Dr. Waqas Ashraf

Education: DVM (UAF), M.Phil. (UAF),
Ph.D. (PIEAS)

Designation: Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology, CUVAS
Contact: +92-3356714575  
Email:  waqasashraf@cuvas.edu.pk
Office Address: Academic Block 1, Department of Microbiology, CUVAS, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/waqas-ashraf-516652257
Researchgate: Waqas Ashraf, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahwalpur
Google scholar: DRCVGsgAAAAJ
Web of Science Researcher ID: GNM-7678-2022
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7819-6654

Biography

Working as Assistant Professor at Department of Microbiology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur since November, 2018. Worked as Assistant Professor at Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur from July 2017-2018.
Won Higher Education Commission (HEC) funded scholarship to earn his PhD from Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and completed a part of PhD research on HEC-IRSIP scholarship at Animal Production and Health Laboratory (APHS), Seibersdorf, Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) labs, Vienna, Austria and received the certificate of appreciation from IAEA. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2006 and M.Sc. (Hons.) in 2008 from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and throughout the university studies got merit scholarship award each year.
The research findings are published in peer-reviewed journals of international repute with good impact factor like Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Virus Genes and BMC Veterinary Research and presented at national and international conferences. The research activities and achievements include IPFP award, HEC funded SRGP and NRPU research grants as principal investigator in areas of “Virology” and one-health approach for zoonotic diseases’ control and eradication. the ambition is to develop national and international collaborations to work for the prosperity of the country and use background knowledge, teaching and research experience to find solutions to existing challenges.

Areas of Interest

• Genetic evolutionary studies of transboundary animal diseases like FMD and PPR for their control and eradication.
• One-health approach involving environment, animals and human health areas to solve the potential problems.
• Development of novel diagnostic tools for important animal diseases.
• Resistant microbes’ transmission dynamics.
• Antimicrobial resistance.
  

TRAINIGS/COURSES/WORKSHOPS

• Organized one day hands-on training on Biostatistics on 14th Feb, 2024 at Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur.
• Participated in one week training on Biostatistics; June, 2022, organized by Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur.
• Seminar on “Anger Management”, April, 2022, organized at Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur.
• Summer Course on Research 2021, from June 21 to July 28, 2021 organized online by FC College, Lahore
• International conference on “One Health 2020” organized on the “World One Health Day” from 3rd to 4th November, 2020 at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur.
• One-day hands on training workshop on “Biorisk management in Biological labs 29th of November, 2019 at Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur.
• National training workshop on “Research Project Management” March 14-15, 2019 at Khwaja Farid UEIT Rahim Yar Khan.
• A workshop “Application of Statistical Package for the social sciences (SPSS) in research on 23th of April, 2019 at Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur
• A workshop “Introduction to Endnote” on 29th of April, 2019 at Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur.
• Participated in “In-service Competency Enhancement for Young University Faculty” by “Center for Educational Policy and Administration (CEPA)”, January 28-31, 2019 at CUVAS, Bahawalpur.
• Participated in National hands-on training workshop entitled “Serum Indirect Elisa (Multi-Species) for the Diagnosis of Brucellosis on February 1, 2018” held in College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CVAS, Jhang).
• National training course on “Handling and use of laboratory animals for Biotechnology and Biomedical research. March, 2015, at National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad.
• Participated in training Workshop on “Classical and Molecular Veterinary Virology” IAEA’s Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria and University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria 28 November to 9 December, 2011.
• Molecular epidemiology of PPR at Animal Production and Health Unit, IAEA Seibersdorf, Austria. 4th of July, 2011.

Publications (All publications viz. with and without CUVAS affiliation), Harvard Style

