Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit. Founder-Director Prof Salahuddin. - Aligarh

Prof. Asad U Khan graduated in Chemistry and did his post graduate in Biotechnology in 1994 and obtained a doctorate in Biochemistry from Aligarh Muslim University in association with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi.He joined as lecturer in 1997 and later proceeded for his post-doctoral research in RUTGERS University, New Jersey, USA during 2000-2003 for three years. Prof. Khan has received many hon s and awards. He is the recipient of BOYSCAST Fellowship of DST, Government of India to work as Visiting Scientist in one of the laboratories in University of Napoli, Italy during 2004. He is recipient of National Bioscience Award for Career Development of Government of India, Department of Biotechnology for the year 2012, Young Scientist Award and Alembic Award of Association of Microbiologist of India in Medical Microbiology in 2006 and 2009 respectively.In the year 2010 Prof. Khan has been given Most Active Teachers Award of AMU and DBT-CREST award of Department of Biotechnology. He has been awarded the certificate of appreciation as thesis advisor of Eli Lilly Asia Outstanding Thesis awardee. He has also received grants from DST CSIR DBT ICMR and CCRUM, New Delhi worth of Rs. 360, Lakhs in last Five years. Prof. Khan is a member of Editorial board of several International journals. He has edited Three books and author of over 195 Research articles6in the peer-reviewed journals with high impact factor and having more than 3200 citations with H-Index 30 (Scopus/ Google Scholar).

Our Laboratory

Our current efforts are focused on designing new inhibitors against NDM-1 and CTX-M variants. Many synthetic molecules after being screened by QSAR and structure-based virtual screening approaches from different Databases are being tested against multidrug resistant clinical strains. Different Machine learning approaches are used to design lead molecules against enzymes. Moreover, these enzymes and their mutants are being cloned from clinical multi-drug-resistant strains to express proteins/enzyme which is being studied for their interaction and hydrolysis with inhibitors and drugs respectively in vitro using various microbiological and spectroscopic approaches. Moreover, inhibitor-enzyme sites are also being mapped through Crystallography to further understand the insight of binding interactions.

We are also studying the mechanism of multiple drug resistance in bacteria with special reference to ESBL (extended spectrum beta lactamase) and recently known enzyme, NDM-1 and its variants among E. coli and Klebsiella pneumonia isolated from Hospital setting as well as community acquired infections. The whole family of CTX-M genes was characterised by PCR amplification and sequencing. Genetic features (Tn and IS elements) associated with these resistant markers were also studied using shotgun sequencing approach and PCR amplification. Microbial typing of these isolates was performed by Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and ERIC-PCR to look for molecular epidemiology of these strains for their clonal relatedness. Moreover, Replicon typing and multilocus sequence typing was also performed to understand the clonal spread of strains of bacteria.

My group has also elucidated the mode of action of natural and synthetic molecules including, Nanoparticles against infections in general and dental caries as a specific case, which is a predominant cause of tooth decay. The main reasons of dental caries are adherence and biofilm forming properties of S. mutants. Several genes are reported to play an important role in these virulent properties. Hence, we have characterised several plant-based compounds using spectroscopic approach (NMR, GC-Mass and FTIR). Gene expression of biofilm forming genes and other virulence factors are also studying using quantitative RT-PCR. Biochemical, as well as microscopic characterization (confocal, SEM and TEM), has also been performed to understand the mode of the mechanism of inhibition of Biofilm. A proteomic approach has also been incorporated to further explore the factors involved in pathogenicity/Biofilm of S. mutants. A concept of nanoparticle-based photodynamic therapy is also in use to control biofilm infections.

Another question, we are addressing the factors/proteins involved in the expression of resistance phenotype in the bacteria carrying various resistant markers either on chromosomal or plasmid DNA. A proteomic approach has been used to understand the protein-protein interaction. Furthermore, involvement of transcription factors to express these resistant markers has also been explored.

We have also identified the role of drugs on Basal Transcription Machinery with special reference to anti-cancer drugs and a hypothesis was proposed whether anticancer drugs interact transcriptional machinery via interfering with histone modulation. To prove this hypothesis in vitro histone modulation assays were performed in the presence of different anticancer drugs. Furthermore, we have confirmed inhibition of acetylation (as the key regulator) by many biochemical and immunochemical approaches using monoclonal antibodies against H3K14 (Histone 3 Lysine 14 position). Moreover, binding sites were also characterised using several bioinformatics tools, biophysical techniques.