Research Supervision Capacity
About Me
Dr. Muhammad Irfan Malik is an academic researcher and veterinary parasitologist specializing in molecular parasitology, vector biology, and tick-borne diseases. He currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. He earned his PhD in Preventive Veterinary Science from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, where his research focused on tick saliva, microRNA profiling, and host–pathogen interactions.
Dr. Malik’s research integrates molecular diagnostics, functional genomics, RNA interference (RNAi), and One Health approaches to investigate emerging parasitic and vector-borne diseases affecting livestock and companion animals. His scientific expertise includes tick biology, parasite immunology, gene expression analysis, molecular characterization of pathogens, and bioinformatics-driven analyses.
He has authored and co-authored more than twenty peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals, contributing significantly to the fields of veterinary parasitology and molecular epidemiology. His research has particularly advanced the understanding of tick microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, canine tick-borne pathogens, and parasite–host interactions. In addition, he has participated in several nationally funded research projects supported by the Higher Education Commission Pakistan and Punjab Agricultural Research Board.
Beyond research, Dr. Malik is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, academic supervision, and scientific mentoring. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Trends in Animals and Poultry Sciences and regularly reviews manuscripts for international peer-reviewed journals. His academic interests are directed toward advancing translational veterinary research, strengthening molecular diagnostic capabilities, and developing sustainable strategies for the prevention and control of parasitic and tick-borne diseases in animal populations.
Research Interest Keywords
Contact Info
Research Publication
1. Zunaira FN, Farzana A, Hu RS, Areeba Y, Kinza S, Muhammad R, Malik MI. 2026. “Incidence and Molecular Genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus among Buffaloes isolates from South-Punjab, Pakistan.” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101455
2. Zulfiqar A, Muhammad W, Naveed A, Muhammad IM, Imran A, Obaid U, Abid H, Khalid H, Faisal AK, Mohsin N. 2025. “Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Theileria luwenshuni in Sheep from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.” Zoological Society of Pakistan 58. : https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20240822092821
3. Zulfiqar A, Abid A, Muhammad W, Imtiaz A, Muhammad NA, Malik MI, Abdul J, Abid H, Mohsin N. 2024. “Molecular Identification and Characterization of Piroplasms Infecting Cattle in Azad Kashmir.” Pakistan Veterinary Journal 44. DOI: 10.29261/pakvetj/2024.112
4. Muhammad E, Rui-Si H, Meng W, Jun LH, Muhammad R, Malik MI. 2024. “Immune modulation of goat monocytes by Fasciola gigantica Legumain-1 protein (Fg-LGMN-1).” Elsevier 256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108671
5. Muhammad R, Muhammad HH, Naveed Z, Mian SK, Suleman, Muhammad N, Tauseef UR, Muhammad E, Malik MI, Muhammad KO, Amir B, Mohamed AD, Qiaoyun R. 2024. “Systematic review on buparvaquone resistance associated with non-synonymous mutation in drug binding genes site of Theileria annulate.” Elsevier 332. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110321
6. Malik MI, Mohsin N. 2023. “Recent advances into Tick microRNAs and their predicted functions.” Pagepal 1. https://doi.org/10.54219/taps.01.01.2023.80
7. Quratulain, Shabeena A, Mazhar Q, Imtiaz AK, Muhammad NA, Mohsin N, Tauseef UR, Muhammad R, Muhammad E, Ghulam HD, Muhammad AH and Muhammad IM. 2023. “Coccidiosis: Prevalence, epizootiological risk factors, hematological and serum biochemical profile in clinically infected pet dogs.” Pakistan Veterinary Journal 43. 10.29261/pakvetj/2023.113
8. Muhammad R, Naveed Z, Amna C , Tauseef UR, Muhammad TA, Abdulaziz A, Aymen M, Muhammad IR, Muhammad E, Muhammad IM, Ghulam HD, Amir Band Mashal M. A. 2022. “Cost-benefit ratio of anthelmintic treatment and its comparative efficacy in commercial dairy farms.” Frontiers 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1047497
9. Muhammad NA , Raheela A, Muhammad A, Shahzad AK , Zaib R , Muhammad T, Malik MI, Muhammad KS, Hadia M, Muhammad SQ, Muddassar H, Abdul W, Zongjie L, Ke L, Beibei L, Yafeng Q, Zhiyong M, Jianchao W. 2022. “The interactions of flaviviruses with cellular receptors: Implications for virus entry.” Elsevier 568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2022.02.001
10. Mohsin N, Jinlin Z, Imran K, Asim S, Abid H, Zulfiqar A, Muhammad W, Imran A and Malik MI. 2022. “Antiparasitic Activity of Plants Extract against Gastrointestinal Nematodes and Rhipicephalus microplus.” Unique Scientifc Publisher 11. https://doi.org/10.47278/journal.ijvs/2022.147
11. Nawaz M, Malik MI, Zhang H, Gebremedhn MB, Cao J, Zhou Y, Zhou J. 2020. “miRNA profile of extracellular vesicles isolated from saliva of Haemaphysalis longicornis tick.” Elsevier 212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105718
12. Nawaz M, Malik MI, Cao J, Zhang H, Hammed M, Zhou Y, Hassan IA, Zhou J. 2020. “Proteomic analysis of exosomes isolated from saliva of tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.” Frontiers 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.542319
13. Zhiyong M, Muhammad NA, Wang X, Muddassar H, Abdul W, Chenxi L, Mona S, Linlin P, Malik MI, Ke L, Beibei L, Yafeng Q, Jianchao W. 2020. “Phenotypic and genotypic comparison of a live-attenuated genotype I Japanese encephalitis virus SD12-F120 strain with its virulent parental SD12 strain in vitro and in vivo.” MDPI 12. 10.3390/v12050552
14. Zaib R, Shanhui R, Bin Y, Xiaofeng Y, Salman LB, Alia Afzal, Malik MI, Yingjie S; Shengqing Y, Chunchun M, Chan D. 2020. “Newcastle disease virus induces testicular damage and disrupts Steroidogenesis in specific pathogen free roosters.” Springer Nature (BMC) 51. 10.1186/s13567-020-00801-0.
