QUALIFICATIONS:

PhD. Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands)

M Phil. Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (Pak)

BSc (Hons). Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakaria University, Multan, (Pak)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Currently, we are working on isolation and genome wide characterization of Bifidobacteria as probiotics. We are analyzing a large-scale library of targeted genes encoding pilus assembly, biofilms formation and putative surface or stress-response factors. Individual genes/operons are selected and will be tested for their i) resistance to oxidative stress, ii) antibiotic resistance, iii) resistance to opsonophagocytosis, iv) adherence to the abiotic surface and human epithelial cells and v) virulence. We are also working on isolation and characterization of foodborn pathogens and the discovery of new antimicrobial drug targets in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This strategy is based on a comparative, system-level analysis of molecular processes involved in pathogenicity, drug resistance and/or growth of selected pathogenic MRSA through a combination of computational biology, microbiology and functional genomics. This study shall permit the discovery of new potential drug targets, relevant to both MRSA-specific and broad-spectrum antimicrobial strategies.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Rasheeha Naveed, Iftikhar Hussain, Abdul Tawab, Muhammad Tariq, Moazur Rahman, Sohail Hameed, M Shahid Mahmood, Abu Baker Siddique and Mazhar Iqbal. 2013 Antimicrobial activity of the bioactive components of essential oils from Pakistani spices against Salmonella and other multi-drug resistant bacteria. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, 13:265
2. Lionel Rigottier-Gois, Adriana Alberti, Armel Houel, Jean-François Taly, Philippe Palcy, Janet Manson, Daniela Pinto, Renata C. Matos, Laura Carrilero, Natalia Montero, Muhammad Tariq, Harma Karsens, Christian Repp, Andrea Kropec, Aurélie Budin-Verneuil, Abdellah Benachour, Nicolas Sauvageot, Alain Bizzini, Michael S. Gilmore, Philippe Bessières, Jan Kok, Johannes Huebner, Fatima Lopes, Bruno Gonzalez-Zorn, Axel Hartke and Pascale Serror. (2011) Large-Scale Screening of a Targeted Enterococcus faecalis Mutant Library Identifies Envelope Fitness Factors. PLoS ONE 6(12): e29023.
3. Muhammad Tariq, Lieke A. van Gijtenbeek and Jan Kok. 2014. Characterization of EmrCD as efflux system from Enterococcus faecalis. Accepted for publication  at  PLoS ONE.
4. Muhammad Tariq, Lieke A. van Gijtenbeek and Jan Kok. 2014. EmrR is important for multidrug resistance by activating expression of emrCD in Enterococcus faecalis. Submitted for publication at Journal of Bacteriology.
5. Muhammad Tariq, Chissa Bruijs, Jan Kok and Bastiaan P. Krom.  2012, Link between culture zeta potential heterogeneity and Ebp in Enterococcus faecalis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 78 (7) 2282-2288.
6. Muhammad Tariq, Sohail Hameed, Kausar A Malik and Fauzia Y Hafeez. 2007. Plant root associated bacteria for zinc mobilization in rice. Pak. J. Bot., 39(1): 245-253.
7. Nazim Hussain, M.B. Khan, Muhammad Tariq and Sumbal Hanif. 2003. Spectrum of activity of different herbicides on growth and yield of wheat. Int. J. Agric. Biol. 05(2): 166-168.