• PhD (Microbiology): Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, Pakistan. 2021
• MPhil (Microbiology): University of Lahore, Pakistan. 2016  
• BEMS (Bachelor of Eastern Medicine & Surgery.): The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Pakistan. 2009

Dr. Rizwan Asif, currently serving as the acting Head of the Department of Allied Health Sciences. He possesses profound expertise in both academic and research domains. He received his Doctorate in Microbiology from Government College University, Faisalabad. He has published numerous research articles in esteemed national and international journals. His research interest lies in the fields of Eastern medicine and microbiology, encompassing phytochemical analysis, evaluation of the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties of medicinal plants, and the role of green synthesis of nanoparticles in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. He is skilled in isolating bacteria and fungi from clinical and environmental samples, performing DNA extraction, horizontal electrophoresis, PCR, and RT-qPCR. His expertise also includes characterizing fungi and using microscopy techniques such as phase contrast, dark-field, and bright-field. Additionally, he specialized in plant-associated microorganisms and the biocontrol of soil-borne fungi (Fusarium oxysporum) in greenhouse conditions.

Work/Professional Experience

Research papers

1. Asif,R, Ahmad, H,  Yasmin, R, Ansari F, Mustafa,  M, Alam, M, Shah, S,. Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Phytoextraction in Combination with Antibiotics Against Bacteria Isolated from Diabetic Foot Infection (DFI), International Health Review
2. Asif, R.,Yasmin, R., Mustafa, M., Nisar, J., Ambreen, A., Rehman, A., & Unmbreen, S. (2023). Antimicrobial Potential, Drug Delivery and Therapeutic Applications of Bio-nanoparticles in Medicine. In Nanomaterials: The Building Blocks of Modern Technology: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (pp. 115-130). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore
3. Ali, A., Ali, M., Nisar, Z., Shah, S. M. A., Mustafa, I., Nisar, J., & Asif, R.(2023). Antibacterial Activity of Economically Important Medicinal Plants in Pakistan Against Different Bacterial Strains. Bioinformatics and Biology Insights, 17, 11779322231189374.

4. Asif, R., Muzammil. S., Yasmin, R, Hammad, A, Ambreen, Isolation and characterization of Fusarium oxysporum sp.vasinfectum causative agent of cotton wilt disease in Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology, 35(01) 2023, 2305-0284.

5. Asif, R.,Ali, M., Mazhar, M., Mustafa, M., & Yasmin, R. Evaluation of Phytochemical Contents, Antimicrobial, and antioxidant Potential of Haloxylon Griffithii Collected from Northern Region of Balochistan, Pakistan. Dose-Response, 2023.March; 21(1), 15593258231163389.

6. Asif, R.,Siddique, M. H., Hayat, S., Rasul, I., Muzammil, S. et al. Efficacy of Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL B-24137 to suppress Fusarium oxysporum sp. vasinfectum induced wilt disease in cotton. PeerJ, 2023 February.  10.7717.14754.

7. Madni, W. A., Mohsin, M., Nawaz, Z., Muzammil, S., Zahoor, M. A., & Asif, R. Molecular mechanism of antimicrobial co-resistance Colistin (mcr-1) and ESBLs genes among Escherichia coliisolates from commercial chickens in Pakistan. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2023 January. 84. org/10.1590/1519-6984.267494

8. Yasmin, R., Zafar, M. S., Tahir, I. M., Asif, R., Asghar, S., & Raza, S. K. Biosorptive Potential of Pseudomonas species RY12 Toward Zinc Heavy Metal in Agriculture Soil Irrigated with Contaminated Waste Water. Dose-Response, 2022 September; 20(3), 15593258221117352.

9. Mustafa, M., Mustafa, R., Asif, R., Mazhar, M., Munir, N., & Mahmood, Z. Pharmaceutical Monitoring and Care for Asthmatic Patients management from Lahore city of Pakistan. National Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 2021; https://doi.org/10.52587/njhms.v3i2.21

10. Asif, M., Yasmin, R., Asif, R., Ambreen, A., Mustafa, M., & Umbreen, S. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), Structural Characterization, and their Antibacterial Potential. Dose-Response, 2022, April; 20(2), 15593258221088709.

