Izhar Khan, Ph.D.
My research interests, in the field of Environmental Health, Biodiversity and Bioresources, are to develop rapid and simple state-of-the-art quantitative methods for rapid detection and identification of water- and foodborne human and animal pathogens for identification of sources of fecal pollution in various environmental niches. In addition, I have been working on taxonomic classification of bacteria such as genus Acinetobacter, Campylobacter and Arcobacter and study their pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance to human and animals using Next Generation Sequencing in order to provide insights into the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationship among species and strains.
Current research and/or projects
- Impact of agricultural practices and environmental factors on the distribution and diversity of bacterial waterborne pathogens in agriculture watersheds
- Development of state-of-art molecular tools for the rapid detection and identification of micro-aerophilic pathogens
- Quantitative real-time PCR analysis for detection and quantification of human and animal bacterial and viral pathogens from various environmental sources
- Molecular detection and characterization of emerging waterborne pathogens and microbial water quality indicators in agricultural and urban watersheds
- Genotypic characterization and of pathogens by DNA sequencing, PFGE, RFLP analyses
Research and/or project statements
1. Strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector
2. Promoting innovation and a healthy environment by focusing on following priorities to provide the best scientific information for regulatory and policy decisions:
i).Enhance environmental performance of the Canadian agricultural system;
ii). Improve environmental performance and sustainability of swine or dairy production systems;
iii). Enhance the quality of food and the safety of the food system; iv) Improving the identification and understanding of crop pests and beneficial organisms;
v) Reducing soil chemical, biological and physical degradation and maintaining soil health by improving farm and manure management practices;
vi). Identify the BMPs to mitigate the risk of water, soil and air contamination.
Education and awards
- Ph.D. Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany
- M.Sc. Agriculture University Faisalabad, Pakistan
- D.V.M. Agriculture University Faisalabad, Pakistan
International experience and/or work
Physical Scientist, Environment Canada- Water Science and Technology- Microbiology, Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW), Burlington, ON.
NSERC Visiting Fellowship in Canadian Government Laboratories, Environment Canada- CCIW, Burlington, ON.
Research Consultant, Environment Canada, CCIW, Burlington, ON.
Research Scholar, University of Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.
Research Assistant, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
Veterinary Officer, Livestock and Poultry Dept. Balochistan, Pakistan
Additional links
Key publications
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Zambri, M., Cloutier, M., Adam, Z., Lapen, D.R., Wilkes, G., Sunohara, M., Topp, E., Talbot, G., Khan, I.U.H. (2019). Novel virulence, antibiotic resistance and toxin gene-specific PCR-based assays for rapid pathogenicity assessment of Arcobacter faecis and Arcobacter lanthieri. BMC Microbiology, [online] 19(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12866-018-1357-7
2019 - View publication details
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Liu, L., Cloutier, M., Craiovan, E., Edwards, M., Frey, S.K., Gottschall, N., Lapen, D.R., Sunohara, M., Topp, E., Khan, I.U.H. (2018). Quantitative real-time PCR-based assessment of tile drainage management influences on bacterial pathogens in tile drainage and groundwater. Science of the Total Environment, [online] 624 1586-1597. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.200
2018 - View publication details
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Chen, W., Wilkes, G., Khan, I.U.H., Pintar, K.D.M., Thomas, J.L., Lévesque, C.A., Chapados, J.T., Topp, E., Lapen, D.R. (2018). Aquatic bacterial communities associated with land use and environmental factors in agricultural landscapes using a metabarcoding approach. Frontiers in Microbiology, [online] 9 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02301
2018 - View publication details
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Harris, L.J., Bahadoor, A., Brauer, E., Bosnich, W., Schneiderman, D., Aubin, Y., Melanson, J., Khan, I., Gleddie, S., Blackwell, B. Novel Fusarium graminearum cyclic peptides possess phytotoxic activity. 29th Fungal Genetics Conference, Pacific Grove, CA, Mar 14-19, 2017. Poster presentation.
