ANTIMICROBIALS AND BIOFILMS
Area of research: Microbiology & Biotechnology
Theme: Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, Health Biotechnology, Nanobiotechnology
SDGs covered: 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Faculty Members: Dr. Iftikhar Ali, Dr. Muhammad Zaid, Ghadir Ali, Dr. Yasir Rehman, Miss Mahreen Fatima, Miss Anam Amir
Description:Antimicrobials refer to a group of naturally occurring molecules that share the common aim of reducing the possibility of infection and sepsis. They are usually derived from various microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that act as host defense for these microorganisms. A biofilm is an assemblage of surface-associated microbial cells that is enclosed in an extracellular polymeric substance matrix. The role of biofilms in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is highly complex and may significantly drive resistance. Bacteria living in a biofilm can exhibit a 10 to 1,000-fold increase in antimicrobial resistance compared to similar bacteria living in a planktonic state. Hence, it is high time that methods must be devised to counter the rapidly increasing antimicrobial resistance and reduce the factors that play a role in resistance to enhance the quality of life. This is a major field of research in this era as microorganisms are rapidly acquiring resistance against antimicrobials.
National Collaborators: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore;Garrison University, Lahore
Students: Naseem Parwash, Yumna Hidayat
Relevant Publications:
1. Wadood, H. Z., Latif, A., Mukhtar, H., Javed, M., Mukhtar, H. and Rehman, Y. 2021. Planktonic cells of Staphylococcus and Bacillus species capable of faster chromium reduction in short incubation times as compared to their biofilms. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 14:1797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08226-5
2. Saba, Rehman, Y., Ahmed, M. and Sabri, A. N. 2019. Potential role of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances as biosorbent material for arsenic bioremediation. Bioremediation Journal, 23(2): 72-81. https://doi.org./10.1080/10889868.2019.1602107.
3. SammanIkram, Adam Heikal, Sarah Finke, Antje Hofgaard, Yasir Rehman, AnjumNasimSabri, Ole Andreas Økstad. 2019. Bacillus cereus biofilm formation on central venous catheters of hospitalised cardiac patients. Biofouling, 35(2): 204-216. https://doi.org./10.1080/08927014.2019.1586889.
4. Tanvir, R., Javeed, A. and Rehman, Y. 2018. Fatty acids and their amide derivatives from endophytes: New therapeutic possibilities from a hidden source. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 365(12):fny114. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fny114
5. Tabassum, R., Shafique, M., Khawaja, K. A., Alvi, I. A., Rehman, Y., Sheik, C. S., Abbas, Z. and Rehman, S. u. 2018. Complete genome analysis of a Siphoviridae phage TSK1 showing biofilm removal potential against Klebsiellapneumoniae. Scientific Reports, 8:17904. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36229-y.
6. Younas, N. S., Ali, I., Ashraf, H., & Bukhari, N. (2022). Antimicrobial potential of ethanolic leaf extracts of parkinsonia aculeate using response surface methodology. Biological and Clinical Sciences Research Journal, 2022(1).