Microbes are driving many aspects of life on the planet. The solution to many of the pressing challenges at global level, such as antimicrobial resistance; emergence of new infectious diseases; and the health of our planet’s ecosystems, rely upon broadening the horizon of discoveries coming from basic microbiology research and exploration. We at Institute of Microbiology are committed to provide our undergraduate students with excellent quality of Education in our degree programs of BS “Applied Microbiology” and “Medical Lab Technologists”
Our research faculty are highly productive and impactful, consisting of 5 Professors, 3 Associate and 9 Assistant Professors, housed at Institute of Microbiology, UDL and WTO-Quality Operations Labs. All the faculty members are outstanding microbiologists who are making exciting discoveries in the field of microbiology while training students in cutting edge research. The department has also made significant contributions in the field of conventional diagnostics and vaccines as is evident from the fact that many students both at Ph.D. and Master level had been trained and are serving in various capacities at different private and public establishments of the country. The Department is actively engaged in teaching under- and postgraduate, deficiency and diploma courses. Training workshops for field veterinarians are also being arranged. The Department has produced quite a number of M. Phil. and Ph.D. students in the University. The Department is equipped with modern tools of Miocrobiology, Molecular biology, Cell culture and the lab-animal facilities.
Storage of samples & long preservation of cultures
Storage of samples and short preservation of cultures
To provide triple distilled water for cell culture & routine lab work
To run protein samples
To run DNA samples
Laboratory animals: Balb C/J mice colony is reared for monoclonal antibody production
Independent Labs
Virology
Bacteriology
Molecular Biology
Genome Extraction
Mycology
Cell culture
Influenza
Research Projects
Institute of Microbiology holds long term history in research and academic activities. Its conviction for high level of research and academics is evident from the No. of PhD students and the publications in the juornals of international standards. Researchers/teachers conduct research to solve problems of the industries such as poultry, livestock, bioceutics, pharmaceutic, fish, equine and ordinary dairy farmers, milk processing, exporters and importers and government issues related to livestock. In universities every postgraduate research scholar is supposed to solve one problem of the industry/farmers. To minimize the financial consternation of the students, every Ph.D. faculty every year won at least one research grant on competitive basis from funding agencies of the country. On similar basis, following grants were obtained and postgraduate scholars conducted research on the projects and completed their research as required for their postgraduate degree program.
ON-GOING FOREIGN FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Sr. No.
Project Title
Cost (Million PKR)
Funding Agency
Principal Investigator
Analyzing the spread of Anthrax in Pakistan and Jordan
70
DTRA
Prof. Dr. Tahir Yaqub
2
Reducing the Economic and Zoonotic Impact of Avian Influenza (REZIAI): delivering novel vaccines and diagnostics from laboratory to the field.
11.2
BBSRC
Prof. Dr. Tahir Yaqub
ON-GOING LOCAL FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Sr. No.
Project Title
Cost (Million PKR)
Funding Agency
Principal Investigator
1
“Purification And Standardization Of Mycotoxins Extracted From Indigenous Toxigenic Fungi Under Optimized Experimental Conditions”
3.932 Million
HEC
PI
2
“Development Of Inactivated Polyvalent Vaccines For The Control Of Mastitis In Dairy Cattle”
10.905 Million
PARB
(Cooperative Scientist).
3
“Production Of Foot And Mouth Disease (Fmd) Recombinant Vaccine”
30.91Million
PARB
(Cooperative Scientist).
4
Preparation And Evaluation Of Multivalent Vaccine For Clostridium Perfringens Using Locally Characterized Toxinotypes.
7.902 million
HEC (TDF)
PI
5
The Development Of Highly Sensitive Novel Elisa Kit For Quantitative Detection Of 146s Fraction Of Fmd Virus For The Quality Production And Evaluation Of Fmd Vaccine In Pakistan
6.709 million
HEC (TDF)
Co-PI
6
Advanced Molecular Detection Of Toxoplasma Gondii: Genomics Based Laboratory Surveillance And Reference Diagnosis.
