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  • Education, Training and Experience
  • Lab members
  • Photo Gallery
  • Research Overview
  • Research Projects
  • Research Publications

    • Dr. Mohammad Irfan Qureshi

    Associate Professor

    Office Address:
    Department of Biotechnology,
    Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University),
    New Delhi 110025

    Awards/Honors

    1. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Excellence Award for Education - 2020
    2. INSA-DFG Visiting Scientist, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany (2018-2019)
    3. Erasmus Plus Teacher: Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland (2019)
    4. ICP Australia Young Scientist Award (2010)
    5. DST, Govt. of India, Fast-Track Young Scientist Fellowship (2008)
    6. Ministry of Education, University and Research, Govt. of Italy, Young Researcher Award (2005)
    7. CSIR, Govt. of India Research Associate Fellowship (2005)

    Education, Training & Experience

    Education

    • Ph.D. in Plant Science (2004) – Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi
    • Masters in Botany (1999) – DAV (PG) College, Muzaffar Nagar (CCSU/Meerut University)

    Experience

    • Associate Professor (November, 2018 – Present): Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi - 110025
    • Assistant Professor (May, 2009 – November 2018): Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
    • Assistant Professor (November, 2006 – April, 2009): Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
    • Postdoc Researcher (April, 2006 – November, 2006): Plant Proteome Research Group, Department of Environmental Science, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
    • Post-Doctoral Research Associate (CSIR, India) (April, 2005 – November, 2006): Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi.
    • Post-Doctoral Research Associate (CSIR India) (September, 2004 – March, 2005): Department of Biotechnology, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India.

    Lab Members

    Present-

    1. Javed Ahmad (CSIR Pool Scientist)
    2. Arlene Asthana Ali
    3. Sheeba Naaz
    4. Sadia Qamar
    5. M. Irfan
    6. Fatima
    7. Shagufta
    8. Nida
    9. Musabur Rahman

    Former-

    Postdocs:

    1. Dr. Minu Singh (Dr. Kothari PDF)
    2. Dr. Heena Tabussum (CSIR PDF)
    3. Dr. Asha Wadhwa (Dr. Kothari PDF)

    Doctoral:

    1. Sowbiya Muneer
    2. Humayra Bashir
    3. Javed Ahmad
    4. Rita Bhageri
    5. Sarvesh K. Shukla
    6. Moin Akhtar
    7. 7. Karan Malhotra
    8. 8. Affan Baig
    9.  Amna

    Photo Gallery: Medical Biotechnology Laboratory

    Not Available-

    Research Overview

    My lab focuses on the Molecular Stress Physiology of plants. Mechanism of stress response against abiotic stress mainly metals, are studied employing gel-based and gel-free proteomics, metabolomics and genomics. In some researches, we supplement plants with stress ameliorating agents and explore the mechanism of survival. As a part of translational research, genetic engineering of plants is being done to express selective antigenic proteins which might serve as vaccines.

    Research Projects

    1. Large Scale Proteomics Analysis to Fish out N- and S-Responsive Proteins and cDNAs in Indian Mustard, Major Research Project, UGC, Govt. of India (PI, Completed)
    2. Mapping the Stress-Induced Proteome of Arabidopsis thaliana using 2-D Electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-MS. Fast Track Project, SERC-DST, Govt. of India (PI, Completed)
    3. Molecular response of Soybean root nodules to heavy metal stress. Innovative Research Grant (2014), UGC, Govt. of India (PI, Competed).

