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Present Research Activity:
Functional Genomics of Extremophile towards gene
prospecting
Molecules derived from
natural products particularly those produced by
microorganisms have an excellent record of
providing novel chemical structures for
development as new pharmaceuticals, bio-actives,
biocatalysts and biomaterials. Microorganisms
namely extremophiles represent the largest
reservoir of un-described bio-diversity.
Considering the above facts not much more work
has been done in our country to explore the
microorganisms associated in the extreme
ecological niches viz., hot springs, marine
environments, acids and alkaline lakes and the
hydrothermal vents in deep sea. In fact, the
majority of antibiotics in current use are
naturally produced by either bacteria or fungi.
Discovery of new bacteria and new antibiotics is
still a distinct possibility, despite years of
bacterial biodiversity research. Therefore it is
prerequisite to isolate and characterize
microorganisms and to identify their role in
bio-prospect for new enzymes, novel genes and
bio-molecules. The main focus is under following
headings: (i) to investigate the
potential of microbes from extreme ecological
niches for biotechnological exploitation. (ii)
To relate phylogenetic diversity to
physiological diversity, ecological function and
biogeochemical processes. (iii) To access the
phenotypes of the microbes and through level of
gene expression we will identify the potential
applications of novel enzyme systems and
proteins in biodegradation, bio-catalysis and
the biomedical process.
Similarly, development of
culture independent DNA technologies has enabled
a growing understanding of the true extent of
microbial diversity, and has lead to the birth
of metagenomics (where a metagenome is defined
as the sum of all genomes present in any
environment). Metagenomic gene discovery
involves a growing catalogue of techniques
designed to directly access genes, operons or
gene product in complex metagenomic nucleic acid
preparation. In doing so, my research group is
involved for DNA extraction from environmental
samples including soils, sediments, biofilms,
and other intractable substrates. This type of
molecular surveys will show the genetic and
biochemical diversity that lies in uncultured
micro-organisms. To address these problems, the
following attempts have been made. As follows: (i)
DNA extraction from soil and other intractable
specimens (ii)
DNA methods for detecting diversity within
species (iii)
Identification and detection of microorganisms (iv)
Genetic diversity assessment to track organisms
in natural environments (v)
Retrieval of protein encoding genes from
environmental samples (vi)
Investigation of genes or organisms with
bio-resource potential (vii)
Molecular/evolutionary analysis of protein
structure and function.
My research group is involved to access these
biological resources and express genes as a tool
for combinatorial evolution of selected
metabolic pathways.
Referee for
Scientific Journals:
1.
Microbial Ecology (Springer)
2.
Indian Journal of Microbiology (Springer)
3.
Current Science (India)
International
Conference/Symposium/workshop/meetings attend:
Subrata K. Das. (2005). Attend an international conference “Thermophiles 2005” at
Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
from 18-22 September and delivered an invited
talk on “Characterization of viable bacteria
from hot springs located in the Orissa state by
16S rDNA sequencing”.
Subrata K. Das. (2007).
Attend 15th International conference
on Biological Nitrogen Fixation at Cape
Peninsula University of Technology, Cape
Town, South Africa from 21-26 January and
presented a paper on “Cloning, sequencing and
phenotypic characterization of serA and
rpoN mutants of Mesorhizobium ciceri”.
Dr. Subrata K Das.
(2008). Attend International Symposium on
Microbial biotechnology: Diversity, Genomics and
Metagenomics organized by University of Delhi,
Delhi from 18th-20th
November, 2008
Membership
of Professional societies:
1. Life member:
Biotech Research Society of India
2. Life
member: Association of Microbiologists of
India
3. Member:
Society for Technology Management
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