Pankaj K. Maurya

Bio: Pankaj K. Maurya is an academic researcher from Banaras Hindu University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Photosynthesis & Phycobilisome. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 6 publications receiving 71 citations.

Cyanobacterial Farming for Environment Friendly Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Innovations and Perspectives

Abstract: Sustainable supply of food and energy without posing any threat to environment is the current demand of our society in view of continuous increase in global human population and depletion of natural resources of energy. Cyanobacteria have recently emerged as potential candidates who can fulfil abovementioned needs due to their ability to efficiently harvest solar energy and convert it into biomass by simple utilization of CO2, water and nutrients. During conversion of radiant energy into chemical energy, these biological systems produce oxygen as a by-product. Cyanobacterial biomass can be used for the production of food, energy, biofertilizers, secondary metabolites of nutritional, cosmetics and medicinal importance. Therefore, cyanobacterial farming is proposed as environment friendly sustainable agricultural practice which can produce biomass of very high value. Additionally, cyanobacterial farming helps in decreasing the level of greenhouse gas, i.e., CO2, and it can be also used for removing various contaminants from wastewater and soil. However, utilization of cyanobacteria for resolving the abovementioned problems is subjected to economic viability. In this review, we provide details on different aspects of cyanobacterial system that can help in developing sustainable agricultural practices. We also describe different large-scale cultivation systems for cyanobacterial farming and discuss their merits and demerits in terms of economic profitability.

Cyanobacterial Secondary Metabolite Scytonemin: A Potential Photoprotective and Pharmaceutical Compound

Abstract: Scytonemin is a lipid-soluble, highly stable, yellow–brown-coloured secondary metabolite that is accumulated in the extracellular polysaccharide sheath of several but not all members of cyanobacteria. Chemically, scytonemin is an indole alkaloid composed of two heterocyclic units symmetrically connected through a carbon–carbon bond. Thus, scytonemin is unique among natural products due to its special structure, location in a cell, as well as strong absorption maxima in UV-A in addition to the violet–blue region. Traditionally, scytonemin is a well-established photoprotective compound against ultraviolet radiation. Its accumulation in the cyanobacterial sheath has been suggested to be a strategy adopted by several cyanobacteria to protect their cellular components against damaging effects of UVR. Additionally, recent studies have also established the importance of scytonemin in reactive oxygen species scavenging as well as in controlling the growth of cancerous cells. Thus, scytonemin is both ecologically as well as pharmaceutically important metabolite. Recent developments made in the biochemistry and genetics of this compound have paved the way for its application and commercialization for human welfare. This review aims to present a brief history of the compound with chronological developments made in the study of scytonemin and emphasizes its physiochemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics. We provide a separate section for metabolic engineering and potential applications of scytonemin, mainly as sunscreen and anti-cancerous drugs. We also discuss the future research directions which need to be worked out.

Roadmap to sustainable carbon-neutral energy and environment: can we cross the barrier of biomass productivity?

Abstract: The total number of inhabitants on the Earth is estimated to cross a record number of 9 × 103 million by 2050 that present a unique challenge to provide energy and clean environment to every individual. The growth in population results in a change of land use, and greenhouse gas emission due to increased industrialization and transportation. Energy consumption affects the quality of the environment by adding carbon dioxide and other pollutants to the atmosphere. This leads to oceanic acidification and other environmental fluctuations due to global climate change. Concurrently, speedy utilization of known conventional fuel reservoirs causes a challenge to a sustainable supply of energy. Therefore, an alternate energy resource is required that can maintain the sustainability of energy and environment. Among different alternatives, energy production from high carbon dioxide capturing photosynthetic aquatic microbes is an emerging technology to clean environment and produce carbon-neutral energy from their hydrocarbon-rich biomass. However, economical challenges due to low biomass production still prevent the commercialization of bioenergy. In this work, we review the impact of fossil fuels burning, which is predominantly used to fulfill global energy demand, on the quality of the environment. We also assess the status of biofuel production and utilization and discuss its potential to clean the environment. The complications associated with biofuel manufacturing using photosynthetic microorganisms are discussed and directed evolution for targeted phenotypes and targeted delivery of nutrients are proposed as potential strategies to increase the biomass production.

