Biography

Ishtiaq Ahmad is a Biotechnologist and Bioinformatician working at the Dr. Ikram ul Haq Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, GCU Lahore, since 2010. He holds an MPhil in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and continuing his PhD in Biotechnology. Earlier he worked at Institute of Molecular Sciences and Bioinformatics (IMSB), Lahore, Pakistan, for 8 years (2002-2010) and published quality research in the area of Bioinformatics and computational Biology.

His research expertise includes bioinformatics, computational biology, molecular modeling, molecular docking, protein structure–function analysis, post-translational modifications, and in silico drug discovery. He has an extensive experience in teaching, research supervision, and academic administration at different positions. He has published more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and continues to work at the interface of computational and experimental biological sciences, particularly in drug discovery and biomedical research. Most prominent one was the development of MAPRes, a computational algorithm for analyzing protein sequence patterns around post-translational modification sites.
His academic philosophy combines In silico and in vitro research developing interdisciplinary research and training students to apply modern bioinformatics, computational biology, and biotechnology tools to important problems in health, disease, and drug discovery.

Education

• MS/MPhil in Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, The University Of Lahore (Lahore, Pakistan) 2005
• Masters in Zoology, Bahauddin Zakariya University (Multan, Pakistan) 1997

Teaching Areas

Experience

Journal Papers

• Sikander Ali, Saba Mahboob, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Muamad Usman Ahmad, Hafiza Kanwal, Sndas Sharif, Khayala Mammadova, Muhammad Arshad (2026). "Microbial production and biocatalytic docking of pectin lyase for green oil extraction in biorefinery applications.." Arch Microbiol , Vol. 208 (4) , pp. 197. DOI: 10.1007/s00203-025-04686-5. | Impact Factor: 3.4 [Link]
• Muhammad Usman Ahmad, Sundas Sharif, Sikander Ali, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Qaiser Farid Khan, Iram Liaqat, Kaynat Williaml, Tawaf Ali Shah, Abdulhakeem S. Alamri, Charis M. Galanakis and Majid Alhomrani (2025). "Exploring in vitro and in silico potential inhibitory effects of eugenol and its analogues for broad range development of antibacterial drugs." Discover Life , Vol. 55 , pp. 5. DOI: 10.1007/s11084-025-09679-4 | Impact Factor: 1.8 [Link]
• Sikander Ali, Rabab Maqsood, Muhammad Usman Ahmad, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Zahid Hussain, Ammar Naveed, Muhammad Ammar Javed, Aqsa Zahid, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Baber Ali, Humaira Rizwana, and Mohamed Soliman Elshikh (2024). "Exploring catalytic degradation of environmental fenamiphos by yeast enolase cross-linked with COOH-functionalized silver nanoparticles." Environmental Science: Nano , Vol. 528 (3) , pp. 466-472. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00052h | Impact Factor: 5.6 [Link]
• Waqar Ahmad, Khadija Shabbiri, Ishtiaq Ahmad (2020). "Prediction of human tau 3D structure, and interplay between O-β-GlcNAc and phosphorylation modifications in Alzheimer’s disease: elegans as a suitable model to study these interactions in vivo.." Biochem. Biophys. Res.Commun. , Vol. 528( (3) , pp. 466-472. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.05.176 | Impact Factor: 3.5 [Link]
• Muhammad Tariq Zahid, Farah R. Shakoori, Soumbel Zulifqar, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Khalid. Al-Ghanim K, Shahid Mehboob, Abdul Rauf Shakoori (2016). "Molecular Characterization of a Copper Metallothionein Gene From a Ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis." J Cell Biochem , Vol. 117 (8) , pp. 1843-54. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25484 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Fayyaz Ahmed, Nasir Mahmood, Saman Shahid S, Zahid Hussain, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Amir Jalal, Bushra Ijaz, Abubakar Shahid, Ghulam Mujtaba, Tanveer Mustafa (2016). "Mutations in Human Interferon α2b Gene and Potential asRisk Factor Associated with Female Breast Cancer." Cancer Biother Radiopharm , Vol. 31 (6) , pp. 199-208. DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2016.2046 | Impact Factor: 1.7 [Link]
• Ikram ul Haq, Mahmood Ali Khan, Bushra Muneer, Zahid Hussain, Samra Afzal, Sana Majeed, Naeem Rashid, Muhammad Mohsin Javed, Ishtiaq Ahmad (2012). "Cloning, characterization and molecular docking of a highly thermostable β-1,4-glucosidase from Thermotoga petrophila." Biotechnology Letters , Vol. 34 (9) , pp. 1703-1709. DOI: 10.1007/s10529-012-0953-0 | Impact Factor: 2.5 [Link]
• Nasir-ud-Din, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Ikram-ul-Haq, Sana Elahi, Daniel C. Hoessli and A.R. Shakoori (2010). "The function of GluR1 and GluR2 in cerebellar and hippocampal LTP and LTD is regulated by Interplay of phosphorylation and O-GlcNAc modification." J Cell Biochem , Vol. 109 (3) , pp. 585-597. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22436. | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Afshan Kaleem, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Muhammad Saleem, Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2009). "Epidermal growth factor receptors: function modulation by phosphorylation and glycosylation interplay." Mol. Biol. Reports , Vol. 36 (4) , pp. 631-639. DOI: 10.1007/s11033-008-9223-6 | Impact Factor: 3.2 [Link]
