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Saeed-ul-Hassan Khan
Personal Details
Address:
Date of birth:
Nationality:
Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320,
PAKISTAN
Email: saeedkv@yahoo.com
Phone : +92-3035259139, +92-51-90643230
05-10-1971
Marital status: married
Pakistani
Education
Post-doctorate
06/2007-11/2008: Durham University, UK
Title of project: Identification of novel signal transducers in the mammalian unfolded protein response
(UPR)

I cloned the components (eIF2α, ATF6 and PERK) of the mammalian UPR in mammalian
expression vectors and created loss-of-function mutations in eIF2α and PERK

I transfected NS0 and COS-7 cell lines with ATF6 and mutant eIF2α and PERK

I established time point assays involving RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunoprecipitation
to measure experimental unfolded protein response in NS0 and COS-7 cells
Post-doctorate
01/2004-01/2007: University of Sheffield, UK
Title of project: Regulation of P/Q calcium ion channel via voltage-independent cell signalling
pathway

I cloned the P/Q type calcium ion channel Cav2.1 subunit from the bovine chromaffin cells
using RT-PCR and RACE

I created multiple tyr-to-phe mutations and a C-terminus deletion mutation in the Cav2.1
subunit and transfected tsA201 (HEK293) cell line with these mutant subunits to study the
effect of mutations on the trafficking of the Cav2.1 subunit

I expressed GST linked Neuronal Calcium Sensor 1 (NCS1) and Calmodulin proteins in E.
coli and I did their affinity purification.

I studied the interaction between purified NCS1 and the P/Q ion channel proteins using a
GST pull-down assay
PhD in Biological Sciences (funded by a Wellcome Trust, UK Prize Studentship)
10/2000-01/2004: University of Leicester, UK
Title of thesis: Characterisation of Mannan Binding Lectin Associated Serine Proteases MASP-2,
MASP-3, and of the MASP-2 related plasma protein MAp19 in the chicken; evidence for the absence
of MASP-1 in birds

I cloned the chicken MASP-2, MASP-3 and MAp19 by RT-PCR, RACE and cDNA library
screening

I studied the expression of these components by Northern and in-situ hybridisations

I developed ELISA based functional assays to measure the lectin pathway activity in the sera
of birds in response to microbial surfaces and microbial carbohydrates
MPhil in Biological Sciences (funded by the Cambridge Common Wealth Trust, UK)
10/1999-09/2000: University of Cambridge, UK
Title of thesis: Isolation and analysis of repetitive DNA on the chromosome 1b of Toxoplasma gondii
(T. gondii)
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
I isolated a repetitive DNA (Rep 6) from the genomic cosmid library of the RH strain of T.
gondii using Southern hybridisation

I subcloned the repetitive DNA into the pBluesript vector and did its analysis by DNA
sequence analysis and comparison with Rep6 from T. gondii ME49 strain
MSc (Hons) in Veterinary Microbiology (Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.93/4.00)
04/1994-12/1996: College of Veterinary Sciences (CVS), Lahore – University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, Pakistan (CVS is now a separate university with the name University of Veterinary
& Animal Sciences, Lahore)
Title of thesis: Studies on efficacy of Alum Precipitated Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) Vaccine
(Bacterin)

I gave different doses (1 mg, 1.5 mg and 2 mg) of locally prepared alum precipitated HS
vaccine to buffaloes of different weight groups in order to study the immunity produced in
response to different doses in animals of different weight groups

I also gave levamisole to one group of animals in order to study its immunopotentiating effect

I measured the antibody titres of animals using indirect haemagglutination test and
compared the antibody titres of different weight groups in response to the different vaccine
doses using statistical analysis
Major subjects studied: General Microbiology, Veterinary Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology,
Microbial Physiology, Mycology, Tissue Culture, Clinical Pathology, Poultry Pathology and
Experimental Statistics
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.62/4.00)
12/1989-04/1994: College of Veterinary Sciences (CVS), Lahore – University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, Pakistan (CVS is now a separate university with the name University of Veterinary
& Animal Sciences, Lahore)
Major subjects studied: Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Reproduction, Meat
Hygiene, Milk Hygiene, Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Parasitology,
Veterinary Pharmacology, Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry, Veterinary Anatomy, Histology, Farm
Animal Management, Animal Nutrition, Animal Breeding and Clinics
Intermediate Certificate
1987-1989: Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Subjects studied: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English, Urdu, Pakistan Studies and Islamiyat
Secondary School Certificate
1976-1986: Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad, Pakistan
Subjects studied: Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English, Urdu, Pakistan Studies and
Islamiyat
Work Experience
09/2011-to-date: Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam
University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Teaching postgraduate courses related to molecular biology and microbiology
 Research related to infectious diseases of livestock and vaccines
04/2011-08/2011: Assistant Professor, National University of Sciences & Technology,
Islamabad, Pakistan
 Supervision of postgraduate (PhD) research
12/2010-03/2012 (evenings and weekends only): Veterinary Surgeon, Saeed Veterinary Clinic
(privately owned), Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Diagnosis and treatment of goats, sheep, cattle and buffaloes
 Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of pet animals (dogs and cats) and domestic poultry
12/2008-03/2011: Principal Scientific Officer, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC),
Islamabad, Pakistan
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
Designing research projects on genetics and on infectious diseases of food animals

