Biography

I am Dr. Bushra Muneer working as Associate Professor in Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore. I completed my Master of Sciences in 1995 and Master of Philosophy in 1999 from Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab Lahore. In 2006, I completed my Doctor of Philosophy. My research is focused on the role of the microorganisms (bacteria yeast and protozoans) on the removal of heavy metals from the industrial wastewater and to find out the genetic mechanisms of metal removal. Metabolic engineering is the application of genetic engineering to modify and optimize the metabolism and regulatory systems of an organism to produce or degrade a desired compound. I am currently focused on engineering microorganisms (mostly bacteria and yeasts) for two possible goals: 1) to produce molecules of commercial value, such as biofuels, bioplastics, commodity chemicals, or specialty chemicals (drugs, pigments, flavorants, etc.) from renewable sources, including cellulosic biomass; or 2) to degrade or remove contaminants from the environment (bioremediation). I am also working on the cloning, expression and characterization of different industrially important mesophilic as well as thermophilic enzymes. I have cloned reductase, oxidase as well as laccases from different microorganisms and have used it for the removal of azo dyes from industrial wastewater. I have published 45 research Publications and 2 books in HEC recognized journals holding 57 impa

Education

• Post Doc in Zoology(Molecular Biology), University Of The Punjab (Lahore, Pakistan) 2005

