Dr. Prasun Kumar

About

Prasun Kumar holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India. Earlier, he was working as a Scientific Officer at DBT-IOC Center for Advanced Bioenergy Research, Faridabad. He also worked as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Republic of Korea. He has over seven years of experience in applied microbiological research including about 2 years of experience in industrial R&D. His main areas of research are biopolymers, microbial biodiversity, bioenergy, microbial biofilms, quorum sensing, quorum quenching, and genomics. His present research is oriented toward valorizing lignocellulosic biowastes into value-added products such as biopolymer, 2G ethanol, bioenergy, and antibiofilm compounds. To his credit, there are over 36 articles in SCI journals, 8 books, and 14 chapters with international publishers. He has been serving the scientific society by reviewing articles for several SCI journals and delivering guest lectures. Publons awarded him the peer review award in the year 2018. He also serves as the editorial board member of a few international journals.

Experience

• 7 years 8 months

Qualification

• Ph.D. (Biotechnology)

Award & Recognition

Research

List of Publications:

1. S Sankhyan, P Kumar, S Pandit, S Kumar, N Ranjan, S Ray (2024) Biological machinery for the production of biosurfactant and their potential applications. Microbiological Research, 285, 127765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2024.127765 
2. S Sankhyan, P Kumar*, M Sonkar, S Pandit, N Ranjan, S Ray (2023). Characterization of biosurfactant produced through co-utilization of substrates by the novel strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa NG4. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 102988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2023.102988
3. S Ray, C Kuppam, S Pandit, P Kumar* (2023). Biogas Upgrading by Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens: An Overview. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 14:537–552
4. BR Boya, P Kumar, JH Lee, J Lee (2021). Diversity of the tryptophanase gene and its evolutionary implications in living organisms. Microorganisms, 9, 2156. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102156
5. M Sonkar, V Kumar, P Kumar, MP Shah, CB Majumdar, JK Biswas, D Dutt, PK Mishra (2021). Bioaugmentation with existing potent microorganisms to accelerate the treatment efficacy of paper industry wastewater pollutants. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(5):105913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105913 
6. P Kumar, JH Lee, J Lee (2021). Diverse roles of microbial indole compounds in eukaryotic systems. Biological Reviews, 96(6):2522-2545. doi:10.1111/brv.12765 
7. P Kumar, JH Lee, H Beyenal, J Lee (2020). Fatty acids as antibiofilm and antivirulence agents. Trends in Microbiology 28(9):753-768. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.03.014 
8. P Kumar, A Maharjan, HB Jun, BS Kim. (2019) Bioconversion of lignin and its derivatives into polyhydroxyalkanoates: Challenges and opportunities. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry 66(2):153-162. doi:10.1002/bab.1720 
9. P Kumar, BS Kim. (2019). Paracoccus sp. Strain LL1 as a single cell factory for the conversion of waste cooking oil to polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoids. Applied Food Biotechnology, 6(1):53-60. doi:10.22037/afb.v6i1.21628 
10. P Kumar, BS Kim. (2018) Valorization of polyhydroxyalkanoates production process by co- synthesis of value-added products. Bioresource Technology 269:544-556.
11. P Kumar, K Chandrasekhar, A Kumari, E Sathiyamoorthi, BS Kim. (2018) Electro-fermentation in aid of bioenergy and biopolymers. Energies 11 (2), 343. doi:10.3390/en11020343
12. P Kumar, HB Jun, BS Kim. (2018) Co-production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoids through bioconversion of glycerol by Paracoccus sp. strain LL1. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 107:2552-2558. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.10.147
13. P Kumar, S Ray, VC Kalia. (2016) Production of co-polymers of polyhydroxyalkanoates by regulating the hydrolysis of biowastes. Bioresource Technology 200:413–419. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.045 
14. P Kumar, S Ray, SKS Patel, JK Lee, VC Kalia. (2015) Bioconversion of crude glycerol to polyhydrox-yalkanoate by Bacillus thuringiensis under non-limiting nitrogen conditions. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 78:9-16. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2 015.03.046 
15. P Kumar, R Sharma, S Ray, S Mehariya, SKS Patel, JK Lee, VC Kalia. (2015) Dark fermentative bioconversion of glycerol to hydrogen by Bacillus thuringiensis. Bioresource Technology 182:383-388. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.01.138 
