Prof. Asad U Khan has graduated in Chemistry and did his post graduate in Biotechnology and obtained a doctorate in Biochemistry from Aligarh Muslim University and later proceeded for his post doc in RUTGERS University New Jersey, USA during 2000-2003 for three years. Currently he is Professor and Ex-Coordinator Biotechnology Unit, AMU, Aligarh India. He has been involved in teaching microbiology at post-graduate and doctoral level for last 25 years and has guided 29 PhDs, 17 MDs/MPhil and >70 Masters dissertations in the area of antibiotic resistance and therapy. He has published over 267 research articles in the area of antimicrobial resistance mechanism in peer reviewed high impact Q1/Q2 journals with 15000 citations and H-Index 60 which have been recognized in the scientific and public domain. His work has been cited in Nature, Science, Cell, EMBO J, JBC etc. His research findings on antimicrobial resistance have been covered by both international electronic and print media, and twice broadcast by French television. Elected Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) (2018); Recipient of INSA-International Collaborating/Bilateral Exchange Programme Award-(2017); Fellow of Biotech Research Society, India (2014); Fellow of Indian Academy of Microbiological Sciences (2014); Recipient of National Bioscience Award for Career Development” of Government of India, DBT (2012); “First Recipient” of Outstanding Research Award of the Year (2014) conferred by AMU; Recipient of Wockkardt Excellence Award of 2018 and Recipient of “Visitors Award” of President of India (2019) , Om Prakash Bhasin Award of 2019, Malviya Memorial Award of BRSI, 2020; TATA Innovation Fellowship of Ministry of Science and Technology GOI and Thesis Advisor (2012 Eli Lilly Outstanding Thesis Awardee; Recipient of DBT-CREST Award to avail fellowship in France to work as Visiting scientist. Appointed as Adjunct Professor in University of Catolica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) Spain for the period of two years. Appointed as Visiting Professor in University Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia for the period of two years w.e.f May 15, 2019. He is member of several international committees. Appointed as expert member of steering committee of UK Academy of Medical Sciences and Hamied Foundation UK-India AMR Programme. Recognized as eminent researcher in the field of Antimicrobial Resistance by Government of India and research Council UK as per the prepared “Scoping Report on Antimicrobial Resistance” in India which was released on November 2017 during Newton’s Award function in New Delhi. A total of 630 Institutions of the country have been incorporated in this study.

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.