Teaching Areas

Experience

Journal Papers

• Usama Shabbir, Itrat Zahra, Ayesha Liaqat, Ayesha Arshad, Shahid Nawaz, Michael Betenbaugh, Roohi Ijaz, Awais Ibrahim, Tuba Arooj, Bushra Muneer, Nazish Mazhar Ali, Uzma Ramzan, Sammi Rasheed, Ayesha Ghauri, Manel Ben Ali, Amor Hedfi, Abdul R. Shakoori & (2025). "Polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Paramecium caudatum isolated from industrial wastewater: a micro eukaryotic host for bioplastic accumulation.." Biotechnol Lett , Vol. 47 , pp. 88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-025-03629-w. | Impact Factor: 2.6
• Ahmad, W., T. Muhammad, Muneer, B., Hashmi, A. S. Ahmad, M. D., S. Saeed, M. N. Aftab,S. Firyal, M. Wasim, Azam, M. Talha, M and A. R. Awan, (2024). "Impact of Locally Characterized Protease from Geobacillus SBS 4S on the Growth of Poultry Bird..,." Pakistan J. Zool., , Vol. 56 (1) , pp. 17-25. DOI: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20220324050332 | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Mukhtar, H., Hina, I., Muneer, B., Gohar, U. F. and Akhtar, M. T. (2024). "Kinetics of the biosorptive removal of chromium from water using mycelial biomass of Aspergillus oryzae,." Bioremediation Journal , Vol. 28 (1) , pp. 99-109. DOI: DOI: 10.1080/10889868.2022.2136133 | Impact Factor: 2.0
• Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Farah Rauf Shakoori, Bushra Muneer and Abdul Rauf Shakoori (2024). "Mutation Profiling of PI3K/AKT1/MTOR Pathway Genes in Breast Cancer Patients of Pakistan." Pakistan J. Zool., , Vol. 56 (1) , pp. 273-275. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Jabeen, F. Younis, T. Sidra, S. Muneer, B. Nasreen, Z. Saleh, F. Mumtaz, S. Saeed, R. F. Abbas, A. S. (2023). "Extraction of chitin from edible crab shells of Callinectes sapidus and comparison with market purchased chitin.." Brazilian Journal of Biology , Vol. 83 . DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.246520 | Impact Factor: 1.3
• Shami, A.A.; Akhtar, M.T.; Mumtaz, M.W.; Mukhtar, H.; Tahir, A.; Shahzad-ul-Hussan, S.; Chaudhary, S.U.; Muneer, B.; Iftikhar, H.; Neophytou, M. (2023). "NMR-Based Metabolomics: A New Paradigm to Unravel Defense-Related Metabolites in Insect-Resistant Cotton Variety through Different Multivariate Data Analysis Approaches., 1763.." Molecules (28:) , pp. 1763. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041763 | Impact Factor: 4.6
• 30 Ahmad, W., T. Muhammad, Muneer, B., Hashmi, A. S. Ahmad, M. D., S. Saeed, M. N. Aftab, S. Firyal, M. Wasim, Azam, M. Talha, M.and A. R. Awan, (2022). "Impact of Locally Characterized Protease from Geobacillus SBS 4S on the Growth of Poultry Bird.." Pakistan J.Zool. , pp. 1-7. | Impact Factor: 0.5 [Link]
• Gohar, U. F., Majeed, A., Muneer, B. and Mukhtar H. (2022). "Optimum Conditions for Enhanced Production of Podophyllotoxin from Penicillium sp. Isolated from Khanspur, Pakistan." Pakistan J. Zool., , Vol. 54 (6) , pp. 2501-3000. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20210401130420 | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Rabia Nisar a , Burarah Arooj a , Bushra Muneer b , Roquyya Gul c , Mahjabeen Saleem (2020). "Analysis of remediation potential of whole bacterial cells on wastewater decolourisation and detoxification Author links open overlay panel." Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology , Vol. 24 , pp. 101557. | Impact Factor: 3.8
• 26 M. Tayyab, H. Ali, B. Muneer, S. Firyal, A. R. Awan, M. Wasim, F. Masood and S. Saeed, (2019). "Optimization of conditions for the production of glucoamylase from aspergillus fumigatus: purification and kinetic studies of glucoamylase.." The J. Anim. Plant Sci. , Vol. 29 (4) . | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Muneer, B., Lali T., Iqbal, M. J, Shakoori, F. R. and Shakoori,. A.R., (2016). "Arsenic processing of yeast isolates IIB-As1 & IIB-As2 and production of glutathione under stress conditions.." J Basic Microbiol. , Vol. 56 (10) , pp. 1124-1131.. DOI: doi: 10.1002/jobm.201600092. | Impact Factor: 2.7
• M. Ali, B. Muneer, S. F. Rehmani, Tahir Yaqub and M. Naeem (2016). "Evaluation of cross protection against avian influenza virus (AIV) and new castle disease virus (NDV) in broiler chickens after vaccination in Pakistan protection.." The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences , Vol. 26 (2) , pp. 426-431. | Impact Factor: 0.422