11. Khalil, T., Okla, M.K., Al-Qahtani, W.H., Ali, F., Zahra, M., Shakeela, Q., Ahmed, S., Akhtar, N., AbdElgawad, H., Asif, R. and Hameed, Y., 2022. Tracing probiotic producing bacterial species from gut of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), South-East-Asia. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2022 Fab. 84, org/10.1590/1519-6984.259094

12. Asif, R., Yasmin, R., Mustafa, M., Ambreen, A., Mazhar, M., Rehman, A., Umbreen, S. and Ahmad, M., 2022. Phytohormones as plant growth regulators and safe protectors against biotic and abiotic stress. Plant hormones: Recent advances, new perspectives and applications, 115-130.doi:10.5772/intechopen.102832

13. Ahmad, M., Khan, M., Asif, R.,et al. Expression Characteristics and Significant Diagnostic and Prognostic Values of ANLN in Human Cancers. International Journal of General Medicine, 2022, Fab; 1957-1972. doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S343975

14. Sial, N., Rehman, J.U., Saeed, S., Ahmad, M., Hameed, Y., Atif, M., Rehman, A., et al., Asif, R., Integrative analysis reveals methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1-like as an independent shared diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in five different human cancers. Bioscience Reports, 2022 january;42(1), p. BSR20211783.

15. Ahmad, M., Hameed, Y., Khan, M., Usman, M., Rehman, A., Abid, U., et al., Asif, R., Up-regulation of GINS1 highlighted a good diagnostic and prognostic potential of survival in three different subtypes of human cancer. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2021; 84. doi: 10.1590/1519-6984.250575

16. Sial, N., Saeed, S., Ahmad, M., Hameed, Y., Rehman, A., Abbas, M., Asif, R. et al., 2021. Multi-omics analysis identified TMED2 as a shared potential biomarker in six subtypes of human cancer. International Journal of General Medicine, 2021, October; pp.7025-7042.org/10.2147/IJGM.S327367

17. Sial, N., Ahmad, M., Hussain, M.S., Iqbal, M.J., Hameed, Y., Khan, M., Abbas, M., Asif, R. et al., CTHRC1 expression is a novel shared diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of survival in six different human cancer subtypes. Scientific reports, 2021 October; 11(1), p.19873.  doi.org 10.1038/s41598-021-99321-w

18. Asif, R., Siddique, M. H., Zakki, S. A., Rasool, M. H., et al., Muzammil, S. Saccharothrix Algeriensis NRRL B-24137 Potentiates Chemical Fungicide Carbendazim in Treating Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum-Induced Cotton Wilt Disease. Dose-Response, 2020 September; 18(3), 1559325820960346.

19. Hayat, S., Ashraf, A., Aslam, B., Asif, R., et al., Muzammil, S. Actinobacteria: potential candidate as plant growth promoters. In Plant stress physiology. IntechOpen. 2020 September. doi:10.5772/intechopen.93272.

20. Ashraf, A., Ashraf, M. M., Rafiqe, A., Aslam, B., Galani, S., Zafar, S. et al., Asif, R. In vivo antiviral potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract against Newcastle disease virus. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences,2017 March; pp.567-572

21. Ashraf, N., Rashid, A.,Naz, U., et al., Asif, R. Detection of antibiotics residues in protein containing diets (meat and eggs) of human through different methods. Journal of University Medical & Dental College, 2018. Fab; 9(1), pp.1-11.
22. Khan, M., Hassan, Farooq., et al., Asif, R.“Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical effect of Aloe vera.” NUST Journal of Natural Sciences (NJNS) 2021 October; pp. 1-22.

23. Tahir, I. M., Akram, M., Akhter, N., Daniyal, M., Sharif, A. et al., Asif, R. Recent Advances in Phytotherapy of Cough. Pak J Med Biol Sci, 2017 March 1(2). pp. 1-9.

24. Usman, M., Hameed, Y., Ahmad, M., Rehman, J.U., Ahmed, H., Hussain, M.S., Asif, R.,Murtaza, M.G., Jawad, M.T. and Iqbal, M.J., 2022. Breast cancer risk and human papillomavirus infection: A Bradford Hill criteria based evaluation. Infectious Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Infectious Disorders), 2022 June; 22(4), pp.41-50. doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/1573401318666220120105931.
25. Rehman RS, Butt M, Ambreen A, Asif, R, Khan T and Samina Mushtaq “Prediction of Gender and Stature by Footprint Analysis in Punjab Population, Pakistan” International Journal of Forensic Sciences (IJFSC)

National/International Conferences/Symposium/Seminars (Participated as Speaker)

