QUALIFICATIONS   

Year

Degree

University

2020

PhD Microbiology

Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad,

Pakistan 

2015

M.Phil Microbiology

Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan

2012

BS (4 Years)

Biotechnology

Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan,

Pakistan

AWARDS / HONORS 

• Award of Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarships by Commonwealth Scholarships Commission, United Kingdom (2017-2018).

RESEARCH INTERESTS

1. 1.    Development of microbial pigments for textile industry

Textile is a dominant industry in Pakistan, contributing to 58% of the country’s exports, 8.5% GDP and providing 45% employment. As per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (July, 2022), $1.481 billion has been earned from exporting textile and apparel products. However, textile industry contributes majorly to environmental pollution, making this sector the 2nd most polluting industry in the world. The major contributors to such pollution are artificial as well as synthetic dyes possessing nonbiodegradable and toxic nature. The textile dyeing practices is contributing 20% of global water pollution. Escaping the conventional processes of wastewater treatment, dyes exist as a potentially toxic environmental pollutants, hence present adverse effects to both environment and living organisms e.g. cancer and various skin diseases and allergies. Additional to pollution, dyes also increase the import bill e.g. Pakistan imports dyes about Rs 25.00 to 35.00 billion per year. Subsequently, the replacement of synthetic dyes with eco-friendly and biodegradable dyes in the textile industry is in high demand.

Our goal is to assess the potentials of bacteria and fungi from various extreme environments, for the pigments production, their suitability for being using as dyes for fabric and yarn products and to evaluate their potential for acting as antimicrobials, preventing unwanted microbes in fabric which contribute to bad odor and even causing and disseminating diseases in humans. To the best of our knowledge, none of such efforts have been made for using microbial based pigments as dyes in textile industries in Pakistan. Further, we are also focusing on structural characterization of pigments, quantitative analysis and purification by using advanced analytical techniques i.e. (HPLC and LC/MS). Where required, the molecular study of pigments will also be performed to assess the genomic potentials of microbes for pigment production. Finally, we are aimed to upscale pigment production up to 100 L fermenters and by combining  physiological and molecular schemes are for developing microbial-based pigment for dyeing purposes in cost-effective manner for textile application with antimicrobial potentials.

1. 2.     Development of nutraceuticals for poultry industry 

The poultry industry is a vital and vivacious part of agriculture sector in Pakistan contributing 1.4% to the national GDP. With more than Rs 750 Billion of investment, approximately 15,000 poultry farms exist in Pakistan, producing 1.5 billion broilers, 1,977 tonnes meat and providing employment to over 1.5 million people. However, significant production loss caused by bacterial infection (e.g. Escherichia coli and Salmonella species) as well as unavailability of cost-effective and eco-friendly treatment strategies are the main factors preventing further pace of development in poultry industry. Poultry farmers use antibiotics as growth promotors in poultry feed which further raises risks of development of antibiotics resistance as well as affecting export of poultry meat as several foreign countries (e.g. Europe) banned antibiotics contaminated meat since 2006. Therefore, researchers and scientists proposed for using alternatives to antibiotics such as Direct Feed Microbes (DFMs) for countering this issue.

Previously, aiming on developing eco-friendly and cost-effective solution, alternative to antibiotics, we developed Direct Feed Microbes (DFMs) consortium on pilot scale using 5,000 poultry birds for trials. The developed DFMs significantly promoted poultry bird’s growth and prevented Colibacillosis and Salmonellosis. Currently, we are aimed to up-scale the development of DFMs at 100L fermenters as well as industrial scale by carrying trials on 40,000 poultry birds. Based on previous promising results, we believe that the proposed project (i) will provide exact extent of DFMs proficiency and their suitability for commercialization for poultry industry (ii) will enable exporting of antibiotic free poultry meat (iii) will prevent emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. Further, the technologies will be used for the indigenous development of DFMs with applications in poultry industry.