Conducting and supervising experiments related to these research projects

Teaching postgraduate courses related to animal biotechnology
 Supervision of postgraduate research projects
09/2010-12/2010: Visiting Faculty, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi
 Teaching virology to the doctor of veterinary medicine students
03/1996-08/1999: Veterinary Officer (Health), Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of commercial poultry
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Coordination of mass poultry vaccination programs and epidemiological monitoring of poultry
diseases
Research Skills
I have experience of a variety of techniques related to molecular biology, protein chemistry, tissue
culture, microbiology and immunology including genomic and plasmid DNA preparation, RNA
preparation, primer designing, PCR, RT-PCR, RACE, restriction digests, cloning, screening of cosmid
and  vector based genomic and cDNA libraries, single-cell RT-PCR, Real-Time PCR, DNA
sequencing, site-directed mutagenesis, cutting tissue sections using microtome, in-situ hybridisation,
Southern blotting, Northern blotting, protein expression in E. coli and affinity purification, total protein
extraction, Western blotting, Immunoprecipitation, primary cell (bovine chromaffin cells) and cell line
(HEK293, PC12, NS0, P3X63Ag8, COS7 and MEF) culture, transfection (chemical and
electroporation), [35S]-L-methionine pulse labelling of mammalian cells, cell lysate preparation,
fluorescence microscopy, ELISA, isolation and characterisation of bacteria, hemagglutination test,
indirect hemagglutination test, hemagglutination inhibition test and analysis of DNA and protein
sequences.
Research Projects
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Development of molecular methods for the diagnosis of Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza
and Infectious Bronchitis in local commercial poultry (QAU, Islamabad, HEC approved)

“PCR for the diagnosis of colibacillosis in commercial poultry and study of virulence genes
and antibiotic sensitivity testing in E. coli” (QAU, Islamabad, ongoing)
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Molecular detection and antibiotic sensitivity of Salmonella and E. coli in commercial poultry
(QAU, Islamabad)

A study on polymorphism of kappa-casein gene in local cattle breeds (NARC, Islamabad)
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A study on polymorphism of kappa-casein gene in local cattle breeds (NARC, Islamabad)

Identification of novel signal transducers in the mammalian unfolded protein response
(Durham University, UK)

Regulation of P/Q calcium ion channel via voltage-independent cell signalling pathway
(University of Sheffield, UK)
Research Projects under Review

Genotyping of Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) isolated from commercial poultry and
preparation and evaluation of a recombinant replication-defective Ad5 vector based Infectious
Bronchitis (IB) vaccine (submitted to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan)

Isolation of Brucella Species from Cattle and Buffaloes and Construction of a Gene-knock
Out Vaccine against Bovine Brucellosis (submitted to Pakistan Science Foundation)

Molecular Epidemiology of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in Pakistan and generation by
reverse genetics of an effective, stable, live-attenuated NDV vaccine based on a currently
circulating Pakistani strain (submitted under the Pak-US Science & Technology Cooperation
Program of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan)
Skill Development
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I attended the International Workshop “Bioinformatics: Database Mining and High Throughput
Genomic Analyses” held at COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Scientific &
Technological Cooperation), Islamabad, Pakistan (19-21 March 2012)
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I attended the “3rd Teachers Training Workshop: Laboratory Methods in Genetics” held at
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan (26-30 December 2011)

I attended the “National Awareness Workshop on Improving Bio-safety and Bio-security At
Veterinary Laboratories in Pakistan” held at COMSTECH, Islamabad, Pakistan (01-02 March
2011)

I presented results of my postdoctoral research work at the “UK Society for Cell Culture
Biotechnology (ESACT-UK) Annual Meeting”, Hinxton, Cambridge (03-04 January 2008)

