Ashraf Khalifa

Dr. Ashraf Yassin Zaky Khalifa is a Professor of Microbiology with 12+ years of experience in molecular microbiology, specializing in bacteriology. He holds a PhD from Warwick University, UK, and has a strong research focus on probiotics, biofertilizers, and environmental bioremediation. Dr. Khalifa has a robust publication record and has supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate students. As an educator, he emphasizes student-centered learning and curriculum development, and actively contributes to academic leadership roles, including serving as the Department Coordinator at King Faisal University.

Teaching Excellence:

• 10+ years of university teaching in microbiology and related fields.
• Developed and updated curricula, integrating real-world examples and cutting-edge research.
• Mentored 50+ undergraduate and 6 postgraduate students, guiding research and career decisions.
• Contributed to curriculum development and accreditation processes.

Research Achievements:

• Published 49 articles in top-tier journals on molecular bacteriology, health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
• Secured 43 research grants totaling SAR 1,910,000.
• Led research on probiotics, bioactive compounds, and pollutant-degrading bacteria, advancing sustainability.
• Supervised graduate students, contributing to high-impact journal publications.

Academic Leadership:

• Department Coordinator, leading academic and administrative functions, including curriculum and strategic planning.
• Fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and promoted diversity.
• Secured external funding and supported faculty/student development.

Commitment to Student Success:

• Provided academic and career mentorship, enhancing student growth.
• Organized extracurricular activities to boost community involvement and personal development.
• Developed student-centered teaching strategies using digital tools for diverse learning needs.

Contributions to Academic Committees:

• Active involvement in curriculum review, accreditation, and quality assurance.
• Contributed to enhancing teaching strategies and academic standards.

PhD, Warwick University, United Kingdom

• Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef, Egypt (Permanent),
• Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Al-Ahsa, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia (Temporary)

• Ashraf_zaky2002@yahoo.com
• Akhalifa@kfu.edu.sa

+966035899540,, +9660355899556

• Full Professor (Academic rank), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 12/2023, Present,
• Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 09/2021- Present,
• Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 08/2013, 05/2018,
• Assistant Professor, Botany Department, College of Science, Cairo University (Beni-Suef Branch), Egypt, 05/2012, 07/2013,
• PhD Researcher, Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, United Kingdom, 06/2008, 04/2012,
• Teaching Assistant, Botany Department, College of Science, Cairo University (Beni-Suef Branch), Egypt, 04/2002, 05/2008,
• Demonstrator, Botany Department, College of Science, Cairo University (Beni-Suef Branch), Egypt, 12/1996, 02/2002,

Type of Publication  Number of Publications

• Articles in International Refereed 49
• Journals Conference Papers 3
• Books/Book Chapters 15
• Patents 3

Citation Source Number of Citations

Google Scholar  (H- Index 18) (i10-index=27) 1198

Number of published articles in the last 5 years (from year 2020)

• Q1 (16)
• Q2 (7)
• Q3 (5)
• Q4 (6)
• Non-indexed (2)

List of Publications

(a) International Refereed Journals (Q1-ranked Journals)- Past five years:

1. Ibrahim, H. M., Alessa, J., Khalil, H. B., Bekhet, G. A., & Khalifa, A.(2025). Synergistic Anti-Cancer Activity of Melittin and Erlotinib in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(7), 2903.‏ (Q1)‏.

2. Ali, S., Mir, R. A., Haque, M. A., Danishuddin, Almalki, M. A., Alfredan, M. Khalifa, A., ... & Mir, Z. A. (2025). Exploring physiological and molecular dynamics of drought stress responses in plants: challenges and future directions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16, 1565635.‏(Q1)‏.

3. Morsy, H. M., Zaky, M. Y., Yassin, N. Y., & Khalifa, A. (2024). Nanoparticle-based flavonoid therapeutics: Pioneering biomedical applications in antioxidants, cancer treatment, cardiovascular health, neuroprotection, and cosmeceuticals. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 125135.‏ (Q1)‏.

4. Khalifa, A., Alkuwayti, M. A., Abdallah, B. M., Ali, E. M., & Ibrahim, H. I. M. (2024). Probiotic and Rice-Derived Compound Combination Mitigates Colitis Severity. Pharmaceuticals, 17(11), 1463.‏ (Q1)‏.

5. Mahmoud, R., Eldin, Z. E., Khalifa, A., Anwar, A. A. A., GadelHak, Y., Othman, S. I., ... & Zaher, A. (2024). Antifungal and antibacterial investigation of quinary Zr Al Fe Co Ni layered double hydroxide and its Al Fe Co Ni quaternary and Fe Co Ni tertiary roots. RSC Advances, 14(21), 14815-14834.‏ (Q1)‏.