Photomorphogenesis in the Cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon Improves Photosynthetic Efficiency

Abstract: In benthic environment, the quality and quantity of light changes significantly at different depth levels resulting in a dominance of low light intensities of green light (GL)-enriched environment at higher depths in the water column, whereas high light intensities together with a red light (RL)-enriched environment exists at the surface of aquatic systems. The photosynthetic cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon primarily responds to RL and GL during complementary chromatic acclimation (CCA) to maximally absorb the available photons of light to support the process of photosynthesis. During CCA, the cyanobacterium reshuffles major light harvesting complex phycobilisomes (PBSs) by changing its pigment composition. In addition to the change in pigment composition of PBSs, the morphology of organism is also altered to maximally utilize the available light resource at different depth levels in a water column. In RL-enriched bright light environment, the cells are spherical and filaments are short, whereas in GL-enriched low light environment, cells possess extended cellular morphology, that is, rod shape, and filaments are longer in length. In this chapter, we discuss the ecological significance of CCA together with the recent developments made in the field of mechanistic insight of CCA taking the example of model organism F. diplosiphon.

Bioremediation을 활용한 수질정화

Abstract: ioremediation is a remediation technology using biological systems to cope pollution problems. “Bioremediation is an ecologically sound and state-of-the-art technique that employs contaminants”(Dr. Barware All). “Bioremediation is the process of using bacteria and other biological enhancements under controlled conditions to control pollution caused by different components of gasoline and fuel oxygenates in the contaminated land and groundwater”(David Laughlin and Randy Mueller).

New Applications of Synthetic Biology Tools for Cyanobacterial Metabolic Engineering.

Abstract: Cyanobacteria are promising microorganisms for sustainable biotechnologies, yet unlocking their potential requires radical re-engineering and application of cutting-edge synthetic biology techniques. In recent years, the available devices and strategies for modifying cyanobacteria have been increasing, including advances in the design of genetic promoters, ribosome binding sites, riboswitches, reporter proteins, modular vector systems, and markerless selection systems. Because of these new toolkits, cyanobacteria have been successfully engineered to express heterologous pathways for the production of a wide variety of valuable compounds. Cyanobacterial strains with the potential to be used in real-world applications will require the refinement of genetic circuits used to express the heterologous pathways and development of accurate models that predict how these pathways can be best integrated into the larger cellular metabolic network. Herein, we review advances that have been made to translate synthetic biology tools into cyanobacterial model organisms and summarize experimental and in silico strategies that have been employed to increase their bioproduction potential. Despite the advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering during the last years, it is clear that still further improvements are required if cyanobacteria are to be competitive with heterotrophic microorganisms for the bioproduction of added-value compounds.

Environmental sustainability: challenges and viable solutions

Abstract: Since last century or so anthropogenic activities have intensely metamorphosed the earth’s ecosystem and resulted into major environmental changes. Widespread interference of human related activities have resulted in major problems including environmental pollution, land degradation, global warming/climate change, paucity of potable water supply and biodiversity loss. These issues have directly affected the quality and sustainability of the ecosystems. In addition, these activities have resulted in loss of habitats resulting in mass extinction of species which in itself is a matter of great concern. Studies and data clearly show that if present trends continue the conditions are expected to worsen in the coming time and human civilization itself will be in trouble. To minimize this crisis, possible green solutions like use of microbes and biotechnological tools are gaining importance and need further attention in order to lessen or remediate the harmful effects of anthropogenic activities thus ensuring environmental sustainability.

Biofertilizers in agriculture: An overview on concepts, strategies and effects on soil microorganisms

Abstract: Biofertilizer is a substance containing live microorganisms which exhibit beneficial properties toward plant growth and development. Various mechanisms are used by microbial strains in order to enhance nutrient uptake, improve soil fertility and increase crop yields such as nitrogen fixation, potassium and phosphorus solubilization, excretion of phytohormones, production of substances suppressing phytopathogens, guarding plants from abiotic and biotic stresses and detoxification of belowground pollutants. Taking into consideration growing consumption requirements on Earth and hazards arising from the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, biofertilizers are thought to be a promising and non-toxic alternative to synthetic agro-chemicals, including fungal control and minimization of mycotoxins contamination. The implementation of microbial inoculants is considered to overcome the shortcomings associated with chemical-based farming techniques, therefore research into widespread use of biofertilizers is one of the mainstream in scientific work for the development of sustainable agriculture.

An Overview of Some Biopesticides and Their Importance in Plant Protection for Commercial Acceptance

Abstract: Biopesticides are natural, biologically occurring compounds that are used to control various agricultural pests infesting plants in forests, gardens, farmlands, etc. There are different types of biopesticides that have been developed from various sources. This paper underscores the utility of biocontrol agents composed of microorganisms including bacteria, cyanobacteria, and microalgae, plant-based compounds, and recently applied RNAi-based technology. These techniques are described and suggestions are made for their application in modern agricultural practices for managing crop yield losses due to pest infestation. Biopesticides have several advantages over their chemical counterparts and are expected to occupy a large share of the market in the coming period.