Cover
Profile
Atif Khan

Atif Khan’s Blog

Chennai, India

Scientist, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India (2016-Present).
If you are interested in microbiology, I have been working on the microbiology of bacteriophages for the last four years. Collecting bacteriophages for our Phage Bank and developing phage formulations for treating human MDR infections.
My passion is using phages to control industrial biofilms, biofouling and treating MDR infections.

Some of my phage projects are:

  • Marine bacteriophages for biofouling control in cooling water systems.
  • Bacteriophages against wound isolates and preparation of phage formulation for effective delivery systems.
  • Bacteriophage mediated transfer of antibiotic resistance gene between bacterial hosts.
  • Assessment of the development of phage resistance and phage host coevolution in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its bacteriophages.
  • In-vitro assessment of marine bacteriophage-based biofilm control.
  • Assess marine bacteriophage diversity using the Tangential Flow Filtration System.
  • Screening out a stress-tolerant phage against P. aeruginosa application in food preservation.
  • Isolation of bacteriophages against E. coli from environmental samples.
  • Optimization of protocol for isolating phages of interest.

I love discussing with peers across the globe and am open for meetings on how to use phages for industrial applications and phage therapy to treat MDR infections.

I am also open to mentoring MSc students for 6 months project (Starting every year from January 1 and July 1) with me on the microbiology of bacteriophages. Feel free to reach out if you are interested, and I'll happily answer your questions. Interested in Networking with phage researchers either virtually or in the conferences. Volunteer at Phage Directory and FEMS #OnThisDay

Phage News & Links

Here are the Latest Jobs, Articles and News from the Phage Field that I’ve collected

Loading
About me

Phages for Human and Industrial Applications

📢
I started working on bacteriophages (the first in my group) and isolated multiple bacteriophages against disease-causing antibiotic-resistant pathogens and biofilm-forming marine bacterial isolates. Phages will be used to control bacterial biofilm and barnacle biofouling in the cooling water systems and development of phage bank for phage therapy of human MDR infections.

Laboratory Skills

  • Isolation, characterization, and propagation of bacteria and bacteriophages.
  • Phage Bank targeting WHO priority pathogens.
  • Bacterial transformation.
  • DNA/RNA/Plasmid isolation from bacteria and phages.
  • Rearing of marine Barnacle Larvae (Amphibalanus reticulatus) and diatom Chaetoceros.
  • Fluorescence and stereo zoom microscopy.
  • Biofilm formation and estimation by CV assay.
  • Tangential Flow Filtration for Phage production, concentration and Formulation.
  • Thermal PCR, qPCR, Touch down PCR, RT-PCR, RFLP.
  • Library Preparation for Nanopore Sequencing.
  • Culturing of bacterial pathogens in BSL-II Cabinets.
  • MS Office, Origin.

Research Experience

👉
Post Graduate Research 2014-15 Title: To study the modulatory effects of extracellular pH on macrophage activation. Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Sukh Mahendra Singh, School of Biotechnology, Banaras Hindu University, India
👉
Doctoral Research 2021-Present Title: Marine phage-based targeted biofouling control in cooling water systems of power plants. Supervisor: Dr. Hiren Joshi, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India
👉
Apart from Research Experience Isolation and characterization of environmental bacteriophages against MDR pathogens and development of phage bank. Collecting environmental, pathogenic, and fluorescent bacterial isolates in our bacterial culture collection. Development of phage formulations for phage therapy of human patients with MDR infections (Under progress).

Bacteria and Phage Bank

🦠
Collection of Marine, Pathogenic, Fluorescent, and Lab constructs of bacteria (300+).
Collection of Bacteriophages against Pathogenic, Marine and Lab strains (150+).

Education

🎓
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India 2010-13 BSc (Hons.) Zoology
🎓
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India 2013-15 MSc Biotechnology
🎓
Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India 2015-16 Post Graduate Diploma in Nuclear Science
🎓

Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India 2021-Present PhD in Life Sciences

Awards, Honors and Grants

🎖️
DBT Fellowship (India) for MSc.
🏅
CSIR-JRF Fellowship (India).
🏆
DBT-JRF Fellowship (India).
🥇
GATE Fellowship (India).
🎖️
EMBO Travel Grant for short-term training at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Germany).
🥇
2nd Prize in oral presentation at 3rd International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (November 26-27, 2022).
💡
1st Prize in poster presentation at 4th International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (September 28-30, 2023).

National and International Memberships

Society for Bacteriophage Research and Therapy, India.
International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms, UK.
Belgian Society for Viruses of Microorganisms, Belgium.
World Society for Virology.
International Bacteriophage Research Consortium, India.
Microbiology Society, UK.
American Society for Microbiology, USA.
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).
Icon

Asian Federation of Biotechnology.

