Jyotika Purohit

Bio: Jyotika Purohit is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Metagenomics & Green nanotechnology. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 6 publications receiving 47 citations.

Metagenomic Exploration of Plastic Degrading Microbes for Biotechnological Application.

Abstract: Since the last few decades, the promiscuous and uncontrolled use of plastics led to the accumulation of millions of tons of plastic waste in the terrestrial and marine environment. It elevated the risk of environmental pollution and climate change. The concern arises more due to the reckless and unscientific disposal of plastics containing high molecular weight polymers, viz., polystyrene, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyurethane, and polyethylene, etc. which are very difficult to degrade. Thus, the focus is now paid to search for efficient, eco-friendly, low-cost waste management technology. Of them, degradation of non-degradable synthetic polymer using diverse microbial agents, viz., bacteria, fungi, and other extremophiles become an emerging option. So far, very few microbial agents and their secreted enzymes have been identified and characterized for plastic degradation, but with low efficiency. It might be due to the predominance of uncultured microbial species, which consequently remain unexplored from the respective plastic degrading milieu. To overcome this problem, metagenomic analysis of microbial population engaged in the plastic biodegradation is advisable to decipher the microbial community structure and to predict their biodegradation potential in situ. Advancements in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analysis allow the rapid metagenome screening that helps in the identification of total microbial community and also opens up the scope for mining genes or enzymes (hydrolases, laccase, etc.) engaged in polymer degradation. Further, the extraction of the core microbial population and their adaptation, fitness, and survivability can also be deciphered through comparative metagenomic study. It will help to engineer the microbial community and their metabolic activity to speed up the degradation process.

Green Synthesis of Microbial Nanoparticle: Approaches to Application

Abstract: In the recent years, the biosynthesis and application of noble nanoparticles have been emerged as escalating field with a great impact on biology, medicine and electronics. Diverse strategies including high-energy physical to toxic chemical procedures have been used for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Moreover, higher production cost with raising environmental risk becomes the major issue. To overcome these, green synthesis of nanoparticles is considered as the potential alternative. Green synthesis involves exploitation of biological entities like algae including microalgae, plants, and microorganisms. Microorganisms have innate potential for the synthesis of nanoparticles and could be regarded as potential biofactories for nanoparticles synthesis. So far, the wealth of microbial resources such as bacteria, algae, fungi, actinomycetes and viruses has been exploited for the development of different metallic nanoparticles. Microbial-nanoparticle syntheses have attracted a great attention due to their rich diversity and wider application with simple, cost-effective, non-toxic, and eco-friendly methods for production of technologically important materials. Hence, exploitation of organisms of microbial origin for the synthesis of nanoparticles is considered a valuable approach in green nanotechnology. In this chapter, we provide an overview of green synthesized nanoparticles using various microbes as biotemplates, which highlights from their substantial mechanism to incredible applications for the purpose of minimizing the negative impacts of synthetic procedures, their accompanying chemicals, and derivative compounds.

Mycoremediation of Agricultural Soil: Bioprospection for Sustainable Development

Abstract: Contamination of water, air, and soil by hazardous toxic substances is one of the major problems faced all over the world. The role of microorganism in the detoxification of soil and environment is distinct and well known. Mycoremediation is an attractive technology in which fungi are used to break down or degrade hazardous toxic substances into less toxic or nontoxic forms. Fungi mostly used as mycoremediator are Pleurotus ostreatus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, P. sordida, Trametes hirsuta, T. versicolor, Lentinus tigrinus, L. edodes, etc. Its application falls into two categories: in situ and ex situ. The in situ methods treat the contaminated soil in the location in which it is found, whereas ex situ processes require excavation of contaminated soil before they can be put to bioremediation. The present waste disposal and treatment method does not seem to solve the problem of environmental degradation and soil depletion very effectively. Therefore, there is a need to seek alternative means of remediating the contaminants for sustainable development. Hence, in such a situation, mycoremediation is advisable to detoxify the polluted soil and environment with less use of chemicals, energy, and time. However, extensive studies are needed for exploration of fungi as a potential mycoremediator in order to attain agricultural sustainability.