    Research Publications, Reviews & Book Chapters

    1. Javed Ahmad, Arlene A Ali, Asma A Al-Huqail, M Irfan Qureshi (2021) Triacontanol attenuates drought-induced oxidative stress in Brassica juncea L. by regulating lignification genes, calcium metabolism and the antioxidant system. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 166: 958-998.
    2. Amna S, Qamar S, Naqvi AAT, Al-Huqail AA, M. Irfan Qureshi (2020). Role of sulfur in combating arsenic stress through upregulation of important proteins, and in-silico analysis to study the interaction between phosphate transporter (PHO1), arsenic and phosphate in spinach. Plant Physiology & Biochemistry - 157: 348-358.
    3.  Ahmad J, Baig A, Amna, Ibrahim, M. Irfan Qureshi (2020). Parthenium hysterophorus steps up Ca-regulatory pathway in defence against highlight intensities. Scientific Reports – Nature, 10, 1-21.
    4. Ahmad J, Qamar S, Khan F, Haq I, Al-Huqail A, M. Irfan Qureshi (2020). Differential impact of some metal(loids) on oxidative stress, antioxidant system, sulfur compounds, and protein profile of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Protoplasma, 1-17.
    5. Ansari WA, Atri N, Ahmad J, M. Irfan Qureshi, Singh B, Kumar R, Rai V, Panday S. (2019). Drought mediated physiological and molecular changes in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). Plos one https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222647
    6. Baig MA, Ahmad J, Bagheri R, Ali AA, M. Irfan Qureshi.  (2018). Pb and Hg induced proteomic and ecophysiological changes in soybean (Glycine max L.) root nodules. BMC Plant Biology, 18:283.
    7. Ahmad J, Bagheri R, Bashir H, Baig A, Huqail A, Ibrahim M, M. Irfan Qureshi. (2018). Organ-specific phytochemical profiling and antioxidant analysis of Parthenium hysterophorus. BioMed Research International. Volume 2018, Article ID 9535232, 10 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9535232
    8. Ahmad J, Bashir H, Bagheri R, Baig A, Huqail A, Ibrahim MM, M. Irfan Qureshi. (2017). Drought and salinity induced changes in ecophysiology and proteomic profile of Parthenium hysterophorus. Plos one. PONE-D-17-22007. 12(9), e0185118
    9. Singh M, Khan MMA, Uddin M, Naeem M, M. Irfan Qureshi. (2017). Proliferating effect of radiolytically depolymerized carrageenan on physiological attributes, plant water relation parameters, essential oil production and active constituents of Cymbopogon flexuosusSteud. under drought stress. Plos one. 12(7), e0180129.
    10. Malhotra K, Subramaniyan M, Rawat K, Kalamuddin M, M. Irfan Qureshi, Malhotra P, Mohmmed A, Cornish K, Daniell H, and Kumar S. (2016). Compartmentalized metabolic engineering for artemisinin biosynthesis and effective malaria treatment by oral delivery of plant cells. Molecular Plant 9(11): 1464-1477.
    11. Al-Huqail AA, Al-Rashed SA, Ibrahim MM, El-Galy GA, M. Irfan Qureshi (2017). Arsenic induced eco-physiological changes in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and protection by gypsum, a source of sulphur and calcium. Scientia Horticulturae 217:226-233.
    12. Bagheri R, Ahmad J, Bashir H, Iqbal M, M. Irfan Qureshi* (2017). Changes in rubisco, cystein-rich proteins, and antioxidant system of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) due to sulphur deficiency, cadmium stress and their combinations. Protoplasma 254: 1031-1043 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00709-016-1012-9
    13. Bagheri R, Bashir H, Ahmad J, M. Iqbal, M. Irfan Qureshi* (2015). Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) modulates its proteome differentially in response to salinity, cadmium and their combination stress. Plant Physiology & Biochemistry 97: 235-245.
    14. Nazir M, Pandey R, Siddiqi TO, Ibrahim MM, M. Irfan Qureshi, Abraham G, Vengavasi K, Ahmad A. (2016). Nitrogen-deficiency stress induces protein expression differentially in low-N tolerant and low-N sensitive maize genotypes. Frontiers in Plant Science 7.
