Mohsin Ahmad Khan has completed BSc (H) in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, MPhil (Biotechnology) from NIBGE Faisalabad/Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and PhD (Molecular Biology) from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Since 1996 he has been serving CEMB in different positions.

Dr. Khan has published many research articles in international peer-reviewed journals on genetic engineering and biotechnology. His major research focus is the development of GMOs using different host organisms. He has successfully developed GMO transgenic plants (cotton and tobacco), expressing the insecticidal Bt gene. Developed recombinant strains of bacterial and yeast expressing therapeutic proteins including interferon and growth factors. Recently he has introduced an innovative approach of expressing foreign genes in algae hosts, this is the first lab. of its type in Pakistan. In the algae transformation lab. he has successfully developed transgenic strains expressing, mosquito larvicidal protein, influenzas subunit protein as an edible vaccine, therapeutic proteins, and food enzymes. He has also filed patents in the Pakistan on development of a mosquito larvicidal algae strain and the development of a yeast (Pichia pastoris) strain expressing non-glycosylated hEGF proteins.

 Research interests:

The research work of Dr. Khan is focused on:

Development of mosquito larvicidal biocontrol agent: An algae-based self-sustainable mosquito larvicidal biocontrol agent for control of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue.

Development of Algae-based poultry vaccine: low-cost algae-based sub-unit vaccine for oral and intramuscular delivery.

Algae as a halal expression system: 

To help develop a shariah-compliant recombinant biotech industry.

 Selected Publications

1. Ashraf, F., Khan, M.A., Ahmed, N., Umar, M., Khan, M.I., Akram, M., Bhatti, R. and Malik, K., 2023. Development of transgenic algae strain expressing CTB-M2e fusion gene an approach towards the development of a universal edible vaccine in Algae. Journal of Biotechnology, 374,  2023,pp. 31-37. (Impact factor 3.595)

2. Khan, H., Khan, M.A., Ahmed, N., Tawakkal, F., Amjad, F. and Pervaiz, R., 2023. A 90-day subchronic oral toxicity assessment of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii biomass, genetically modified to express cry11Ba protein, by using Han Wistar rats. Journal of Applied Phycology, 35(3), pp.1115-1127. (Impact factor 3.6)

3. Akram, M., Khan, M.A., Ahmed, N., Bhatti, R., Pervaiz, R., Malik, K., Tahir, S., Abbas, R., Ashraf, F. and Ali, Q., 2023. Cloning and expression of an anti-cancerous cytokine: human IL-29 gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. AMB Express, 13(1), pp.1-9. (Impact factor 3.9)

4. Pervaiz, R., Khan, M. A., Raza, F. A., Ahmad, S., Zafar, A. U., Ahmed, N., and Akram, M. (2022). Expression of a mosquito larvicidal gene in chloroplast and nuclear compartments of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Journal of Biotechnology. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.11.004. (Impact factor 3.595)

5. Hafeez, M.N., Khan, M.A., Sarwar, B., Hassan, S., Ali, Q., Husnain, T. and Rashid, B., 2021. Mutant Gossypium universal stress protein-2 (GUSP-2) gene confers resistance to various abiotic stresses in E. coli BL-21 and CIM-496-Gossypium hirsutum. Scientific reports, 11(1), pp.1-19. (Impact factor 4.996)

6. Pervaiz, R., Khan, M. A., Ahmed, N., Naeem, H., and Zafar, A. U. (2018). Determination of mosquito Larvicidal potential of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11Ba fusion protein through molecular docking. Biologia, 1-9. (Impact factor 0.728 )

7. Khan, M. A., Ahmed,  ,  Khan,  M.  I., Zafar,  A.  U., Tahir,  S.,  Anjum,  M.  S., Husnain,  T.  (2017).  Bioactivity  studies  of  Huh-7  cells  derived  human  epidermal growth  factor  expressed  in  Pichia  pastoris. Bioscience, Biotechnology,  and Biochemistry, 81(6), 1114-1119. (Impact factor  1.35)

8. Khan, ,  Wu,  X.,  Matzkin,  G.  L., Khan, M.  A., Sakai,  F.,  and  Vidal,  J.  E.  (2016). Streptococcus  pneumoniae  eradicates  preformed  Staphylococcus  aureus  biofilms through  a  mechanism  requiring  physical  contact. Frontiers  in  Cellular  and  Infection Microbiology, 6. 104.  (Impact factor 4.5)

9. Khan, A., Khan, F., Ahmad, N., Khan, M. I., Zafar, A. U., and Husnain, T. (2014). Expression line  approach  to  recombinant  human  epidermal  growth  factor  into  the yeast,  Pichia  pastoris  from  Huh-7  cell  line. Molecular Biology Reports, 41(3), 1445-1451.  (Impact factor 2.20)
10. Khan, M. , Hassan, N., Ahmad,  N.,  Khan,  M.  I., Zafar, A.  U., Khan,  F.,  and Husnain, T. (2014). Studies to analyze the relationship between IFNα2b gene dosage and its expression, using a Pichia pastoris‐based expression system. Yeast, 31(1), 13-28. (Impact factor 1.634).