• Ikram ul Haq, Bushra Muneer, Zahid Hussain, Mahmood Ali Khan, Sumra Afzal, Sana Majeed, Fatima Akram and Saira Akmal (2015). "Thermodynamic and Saccharification Analysis of Cloned GH12 Endo-1, 4-β-Glucanase from Thermotoga petrophila in a Mesophilic Host"." Protein Pept Lett , Vol. 22 (9) , pp. 785-794. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929866522666150630105035 | Impact Factor: 1.1
• Ikram ul Haq, Bushra Muneer, Zahid Hussain, Mahmood Ali Khan, Sumra Afzal, Sana Majeed, Fatima Akram and Saira Akmal (2015). "Thermodynamic and Saccharification Analysis of Cloned GH12 Endo-1, 4-β-Glucanase from Thermotoga petrophila in a Mesophilic Host"." Protein Pept Lett , Vol. 22 (9) , pp. 785-794. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929866522666150630105035 | Impact Factor: 1.1
• M. Ali, B. Muneer, Z. Hussain, S. F. Rehmani, Tahir Yaqub and M. Naeem (2014). "Evaluation of efficacy of killed and commercially available live new castle disease vaccine in broiler chicken in Pakistan.." The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences , Vol. 24 (6) , pp. 1663-1667. | Impact Factor: 0.422
• Muneer, B, Iqbalm M.J., Shakoori, F.R, and Shakoori, A.R. (2013). "Tolerance and biosorption of mercury by microbial consortia: Potential use in bioremediation of wastewater." Pakistan J. Zool., , Vol. 45 (1) , pp. 247-254. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Saleem,M., Rehman, A., Yasmin R. and Muneer,B., (2012). "Biochemical analysis and investigation on the prospective applications of alkaline protease from a Bacillus cereus strain.,." Mol. Biol. Rep. , Vol. 39 (6) , pp. 6399-408. DOI: doi: 10.1007/s11033-011-1033-6 | Impact Factor: 2.8
• Ikram Ul Haq, Mahmood Ali Khan, Bushra Muneer, Zahid Hussain, Sumra Afzal, Sana Majeed, Naeem Rashid, Muhammad Mohsin Javed and Ishtiaq Ahmad, (2012). "Cloning, characterization and molecular docking of a highly thermostableb-1,4-glucosidase from Thermotoga petrophila.." Biotechnol Lett , Vol. 34 , pp. 1703–1709. DOI: DOI 10.1007/s10529-012-0953-0 | Impact Factor: 2.1
• Ikram ul Haq, Zahid Hussain, Mahmood Ali Khan, Bushra Muneer, Sumra Afzal, Sana Majeed, Fatima Akram, (2012). "Kinetic and thermodynamic study of cloned thermostable endo-1,4-β-xylanase from Thermotoga petrophila in mesophilic host.." Mol. Biol. Rep , Vol. 39 (7) , pp. 7251–7261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1555-6 | Impact Factor: 2.8
• Mahjabeen Saleem, Mamoona Naz, Asma Waris, Bushra Muneer and Rukhshan Khurshid, (2012). "Screening of Pneumococcal pneumonia by amplification of pneumolysin gene in children visiting hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan.." Iran J Pediatr , Vol. 22 (4) , pp. 524-530. | Impact Factor: 0.7
• Muneer, B, Rehman, A, Shakoori, F.R, and Shakoori, A.R (2009). "Evaluation of consortia of microorganisms for efficient removal of hexavalent chromium from industrial wastewater.." Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., , Vol. 82: , pp. 597-600.. | Impact Factor: 2.6
• Rehman, A, Zahoor, A, Muneer, B. and Hasnain, S (2008). "Chromium tolerance and reduction potential f a Bacillus sp.ev3 isolated from metal contaminated wastewater.." Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., , Vol. 81 , pp. 25-29.. | Impact Factor: 2.6
• Muneer, B, Shakoori, F.R., Rehman, A. and Shakoori, A.R. (2007). "Chromium resistant yeast with multi metal resistance isolated from industrial effluents and their possible use in microbial consortium for bioremediation of wastewater.." Pakistan J. Zool., , Vol. 39 , pp. 289-279. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Rehman, A., Ali, A., Muneer, B. and Shakoori, A..R. (2007). "Resistance and Biosorption of mercury by bacteria isolated from industrial effluents.." Pakistan J. Zool., , Vol. 39 , pp. 137-146. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• A.R Shakoori and B. Muneer, (2002). "Copper resistant bacteria isolated from the industrial effluents and their role in the remediation of heavy metals in wastewater." Folia Microbiologica , Vol. 47 , pp. 43-50. | Impact Factor: 3.1
• Muneer,B., Latif, Q., Ahmad, K., Ali, S.S. and Shakoori, A.R., (2001). "Microbiological Assessment of Drinking Water Supply in University of the Punjab.." Pakistan Journal of Zoology . | Impact Factor: 0.5