16. P Kumar, S Mehariya, S Ray, A Mishra, VC Kalia. (2015) Biodiesel industry waste: A potential source of bioenergy and biopolymers. Indian Journal of Microbiology 55(1):1-7. doi:10.1007/s12088-014-0509-1 
17. SKS Patel, P Kumar, M Singh, JK Lee, VC Kalia. (2015) Integrative approach to produce hydrogen and polyhydroxybutyrate from biowaste using defined bacterial cultures. Bioresource Technology 176:136-141. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.11.029 
18. P Kumar, DC Pant, S Mehariya, R Sharma, A Kansal, VC Kalia. (2014) Ecobiotechnological strategy to enhance efficiency of bioconversion of wastes into hydrogen and methane. Indian Journal of Microbiology 54(3):262-267. doi:10.1007/s12088-014-0467-7 
19. P Kumar, M Singh, S Mehariya, SKS Patel, JK Lee, VC Kalia. (2014) Ecobiotechnological approach for exploiting the abilities of Bacillus to produce co-polymer of polyhydroxyalkanoate. Indian Journal of Microbiology 54(2):151-157. doi:10.1007/s12088-014-0457-9 
20. P Kumar, SKS Patel, JK Lee, VC Kalia. (2013) Extending the limits of Bacillus for novel biotechnological applications. Biotechnology Advances 31:1543-1561. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.08.007 
21. TK Tran, P Kumar, HR Kim, CT Hou, BS Kim. (2019) Bio-based polyurethanes from microbially converted castor oil. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society 96(6):715-726. doi:10.1002/aocs.12223 
22. E Sathiyamoorthi, P Kumar, BS Kim. (2019) Lipid production by Cryptococcus albidus using biowastes hydrolysed by indigenous microbes. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 42(5):687–696. doi:10.1007/s00449-019-02073-1 
23. E Sathiyamoorthi, P Dixit, P Kumar, BS Kim. (2019) Co-fermentation of agricultural and industrial waste by Naganishia albida for microbial lipid production in fed-batch fermentation. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 95(3):813-821. doi: 10.1002/jctb.6271
24. T Tran, P Kumar, HR Kim, CT Hou, BS Kim. (2018) Microbial conversion of vegetable oil to hydroxy fatty acid and its application to bio-based polyurethane synthesis. Polymers 10(8):927. doi:10.3390/polym10080927 
25. R Kumar, S Koul, P Kumar, VC Kalia. (2016) Searching biomarkers in the sequenced genomes of Staphylococcus for their rapid identification. Indian Journal of Microbiology 56(1):64-71. doi:10.1007/s12088-016- 0565-9 
26. VC Kalia, R Kumar, P Kumar, S Koul. (2016) A genome-wide profiling strategy as an aid for searching unique identification biomarkers for Streptococcus. Indian Journal of Microbiology 56(1):46-58. doi:10.1007/s12088-015- 0561-5 
27. VC Kalia, P Kumar, R Kumar, A Mishra, S Koul. (2015) Genome wide analysis for rapid identification of Vibrio species. Indian Journal of Microbiology 55(4):375-383. doi:10.1007/s12088-015-0553-5 
28. VC Kalia, P Kumar. (2015) Genome Wide Search for Biomarkers to Diagnose Yersinia Infections. Indian Journal of Microbiology 55(4):366-374. doi:10.1007/s12088-015-0552-6
29. A Kekre, A Bhushan, P Kumar, VC Kalia. (2015) Genome wide analysis for searching novel markers to rapidly identify Clostridium strains. Indian Journal of Microbiology 55(3):250-257. doi:10.1007/s12088-015-0535-7 
30. M Singh, P Kumar, S Ray, VC Kalia. (2015) Challenges and opportunities for customizing polyhydroxyalkanoates. Indian Journal of Microbiology 55(3):235-249. doi:10.1007/s12088-015-0528-6 
31. LK Singh, N Dhasmana, A Sajid, P Kumar, A Bhaduri, M Bharadwaj, et al. (2015) clpC operon regulates cell architecture and sporulation in Bacillus anthracis. Environmental Microbiology, 17(3):855-865. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12548 
32. SKS Patel, P Kumar, S Mehariya, HJ Purohit, JK Lee, VC Kalia. (2014) Enhancement in hydrogen production by co-cultures of Bacillus and Enterobacter. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 39(27):14663-14668. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.07.084 
33. VC Kalia, TK Wood, P Kumar. (2014) Evolution of resistance to quorum-sensing inhibitors. Microbial Ecology 68:13-23. doi:10.1007/s00248-013-0316-y 
34. M Singh, P Kumar, SKS Patel, VC Kalia. (2013) Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate co-polymer by Bacillus thuringiensis. Indian Journal of Microbiology 53:77-83. doi:10.1007/ s12088-012-0294-7 
35. SKS Patel, P Kumar, VC Kalia. (2012) Enhancing biological hydrogen production through complementary microbial metabolisms. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 37(14):10590-10603. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.04.045 
36. SKS Patel, M Singh, P Kumar, HJ Purohit, VC Kalia. (2012) Exploitation of defined microbial biodiversity for producing hydrogen and polyhydroxybutyrate from biowaste. Biomass and Bioenergy 36:218-225. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.10.02 