15. Nawaz M, Malik MI, Hammed M, Kuthu ZH, Zhou J. 2020. “Modifications of Histones in Parasites as drug targets.” Elsevier 278. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109029
16. Malik MI, Nawaz M, Wang Y, Zhang H, Cao J, Zhou Y, Hassan IA, Md. NI, Muhammad NA, Zhou J. 2019. “Localized expression and inhibition effect of miR-184 on blood digestion and oviposition in Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae).” Springer Nature (BMC) 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3754-7
17. Malik MI, Nawaz M, Hassan IA, Zhang H, Gong H, Cao J, Zhou Y, Zhou J. 2019. “A microRNA profile of saliva and role of miR-375 in Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae).” Springer Nature (BMC) 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3318-x
18. Nawaz M, Malik MI, Hammed M, Zhou J. 2019. “Research progress on the composition and function of parasite-derived exosomes.” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.05.004
19. Malik MI, Qamar M, Ain Q, Hussain MF, Dahmani M, Ayaz M, Mahmood AK, Davoust B, Shaikh RS, Iqbal F. 2018. “Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis in dogs from three districts in Punjab (Pakistan).” Wiley 0. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.94
20. Hussain MF, Qamar M, Malik MI, Hussain M, Saeed Z, Shaikh RS, Iqbal F. 2017. “Molecular detection of Anaplasma in apparently healthy Cholistan breed of cattle from the Bahawalpur district.” Tropical Biomedicine 34. https://www.msptm.org/files/Vol34No1/037-044-Iqbal-F.pdf
21. Qamar M, Malik MI, Latif M, Ain QU, Aktas M, Shaikh RS, Iqbal F. 2017. “Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Hepatozoon canis in Dogs from Punjab (Pakistan) and Hematological Profile of Infected Dogs.” Mary Ann Liebert 17. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2016.1999
Research and Development Projects
1. Development of rapid and low cost lateral flow Immuniassay (LFIA) diagnostic kit for Echinococcosis
With: Pakistan Agriculural Research Board (PARB), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal (2023-10 - 2026-09)
This project aimed to develop a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) diagnostic kit for the early detection of echinococcosis in animals. The project focused on identifying suitable diagnostic biomarkers and developing a user-friendly point-of-care test that can facilitate timely diagnosis, disease surveillance, and control, particularly in resource-limited settings. The successful development of the LFIA kit would provide a practical diagnostic tool to support large-scale screening programs, improve disease management, and reduce the public health and economic burden associated with echinococcosis.
2. Screening of Candidate antigens from Fasciola gigantica developmental stages, a way forward toward vaccine development
With: NRPU-HEC, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (2022-01 - 2025-12)
This research project aimed to identify and characterize immunogenic candidate antigens expressed during different developmental stages of Fasciola gigantica, one of the most economically important liver flukes affecting livestock. The project focused on identifying stage-specific antigens with the potential to induce protective immune responses, thereby contributing to the development of an effective vaccine against fasciolosis.
3. Molecular prevalence, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of canine tick-borne pathogens in Pakistan
With: SRGP-HEC, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (2021-04 - 2022-04)
Ticks are obligatory blood-sucking ectoparasites involved in the transmission of a variety of disease agents, including bacteria, viruses and protozoa, to human and animals. The identification of new pathogens continuously, is an increasingly globally threat of tick-borne diseases. Dogs are reservoirs of zoonotic agents, and their longstanding cooperative relationship with humans is an important risk factor for interspecies disease transmission. In the past decade, the tremendous increase in pet dog population in Pakistan, poses a great threat to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out molecular prevalence, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis to control the transmission of canine tick-borne pathogens.
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur was established in the year 1975 by upgrading historical institute of the Jamia Abbasia.