Books (Complete)

• Mamoona Anwar and Bushra Muneer (2014). Isolation and Characterization of Laccase Producing Bacteria "LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing" , ISBN: 9783659303876
• Lahore Tayyaba Lali Bushra Muneer (2013). Study of arsenic resistant yeast isolated from industrial wastewater of Lahore "LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing Germany" , ISBN: 9783659384523

Conference Papers

• 43rd Pakistan Congress of Zoology (International) (2025), Okara Pakistan. , Paper: "Optimization of amylase production from Bacillus subtilis and thermophilic- AI 1 for efficient bioethanol production from solid waste"
• 42th Pakistan Congress of Zoology (International) (2024), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad. , Paper: "Role of Anoxybacillus sp. copper processing gene in the removal of copper from wastewater"
• 41st Pakistan Congress of Zoology (International) (2023), LAHORE Pakistan.. , Paper: "Cloning, Expression, Purification and Characterization of Thermostable Xylose Isomerase from Brevibacillus formosus NF1”"
• International Conference and Expo on Applied Microbiology” Online Conference (2022), Online event (virtual). , Paper: "Cloning, Expression and Characterization Of pullulanase fromlocally isolated klebsiella pneumoniae"

Projects

Thesis/Research Supervisions

• Areeba Afzal (2025), BS. Thesis: "Signalling Pathways in Adrenocortical Carcinoma" (Completed)
• Arisha Fatima (2025), BS. Thesis: "Investigating Hybrid Nanoparticles: Focused on drug delivery mechanism and biomedical applications" (Completed)
• Ayesha (2025), BS. Thesis: "DNA Mutations & Aging" (Completed)
• Hadia Arif (2025), BS. Thesis: "Histopathological Features of Chronic Peptic Ulcer" (Completed)
• Heiba Masood (2025), BS. Thesis: "Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Diagnostic Approaches, Therapeutic Interventions, and Complication Prevention" (Completed)
• Muhammad Tamseel Umar (2025), BS. Thesis: "CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING & ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS" (Completed)
• Noor (2025), BS. Thesis: "Biofuel Cells for Bioremediation" (Completed)
• Rabia Zameer (2025), BS. Thesis: "Microbes Role in Environmental Pollution and Remediation" (Completed)
• Rabia Zameer (2025), BS. Thesis: "Microbes Role in Environmental Pollution and Remediation" (Completed)
• Sania Sherazi (2025), BS. Thesis: "Harnessing G. lucidum for Production of Mycelium Based Composites from various Lignocellulosic Materials" (Completed)
• Zoia Maryam (2025), BS. Thesis: "Innovation of Multiple Sclerosis Disease: Breakthroughs in Early Detection and Personalized Medicine" (Completed)
• Bisma Akhter (2024), BS. Thesis: "Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Promising biomarkers and neuroimaging technologies" (Completed)
• Maryum Zafar (2024), BS. Thesis: "Mechanism and pathology of protein misfiling and aggregation" (Completed)
• Sania Batool (2024), BS. Thesis: "Investigating VEGF focused on the biological mechanism and therapeutical potential" (Completed)
• Soha Amir (2024), BS. Thesis: "Role of microalge in remediation of heavy metals" (Completed)
• Final Saif (2023), BS. Thesis: "Internship at the Department of Microbiology UVAS, Lahore" (Completed)
• Laiba Tanveer (2023), BS. Thesis: "Internship at University Diagnostic Lab, UVAS, Lahore" (Completed)
• Maryam Laeeq Suharwardy (2023), BS. Thesis: "Internship at AIMC/Jinnah hospital Department of Pathology, Lahore" (Completed)
• Tabeel Roy (2023), BS. Thesis: "Internship at Department of pathology Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan" (Completed)
• Mehak Ali (2022), BS. Thesis: "Biochemical characterization and probiotic properties of Lactobacillus sP found in yogurt" (Completed)
• Ms Zainab Aslam (2022), BS. Thesis: "Sources and industrial application of lipases" (Completed)
• Ms Zartashay Name (2022), BS. Thesis: "Food and biotechnology research Center PCSIR Laborateries Lahore" (Completed)
• Ifrah Javed (2021), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Molecular and physiological characterization of phytase from Bacillus, Klebsiella and Psedumonas sp." (Completed)
• Iqra Fiaz (2021), BS. Thesis: "Internship at Iqra Medical Complex" (Completed)
• Mr Samood Ali (2021), BS. Thesis: "Internship at Microbiology Laboratory of Children Hospital Ferozpur Road Lahore" (Completed)
• Tuba Qutab (2021), BS. Thesis: "Internship at Food and biotechnology reseach center at PCSIR, Lahore Pakistan" (Completed)
• Humsa Khan (2020), BS. Thesis: "Internship at Ghurki Trust & Teaching Hospital (GTTH, Lahore)" (Completed)
• Maha Shaukat (2020), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Cloning, expfression and purification of arsenic reductase gene from thermus aquaticus" (Completed)
• Rehan Masood (2020), BS. Thesis: "Microbiological analysis of different fruits and vegetables" (Completed)
• Zarmina Khattak (2020), BS. Thesis: "Isolation and Identification of Thermophiles from Skardu, Pakistan" (Completed)
• Ghanwa Tahir (2019), BS. Thesis: "Molecular cloning of arsenic processing gene of Thermus equaticus" (Completed)