6. Sheikh, A., Ibrahim, H. I. M., Almathen, F., Alfattah, M., & Khalifa, A.(2024). Beneficial probiotic bacteria prevalence in different lactating dromedary camel milk of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 31(1), 103879. (Q1)‏

7. Khalifa A, Alsowayeh N. (2023) Whole-Genome Sequence Insight into the Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacterium Priestia filamentosa Strain AZC66 Obtained from Zygophyllum coccineum Rhizosphere. Plants.12(10):1944. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101944 (Q1).

8. Khalifa, A., & Ibrahim, H. I. M. (2023). Enterococcus faecium from chicken feces improves chicken immune response and alleviates Salmonellainfections: a pilot study. Journal of Animal Science.‏ https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad016 (Q1)

9. Khalifa A, Ibrahim HIM, Sheikh A, Khalil HE. Probiotic-Fermented Camel Milk Attenuates Neurodegenerative Symptoms via SOX5/miR-218 Axis Orchestration in Mouse Models. Pharmaceuticals. 2023; 16(3):357. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16030357 (Q1)

10. Ibrahim HIM, Sheikh A, Khalil HE, Khalifa A. Bacillus amyloliquifaciens-Supplemented Camel Milk Suppresses Neuroinflammation of Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in a Mouse Model by Regulating Inflammatory Markers. Nutrients. 2023; 15(3):550. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030550 (Q1)

11. Khalifa, A (2022). "First Isolation and Characterization of Serratia liquefaciens Associated with Rot Disease of Malus domestica (Apple) Fruit and Its Inhibition by Origanum vulgare(Oregano) Oil." Horticulturae 8.8: 752.‏( Q1).

12. AlAli, H. A., Khalifa, A., & Almalki, M. (2022). Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium from Non-Agricultural Soil Improves Okra Plant Growth. Agriculture, 12(6), 873.) Q1).

13. Khalifa, A., Sheikh, A., & Ibrahim, H. I. M.(2022). Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Enriched Camel Milk Attenuated Colitis Symptoms in Mice Model. Nutrients, 14(9), 1967 (Q1).‏

14. Rathika, R., Khalifa, A. Y., Srinivasan, P., Praburaman, L., Kamala-Kannan, S., Selvankumar, T., ... & Govarthanan, M. (2020).Effect of citric acid and vermi-wash on growth and metal accumulation of Sorghum bicolor cultivated in lead and nickel contaminated soil. Chemosphere, 243, 125327, 2020 (Q1).

15. Almalki, M. A., & Khalifa, A. . (2020). Silver nanoparticles synthesis from Bacillus sp KFU36 and its anticancer effect in breast cancer MCF-7 cells via induction of apoptotic mechanism. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 111786.‏ (Q1).

16. Govarthanan, M., Khalifa, A. Y., Kamala-Kannan, S., Srinivasan, P., Selvankumar, T., Selvam, K., & Kim, W. (2020). Significance of allochthonous brackish water Halomonas sp. on biodegradation of low and high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Chemosphere, 243, 125389, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125389.‏ (Q1).

(b) International Refereed Journals (Q2-ranked Journals) -Past five years:

1. Khalifa A, Ibrahim H-IM, Sheikh A, Khalil HE. Attenuation of Immunogenicity in MOG-Induced Oligodendrocytes by the Probiotic Bacterium Lactococcus Sp. PO3. Medicina. 2023; 59(10):1731. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59101731 Q2)

2. Alsaud N, Almajed A, Lwusaybie A, Alsubaie A, Alobaidan H, Alessa J, Almousa A, Ibrahim HIM, Khalifa A. The Halotolerant Probiotic Bacterium Enterococcus lactis ASF-2 from Al-Asfar Lake, Saudi Arabia, Reduces Inflammation in Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema. Microorganisms. 2023; 11(10):2415. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102415(Q2).

3. Alamer NJ, Aldayel MF, Khalifa A. Isolation and Characterization of Brucella spp., Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plastic Degrading Bacteria in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia. Applied Sciences. 2023; 13(7):4629. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074629 (Q2).

4. Ibrahim, H. I. M., Thangavelu, M., & Khalifa, A. (2022). Honey-Propolis-Engineered Collagen Peptides as Promising Wound-Healing Matrix in Mouse Model. Molecules, 27(20), 7090.‏ (Q2).

5. Bekhet, G., & Khalifa, A. Y. (2022). Essential oil sanitizers to sanitize hatching eggs. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 50(1), 695-701.‏ (Q2).

6. Khalifa, A., Mohammed A. AlMalki, and Gamal M. Bekhet (2021): "Pathological and mortality findings associated with Aeromonas hydrophila from frog eggs in Al‐Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia." Aquaculture Research 52.3 1227-1236 (Q2).‏

7. AlAli, H. A., Khalifa, A. ., & Al-Malki, M. (2021). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria from Ocimum basilicum improve growth of Phaseolus vulgaris and Abelmoschus esculentus. South African Journal of Botany, 139, 200-209 (Q2).