Targeting Transcription Factors for Plant Disease Resistance:Shifting Paradigm

Abstract: Transcription factors (TFs) are regulatory proteins that have the ability to alter targeted gene expression either solely by themselves or as a part of the protein complex. Many such TFs have significant regulatory role in plant defence. Being master switches for gene regulation, they become the unique candidates for targeting functional hub and dynamic networks and nodes of different defence signalling pathways in plant. Of many approaches transgenic overexpression or down-regulation of TFs is widely adopted, mainly to characterize their vital role in disease resistance; however their practical utilization remains limited in breeding programmes. Alternatively, exogenous application of synthetic chemicals/biocontrol agents is also efficient to regulate their expression, but not successful in the field. Hence, the focus has now shifted towards synthetic promoters (SPs) and synthetic transcription factors (STFs) to modulate gene expression. They have greater advantages over the natural ones for their target sequence-specificity, speed, and precise activity. Therefore, manipulation of plant defence regulatory networks by utilizing SPs or STFs represents a new era for synthetically modified crops without negative aspects of the existing biotechnology. This dynamic shift in approach from conventional to modern, transgenic to non-transgenic for manipulating plant defence is discussed in this article, with the aim of their commercial application in crop improvement.

Omics Insight on Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat for Translational Research Perspective

Abstract: In the scenario of global warming and climate change, an outbreak of new pests and pathogens has become a serious concern owing to the rapid emergence of arms races, their epidemic infection, and the ability to break down host resistance, etc. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one such evidence that depredates major cereals throughout the world. The symptomatological perplexity and aetiological complexity make this disease very severe, engendering significant losses in the yield. Apart from qualitative and quantitative losses, mycotoxin production solemnly deteriorates the grain quality in addition to life endangerment of humans and animals after consumption of toxified grains above the permissible limit. To minimize this risk, we must be very strategic in designing sustainable management practices constituting cultural, biological, chemical, and host resistance approaches. Even though genetic resistance is the most effective and environmentally safe strategy, a huge genetic variation and unstable resistance response limit the holistic deployment of resistance genes in FHB management. Thus, the focus must shift towards the editing of susceptible (S) host proteins that are soft targets of newly evolving effector molecules, which ultimately could be exploited to repress the disease development process. Hence, we must understand the pathological, biochemical, and molecular insight of disease development in a nutshell. In the present time, the availability of functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics information on host-pathogen interaction in FHB have constructed various networks which helped in understanding the pathogenesis and coherent host response(s). So now translation of this information for designing of host defense in the form of desirable resistant variety/genotype is the next step. The insights collected and presented in this review will be aiding in the understanding of the disease and apprise a solution to the multi-faceted problems which are related to FHB resistance in wheat and other cereals to ensure global food safety and food security.

Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: Present concerns and future aspects

Abstract: Nanotechnology is a promising field of interdisciplinary research. It opens up a wide array of opportunities in various fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics and agriculture. The potential uses and benefits of nanotechnology are enormous. The current global population is nearly 7 */billion with 50% living in Asia. A large proportion of those living in developing countries face daily food shortages as a result of environmental impacts or political instability, while in the developed world there is surplus of food. For developing countries, the drive is to develop drought and pest resistant crops, which also maximize yield. The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionise the health care, textile, materials, information and communication technology, and energy sectors has been well publicized. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture and food industries is also getting attention nowadays. Investments in agriculture and food nanotechnologies carry increasing weight because their potential benefits range from improved food quality and safety to reduced agricultural inputs and improved processing and nutrition. While most investment is made primarily in developed countries, research advancements provide glimpses of potential applications in agricultural, food, and water safety that could have significant impacts on rural populations in developing countries. This review is concentrated on modern strategies used for the management of water, pesticides, limitations in the use of chemical pesticides and potential of nano-materials in sustainable agriculture management as modern approaches of nanotechnology. Key words: Agriculture, nanotechnology, nanofertilizer, nanoencapsulation, nanoherbicides.

Mature biofilm communities on synthetic polymers in seawater - Specific or general?By: Kirstein, Inga V.; Wichels, Antje; Krohne, Georg; et al.

Abstract: To understand the ecological impacts of the “Plastisphere”, those microbes need to be identified that preferentially colonize and interact with synthetic polymer surfaces, as opposed to general surface colonizers. It was hypothesized that the microbial biofilm composition varies distinctly between different substrates. A long-term incubation experiment was conducted (15month) with nine different synthetic polymer films as substrate as well as glass using a natural seawater flow-through system. To identify colonizing microorganisms, 16S and 18SrRNA gene tag sequencing was performed. The microbial biofilms of these diverse artificial surfaces were visualized via scanning electron microscopy. Biofilm communities attached to synthetic polymers are distinct from glass associated biofilms; apparently a more general marine biofilm core community serves as shared core among all synthetic polymers rather than a specific synthetic polymer community. Nevertheless, characteristic and discriminatory taxa of significantly different biofilm communities were identified, indicating their specificity to a given substrate.

Roadmap to Biodegradable Plastics—Current State and Research Needs

Abstract: Plastics, with their ubiquitous presence in our daily lives and environment, pose an uncomfortable conundrum. Producers and consumers are aware of the value of these organic ingredients in material...