• Sana Elahi, Afshan Kaleem, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Ikram-ul-Haq, Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2009). "Functional regulation of glutamate receptor GluR1: Long term potentiation depression of GluR1 by post-translational modification." Pak J Zool , Vol. 41 (1) , pp. 67-74. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Abid Mehmood, Ahmed Khurshid, Wajahat M. Qazi, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2009). "Phosphoproteome sequence analysis and significance: Mining association patterns around phosphorylation sites utilizing MAPRes." J Cell Biochem , Vol. 10 (1) , pp. 64-74. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22220 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Wajahat M. Qazi, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din. (2008). "An Efficient Method to Analyze Protein Sequence around Post-translational Modification Sites.." J Cellular Biochem. , Vol. 104 (4) , pp. 1220-31. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.21699 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Nasir-ud-Din, Ishtiaq Ahmad, A.R. Shakoori, and Daniel C. Hoessli (2008). "Developing Protein Structure-Function Relationship." Curr Org Chem , Vol. 12 (11) , pp. 957-971. DOI: 10.2174/138527208784892178 | Impact Factor: 3.4 [Link]
• Afshan Kaleem, Daniel C. Hoessli, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Wajahat, Anwar Nasim, Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din. (2008). "Immediate Early Gene Regulation by Interplay between Different Post-translational Modifications on Human Histone H3." J. Cellular Biochem , Vol. 103 (3) , pp. 835-51. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.21454 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Tehmina S. Khan, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Afshan Kaleem, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2008). "In silico Modulation of HMGN-1 Binding to Histones and Gene Expression by Interplay of Phosphorylation and O-GlcNAc Modification." Protein Peptide Lett , Vol. 15: (2) , pp. 193-199.. DOI: 10.2174/092986608783489607 | Impact Factor: 2.5 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Tehmina S. Khan, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Afshan Kaleem, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2008). "In silico Modulation of HMGN-1 Binding to Histones and Gene Expression by Interplay of Phosphorylation and O-GlcNAc Modification." Protein Pept. Lett. , Vol. 15 (2) , pp. 193-9. DOI: 10.2174/092986608783489607 | Impact Factor: 2.5 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Wajahat M. Qazi, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din. (2008). "MAPRes: An Efficient Method to Analyze Protein Sequence around Post-translational Modification Sites." J Cell Biochem , Vol. 104 (4) , pp. 1220-31. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.21699 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Wajahat M. Qazi, Ahmed Khurshid, Munir Ahmed, Daniel C. Hoessli, Iffat Khawaja, M. Iqbal Choudhary, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2008). "MAPRes: Mining Association Patterns Among Preferred Amino Acid Residues in the Vicinity of Amino Acids Targeted for Post-translational Modifications." Proteomics , Vol. 8 (10) , pp. 1954-8. DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200700657 | Impact Factor: 6.01 [Link]
• Tasnim. A. Khwaja, Tayyaba Wajahat, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Afshan Kaleem, A. R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din. (2008). "Modulation of Apoptotic Bcl-2 Proteins by Mistletoe Lectin-1: Functional Consequences of Protein Modifications." J. Cellular Biochem , Vol. 103: (2) , pp. 479-491. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.21412 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Daniel C. Hoessli and Ishtiaq Ahmad (2008). "Multifunctional Proteins and Cancer: Mistletoe Lectins in Apoptosis." Curr Org Chem , Vol. 12 (11) , pp. 918-925. DOI: 10.2174/138527208784892196 | Impact Factor: 3.184 [Link]
• Sebastien Tauzin, Heidrun Ding, Karim Khatib, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Dimitri Burdevet, Gerhild van Echten-Deckert, Jonathan A. Lindquist, Nasir-ud-Din, Bettina Borisch and Daniel C. Hoessli (2008). "Oncogenic association of the Cbp/PAG adaptor protein with the Lyn tyrosine kinase in human B-NHL rafts." Blood , Vol. 111 (4) , pp. 2310-20. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-090985 | Impact Factor: 23.9 [Link]
• Afshan Kaleem, Ahmed Khurshid, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Sadia Khan, M. Iqbal Choudhary, A.R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2008). "Terminal galactose as cancer recognition marker: Computing analysis with implications of vicinal sugars, linkage and anomery." Pak J Zool , Vol. 40 (2) , pp. 135-43. | Impact Factor: 0.5 [Link]
• Nasir-ud-Din, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir and M. Iqbal Choudhary (2007). "Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) Anchored Proteins of Plasmodium falciparum: Antigenic Determinants and Role of Sugar Moieties in the GPI anchor." Curr Org Chem , Vol. 11 (7) , pp. 609-618. DOI: 10.2174/138527207780598828 | Impact Factor: 3.4 [Link]
• Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Muhammad Saleem and Daniel C. Hoessli (2007). "Glycosyltransferase and Glypiation Inhibitors." Curr Org Chem , Vol. 11 (7) , pp. 691-607. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/138527207780598837 | Impact Factor: 3.4 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Waqar Ahmad, Evelyne-Walker-Nasir, M. Saleem, Abdul R Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2007). "Histone H1 Sub-types in Mouse: Interplay between Phosphorylation and O-Glycosylation." Pak. J. Zool. , Vol. 39 (4) , pp. 245-257. | Impact Factor: 0.5 [Link]
• Waqar Ahmad, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Afshan Kaleem, Evelyne-Walker-Nasir, Daniel C. Hoessli and Nasir-ud-Din (2007). "Human Histone H1.5: Role of Phosphorylation and Glycosylation in Cell Cycle." Proc. Pak. Acad. Sci. , Vol. 4 (2) , pp. 85-96..
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Ramneek Gupta, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Saleem M. Rafik, M. Iqbal Choudhary, Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din. (2007). "In silico Determination of Intracellular Glycosylation and Phosphorylation Sites in Human Selectins: Implication for Biological Function." J Cell Biochem , Vol. 100 (6) , pp. 1558-1572. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.21156 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Wjahat M. Qazi, Munir Ahmed Daniel C. Hoessli, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Iffat Khawaja, Tayyaba Wajahat, Afshan Kaleem, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Nazim Rahman, A.R. Shakoori, and Nasir-ud-Din (2006). "Consensus sequences as targets for phosphorylation of amino acids in phosphoproteins: Statistical Computing Analysis.." Pak J Zool , Vol. 38 (1) , pp. 55-63. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, A.R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2006). "Interplay between Phosphorylation and Glycosylation Involving Protein Modifications at Hydroxy Amino Acids: Prediction of Signaling Functions of the Human β-3-Integrin Family." J Cell Biochem , Vol. 99 (7) , pp. 706-718. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.20814 | Impact Factor: 3.94 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Salim M. Rafik, A.R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2006). "Oct-2 DNA binding transcription factor: functional consequences of phosphorylation and glycosylation.." Nucleic Acids Res. , Vol. 34 (1) , pp. 175-184. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkj401 | Impact Factor: 15.0 [Link]
• Afshan Kaleem, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Tayyaba Wajahat, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Syed Altaf Hussain, Wajahat M. Qazi, Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2006). "Somatic Cell Cycle Regulation by Histone H3 Modifications: Action of OGT and Kinases." Pak J Zool , Vol. 38 (2) , pp. 137-144. | Impact Factor: 0.5 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, A.R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2005). "Prediction of Tyr residues involved in autophosphorylation of FLT3 positive leukemias.." Pak J Zool , Vol. 37 (4) , pp. 289-292. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Abdul R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2005). "Recognition of Protease Binding Site in Bovine Pancreatic RNase B: Role of Thr45 Modification by O-GlcNAc, Phosphate and their Interplay.." Pak J Zool , Vol. 37 (2) , pp. 81-86. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Nasir-ud-Din, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Asma Iqbal, and Daniel C. Hoessli (2004). "Combinatorial Metabolism in Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocyte and Interplay of Glycosylation & Phosphorylation." Curr Org Chem , Vol. 8 (5) , pp. 453-461. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1385272043485855 | Impact Factor: 3.4 [Link]
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, A. R. Shakoori, M. Saleem, Saleem, M. Rafik, Syed Altaf Hussain, and Nasir-ud-Din (2004). "Interplay of Glycosylation and Phosphorylation in Murine Oct-2 Regulates its POU Domain Binding." Pak J Zool , Vol. 36 (2) , pp. 333-338. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, M. Ovais, Fayyaz-ud-Din, M. Iqbal Choudhary Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din, (2004). "Prediction of the Role of Post-translational Modifications in Processing of Transforming Growth Factor β 1 in Mus musculus.." Pak J Zool , Vol. 36 (1) , pp. 85-88. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Daniel C. Hoessli, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Ahmad Khurshid, Saleem M. Rafik, Abdul Rauf Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din (2004). "Protein Modification and Functional Implications for oct-4 in Human Stem Cells." Pak J Zool , Vol. 36 , pp. 211-217. | Impact Factor: 0.5
• Ishtiaq Ahmad, Evelyne Walker-Nasir, Daniel C. Hoessli, Ahmed Khurshid, A. R. Shakoori and Nasir-ud-Din, (2003). "Control of Platelet Aggregation Based on Post-transnational Modifications of the Cytoplasmic Domain of Alpha IIb Beta-3 Platelet Integrin." Pak J Zool , Vol. 35 (1) , pp. 229-235. | Impact Factor: 0.5