    15. Ameen S, Ahmad M, Mohsin M, M. Irfan Qureshi, Ibrahim MM, Abdin MZ, Ahmad A. (2016). Designing, construction and characterization of genetically encoded FRET-based nanosensor for real time monitoring of lysine flux in living cells. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 14:49.
    16. Yousof PY, Ganie AH, Khan I, M. Irfan Qureshi, Ibrahim MM, Sarwat M, Iqbal M, Ahmad A. (2016). Nitrogen-efficient and nitrogen-inefficient Indian mustard cultivars show differential protein expression in response to elevated CO2 and low nitrogen. Frontiers in Plant Science 7:1074.
    17. Afreen S, Shamsi TN, Baig MA, Ahmad N, Fatima S, Qureshi MI, Hassan MI, Fatma T. (2017). A novel multicopper oxidase (laccase) from cyanobacteria: Purification, characterization with modulation potential in the decolorization of anthraquinonic dye. PloS one, 12(4): e0175144
    18. Shamsi, T. N., Parveen, R., Amir, M., Baig, M. A., Qureshi, M. I., Ali, S., & Fatima, S. (2016). Allium sativum Protease Inhibitor: A novel Kunitz trypsin inhibitor from garlic is a new comrade of the Serpin family. Plos one,11(11), e0165572.
    19. Pirzadah TB, Malik B, Tahir I, M. Irfan Qureshi, Rehman RU. (2017). Metabolite fingerprinting and antioxidant potential of tartary Buckwheat – an underutilized pseudocereal crop from Kashmir region. Free Radicals and Antioxidants 7: 95-106.
    20. Ahmed J, Ibrahim MM, Baig MA, Ali AA, M. Irfan Qureshi (2016). Standardization of DNA extraction from invasive alien weed Parthenium hyterophorus. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 15: 1035-1040.
    21. Bashir H, Ibrahim MM, Bagheri R, Ahmad J, Arif IA, Baig MA, M. Irfan Qureshi. Modulation of oxidative stress, antioxidant system, phytochelatin content and growth by sulfur deficiency and cadmium stress in Indian mustard. 2015. AoB Plants. 7: 1-13.
    22. Bashir H, M. Irfan Qureshi, M.M. Ibrahim, Muhammad Iqbal. Chloroplast and photosystems: impact of cadmium and iron-deficiency. 2015. Photosynthetica 53: 321-335.
    23. Tabassum H, Waseem M, Parvez S, M. Irfan Qureshi (2015). Oxaliplatin-induced oxidative stress provokes toxicity in isolated rat liver mitochondria. Archives of Medical Research. 46: 597-603.
    24. Akhtar M, Jaiswal A, Ahmad E, Jaiswal JP, M. Irfan Qureshi, Tufchi M, Kumar A, Singh NK. 2015. Molecular cloning and characterization of a cold-induced gene encoding DRE-binding transcription factor from cold-arid adapted ecotype of Lepidium latifolium L. Indian Journal of Biotechnology, 14: 26–32.
    25. Iqbal M, Ahmad A, Ansari MKA, M. Irfan Qureshi, Aref IM, Khan PR, Hashim H, Husen A, Hakeem KR. Environmental Reviews Improving the phytoextraction capacity of plants to scavenge metal(loid)-contaminated sites. 2015. Environmental Reviews. 23: 44-65.
    26. M. Irfan Qureshi, Abdin M.Z, Ahmad J, Iqbal M. (2013). Effect of long-term salinity on cellular antioxidants, compatible solute and fatty acid profile of Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua L.). Phytochemistry. 95: 215-223.
    27. Bashir H, Ahmad J, Bagheri R, Nauman M, M. Irfan Qureshi (2013). Limited sulfur resource forces Arabidopsis thaliana to shift towards non-sulfur tolerance under cadmium stress. Environmental & Experimental Botany, 94: 19-32
    28. M. Irfan Qureshi, G.M. D’Amici, S. Rinalducci, M. Fagioni, L. Zolla. (2010). Iron stabilizes thylakoid protein-pigment complexes in Indian mustard grown under Cd-stress as revealed by BN-SDS-PAGE and ESI-MS/MS. J. Plant Physiol. 167: 761-770.
    29. Hakeem KR, Mir BA, M. Irfan Qureshi, Ahmad A, Iqbal M (2013). Physiological studies and proteomic analysis for differentially expressed proteins and their possible role in the root of N-efficient rice (Oryza sativa L.). Molecular Breeding. 32(4): 785-798.
    30. Muneer S, Kim TH, M. Irfan Qureshi (2012). Fe modulates Cd-induced oxidative stress and and the expression of stress responsive proteins in the nodules of Vigna radiata. Plant Growth Regulation. 68(3): 421-433.
