Anum Ali Ahmad

Core Scientist in Microbiota Analysis

Biography

Background

I obtained my MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Punjab, Pakistan followed by an MPhil in Biotechnology from Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan. My PhD research at Lanzhou University, China focused on the influence of different diets and seasons on the composition of the rumen microbial community of yak. During my Postdoc at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China, I worked on screening of rumen metagenomics libraries to identify acidic plant biomass lignocellulolytic enzymes using sequence-based screening. In 2023 I joined The Roslin Institute as a core scientist with my research focused on understanding the effects of fibre diets on the caecal microbiota of chickens.

Qualifications

PhD (Microbiology):  Lanzhou University, China (Sep 2017- Dec 2021)

Project: Variations in rumen microbial community and their metabolites induced by the seasonal nutritional changes in pasture forage and dietary supplementation during cold season in grazing yak (Bos grunniens).

 

MPhil (Biotechnology): Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan (Sep 2011-July 2013)

Project: Production of recombinant TK0377 (catalase) from a hyperthermophile Themococcus Kodakaraensis.

 

MSc (Biotechnology): University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan (Sep 2007-July 2009)

Project: Molecular cloning and partial characterization of human leptin (ob) gene.

Responsibilities & affiliations

Member of the British Society of Animal Science

Current research interests

Exploring modulations in chicken caecal microbiata in response to high fibre diets using multi-omics techniques.

Past research interests

Gut microbe-host interaction: Studied modulations of gut microbiota and their metabolites in response to nutrient fluctuations in pasture forage, dietary supplementation, age, and postpartum period and their influence on health and productivity of high-altitude animals using metagenomics. Probiotics: Evaluated the underlying mechanism of orally administrated Lactobacillus in alleviating colitis in DSS-induced mice model. Production of bioethanol from plant biomass: Screened rumen metagenomics libraries to identify acidic lignocellulolytic enzymes using sequence-based screening. Also, constructed highly active recombinant cellulases and xylanases through point and frameshift mutations and evaluated their activity on different biomass resources.

Knowledge exchange

STEM ambassador.

This article was published on