I attended the “UK Research Councils’ Graduate Schools Training Programme” (aimed at
improvement of communication and coordination skills), Derby, UK (25-30 July 2002)
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I presented seminars on my research findings during my jobs and during my postgraduate
studies to various audiences
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I undertook a short training course “Office Management and Financial Discipline” organized
by the Staff Training Institute, Services General Administration and Information Department,
Government of the Punjab, Rawalpindi, Pakistan (04-08 January 1997)
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I attended the “National Seminar on Epidemiology of Livestock and Poultry Diseases” held at
the College of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan (19-20 January 1995)
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I coordinated debates and speeches as Vice President of the College Tutorial Group of the
College of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore (November 1993- April 1994)
Certificate from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan
I am an HEC Approved PhD Supervisor.
Membership of Professional Council
Lifelong Member of Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council
Computer Skills
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Photoshop, DNA and protein sequence analyses,
Various NCBI and EBI tools, primer designing, molecular biology software e.g. GeneTool Lite, Oligo,
Amplify, FAST PCR and Primer 3.0
English Language Proficiency
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I undertook the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test held at the
British Council Office, Islamabad, Pakistan (June 1998). Score: Over all band: 7.0 (Listening:
7.5, Reading: 7.5, Writing: 6.0, Speaking: 7.0)

English was the medium of instruction during my school, college and university education
Research Publications (Total Impact Factor (IF): 23.848)
(1) Shamas S, Khan SU, Shahab M (2015). Expression of Kisspeptin (Kiss1), Kisspeptin
Receptor (Kiss1r), NMDA Receptor Subunit (NR1) and GABA Catalysing Enzyme (GAD67)
Genes in the Hypothalamus of Male Rhesus Macaque: Correlative Changes with Seasonal
Breeding. Acta Endo (Buc) 11 (1): 18-25 (IF: 0.45)
(2) Waseeullah R, Zahur AB, Latif A, Dasti JI, Zahra R, Khan SU (2015). Mild Form of Peste des
Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV) in Pakistan. Pakistan J Zool 47 (1): 276-279 (IF: 0.4)
(3) Tariq AR, Shahab M, Clarke IJ, Pereira A, Smith JT, Khan SU, Sultan J, Javed S, Anwar T
(2013). Kiss1 and Kiss1 receptor expression in the rhesus monkey testis: a possible local
regulator of testicular function. Cent Eur J Biol 8 (10): 968-974 (IF: 0.936)
(4) Suleman M, Khan SU, Riaz MN, Yousaf M, Shah A, Ishaq R, Ghafoor A (2012). Calpastatin
(CAST) gene polymorphism in Kajli, Lohi and Thalli sheep breeds. Afr J Biotechnol 11 (47):
10655-10660 (IF: 0.573)
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(5) Khan SU, Riaz MN, Ghaffar A, Khan MFU (2012). Calpastatin (CAST) Gene polymorphism
and its association with daily weight gain in Balkhi and Kajli sheep and Beetal goat breeds.
Pakistan J Zool 44 (2): 377-382 (IF: 0.309)
(6) Riaz, MN, Malik NA, Nasreen F, Qureshi JA, Khan SU (2012). Kappa-casein gene
polymorphism in Sahiwal, Cholistani and Red Sindhi cattle breeds. Intl J Dairy Technol 65
(2): 208-211 (IF: 1.211)
(7) Khan SU, Schröder M (2008). Engineering of chaperone systems and of the unfolded protein
response. Cytotechnology 57: 207–231 (IF: 1.593)
(8) Wykes RCE, Bauer CS, Khan SU, Weiss JL, Seward EP (2007). Differential regulation of
endogenous N- and P/Q-Type Ca2+ channel inactivation by Ca2+/Calmodulin impacts on their
ability to support exocytosis in chromaffin cells. J Neurosci 27 (19): 5236-5248 (IF: 7.869)
(9) Hui H, McHugh D, Hannan M, Zeng F, Xu S-Z, Khan SU, Levenson R, Beech DJ, Weiss JL
(2006). Calcium-sensing mechanism in TRPC5 channels contributing to retardation of neurite
outgrowth. J Physiol (Lond) 572: 165-172 (IF: 4.834)
(10) Lynch NJ*, Khan SU*, Stover CM, Sandrini SM, Marston D, Presanis JS, Schwaeble WS
(2005). Composition of the lectin pathway of complement in Gallus gallus: absence of
mannan-binding lectin associated serine protease-1 in Birds. J Immunol 174: 4998-5006 (IF:
5.673)
(11) Khan SU, Sheikh MA, Muhammad K (1998). Studies on efficacy of alum precipitated
haemorrhagic septicaemia vaccine. J Anim Plant Sci 8 (3-4): 87-91
(12) Khan SU, Sahota AW (1997-98). A study on the incidence of colibacillosis in chickens
maintained in Tehsil Murree. Annual Progress Report, Poultry Development Centre (PRI),
Rawalpindi, Pakistan. pp 33
(13) Bhatti BM, Sahota AW, Khan SU, Iftikhar N, Jahangir M (1997-98). A study on the problems
of rural poultry maintained in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Annual Progress Report, Poultry
Development Centre (PRI), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. pp 32
Referees
†Complete contacts (Email, Phone and Fax) of referees will be provided on demand. Please email
me at saeedkv@yahoo.com
*Both these authors contributed equally to this work