Microbiology

Prof. V. Ravishankar Rai
Designation Chairman
Email Id  raivittal@gmail.com
Phone No +91 821 2419735

Brief History of Department

The Department of Studies in Botany during 1980’s felt the need for M.Sc., Microbiology course considering the fact that Microbiology will play an increasing central role as a kind of beacon for Biology. Accordingly the Department developed the curriculum and designed the course with expertise available in the Department. It was in 1992, that, this M.Sc. Microbiology was started without any financial burden on the University, but with sole aim of offering another relevant course, considering the need of the society. During 1999, it was identified as a separate section of the Department and it was housed in the Department of Studies in Botany. Department of Microbiology is established as a separate Department of studies in Microbiology on 23rd July, 2008 and it is now housed in the Life Science Building.

The Department seeks to produce scientific and technical manpower necessary for achieving the national goal of trained Microbiologists. The vision of the Department is to be an effective provider of knowledge and skills in Microbiology that will empower the students through awareness of the significance of Microorganisms in plant, animal and human health, environment, industry and general human welfare through a problem based and skill oriented curriculum.

The Department has well established research laboratory facilities.  The Microbiology Department is offering free consultancy services to the farming community, plantation growers, officials of Forest Department and plant nurseries in identifying the causal organism and suggesting the control measures to overcome and manage the plant diseases through plant clinic programme.  This is unique in the country through which several thousands of diseased materials are screened, identified and remedial measures suggested to the farmers

Departmental research activities

  • Bioprospecting of Medicinal plants for antimicrobial property.
  • Management of crop diseases by Biocontrol.
  • Studies on post harvest diseases of fruits and vegetables.
  • Food borne infections and hospital infections.
  • Forest pathology and management of of nursery diseases of medicinal and forest pants.
  • Fungal biodiversity and application of molecular markers.

Best Practices

  • Providing microbial cultures to educational institutions and sister Departments.
  • Special lectures from subject experts from National and International Research Institutions and other Universities.
  • Yearly news letter from Louis Pasteur society.
  • Interaction of students, Research scholars and Faculty members on special areas of Microbiology.

Awards/Honors received by individual Teachers

Sl. No. Name Name of the Award When Awarded Awarding Agency/ Institution
1 Dr. Ravishankar Rai V Biotechnology Overseas Fellowship 2008 Department of Biotechnology , Govt. of India
UNESCO visiting Fellowship 1996 UNESCO Biotechnology Action Council programme
Indo-Israel Culture Exchange 1998 University Grants commission, Govt. of India
2. Dr. Shubha Gopal 1. Post-doctoral Research Fellow, with the Fellowship. 2002-2004 The University of Wuerzburg, Germany Fellowship from German Academic Exchange Service Programme (DAAD).

Individual teachers’ on-going research projects:

Sl.No Name Research Project Title Funding Agency Amount sanctioned Date of commence-ment Expected date of completion
1. Dr. Ravishankar Rai V Ex-situ conservation and utilization of medicinal plants of Karnataka for sustainable development National medicinal plant Board, Government of India 15 lakhs 2006 2010
    Genetic diversity and in vitro propagation and characterization of bioactive compounds of Hypericum species University Grants Commission, New Delhi 6 lakhs 2008 2011
2. Dr. Shubha Gopal Thiol-mediated oxidative stress response of L.monocytogenes in particular in biofilms ICMR-BMBF (Indo-German project) Rs. 17,48,000/- 2007 2009
    The role of glutathione and thioredoxin metabolism in gram positive bacterium L.monocytogenes Department of Science and Technology (DST) Rs. 7,38,000/- 2006 2009
3. Dr. S. Satish Structural elucidation and exploitation of antimicrobial agents from plant origin against phytopathogens DST GOI New Delhi 13.02 Lakhs 2007 2010