Phage Asia

Community Involvement

  • Social Media Assistant from Phage Directory 5th Bacteriophage Therapy Summit, 2023.
  • Volunteer in #OnThisDay team at Federation of European Microbiology Societies (FEMS), UK.
  • Organizer: 4th International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance, 2023

Invited Talks and Interviews

🎤
Bacteriophages: What you should know about them: during the Science Fest at Udai Pratap College, Varanasi, India
🎤
Panel Discussion on “Phage Banks for Developing Countries” organized by Phage Hunters Training and Research Program (PHTRP) on LinkedIn Live.
🎤
“You Made Me Sick!” Podcast on Bacteriophages, Biofilms, Biofouling and MDROs.

In the News

📰
BioSpectrum India: Combating AMR with bacteriophages, January 2024 Issue (Page 28-31)
📰
BioSpectrum India: In five years, India will have a well-established bacteriophage infrastructure, January 2024 Issue

Reviewer in International Journals

  • PHAGE: Therapy, Applications and Research.
  • FEMS Microbiology Letters.
  • Frontiers in Microbiology.
  • Virus Genes.
  • BMC Microbiology.
  • Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
  • Journal of Virology
  • Marine Pollution Bulletin

Certifications and Training

🦺
Safety and Regulatory Measures for BARC Facilities. Organized by BARC Safety Council Secretariat (March 1-4, 2023).
🩺
First aid safety training organized by BARC Facilities (March 31, 2023).

National and International Conferences

  • 6th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (February 1-3, 2021).
  • Phage Futures Congress (February 24-26, 2021)
  • 13th Young Investigator’s Meeting (March 17-19, 2021)
  • 2nd International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (July 22-24, 2021).
  • Phage Virus Assembly (July 27-30, 2021).
  • BioSangam 2022: Emerging Trends in Biotechnology (March 10-12, 2022).
  • 3rd International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (November 26-27, 2022).
  • Theme meeting on Advanced Technologies for Biofilms, Water and Wastewater Management (6th January, 2023).
  • 2nd HBNI Theme Meeting on Life Sciences (February 16-17, 2023).
  • 5th Bacteriophage Therapy Summit (February 21-23, 2023).
  • 6th World Conference on Targeting Phage Therapy (June 1-2, 2023).
  • 4th International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (September 28-30, 2023).

Publications

🔬
My Research Metrics: Citations: 111, h-index: 6

Conference Publications

  • Bacteriophages: A biological nano bullets for biofilm control for medical and industrial applications; Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi, Toleti Subba Rao; International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology; February 1-3, 2021
  • Simple two-step, high-yield protocol for isolation and amplification of bacteriophages against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi; BioSangam: Emerging Trends in Biotechnology; March 10-12, 2022.
  • Marine phages based targeted biofouling control in cooling water systems of atomic power plants; Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi; 3rd International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance; November 26-27, 2022.
  • Isolation of Bacteriophages against a chlorine tolerant & biofilm forming marine bacterial isolate from Madras Atomic Power Station; Atif Khan, Bershiyal S., Hiren Joshi; Theme Meeting on Advanced Technologies for Biofilms, Water and Wastewater Management; January 6, 2023.
  • Bacteriophage mediated transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes between bacterial hosts; Ayushi Darji, Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi, 4th International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance; September 28-30, 2023.
  • Unleashing phage potential; optimized strategies for the biocontrol of Salmonella in food; Akash Saha, Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi, 4th International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance; September 28-30, 2023.
  • Isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages against Acinetobacter baumannii; Riya Rani, Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi, 4th International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance; September 28-30, 2023.
  • Biological Control of bacterial wilt disease caused by Virulent Ralstonia solanacearum using lytic bacteriophages. Ardra Unni, Atif Khan, Hiren Joshi; Asia PGPR Conference 2024

Reference Links

Referees

  • Dr. Hiren Joshi, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
Phage Projects

Mini Phage Projects

💡
Isolation of Bacteriophages against E. coli from Environmental samples (2021).
💡
Isolation of Bacteriophages against MDR P. aeruginosa isolated from Cystic Fibrosis Patient (2021).
💡
In-vitro assessment of bacteriophage-based biofilm control over biocide-based control (2022).
💡
Isolation and Characterization of bacteriophages against P. aeruginosa for antibacterial and antibiofilm applications (2023).
💡
Assessment of the development of phage resistance and phage-host coevolution in phages of P. aeruginosa (2023).
💡
Decoding the Dynamics: Phage-Mediated Cell Lysis, DNA Release, and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Transfer in Microbial Network (2023)
💡
Isolation of phages against S. aureus and preparation of phage formulation for effective delivery system (2023).
💡
Biological Control of bacterial wilt disease caused by Virulent Ralstonia solanacearum using lytic bacteriophages (2024).
💡
Investigating the Impact of Bacteriophage-Mediated Cell Lysis on Horizontal Gene Transfer (2024).
💡
Investigating the Impact of Bacteriophage-Mediated Cell Lysis on the Growth of Phage-resistant Mutants (2024).
💡
Development of a phage cocktail to control Proteus mirabilis biofilms associated with urinary tract infections (2024).