Dr. Debajit Thakur

Research interest

  1. Plant-Microbe Interactions – Plants possess an ingenious immune system that allows them to defend themselves against biotic and abiotic stress. They are helped by benevolent micro-organisms in the soil. We are focusing on the application and functioning of indigenous rhizosphere associated beneficial microflora and endophytic microbial community prevalent in commercial crop like Tea for plant growth promotion and disease suppression for sustainable crop production. Much of our current work is focused on understanding the fungal pathogens of Tea (Camellia sinensis), molecular diagnosis, mode of infections, and biological control. Our special emphasis is to develop pesticides/herbicides tolerant and/or resistant microbe-based bioformulations of plant growth-promoting Microorganisms (PGPM) for biocontrol of major Tea fungal pathogens, and to investigate the ability of wild-type strains to remove pesticides and herbicides from synthetic culture medium and/or environment.
  2. Microbial Bioactive Metabolites – We are exploring extracellular antimicrobial metabolite/s producing actinobacteria and antibiotic biosynthesis gene/s prevalent in protected forest unique habitats by culturable and metagenomic approaches for development of new drug molecules against MRSA, MDR strains, infectious diseases and dermatophytes. Molecular characterization and genetic diversity for database preparation and preservation of biologically active secondary metabolite/s producing organisms prevalent in unique ecological niches of North-East India is another goal of our research.

Position and Employment
Assistant Professor II: August, 2011 – till date

Institution: Institute of Advance Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Assam.

Biotechnologists/Plant Breeder: October, 2007 – August, 2011

Institution: Tea Research Association, Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Assam & North Bengal Regional R&D Centre, (TRA), West Bengal.

DST, SERC Fast-Track Project PI: May, 2006 – September, 2007

Institution: Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR), Jorhat, Assam.

Research Associate: September, 2005 – March, 2006

Institution: Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh.

Senior Research Fellow (CSIR): August, 2002 – July, 2005

Institution: Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR), Jorhat, Assam.

Lady Tata Memorial Fellowship (Mumbai): August, 2000 – July, 2002

Institution: Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR), Jorhat, Assam.

Project Assistant (DBT sponsored): July, 1999 – July, 2000

Institution: Biotechnology Division, North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR), Jorhat, Assam.

Recognitions

  1. Rapid Grant for Young Investigators (RGYI), DBT, Govt. of India, 2012.
  2. Selected under the “National Programme for training of Scientists” in the year 2012 sponsored by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India to visit National Research Institutes in Brazil.
  3. DST, SERC Fast-Track Young Scientist Project, 2006.
  4. Assistant Editor, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences (lawarencepress).