    31. Bashir H, Ahmad J, Bagheri R, Baig A, M. Irfan Qureshi (2013). Thylakoidal Pigment-Protein Complexes: Critical requirement of sulphur for proper assemblage and photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Plant Biochem Physiol. 1:4e110.
    32. Akhtar M, M. Irfan Qureshi, Singh NK (2013). Standardization of DNA isolation protocol from Chenopodium album and Lepidium latifolium. Bioinfolet. 10(2B): 612-615.
    33. Bagheri R, Bashir H, Ahmad J, Baig M, M. Irfan Qureshi (2013). Effects of cadmium on leaf proteome of Spincia olerecea (spinach). Intl J Agril Food Sci Technol 4(2): 33-36.
    34. M. Irfan Qureshi, Muhammad Iqbal, M.Z. Abdin (2010). Lead and salinity stress in plants with special reference to A. annua L. and C. angustifolia Vahl. In: Medicinal Plants in Changing Environment. Eds. Ahmad A, Siddiqui TO, Iqbal M. Capital Publishing Co., 107-139.
    35. Muneer S, Ahmad J, Bashir H, Moiz S, M. Irfan Qureshi (2011). Studies to reveal importance of Fe for Cd-tolerance in Brassica juncea. Int. J. App. Biotech. Biochem. 1: 321-338.
    36. Hakeem KR, Chandna R, Ahmad A, M. Irfan Qureshi, Iqbal M (2012). Proteomic analysis of low and high-nitrogen responsive proteins in the leaves of rice genotypes grown at three nitrogen levels. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 168: 834-850.
    37. Shukla SK, Joshi DC, Srivastava RK, M. Irfan Qureshi, Singh US. (2011). Suitability of RAPD and ISSR to complement agro-morphological DUS descriptors for establishing distinctiveness in indigenous local strains of Kalanamak rice (Oryza sativa). Ind. J. Agril Sci. 81: 994-1000.
    38. Muneer S, Ahmad J, M. Irfan Qureshi (2013). Involvement of Fe nutrition in modulating oxidative stress and the expression of stress responsive proteins in leaves of Vigna radiata L. Australian Journal of Crop Science. 7(9): 1333-1342.
    39. Muneer S, Ahmad J, Bashir H, M. Irfan Qureshi (2012). Proteomics of nitrogen fixing nodules under various environmental stress. Plant Omics Journal. 5(2): 167-176. ISSN: 1836-3644.
    40. Akhtar M, Jaiswal A, Taj G, Jaiswal JP, M. Irfan Qureshi, Singh NK. (2012). DREB1/CBF transcription factors: Their structure, function and role in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Journal of Genetics: 91(3): Online.
    41. Akhtar M, Jaiswal A, Jaiswal JP, M. Irfan Qureshi, Tufchi M, Singh NK. (2013). Cloning and characterization of cold, salt and drought inducible C-repeat binding factor gene from a highly cold adapted ecotype of Lepidium latifolium L. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants. 19: 221-230.
    42. M. Irfan Qureshi, S. Qadir, L. Zolla (2007). Proteomics based dissection of the stress responsive pathways in plants. J. Plant Physiol. 164: 1239-1260. Among top 25 hottest articles on Science Direct (JPP) for two and a half years and top hottest article for six months.
    43. M. Irfan Qureshi, M. Z. Abdin, S. Qadir, M. Iqbal (2007).  Lead-induced oxidative stress and metabolic alterations in Cassia angustifolia Vahl.  Biologia Plantarum. 51: 121-128.
    44. M. Irfan Qureshi, M. Z. Andin (2006). Plant environmental proteomics: let proteins speak their jobs under different environments. J. Plant Biol. 33(1): 1-14.
    45. M. Irfan Qureshi, M. Israr, M. Z. Abdin, Muhammad Iqbal (2005). Responses of Artemisia annua L. to lead and salt-induced oxidative stress. Environmental & Experimental Botany 53: 185-193. Among top 25 hottest articles on Science Direct (EEB) for three months.
    46. S. Qadir, M. Irfan Qureshi, S. Javed, and M.Z. Abdin (2004). Genotypic variation in phytoremediation potential of Brassica juncea cultivars exposed to Cd stress.  Plant Science. 167: 1171-1181. Among top 25 hottest articles on Science Direct (PS) for six months.
    47. Salim Khan, M. Irfan Qureshi, Kamaluddin and M. Z. Abdin (2006). Protocol for isolation of genomic DNA from dry and fresh root of medicinal plants suitable for RAPD and restriction digestion. Afr. J.  Biotechnol.  6: 175-178.