• Asif RInternational Symposium on Nanotechnology; Integrating Nanotechnology & Microbiology for a sustainable Future. Institute of Microbiology. February 28-29, 2024. Government College University Faisalabad (Oral)
• Asif Rparticipated as a Key Guest Speaker “Global Health Challenges and Prospective Role of Eastern Medicine.” School of Eastern Medicine, Minhaj University Lahore on 21 Feb 2024.
• Asif Rparticipated as a Key Guest Speaker at 1st International Conference on Contemporary Development in Natural Medicine 2023 organized by Department of Eastern Medicine Hamdard University Islambad Campus, on February 14-15, 2024.
• Asif, R.,participated as a Key Guest Speaker at International Conference on Contemporary Development in Natural Medicine and Occupational Therapy 2023 organized by Department of Eastern Medicine & Surgery, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, on September 20-21, 2023.
• Asif, R.,Siddique, M. H., Hayat., Muzammil, S. The Potential of Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL B-24137 as biocontrol agents against cotton wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporumsp. vasinfectum. University of Education.Lahore, Pakistan May 4-5, 2023. (Oral)
• Asif, R., Ambreen, A., Mustafa, M., & Umbreen, S. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), Structural Characterization, and their Antibacterial Potential. Conference Scholars Frontiers in Nanoscience, at London, UK. April 2023. (Online Oral)
• Asif R;Importance of Sterilization in Cupping’’ Himayat-E-Islam Tibbia College Lahore. Pakistan March 7, 2023. (Invited Speaker) (Symposium)
• Asif, R., Ambreen, A., & Asif, M. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), Structural Characterization, and their Antibacterial Potential. Conference Scholars Frontiers in Nanoscience. United Arab Emirates. December 05, 2022. (Webinar/Oral)
• Asif, R., Siddique, M. H., Zakki, S. A., Rasool, M. H., Muzammil, S. Saccharothrix Algeriensis NRRL B-24137 Potentiates Chemical Fungicide Carbendazim in Treating Fusarium Oxysporum f.sp. Vasinfectum-Induced Cotton Wilt. Agriculture University Faisalabad. 26^th– 28^th 2022. (Keynote Speaker)
• Asif, R., Ambreen, A., Mustafa, M., & Umbreen, S. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), Structural Characterization, and their Antibacterial Potential. Superior University held on February 10, 2022 (Invited Speaker)
• Asif, R., Siddique, M. H., Zakki, S. A., Rasool, M. H., Muzammil, S. Saccharothrix AlgeriensisNRRL B-24137 Potentiates Chemical Fungicide Carbendazim in Treating Fusarium Oxysporum f.sp. Vasinfectum-Induced Cotton Wilt. Conference Mind Microbiology November 16-17, 2021. (Online/Oral)
• R., Role of Medicinal Plants in Health, International Hybrid Conference on Traditional & Alternative Medicne, Goa, India. November 17–18, 2022. (Webinar)
• Asif, R., Siddique, M. H., Zakki, S. A., Rasool, M. H., Muzammil, S. Saccharothrix AlgeriensisNRRL B-24137 Potentiates Chemical Fungicide Carbendazim in Treating Fusarium Oxysporum f.sp. Vasinfectum-Induced Cotton Wilt. Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad, December 22-24, 2022. (Organizer/Oral)
• Asif, R. Potential biomarkers in diabetic obese individuals. Islamia University of Bahawalpur. January 21, 2022. (Invited Speaker)
• Asif, R.’Contribution of medicinal plants in healthcare’’ Conference Mind February, 24-25, 2022
• Asif, R., Ambreen, A., Mustafa, M., & Umbreen, S. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs), Structural Characterization, and their Antibacterial Potential. Microbiology Conference. 10-11, March 2022. (Online Oral)

• Asif, R.,Siddique, M. H., Hayat., Muzammil, S. The Potential of Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL B-24137 as biocontrol agents against cotton wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporumsp. vasinfectum. Department of Botany, University of Education.Lahore, Pakistan March 30-31, 2022. (Oral)

Achievements / Certificates

• Best Presentation Award at the 2^ndInternational Conference on Recent Approaches in Plant Sciences, University of Education.
• Certificate on Cupping Therapy
• 2023; Certificate awarded on organizing one-day seminar on “Evidence-Based Approaches in practice of Eastern Medicine,” Department of Eastern Medicine Qarshi University
• 2022; Certificate of Hands-on Training workshop on Advanced Bioinformatics and Recombinant Biotechnology held at University of Central Punjab Lahore
• 2017; Organized Seminar on Role of Microbes in Sustainable Development Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Pakistan
• 2009-2010; Certificate of Clinical Internship, Hijaz Hospital and Qarshi Clinics of Eastern Medicine, Lahore, Pakistan.