Muneer A.

Senior Research Fellow

Dynamic and accomplished Research Fellow specializing in aquaculture, with a focus on aquatic animal health, I bring extensive theoretical knowledge and practical experience in areas such as aquatic animal diseases, fish and shellfish virology, molecular biology, animal cell culture, and microbiology. With a Bachelor’s in Zoology, Master of Science and Master of Philosophy in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries from the University of Kerala. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Aquatic Animal Health from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) focusing on fish viral diseases. Over six years, I have honed my expertise in laboratory instrumentation, research project management, and extension services, including serving as an instructor and convenor of skill development programs. As the president of the Association of Fisheries Graduates (AFG), a member of the Indian Virological Society (IVS), World Aquaculture Society (WAS), the Fisheries Society of British Isles (FSBI), and Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM), I actively engage in organizational activities, building professional networks and demonstrating leadership for the advancement of this field. My professional goal is to leverage my skills and experience to drive innovation, address challenges, and contribute to sustainable practices in aquaculture and aquatic animal health which ultimately conserves the well-being of aquatic ecosystems

Topic of Research

Virus multiplication cycle in finfishes: Epidemiology, transmission, host-pathogen interaction and release

One of the major constraints in aquaculture is diseases of infectious and non-infectious nature. Among that, viruses are the “principal pathogens” affecting the aquaculture industry globally. Newly emerging and re-emerging viruses have been reporting from different parts of the world. More than a hundred fish viruses have been reported so far including causatives of eight OIE listed fish diseases.

Purpose of this study is to unravel Virus multiplication cycle in finfishes, especially on Epidemiology, transmission, host-pathogen interaction and release. Such an approach shall facilitate the generation of new information on the mechanism of virus multiplication cycle elucidating the vulnerable spots at which the multiplication cycle could be inhibited in the host. This will lead to the discovery of novel drugs to combat viral infection in finfishes.

Professional Experience

Research Scholar (23 December 2019 to Present)
Project Associate I at National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology (01 April 2019 to 31 March 2021)
Junior Research Fellow at National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology (18 February 2019 to 31 March 2019)
Project assistant in Amity Center for Marine Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (27 March 2017 to 31 October 2017)

Publications

Conference Articles

Muneer, A., Neethu, N. and Pramodkiran, R. B. Polyculture of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Striped Catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) in Silpaulin Lined Pond in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala In: International Conference on Environmental Sustainability for Food Security organized by Sree Ayyappa College of Women on 22-24 September 2016, 294pp.
Muneer, A., Jayesh, B.P., Raji, S., Sobhanakumar, K. and Mithun Sukumaran. Water quality dynamics in Aquaponics. In: Proceeding Of International Conference on Innovations and Sustainable Research in Environment and Life Sciences, Organized by Dept. of Zoology, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam on 7-9 August 203 pp.
Muneer, A. and Mithun Sukumaran. Water usage in outdoor media based aquaponics. In: One Day National Seminar on Recent Advances in Zoological Sciences organized by Dept. of Zoology, University of Kerala on 16 October 30, 2018.
Muneer A., Akhil Ignus, Sobhanakumar K. and Mithun Sukumaran, 2019. Influence of tomato, ladies finger and spinach on the utilization of inorganic nitrogen in media based ebb-and-flow aquaponics system In: Proceeding of 31^st Kerala Science Congress during 2-3 February 2019.
Muneer A., Diya Dominic D.V., Linu Eldho, Akshay P.S., Keerthana P.V., Sajeevan T.P. and I.S. Bright Singh. 2022. Viral Disease Profile of Fish Culture in Kerala: Molecular Epidemiology During 2019-21 In: Proceeding of 34^th Kerala Science Congress during 10-12 February 2022.