2017 - View publication details
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Fernando, D.M., Khan, I.U.H., Patidar, R., Lapen, D.R., Talbot, G., Topp, E., Kumar, A. (2016). Isolation and characterization of acinetobacter baumannii recovered from campylobacter selective medium. Frontiers in Microbiology, [online] 7(NOV), http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01871
2016 - View publication details
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Laprade, N., Cloutier, M., Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Wilkes, G., Villemur, R., Khan, I.U.H. (2016). Detection of virulence, antibiotic resistance and toxin (VAT) genes in Campylobacter species using newly developed multiplex PCR assays. Journal of Microbiological Methods, [online] 124 41-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2016.03.009
2016 - View publication details
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Whiteduck-Léveillée, K., Whiteduck-Léveillée, J., Cloutier, M., Tambong, J.T., Xu, R., Topp, E., Arts, M.T., Chao, J., Adam, Z., Lévesque, C.A., Lapen, D.R., Villemur, R., Khan, I.U.H. (2016). Identification, characterization and description of Arcobacter faecis sp. nov., isolated from a human waste septic tank. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, [online] 39(2), 93-99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2015.12.002
2016 - View publication details
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Whiteduck-Léveillée, J., Cloutier, M., Topp, E., Lapen, D.R., Talbot, G., Villemur, R., Khan, I.U.H. (2016). Development and evaluation of multiplex PCR assays for rapid detection of virulence-associated genes in Arcobacter species. Journal of Microbiological Methods, [online] 121 59-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2015.12.017
2016 - View publication details
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Lévesque, C.A., Chen, W., Hambleton, S., Seifert, K.A., Adam, Z., Bilodeau, G.J., Cullis, J., Demeke, T., Dumonceaux, T.J., Gagnon, M., Graefenhan, T., Kawchuk, L.M., Khan, I.U.H., Lewis, C.T., Li, X., Links, M.G., Mimee, B., Rott, M., Tambong, J.T., Topp, E., Yu, Q., and Yuan, K. (2015). Project CRTI 09-462RD - Next generation sequencing, direct detection and genotyping of fungi, bacteria and nematodes in the agri-food system. DRDC-RDDC-2015-C148. Final Close-Out Report. (Report)
2015 - View publication details
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Lévesque, C.A., Chen, W., Hambleton, S., Seifert, K.A., Adam, Z., Bilodeau, G.J., Cullis, J., Demeke, T., Dumonceaux, T.J., Gagnon, M., Graefenhan, T., Kawchuk, L.M., Khan, I.U.H., Lewis, C.T., Li, X., Links, M.G., Mimee, B., Rott, M., Tambong, J.T., Yu, Q., and Yuan, K. (2015). Project CRTI 09-462RD - Next generation sequencing, direct detection and genotyping of fungi, bacteria and nematodes in the agri-food system. Final Report. 54. http://cradpdf.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/PDFS/unc195/p802330_A1b.pdf. (Report)
2015 - View publication details
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Khan, I.U.H., Topp, E., Chen, W., Lapen, D.R., Lévesque, C.A., Pintar, K.D.M., Tambong, J.T., Talbot, G., and Wilkes, G.A. (2015). "Assessment of Zoonotic Pathogens in Agroecosystem.", Biodiversity, Bioresources and Collection Science Day, Ottawa Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada, December 1-2, 2015. (Presentation)
2015 - View publication details
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Khan, I.U.H., Cloutier, M., Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Wilkes, G.A., Jones, T., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., and Talbot, G. (2015). "Quantitative detection and assessment of occurrence of human and animal viruses in agricultural aquatic environment.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015, S4-06. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
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Khan, I.U.H., Cloutier, M., Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Wilkes, G.A., Jones, T.H., Brassard, J., Edge, T.A., and Talbot, G. (2015). "Quantitative detection and assessment of occurrence of human and animal viruses in agricultural aquatic environment.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
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Fernando, E., Khan, I.U.H., Loewen, P., Lapen, D.R., Talbot, G., Topp, E., and Kumar, A. (2015). "Expressions and characterization of Acinetobacter spp. From Canadian Agricultural niches.", 65th Annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-18, 2015, AE46PC. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
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Frey, S.K., Topp, E., Khan, I.U.H., Ball, B.R., Edwards, M., Gottschall, N., Sunohara, M., Lapen, D.R. (2015). Quantitative Campylobacter spp., antibiotic resistance genes, and veterinary antibiotics in surface and ground water following manure application: Influence of tile drainage control. Science of the Total Environment, [online] 532 138-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.114
2015 - View publication details
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Whiteduck-Léveillée, K., Whiteduck-Léveillée, J., Cloutier, M., Tambong, J.T., Xu, R., Topp, E., Arts, M.T., Chao, J., Adam, Z., Lévesque, C.A., Lapen, D.R., Villemur, R., Talbot, G., Khan, I.U.H. (2015). Arcobacter lanthieri sp. Nov., isolated from pig and dairy cattle manure. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM), [online] 65(8), 2709-2716. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.000318
2015 - View publication details
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Jokinen, C.C., Koot, J., Cole, L., Desruisseau, A., Edge, T.A., Khan, I.U.H., Koning, W., Lapen, D.R., Pintar, K.D.M., Reid-Smith, R., Thomas, J.L., Topp, E., Wang, L.Y., Wilkes, G., Ziebell, K., van Bochove, E., Gannon, V.P.J. (2015). The distribution of Salmonella enterica serovars and subtypes insurface water from five agricultural regions across Canada. Water Research, [online] 76 120-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.038
2015 - View publication details
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Samarajeewa, A.D., Hammad, A., Masson, L., Khan, I.U.H., Scroggins, R., Beaudette, L.A. (2015). Comparative assessment of next-generation sequencing, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, clonal restriction fragment length polymorphism and cloning-sequencing as methods for characterizing commercial microbial consortia. Journal of Microbiological Methods, [online] 108 103-111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2014.11.013
2015 - View publication details
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Khan, I.U.H., Cloutier, M., Topp, E., Lapen, D.R., Lévesque, C.A., Edge, T.A., Tambong, J.T., Talbot, G., and Wilkes, G.A. (2014). "Quantitative Detection and Identification of Arcobacter, Campylobacter and Helicobacter Species in a Canadian Agricultural Watershed.", XVIth International Congress of Virology - International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS 2014), July 27 - August 1, 2014, Montréal, Québec, Canada, July 27-August 1, 2014.
2014 - View publication details
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Edge, T.A., Hill, S., Khan, I.U.H., Gannon, V.P.J., Crane, C., Collins, H.M., Johnson, R., Topp, E., and Roberts, C. (2014). "Microbial source tracking of pathogen and fecal pollution in shellfish harvesting areas in Atlantic Canada.", XVIth International Congress of Virology - International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS 2014), July 27 - August 1, 2014, Montréal, Québec, Canada, July 27-August 1, 2014.
2014 - View publication details
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Contact
Research facility
Expertise
Affiliations
- Member, American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
- Member, Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM)
- Member, Canadian College of Microbiologists (CCM)
- Member, Canadian Association on Water Quality (CAWQ)