Arshia Amin Butt

Background

About Arshia Amin Butt

Experienced Researcher with a demonstrated history of working in the biotechnology industry. Skilled in Biotechnology, PCR, Cell Culture, Life Sciences, and Fermentation.(a) Research Interests • Bacterial systematic & Taxonomy • Identification and preservation of economically important strains • Prevalance of antibiotic resistance genes in air particulate matter in smog • To study thermophilic and psychrophilic microorganisms at molecular level. • To identify the gene(s) responsible for stress tolerance in microorganisms. • Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery, investigation of bacterial activity for enhanced oil recovery (b) Expertise: • Isolation and Preparation of samples for analysis of quinines, GC content diagnostic aminoacids and Fatty acids and HPLC for identification of specific diagnostic molecule • TLC for identification of polar lipids and aminoacids • GC for identification of fatty acids • DNA-DNA hybridization technique • Cloning protocol for sequencing of full length genes • Preservation methods for long term preservation of purified strains RESEARCH GROUP INTRODUCTION Currently I am working on three projects: 1) Molecular epidemiology and prevalence of antibiotics resistance genes in smog particulate matter. Implications on human health. I would like to extend this project further nation wide and to all sources and sinks. 2) Another area of research I have been focusing is resurrection bacteriology of glaciers. Various studies were done on isolation of bacteria, characterization, identifications, antibiotic resistance patterns. Seasonal shifts in psychochemical characteristics and bacterial flora was studied for 2 years. Metagenomic analysis was also done for resistome of samples. All data will be available for public after publication soon. Now I am intended to dig in the comparative genomics of glacial resistome load around the globe. 3) Third area I have been working is about microbially enhanced oil recovery. In collaboration with a petroleum company my research group isolated high temperature tolerant bacteria, checked chromium and lead tolerance ranges, identified high metal tolerant strains by 16sr RNA sequencing, metagenomically identified Nitrogen and Sulfur reducing genes. Now we are aiming to design consortium for microbially enhanced oil recovery, collaborate with technical experts to make engineering tools for microbially enhanced oil recovery.