Publications

  1. Antimicrobial potentiality of actinobacteria isolated from two microbiologically unexplored forest ecosystems of Northeast India. R. Das, W. Romi, R. Das, H.K. Sharma, Thakur (2018). BMC microbiology 18 (1), 71. doi: 10.1186/s12866-018-1215-7.
  2. Carbon dot based fluorescence sensor for retinoic acid. S. Majumdar, T. Bhattacharjee, D. Thakur, D. Chowdhury (2018). ChemistrySelect 3: 673677. doi: 10.1002/slct.201702458.
  3. Evaluation of multifarious plant growth promoting traits, antagonistic potential and phylogenetic affiliation of rhizobacteria associated with commercial tea plants grown in Darjeeling, India. J. Dutta, Thakur (2017). PLoS ONE 12(8): e0182302.
  4. Broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of forest-derived soil actinomycete, Nocardia PB-52. P. Sharma, M.C. Kalita, D. Thakur (2016). Front. in Microbiol., 7: 347. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00347.
  5. Carbon-Dot-Coated Alginate Beads as a Smart Stimuli-Responsive Drug Delivery System. Majumdar, G.Krishnatreya, N.Gogoi, D. Thakur, D. Chowdhury (2016). ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 8: 34179–34184. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b10914.
  6. Paper Carbon dots based fluorescence sensor for distinction of organic and inorganic sulphur in analytes. Majumdar, U. Baruah, G. Majumdar, D. Thakur, D. Chowdhury (2016). RSC Advances. 6: 57327-57334. DOI: 10.1039/C6RA07476F.
  7. Assessment of culturable tea rhizobacteria isolated from tea estates of Assam, India for growth promotion in commercial tea cultivars. J. Dutta, P.J. Handique, Thakur (2015). Front. in Microbiol., 6: 1252. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01252.
  8. First report of Nigrospora leaf Blight on Tea Caused by Nigrospora sphaerica in India. Dutta, S. Gupta, P.J. Handique, D. Thakur (2015). Plant Disease (American Phytopathological Society), 99: 417. Doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-14-0545-PDN.
  9. A supra molecular nanobiological hybrid as a PET sensor for bacterial DNA isolated from Streptomyces sanglieri. S. Chakravarty, D. Saikia, P. Sharma, N.C. Adhikary, D. Thakur, N.S. Sarma (2014). Analyst, 139: 6502-6510.
  10. Antimicrobial Activities of Tocklai Vegetative Tea Clones. Thakur, S.C. Das, S. Sabhapondit, P. Tamuly and D.K. Deka (2011). Indian J Microbiol. (Springer), 51(4): 450–455.
  11. Expandase-like activity mediated cell-free conversion of ampicillin to cephalexin by Streptomyces DRS I. D. Thakur, M.K. Roy, T.C. Bora (2009). Biotechnol. Lett. (Springer), 31: 1059-1064.
  12. Influence of nutrition and culturing conditions for optimum growth and antimicrobial metabolite production by Streptomyces 201. D. Thakur, T.C. Bora, G.N. Bordoloi, S. Mazumdar (2009). J. de Mycol. Medicale (Elsevier), 19:161-167.
  13. Isolation and screening of Streptomyces in soil of protected forest areas from the states of Assam and Tripura, India, for antimicribial metabolites. Thakur, A. Yadav, B.K. Gogoi, T.C. Bora (2007). J. de Mycol. Medicale (Elsevier), 17: 242-249.
  14. In-vitro antibiotic susceptibility and pesticide tolerance of insect-gut bacteria of Coleoptera rice hispa, Dicladispa armigera (Olivier). Thakur, M. Bhuyan, S. Majumder, A. Yadav, L.K. Hazarika, N. Barman, A.A.L.H. Baruah, T.C. Bora (2005). Indian J. Microbiol, 45: 217-221.
  15. Synthesis, absolute stereochemistry and molecular design of the new antifungal and antibacterial antibiotic produced by Streptomyces 201. J. Boruwa, B. Kalita, N.C. Barua, J.C. Borah, S. Majumder, D. Thakur, D.K. Gogoi and T.C. Bora (2004). Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (Springer), 14: 3571-3574.
  16. Potential of a novel antibiotic, as a biocontrol agent against fusarial wilt of crucifers. G.N. Bordoloi, B. Kumari, A. Guha, Thakur, M.J. Bordoloi, M.K. Roy and T.C. Bora (2002). Pest Mang. Sci. (Wiley), 58: 1-6.

BOOK Chapters

  1. Future Prospects of Actinobacteria in Health and Industry. P Sharma, J Dutta, D Thakur (2018). In: New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering. (eds. B.P. Singh, V.K. Gupta & A.K. Passari). pp. 305-324. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63994-3.00021-7.
  2. Therapeutic effects of Tea [Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze] constituents on human health. Debajit Thakur (2017). In: Recent Advances in Natural Products. (ed. Sujogya Panda). pp. 151-178. Studium Press, LLC, Houston, U.S.A. ISBN: 1-62699-060-3.
  3. Antimicrobial resistance in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria: Progress and challenges. Thakur, M. Baishya, B. Sarma, T.C. Bora and R. Saikia (2008). In: Microbial Biotechnology (eds. R. Saikia, R.L. Bezbaruah and T. C. Bora), pp. 349-375. New India publishing agency, New Delhi. ISBN: 81-89422804.
  4. Compost, microbes and amendments of biocontrol additives. G.N. Bordoloi, S. Majumder, M. Dutta, D.K. Gogoi, Thakur, M.K. Roy and T.C.  Bora (2004). In: Microbial Biotechnology for crop production- Past, Present and Future Perspectives (eds. A K Yadav, S. Raychoudhary and N. C. Talukdar), Shree Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, pp. 318-323. ISBN 81-88658-54-5.
  5. Biotransformation of β-lactam antibiotics: State of art. M.K. Roy, D. Roy and Thakur (2002). In: Biological and Biotechnological Resources (eds. G. Tripathi and Y. C. Tripathi), Campus Books, New Delhi, pp. 288-302. ISBN 81-8030-009-9.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Conservation of plant genomic resources: Status, trends and management in India. Thakur (2012). In Proceedings of the National Seminar “Prospects of Molecular Biological and Biotechnological Applications for Human Welfare”, (eds. P. D. Bose, A. Sarma and S. S. Choudhury), pp. 19-47, (ISBN No. 978-81-922432-4-5).
  2. The Streptomyces flora of Indo-Burma hot spot: Isolation and screening for biologically active metabolites. Thakur, S. Mazumdar, D. Gogoi and T.C. Bora (2003). In: Bioprospecting of Commercially Important Plants (eds., R. C. Bora, B. G. Unni and P. C. Deka), Proc. Nat. Symp., ISAB-JC, pp. 202-206.
  3. Experimental evidences for interspecies matings of Streptomyces bikiniensis with Streptomyces DRS I. D Thakur, TC Bora, MK Roy (2002). In Proceedings of the National Conference on Utilization of Bioresources (eds.A. Sree, Y.R. Rao, B. Nanda, Vibhuti Misra) Allied Publishers, pp. 375-382.