PUBLICATIONS

• Hassan, N., Rafiq, M., Haleem, A., Shah, A. A., & Hasan, F. (2022). Glaciochemistry and pigment producing ability of bacteria from roof of the world, the glaciers of Karakoram, Pakistan.  Geomicrobiology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2022.2128115
• Rafiq M, Hassan N, Hayat M, Ibrar M, Sajjad W, Haleem A, Rehman MMU, Raza AM, Hasan F. (2021). Geochemistry and Insights into the Distribution of Biotechnological Important Fungi from the Third Pole of the World, Karakoram Mountains Range. Geomicrobiology Journal.  38(5):395–403. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2020.1863526
• Hassan N, Anesio AM, Rafiq M, Holtvoeth J, Bull I, Haleem A, Shah AA, Hasan F. (2020). Temperature Driven Membrane Lipid Adaptation in Glacial Psychrophilic Bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology. 11:824. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00824
• Hassan N, Anesio AM, Rafiq M, Holtvoeth J, Bull I, Williamson CJ, Hasan F. (2020). Cell Membrane Fatty Acid and Pigment composition of the pyschrotolerant cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena CHS1 isolated from Hopar Glacier, Pakistan. Extremophiles. 24(1):135-145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-019-01141-4
• Rafiq M, Nadeem S, Hassan N, Hayat M, Sajjad W, Zada S, Hasan F. (2020). Fungal recovery and characterization from Hindukush mountain range, Tirich Mir glacier and their potential for biotechnological applications. Journal of Basic Microbiology. 60(5):444-457. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.201900608
• Hassan N, Uddin S, Rafiq M, Rehman HU, Haleem A, Hayat M, Khan M, Jamil SSU, Hasan F. (2019). Analysis of the Cell Membrane Fatty Acids and Characterization of the Psychrotolerant Serratia Marcescens HI6 isolated from Hopar (Bualtar) Glacier, Pakistan. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research. 17(5): 11911-11924. http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1705_1191111924
• Rafiq M, Hassan N, Rehman M, Hasan F. (2019). Adaptation Mechanisms and Applications of Psychrophilic Fungi. In: Tiquia-Arashiro S., Grube M. (eds) Fungi in Extreme Environments: Ecological Role and Biotechnological Significance. Springer, Cham, pp: 157–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19030-9_9
• Rafiq M, Hayat M, Zada S, Sajjad W, Hassan N, Hasan F. (2019). Geochemistry and bacterial recovery from Hindu Kush Range glacier their potential for Metal resistance and antibiotic production. Geomicrobiology Journal. 36:4 326-338. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2018.1551947
• Hassan N, Rafiq M, Rehman M, Sajjad W, Hasan F, Abdullah S. Fungi in acidic fire: A potential source of industrially important enzymes. (2018). Fungal Biology Reviews. 33:58-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2018.08.002
• Hassan N, Hasan F, Nadeem S, Hayat M, Ali P, Khan M, Sajjad W, Zada S, Rafiq M. Community Analysis and Characterization of Fungi from Batura Glacier, Karakoram Mountain Range, Pakistan. (2018). Applied Ecology and Environmental Research. 16(5): 5323-5341. http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1605_53235341
• Hassan N, Rafiq M, Hayat M, Nadeem S, Shah AA, Hasan F. Potential of psychrotrophic fungi isolated from Siachen glacier, Pakistan, to produce antimicrobial metabolites. (2017). Applied Ecology and Environmental Research. 15(3): 1157-1171. http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1503_11571171
• Rafiq M, Hayat M, Anesio AM, Jamil SUU, Hassan N, Shah AA, Hasan F. Recovery of metallo-tolerant and antibiotic resistant psychrophilic bacteria from Siachen glacier, Pakistan. (2017). PLoS ONE 12(7): eo178180. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178180
• Hassan N, Rafiq M, Hayat M, Shah AA, Hasan F. Psychrophilic and Psychrotrophic Fungi: A Comprehensive Review. (2016). Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology. 15(2): 147-172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-016-9395-9.