• Javaria Zafar (2019), BS. Thesis: "Cloning and expressional of protease enzyme from Klebsiella sp" (Completed)
• Muhammad Altaf (2019), BS. Thesis: "Internship at University of the Punjab, Lahore" (Completed)
• Muhammad Asghar Khawaja (2019), BS. Thesis: "Internship at LUMS, Lahore" (Completed)
• Rehan Masood (2019), BS. Thesis: "Microbiological analysis of different fruits and vegetables" (Completed)
• Rida Malik (2019), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Cloning, Expression and Characterization Of pullulanase from locally isolated klebsiella pneumoniae strain" (Completed)
• Sadia Sanawer (2019), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Production and purification of pectinsae from locally isolated bacteria" (Completed)
• Andleeb Chandni (2018), BS. Thesis: "Production of polyhydroxybutyrate (bioplastic) using bacterial strains" (Completed)
• Aniqa Zia (2018), BS. Thesis: "soil microbial analysis" (Completed)
• Arifa Mahmood Siddiqui (2018), BS. Thesis: "Internship at children hospital Lahore" (Completed)
• Azka Serdar (2018), BS. Thesis: "Biochemical and molecular characterization of locally isolated plastic degrading bacteria" (Completed)
• Bibi Anisa Batool (2018), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Cloning, Expression and Characterization Of xylose isomerase gene from thermophilic parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius strain DSM 2542" (Completed)
• Jalisha Sagir (2018), BS. Thesis: "isolation of Lactobacillus" (Completed)
• Rimsha Khan (2018), BS. Thesis: "cloning of isomerase from bacteria" (Completed)
• Shahzad Mir (2018), BS. Thesis: "Biochemical and molecular characterization of locally isolated hydrocarbon degrading bacteria" (Completed)
• Zainab Masood (2018), BS. Thesis: "isolation and characterization of metal resistant microbes" (Completed)
• Zartaj Jabbar (2018), BS. Thesis: "Different molecular biology tools used in diagnostic labs of Lahore for the HCV detection" (Completed)
• Amara Naz (2017), BS. Thesis: "Biochemical and molecular characterization of locally isolated plastic degrading bacteria" (Completed)
• Shahzad Amir (2017), BS. Thesis: "Biochemical and molecular characterization of locally isolated plastic degrading bacteria" (Completed)
• Toba Umer (2017), BS. Thesis: "Heavy metal detection genes" (Completed)
• Tariq Hussain (2013), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Isolation and characterization of metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Hg) resistant bacteria from industrial effluents" (Completed)
• Attia Hamid (2012), BS. Thesis: "Age and Gender base distribution of Dengue epidemic during the year 2011" (Completed)
• Tayyaba Lali (2012), BS. Thesis: "Isolation and characterization of arsenic-resistant yeast for uptaking arsenic" (Completed)
• Tobba Hayat (2012), BS. Thesis: "Etiology & Risk Factors of UTI among Diabetic Patients''" (Completed)
• Tobba Hayat (2012): Etiology & Risk Factors of UTI among Diabetic Patients'' (2012), BS. Thesis: "Tobba Hayat (2012): Etiology & Risk Factors of UTI among Diabetic Patients''" (Completed)
• Ayesha Asif (2011), BS. Thesis: "Isolation and Characterization of Copper Resistant Bacteria from Industrial Effluents." (Completed)
• Fozia Ibraheem (2011), BS. Thesis: "Isolation and characterization of mercury resistant bacteria from industrial wastewater U/Projects in" (Completed)
• Iffat Javed (2011), BS. Thesis: "Isolation of fungi for the production of podophyllotoxin" (Completed)
• Iffat Javed (2011), BS. Thesis: "Isolation of fungi for the production of podophyllotoxin" (Completed)
• Muzaffar Ali (2011), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Evaluation of cross protection between Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in broiler chicken after vaccination" (Completed)
• Rabia Noor (2011), BS. Thesis: "Role of chromium resistant bacteria in the removal of hexavalent chromium from industrial effluent" (Completed)
• Wageha Talib (2011), BS. Thesis: "Isolation and characterization of arsenic resistant bacteria and their role in bioremediation of heavy metals." (Completed)
• Asma Ahsan (2010), BS. Thesis: "Role of Pseudomonas sp. in removal of metal contamination" (Completed)
• Hira Aziz (2010), BS. Thesis: "Induction of Metallothionein in chromium resistant bacteria." (Completed)
• Muhammad Aslam Shahzad (2010), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Cloning and expression of pullulanase gene from hyperthermophile Pyrobaculum calidifontis." (Completed)
• Sadia Serferaz: (2010), MS/MPhil. Thesis: "Cloning, expression and characterization of xylanase gene from thermophiles" (Completed)
• Sana Saleem (2010), BS. Thesis: "Isolation and molecular analysis of mercury resistant bacteria from industrial wastewater" (Completed)
• Humaira Irshad (2009), BS. Thesis: "Cloning of thermostable β- glucosidase gene in cloning vector" (Completed)
• Sadia Sarfraz (2009), BS. Thesis: "Cloning of β-glucosidase gene of Thermotoga petrophila in pTZ57R/T." (Completed)
• Muneeba Maryem (2008), BS. Thesis: "RFLP (Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of M129V polymorphism in PRNP (PRioNProtein) gene in normal Pakistani Population." (Completed)