3.014386 million
HEC (NRPU)
Co-PI
7
Genetic Diversity Among Marek’s Disease Field And Vaccine Virus To Improve Prophylaxis.
6.251913 million
HEC (NRPU)
Co-PI
8
Biocontrol of Salmonellosis in chickens using bacteriophages
Rs.13.083 millions
Punjab Agriculture Research Board
Dr. Ali Ahmad Sheikh
9
Biocontrol of Brucella abortus using Brucellaphages
Rs.3.5 millions
NRPU-HEC
Dr. Ali Ahmad Sheikh
10
Isolation and Characterization of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) Isolates from Pakistan and Their use in Production of Gene Deleted Marker Vaccine
Rs.11.56 millions
HEC
Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani
11
Characterization, development and evaluation of indigenous probiotics targeting control and mitigation of Salmonella in poultry.
6 Million
HEC (NRPU)
Dr. Muhammad Nawaz
12
Research Project “Development and Evaluation of Probiotics and plant extracts targeting increased phosphorus availability and decreased ammonia emmission in poultry”
3.0 Million
HEC
(NRPU)
Dr. Muhammad Nawaz
13
Molecular characterization of bovine pestivirus isolates from dairy animals of Pakistan and their use in diagnostic, biosecurity and biological development to control disease in Pakistani herds
6.022 Million
HEC
Dr. Arfan Ahmad
14
Development of ELISA KIT for the Detection of FMDV
6.87 Million
HEC
Dr. Imran Altaf
15
Prevalence and degradation of pesticide residues in feed and milk
7.28 Million
PARB
Dr. Mateen Abbas
16
Evaluation of anti-Campylobacter activity of indigenous probiotic lactobacilli alone and in combination with different organic acids in poultry
3.4 Million
NRPU-HEC
P.I.
17
Development of inactivated polyvalent vaccines for the control of mastitis in dairy cattle
10.905 Million
PARB
(Cooperative Scientist).
18
Isolation and Characterization of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BOHV-1) Isolates from Pakistan and Their use in production of gene deleted marker Vaccine
11.56 Million
HEC, Pakistan
Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani
19
Preparation of highly specific ELISA Kit on Recombinant outer membrane protein (OMP) of Pasteurella multocida B2 to detect Post-vaccination immune response
9.544 Million
HEC, Pakistan
Under TDF
Prof. Dr. Aamir Ghafoor Bajwa
20
Preparation of live genetically engineered avirulent vaccinal strains derived from local highly pathogenic isolates of P. multocida B:2, using gene deletion method and evaluation of the vaccine by inoculating in mice and calves
6.714 Million
HEC, Pakistan
Under NRPU
Prof. Dr. Aamir Ghafoor Bajwa
21
Hydrogen peroxide based product CareOx35 effect on the health of dairy cows
0.9 Million
Dexon
Prof. Dr. Aamir Ghafoor Bajwa
NEWLY APPROVED RESEARCH PROJECTS DURING 2019-20
Sr. No.
Project Title
Cost (Million PKR)
Funding Agency
Principal Investigator
1
Mapping an in-depth genetic diversity of Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) in Pakistan and development of serotype-matched recombinant IBV Vaccine
9.04
HEC
Muhammad Zubair Shabbir
2
Production
and Evaluation of Recombinant Foot-and-Mouth disease Virus-like Particles (VLPs) for the Effective
Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Pakistan
9.93
HEC
Dr. Sohail Raza
3
Comparative transcriptome analysis of innate and adaptive immune cells to investigates Cardiovascular complications and BCG vaccination influence over SARS-CoV-2
5.5
Qatar University Emergency Response Grant –QUERG
Dr. Muhammad Suleman
4
Capacity Building & Establishment of Safe and Secure Lab Culture in Pakistan Through the
Development of Hands-On Biorisk Management Training Video
0.5
Health Security Partners (USA)
Muhammad Ilyas Riaz
WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED
S.#
Title
Dates
1
Int. Poultry Nutrition Conference and Expo-15
3-4, November, 2015.