1. Rizwan, M., Ashraf, W., Jalees, M. M., Anwar, R., Siddiq, H. M., Nizam, B., ... & Ali, S. (2024). A study on extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes from clinically isolated gram-negative bacteria in Bahawalpur. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(2), 2008-2023.
2. Ali, S., Jalees, M. M., Ashraf, W., Sadia, M., Anwar, R., Zafar, S., & Mannan, A. (2024). Emergence of extensive drug resistance typhoid in hospitalized covid-19 patients in south Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(2), 753-763.
3. Ashraf W., Khan Q.K., Jalees M. M., Mobeen A., 2022. “Circulation of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Lineage-IV Haplotypes in Pakistan: implication for Control and Eradication. Pak-Euro Journal of Medical and Life Sciences, 5(1), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.31580/pjmls.v5i1.2437.
4. Jalees, M, M., Mansoor, M.K., Nasir, H., Waheed, U., Ashraf, W., et al, 2021. Rise in spread of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) lineage IV associated role of wild animals in Pakistan. Bioscience Research, 18(2): 1389-1396.
5. Ilyas M., Hussain F., Siddique F., Ashraf W., Jalees M.M., Ali I, Muhammad I., Rauf A., Azam N., Bahadar S., Muhammad S. 2021. Molecular screening for leaf and yellow rust resistance genes in Pakistani wheat varieties. Bioscience Research, 18(1):929-935.
6. Nasir, A., Rahim, K., Ameen, F., Ashraf W., Rehman, A. Alwakeel, S., Mansoor, M. K. Hussian, F., 2021. Hepatitis C Virus and Helicobacter pylori infections in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Prevalence based study in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. International Journal of Mycobacteriology. 9. 45. 10.4103/2212-5531.307095
7. Rahim, K. Ulhaq, I. Hussain, F. Ashraf, W. Basit, A. Jalees, M. Mushtaq, A. G., Shuaib, Muhammad. 2021. Increasing prevalence rate and epidemiological study of Typhoid fever in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Bioscience Research. 18. 221-228.
8. Ashraf W, Unger, H., Khan Q. M., Mobeen A., Shehzad S., Farooq M.  Genetic detection of peste des petits ruminants virus under field conditions; a step forward towards disease eradication., 2017. BMC Veterinary Research 13:34.
9. Ashraf W, Kamal, H., Khan Q. M., Mobeen A, Waheed, U., Unger, H, 2017. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid and sensitive detection of peste des petits ruminants virus in field conditions. Accepted in “The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS)”, 27(1): 119-127.
10. Ashraf, W., Khan Q. M., Mobeen A, Kamal H, Farooq M, Jalees M M, Diallo, A and Unger, H. Molecular detection and genotyping characterization of PPRV in various areas of Pakistan, 2007 to 2012. Animal Health, FAO, Empress 360, 2015; 45:14-16. (http://www.fao.org/3/fa6c6714-abb4-4bb7-8164-2c4975e6b329/i4484e.pdf.)
11. Adombi C, Ashraf W, Dundon WG, Li S, Daojin Y, Kakpo L, Aplogan G, Diop M, Lo M, Silber R, A. Loitsch and Diallo A. 2017. Peste des petits ruminants in Benin: persistence of a single virus genotype in the country for over 42 years. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases; 64(4):1037-1044.
12. Dundon W., Adombi C., Ashraf W., Otsyina H., Arthur C., Siber R., Loitsch A., Diallo A., 2014. Full genome sequence of a peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) from Ghana. Virus Genes; 49:497-501 (ISSN Print: 0920-8569; ISSN Online: DOI 10.1007/s11262-014-1109-1.)
13. Symposium Publication: Ashraf W., Waheed U., Iqbal K., Ullah. Efficacy of Combination of Amantadine with Honey and Nigella sativa for the Treatment of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Infection in Broiler Chickens. BTRP Ukraine Regional One Health Research Symposium. 2019; 465, 77
14. NCBI Sequence Submissions:

Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus isolates (Pakistan)_NIBGE_W nucleoprotein (N) gene, partial cds GenBank: KJ398337.1, KJ398331, KJ398341, KJ398342, KJ398336, KJ398339, KJ398332, KJ398334, KJ398335, KJ398323, KJ398325, KJ398330, KJ398315, KJ398316, KJ398319, KJ398322, KJ398318, KJ398326, KJ398329, KJ398320, KJ398321, KJ398324, KJ398328

Books edited, Book chapters or monographs “In Process”

1. Poonchi sheep, in “Breeds of sheep and goat in Pakistan”
2. Viral Receptors, types and role in Species’ Specificity
3. Practical Manual of  Fundamental of Microbiology

Awards or Distinctions

• Certificate of appreciation from for scoring 100% accuracy in successful participation International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• IPFP HEC awarded in 2018 at Department of Microbiology, The Islamia University of Bahwalpur.
• For research, (2011) at a foreign country, won scholarship for six months at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Seibersdorf, Austria under International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP) of HEC.
• For PhD, won Higher Education Commission (HEC), Indigenous Ph.D. Fellowship Program (5000 Fellowships) by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. 
• During M.Sc. (Hons.) (2006-2008), won Merit Scholarship from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
• During Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) B.Sc. (Hons.) degree, (2002-2006) won Merit Scholarship from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad throughout four years and second position, DVM first semester.

Research projects won as principle investigator (PI), or Co-PI

1. “Robust molecular detection of silent circulation of FMD and PPR viruses in Cholistan as model for disease free zone” National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) awarded in 2021 funded by HEC Islamabad (In progress).
2. Characterization of antimicrobial resistance in avian respiratory pathogens with special emphasis on avian influenza (0.5 Million), funded by HEC Islamabad (Completed)

Conferences attended/presented papers or posters

• Presented poster: Waqas Ashraf, Qaiser M Khan, Mobeen A., Kamal H. and Farooq M. Peste des petits ruminants; a transboundary threat to Pakistan small ruminants industry, its efficient diagnosis and molecular epidemiology at “International conference on Biotechnology: Prospectus and Challenges in Agriculture, Industry, Health and Environment, 2013” 
• Presented poster: Ashraf W, Khan Q. M., Mobeen A, Kamal H, Farooq M, Jalees, Adama Diallo, & Hermann Unger. Molecular detection and genotypic characterization of PPRV in various areas of Pakistan, 2007 to 2012.  At International Global PPR Research Alliance (GPRA) meeting, 2013. Nairobi, Kenya).
• Presented poster: Ashraf W, M.T. Javed, M. Irfan. An Abattoir based study on Tuberculosis, Paratuberculosis and Brucellosis in Faisalabad. At 6th Asian Buffalo Congress (27-30 October, 2009), University of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Lahore.
• Workshop attended: Workshop on “Classical and Molecular Veterinary Virology” IAEA’s Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria and University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria 28 November to 9 December, 2011
• Participated as resource person/trainer., “Molecular Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases of Livestock & Poultry” April 6-8, 2015 Conducted by Molecular Diagnosis Group, NIBGE 
• Participated as resource person/trainer in 2nd National Student Conference on Biological Sciences March 27-28, 2015 Conducted by NIBGE students, at National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Pakistan 
• Participated in National Training Course on Bacterial Identification and Metagenomics. Organized by NIBGE., 2015.

Students supervised MPhil/PhD and project titles