Other Publications

  1. Exploration of quality tea cultivars with high yield potential. R.K. Bordoloi, D. Thakur, P. Tamuli and T.S. Barman (2011). Two & A Bud, 58: 127-131. ISSN: 0496-6201.
  2. Applicability of cleft grafting method in breeding programme of tea [Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze]. R. K. Bordoloi, D. Borthakur, R.K. Dutta, N.J Neog, H. Saikia, D. Thakur and T.S. Barman (2011). Two & A Bud, 58: 87-92. ISSN: 0496-6201.
  3. In-vitro cryopreservation techniques for conservation of microbial resources. D. Thakur (2009). NEQuest 3: 36-43, (2009). ISSN: 0496-6201.
  4. Breeding of TV clones having antimicrobial activities. Thakur and S.C. Das (2008). Two & A Bud. 52: 16-21. ISSN: 0496-6201.
  5. Potential for use of tea catechins as an antimicrobial agent. D. Thakur (2008). Two & A Bud, 55: 17-21. ISSN: 0496-6201.

 

Ongoing/Completed Projects:

 

Title of the project Funding Agency; Total fund; Duration Status/role
Exploration and conservation of microbial resources prevalent in protected forest ecosystems and tea rhizosphere soil of Assam. DBT, Govt. of India;2017-2020 Ongoing.PI
Bioinformatics infrastructure facility for Biology teaching through Bioinformatics DBT, Govt. of India;2017-2020 Ongoing.PI
Exploration of microbial diversity (culturable) associated with Tea Rhizosphere Soil of Assam and Darjeeling (WB), and utilization for the production of plant growth promoting substances and bio-control of prominent fungal diseases and pests in tea. DBT, Govt. of India;2012-2015 Completed.PI
Exploration of Actinomycetes in soil of protected forest areas of Assam for antioxidant activity and its potential application against bacterial and fungal pathogens. ICMR, Govt. of India;2013-2015 Completed.PI
Drug discovery from Actinomycetes of North Eastern India against neglected bacterial and fungal diseases Scientific and Engineering Research Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists, DST, GoI Completed.PI

 

Students

  1. Miss Priyanka SharmaSenior Research Fellow (SRF)Research topic: Bioprospecting of Actinomycetes producing antagonistic metabolites from selected forest ecosystems of Assam, India. (Ms.Priyanka Sharma; BES/4/2012(C)/07)e-mail: priya10[dot]sharma03[at]gmail[dot]com
  2.  Miss Ranjita DasRajiv Gandhi National Fellow (RGNF)Research Topic: Exploration of microflora prevalent in protected forest ecosystems of Assam as a source of bioactive natural products by culture dependent and metagenomic approaches.e-mail: ranjita[dot]das19[at]gmail[dot]com
  3.  Mr. Jintu DuttaSenior Research Fellow (SRF)Research topic: Genetic and functional diversity of Tea rhizobacteria for the production of plant growth promoting traits and bio-control of phytopathogens.e-mail: jintuduttadbt[at]gmail[dot]com
  4. Ms. Atlanta BorahJunior Research Fellow (JRF)Research Topic: Exploration of Tea associated endophytic microflora and their biosynthetic potential towards growth and disease suppression.e-mail: atlantaborah1988[at]gmail[dot]com
  5. Ms. Rictika DasDST-DISHA Woman ScientistResearch Topic: Exploration of pesticide/herbicide tolerant microorganisms associated with Tea rhizosphere for growth promotion and disease control.e-mail: rictika[at]gmail[dot]com

To be updated….