2
Int. Human Nutrition Conference and Expo-15.
3-4, November, 2015.
3
37th All Pakistan Science Conference
16-17, November, 2015
4
International training workshop on biosafety and risk assessment 2015
2015
5
Basic Laboratory techniques 2015
2015
6
International workshop on “Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
September 14-16, 2015
7
Consensus Building Workshop On Biorisk Management Guidelines
2015
8
International Training Workshop on Biosafety and Risk Assessment
2015
9
In Service Short Term Training of University and College Faculty
16th -20th May, 2016
10
Molecular Diagnostics
23-25 June 2015
11
Basic Laboratory Techniques
03-07 Aug, 2015
12
Workshop on “Advanced Lab techniques-1 “ for Lab assistants and Lab attendants of UVAS
July, 20-22, 2016
13
Training of young faculty members of SBBUVAS (Sakrand) for two weeks
July, 17-30, 2016
14
In-service training for university and college faculty for Faculty of Bio-Sciences, UVAS, Lahore
August, 1-5, 2016
15
In-service training for university and college faculty for Institute of Microbiology, FVS, UVAS, Lahore
August, 3-5, 2016
16
Teaching methodologies and resource management of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology courses
October, 3-7, 2016
17
Two days training on Skills Enhancement of Teaching Staff of LSTCs/Training Institutes
March, 30-31, 2017
18
International workshop on “Devise strategies to control emerging viral hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan”
14th to 16th November, 2016
19
2nd workshop for Biosafety Officers
13-14 April, 2018
20
1st workshop for Biosafety Officers
12 April, 2018
21
International training course poultry viral diagnostics
05-12 March, 2018
22
Three-day workshop on “Advanced Lab Techniques
10-12 January 2018
23
Awareness Level Biosafety Workshop
18th June, 2019
24
One Health Approach to Control Rabies
12-07-2018
25
Advanced Level Biosafety Workshop
26th, November,2018
26
Awareness Level Biosafety Workshop
8th August, 2018
27
One Day Workshop on Influence Without Authority
16-02-2019
28
Cell culture techniques for production of biologics
24th Oct 2018
29
Advanced Detection of Food Borne Pathogens
28 November 2019 to
29 November 2019
30
2nd Awareness Seminar on Field Biosafety
7-Dec- 2019
31
Two day Hands on training workshop on Molecular Detection of Food borne Pathogens
26 - 27 December, 2019
32
Writing a competitive grant proposal
21 January 2020 to
23 January 2020
33
One Day Hands on Training on Food Safety
31-Jan-2020 to
31-Jan-2020
34
One Day Awareness Seminar on Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
04-Feb-2020
35
One Day Awareness Seminar and Hands on Training on The Use of Personal Protective Equipment For Novel Coronavirus (2019-Ncov)
17-Feb-2020
36
Working in BSL-3 Laboratory “AT BSL-3 LABORATORY FOR EMERGING PATHOGENS, Department of Microbiology, UVAS, Lahore
08 – 10 April,2020
37
Diagnosis of COVID-19 using RT-PCR” AT BSL-3 LABORATORY FOR EMERGING PATHOGENS, Department of Microbiology, UVAS, Lahore
13 – 14 April,2020
38
General Aspects Of Biorisk Management
08-May-2020
39
Laboratory Biosafety, equipment Maintenance and waste disposal for laboratory assistants of L&DD,Punjab at Institute of Microbiology, UVAS, Lahore
13 – 15 October,2020
Research Priorities
Isolation and identification of the causative agents of the newly emerging microbial diseases
Preparation and evaluation of biologics (vaccines, probiotics, antimicrobials, diagnostic reagents, etc.)
Qualitative and quantitative detection of mycotoxins and measures to overcome mycotoxicosis in animals
Physico-chemical factors affecting the survival of microbial pathogens (Biosecurity)
Immunogenetics, Immunotherapy, Immunomodulation, Immunoprophylaxis Immunoregulations and Immunodiagnosis of various diseases
