Current Science

T. S. Suryanarayanan ¹, Venkat Gopalan ², Dinkar Sahal ³, Kaustuv Sanyal ⁴

Affiliations
1 Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai 600 004,, IN
2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, US
3 Malaria Research Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IN
4 Molecular Mycology Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560 064, IN

Abstract

Global conservation activities of animals and plants to protect endangered species are laudable. Similarly, various national and international bodies have recognized the value of preserving different types of microbes, the ‘hidden-constituents’ that are present in all habitats. However, conservation of microbial biodiversity has generally not been a priority in the world. We present a roadmap for creating a national genetic resource for fungi, whose diversity reflects their remarkable fitness for the rich and varied habitats and environments in India. In addition to offering fine prospects for research-based higher education, this national asset will accelerate technology development and the bioeconomy.

Full Text

   

Robert H. Glew ¹, Anil K. Challa ², Venkat Gopalan ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, US
2 Department of Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, US
3 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, US

Abstract

No Abstract.

Full Text

   

N. Thirunavukkarasu ¹, Ben Jahnes ², Arthur Broadstock ³, M. B. Govinda Rajulu ⁴, T. S. Murali ⁵, Venkat Gopalan ², T. S. Suryanarayanan ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai 600 004, IN
2 Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, US
3 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, US
4 Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai 600 004, IN
5 Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal 576 104, IN

Abstract

Marine-derived fungi surviving as symptomless endophytes in seaweeds and seagrasses were screened for production of xylan-degrading enzymes. Of the eight endophyte isolates obtained from five different seagrasses and another eight from six different marine algae, half of them exhibited xylanase activity in an agar plate assay. Further examination of these lead candidates using spectrophotometric assays revealed that Trichoderma harzianum, endophytic in the brown alga Sargassum wightii, had the maximum secreted xylanase and xylosidase activity. Moreover, this fungus could grow in NaCl-containing media (up to 1.2 M NaCl), and inclusion of 0.26 M NaCl in the media elicited a two- and three-fold increase in extracellular xylanase and xylosidase activity respectively. These findings highlight the potential of prospecting marine derived fungal endophytes to identify novel cell-wall degrading enzymes of value to the biofuel industry.

Keywords

Biomass Deconstruction, Marine-Derived Fungi, Trichoderma harzianum, Xylan-Degrading Enzymes.

Full Text

   

T. S. Suryanarayanan ¹, Venkat Gopalan ²

Affiliations
1 Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai 600 004, IN
2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, US

Abstract

To address the challenging task of identifying, obtaining and cataloging the different microbes in a country with wide-ranging environments and habitats, we present a crowdsourcing model. With fungi as the prototype, we discuss approaches for rapid collection and identification of strains from environments and habitats that might lead to novel genes of industrial importance. Also, we expect the use of easy culture preservation methods to promote colleges as mini culture-collection centres and serve as the initial focal point in a national research initiative. Our model envisions the concerted involvement of undergraduate students, faculty, industries, national laboratories and culture- collection repositories to rapidly build a large assemblage of rare fungal strains and enhance the biodiversity resource of a country.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Crowdsourcing Model, Fungi, Microbial Culture.

Full Text

   

Robert H. Glew ¹, Anil K. Challa ², Venkat Gopalan ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, US
2 Department of Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, US
3 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, US

Abstract

Graduate programmes require their doctoral students to write as scholars and experts who publish their findings in quality, peer-reviewed journals. However, since not all programmes require a formal writing course and uniformity in explicit instructions from supervisors is not possible, variability in the preparedness of trainees for scientific manuscript writing is likely. Indeed, results from a selfreported survey of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers that we conducted confirm this uneven preparation, and reinforce the clear need for formal training in disciplinary writing. We review some initiatives, whose implementation should prove profitable in formalizing the instruction of pre-and postdoctoral researchers in the practical skills required to write dissertations and scientific manuscripts, the cornerstone for archiving and transferring disciplinary knowledge.

Keywords

Disciplinary Writing, Formal Training, Graduate Programmes, Postdoctoral Research, Scientific Manuscripts.

Full Text