    Book Chapters

    1. M. Affan Baig, Qamar S, Ali AA, Ahmad J, M. Irfan Qureshi (2020). Heavy metal toxicity and tolerance in crop plants. In: Contaminants in Agriculture (Eds. N.M. Ansari and Gill S.). Springer Cham. pp 201-216. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41552-5_9
    2. Ahmad J, Qamar S, Kausar N, M. Irfan Qureshi (2020). Nanoparticles: The magic bullets in mitigating drought stress in plants. In: Nanobiotechnology in plants. Eds. Hakeem K, Pirzadah T. Springer, Cham. pp. 335-365.
    3. Amna, AlHarby HF, Hakeem K, M. Irfan Qureshi (2019). Weed control through herbicide-loaded nanoparticles.  In: Nanomaterial and plant potential. pp. 507-527. Springer, Cham.
    4. M. Affan Baig, Javed Ahmad, Arlene A. Ali, Amna, M. Irfan Qureshi (2018). Role of sulfur metabolism in cadmium tolerance. In: Cadmium tolerance in plants: Agronomic, Molecular, Signaling and omic approaches. Eds. (Hassanuzzaman, et al.).
    5. Singh M, Ali AA, M. Irfan Qureshi (2017). Unraveling the impact of essential mineral nutrients on active constituents of selected medical and aromatic plants. In: Essential Plant Nutrients. Springer. pp. 183-209.
    6. Pirzadah TB, Malik B, Rehman RU, M. Irfan Qureshi (2013). Signaling in response to cold stress. In: Plant Signaling: Understanding the Molecular Cross Talk. Hakeem KR, Rehman RU, Tahir I. (Eds.). Springer. pp 193-226.
    7. M. Irfan Qureshi, Muneer S, Bashir H, Ahmad J, Iqbal M. (2010). Nodule physiology and proteomics of stressed legumes. Advances in Botanical Research, (Eds. J-K Kader, M. Delseny) Vol 56: 1-48.
    8. Bagheri R, Bashir H, Ahmad J, Baig A, M. Irfan Qureshi (2014). Effects of cadmium stress on plants. In: Environmental susceptibility: concepts, principles, evidences and innovations. Mishra GC (Ed). Excellent Publishing House, India. Pp. 271-277. ISBN: 978-93-83083-75-6.
    9. Bagheri R, Ahmad J, Bashir H, M. Irfan Qureshi (2014). Impact of cadmium, salt and their combination on oxidative stress, chlorophylls and thylakoid structure of Spinacia olerecea. In: Environmental susceptibility: concepts, principles, evidences and innovations. Mishra GC (Ed). Excellent Publishing House. Pp. 278-283. ISBN: 978-93-83083-75-6.
    10. M. Irfan Qureshi, M. Z. Abdin, S. Qadir, Kamaluddin, M. Iqbal (2005). Responses of some medicinal plants to heavy metal, salinity and oxidative stress.  In: Traditional System of Medicine. Abdin MZ, Abrol YP (eds.). Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, India.
    11. M. Israr, M. Irfan Qureshi, S. Aquil, R.K. Dwiwedi, M. Z. Abdin (2005). Influence of phytohormones, IAA and GA3 on artemisinin content in Artemisia annua L. In: Traditional System of Medicine. Abdin MZ, Abrol YP (eds.). Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, India.
    12. S. Ahmad, A. Jamal, I. S. Fazli, M. Irfan Qureshi, M. Iqbal, M.Z. Abdin (2005). Nutritional Approaches for Improved Production of Atrilal (Ammi majus L.). In: Traditional System of Medicine. Abdin MZ, Abrol YP (eds.). Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, India. pp. 534-545.
    13. Bashir H, M. Irfan Qureshi, Muneer S, Ahmad J, Zolla L. (2010). Proteomic approaches to map thylakoid proteins and study differential protein expression under various abiotic stresses. Proceedings of International Conference of Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology (ICBBB), World Academy of Science, Engineering & Technology, 28-30 May 2010, Rome, Italy.