(c) International Refereed Journals (Q3-ranked Journals)-Past five years:

1. Alamer, N. J., Aldayel, M. F., & Khalifa, A. (2024). Cytobacillus sp. Strain HMBC3 from Saudi Arabian Soil Degrades Low-Density Polyethylene. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 35, e2409023.‏ (Q3)‏

2. Ammar, R. B., Khalifa, A., Alamer, S. A., Hussain, S. G., Hafez, A. M., & Rajendran, P. (2022). Investigation of the potential anti-urolithiatic activity of Alhagi maurorum (Boiss.) grown wild in Al-Ahsa (Eastern Province), Saudi Arabia. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 84.(Q3)‏

3. Al-Tammar, F. K., & Khalifa, A. Y. Z. (2022). Plant growth promoting bacteria drive food security. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 82.‏ (Q3)

4. Thiyagarajan, P., Sengottaiyan, A., Selvam, K., Sudhakar, C., Khalifa, A. ., Aroulmoji, V., & Selvankumar, T. (2020). Biodegradation of Acid Yellow Using Laccase Produced by Bacillus sp. Strain TR and its In-Silico Modeling of the Dye Degradation System. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 26, 2067–2076, (Q3).

5. Kandasamy, S., Chinnappan, S., Thangaswamy, S., Balakrishnan, S., & Khalifa, A..(2020). Assessment of Antioxidant, Antibacterial Activities and Bioactive Compounds of the Wild Edible Mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 26, 1575–158, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-019-09969-2 (Q3).

(d) International Refereed Journals (Q4-ranked Journals)-Past five years:

1. Al-Abdulsalam, H., Almalki, M., & Khalifa, A. (2025). Isolation And Characterization Of Antimicrobial Metabolites Producing Bacteria From Soils In Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Journal of microbiology, biotechnology and food sciences, e11779-e11779.‏ (Q4).

2. Alkuwayti, M. A., Abd El-Moaty, H. I., & Khalifa, A. (2023). Assessment Of The Halophyte Plant (Salsola Baryosma) Secondary Metabolite And Their Antimiceobial Activities. Applied Ecology & Environmental Research, 21(6).‏(Q4).

3. Fatimah A. Alqahtani; Hibah I. Almustafa; Reem S. Alshehri; Sumayah O. Alanazi; Ashraf Y. Khalifa Combating Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria: The Development of Novel Therapeutic Strategies Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 2022-12-01 DOI: 10.22207/JPAM.16.4.01(Q4).

4. Ameera M. Al-Yami; Abeer T. Al-Mousa; Sarah A. Al-Otaibi; Ashraf Y. Khalifa (Lactobacillus Species as Probiotics: Isolation Sources and Health Benefi Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 2022-12-01 DOI: 10.22207/JPAM.16.4.01(Q4).

5. Almalki, M. A., Khalifa, A. Y., & Alkhamis, Y. A. (2022). In vitro Antibiosis of Chlorella vulgaris Extract against the Phytopathogen, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 16(1), 630-638.‏(Q4).

6. Al-Mulla, A. A., & Khalifa, A. (2020). Isolation and Characterization of Thermophilic Bacteria Indigenous to Al-Ahsa Desert. J Pure Appl Microbiol, 14(3), 2157-2163 (Q4).

(e)Non-indexed Refereed Journals (Scopus) - Past five years:

1. Al Mousa, A. T., Khalifa, A, & Aldayel, M. F. (2023). Isolation and Characterization of Arylamidase-Producing Pseudomonas Alcaligenes from the Water of Al-Asfar Lake, Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Agriculture and Crops, 9(1), 122-129.

2. Khalifa A. , Metwally A., Ben Ammar, R., Farghaly, F. (2020) ACC deaminase-containing rhizobacteria from rhizosphere of Zygophyllum coccineum alleviate salt stress impact on wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) Scientific Journal of King Faisal University (Basic and Applied Sciences) , 21 (1), 89-101.

PhD, Warwick University, United Kingdom

• Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef, Egypt (Permanent),
• Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Al-Ahsa, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia (Temporary)

• Ashraf_zaky2002@yahoo.com
• Akhalifa@kfu.edu.sa

+966035899540,, +9660355899556

• Full Professor (Academic rank), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 12/2023, Present,
• Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 09/2021- Present,
• Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 08/2013, 05/2018,
• Assistant Professor, Botany Department, College of Science, Cairo University (Beni-Suef Branch), Egypt, 05/2012, 07/2013,
• PhD Researcher, Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, United Kingdom, 06/2008, 04/2012,
• Teaching Assistant, Botany Department, College of Science, Cairo University (Beni-Suef Branch), Egypt, 04/2002, 05/2008,
• Demonstrator, Botany Department, College of Science, Cairo University (Beni-Suef Branch), Egypt, 12/1996, 02/2002,