 4.40; Percentile: 64th).
- Wei Wang, Zhenyu Wei, Zhuohui Li, Jianrong Ren, Yanliang Song, Jingyi Xu, Anguo Liu, Xinmei Li, Manman Li, Huimei Fan, Liangliang Jin, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Wen Wang, Yuanpeng Gao, Yu Jiang, Junhu Yao, Fuyong Li, Shengru Wu, Yu Wang. Integrating genome- and transcriptome-wide association studies to uncover the host–microbiome interactions in bovine rumen methanogenesis. Imeta. 2024 Sep 3;3(5): e234. https://doi.org/10.1002/imt2.234 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 15 Percentile: 96th).
- Zhannur Niyazbekova, Xiao-Ting Yao, Ming-Jie Liu, Nomin Bold, Juan Zhen Tong, Jian-Jun Chang, Ying Wen, Li Li, Yong Wang, De-Kun Chen* and Wen Tao Ma, Compositional and Functional Comparisons of the Microbiota in the Colostrum and Mature Milk of Dairy Goats, research article. Animals 2020, 10(11), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10111955 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 3.231; Percentile: 95th).
- Tingting Zhang, Mao Li, Tao Shi, Yueyang Yan, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Xihong Wang, Zongjun Li, Yu Jiang. Transmission of the gut microbiome in cohousing goats and pigs. Frontiers in microbiology, 13, 948617. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.948617 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 6.06; Percentile: 80th).
- Kuanysh Kassen, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Tingting Zhang, Mubasher Nasir , Feifei Li and Menglou Li. Effects of Nutrient Elements on Growth and Expression of Insect-Defense Response Genes in Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. Forests. 2022; 13(9):1365. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091365 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 3.282; Percentile: 80th).
- Mingle Dou, Zhuqing Zheng, Qiuming Chen, Yongji Wu, Jinxin Wang, Huiquan Shan, Fei Wang, Xuelei Dai, Zhannur Niyazbekova, and Yu Jiang. A missense mutation in RRM1 contributes to animal tameness. Science advances, 9(25), eadf4068. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf4068 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 13.6; Percentile: 96th).
- Xidian Tang, Yanfei Xie, Guanhua Li, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Shaofei Li, Jianjun Chang, Dekun Chen, Wentao Ma. ORFV entry into host cells via clathrin mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Veterinary microbiology, 284, 109831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109831 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 3.8; Percentile: 90h).
- Tian Jing, Yunpeng Wang, Yukun Bu, Xi Chen, Shutong Feng, Wenbo Liu, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Dekun Chen, Xiaolong Gao, Wentao Ma. (2025). The whole genome analysis of the wild-type and attenuated orf virus reveals that ORF022 facilitates viral replication. BMC genomics, 26(1), 488. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-11663-1 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 3.7; Percentile: 64th).
- Zhannur Niyazbekova, Kuanysh Kassen, Yuecai Jiang, Dengliang Li, Yuxu Qi, Damir Khussainov, Zhanat Batanova, Dekun Chen & Wentao Ma. Establishment and development of the gut microbiota in dairy goats during the early life. BMC Vet Res 21, 523 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04958-8 (SCI, Scopus, Q1; IF: 2.7; Percentile: 88th).
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
- Bioinformatics tools for omics data analysis: Plink, Snptest, FastQC, BLAST, BWA, SAMtools, GATK, Bcftools, Vcftools, Bowtie2, ANGSD, MEGA, fineSTRUCTURE, ChromoPainter, RAxML, PhyML, Harvest, FastTree, SMC++, PSMC, SweeD, Dsuite, ADMIXTOOLS, OMICtools, Selscan, smartPCA, and various R packages.
- Functional annotation tools: g:Profiler, DAVID, Ingenuity, WebGestalt, FunRich, PANTHER.
- Programming languages: R, C++, Perl.
Professor Jiang Yu
Dean, College of Animal Science and Technology
Director, Centre of Evolution and Genetics of Ruminants
Northwest A&F University, People’s Republic of China
Email: yu.jiang@nwafu.edu.cn
ORCID: 0000-0003-4821-3585
Scopus Author ID: 55733627100
Web of Science ResearcherID: O-5114-2015