Conference Papers

• 8th International MLCON Conference (2025), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Digital Twins in Health care System"
• 8th International and 17th National conference on advances in plant sciences in the era of climate change (2022), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Enhanced production of Lovastatin by A. terreus through prevailed phosphorylated Ser636 of MAT domain: In silico analysis"
• Conference on Recent Advances in Applied Biosciences (CRAABS) (2021), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Designing Derivatives of Anti-rheumatics and Selection of Lead Compounds as Possible Drug Candidate(s)"
• 1st National Conference cum workshop on Bioinformatics (2017), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis (Lead Lecture)"
• 2nd International Conference on Biotechnology for Sustainable Development (2014), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "In silico Drug Designing against DENV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis"
• One day Seminar on Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics (2014), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "In silico Tools for Drug Design and Development"
• One day Seminar on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (2012), Islamabad, Pakistan. , Paper: "Research Work at IIB in the area of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology"
• 30th Congress of Zoology (2010), Faisalabad, Pakistan. , Paper: "Switching of Cerebellar and Hippocampal LTP and LTD can be regulated by alternative Phosphorylation and O-GlcNAc Modifications of GluR1 and GluR2"
• A conference cum workshop in Bioliformatics (2010), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Protein sequence analysis for post-translationally modified amino acids"
• International Conference on Molecular Biology (2009), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Post-translational Modifications and their Interplay Exhibit a Vital Role in Drug discovery"
• International Conference on Molecular Medicine (2009), Karachi, Pakistan. , Paper: "Role of Post-translational Modifications (PTMs) in Health and Disease: Protein Functional Switches Involve Specific PTMs"
• 28th Congress of Zoology (2008), Faisalabad, Pakistan. , Paper: "Functional Switches of Proteins Involve Specific Post-Translational Modifications: Preferred Amino Acid Pattern(s) for Different Modifications."
• A symposium on Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Glycoproteins (2008), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "A Primary Sequence Pattern of Protein is a Requirement but not Sufficient for Glycosylation and other Post-Translational Modifications"
• 1st International Conference on Role of Chemistry and Biochemistry in National Development (2007), Quetta, Pakistan. , Paper: "Approach for Identifying Potential Post-translational Modifications and their Interplay Sites involved in Multi-functionality of Proteins"
• 27th Congress of Zoology (2007), Multan, Pakistan. , Paper: "In silico Predicting Important Functional Sites of Proteins and their Posttranslational Modifications."
• 26th Congress of Zoology (2006), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Interplay of Glycosylation and Phosphorylation: Prediction of Proteins Functional Modifications"
• Conference on Biochemistry, Enzymes and Carbohydrates Biology (2006), Lahore, Pakistan. , Paper: "Prediction of Proteins Functional Post-Translational Modification Sites and their Interplay"
• 25th Congress of Zoology (2005), Tandojam, Pakistan. , Paper: "Role of O-GlcNAc Modification, Phosphorylation and their Interplay in Octamer Binding Transcription Factors"
• 4th Symposium on Genomics, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Economic Development (2005), Karachi, Pakistan. , Paper: "Prediction of Proteins Functional Modifications: Alternative Glycosylation and Phosphorylation"
• 24th Congress of Zoology (2004), Islamabad, Pakistan. , Paper: "Prediction of Selectin Function Based on Post-translational Modifications"
• 2nd National Conference of Biology (2004), Lahore. , Paper: "Predicting the Potential Glycosylation and Phosphorylation Sites in Cytoplasmic Domains of Human Selectins Involved in Modulating their Physiology and Turnover"
• Bioinformatics, Information Technology and Biostatistics (2003), Lahore. , Paper: "Functional Control of Integrins: Predicting the Role by Post-translational modifications and Integrin mediated drug targeting"