Book Chapters:

1. Kumari, A., Kumar, P., Golyan, A. (2024). Introduction of blockchain for biomedical and healthcare system. In: Kumar, P., Kumari, A. (eds) Blockchain for Biomedical Research and Healthcare: Concept, Trends, and Future Implications. Springer, Cham. Pages 1-16. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-97-4268-4_1
2. Kumar, P., Singh, S., Sankhyan, S., Ray, S. (2024). Metabolic engineering of lactic acid bacteria for antimicrobial peptides production. In: Ray, S., Kumar, S., Mandal, M. (eds) Antimicrobial peptides from lactic acid bacteria: Diversity, Biosynthesis and Applications. Springer, Cham. Pages 67-95. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-97-3413-9
3. Ray, S., Sankhyan, S., Sonkar, M., Kumar, P.* (2023). Role of Biosurfactants in the Remediation of Emerging Pollutants. In: George, N., Dwibedi, V., Rath, S.K., Chauhan, P.S. (eds) Management and Mitigation of Emerging Pollutants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41005-5_15 ISBN: 978-3-031-41005-5
4. Ray, S., Kumari, A., Sonkar, M., & Kumar, P*. (2023). Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Based Sensors and Their Applications. In Biomaterials-Based Sensors: Recent Advances and Applications (pp. 223-243). Springer Nature, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8501-0_7
5. Kumar, P, Kumar V, Swain MR (2023). Suitability and sustainability of lignocellulosic biomass from farm to biorefinery. In Advances in Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production Systems. Ed. Moodley P, Ray RC, Kana EBG, pp. 347-358. Elsevier, USA. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91192-4.00011-0
6. Devi, S., Kumar, P. (2021). Use of probiotic bacteria and their bioactive compounds for wound care. Wound Healing Research: Current Trends and Future Directions, 301-330. Springer Nature, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2677-7_10
7. Parhi PK, Mishra S, Mohapatra RK, Singh PK, Verma SK, Kumar P, Adhya TK  (2021). Arsenic Contamination: Sources, Chemistry and Remediation Strategies. In: Metal, Metal-Oxides and Metal-Organic Frameworks for Environmental Remediation Rajendran, S., Naushad, M., Ponce, L. C., & Lichtfouse, E. (Eds.). (Vol. 64). Springer International Publishing. pp. 219-238. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68976-6_8
8. Mehariya, S., Kumar, P., Marino, T., Casella, P., Iovine, A., Verma, P., Molino, A. (2021). Aquatic weeds: A potential pollutant removing agent from wastewater and polluted soil and valuable biofuel feedstock. Bioremediation using weeds, 59-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6552-0_3
9. Unal, B. O., Arikan, E. B., Kumar, P., Dizge, N. (2020). Applications of bio-electrochemical systems in heavy metal removal and recovery. Bioelectrochemical Systems: Vol. 2 Current and Emerging Applications, 235-256. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6868-8_10
10. Kumar P (2020). Microbial cell factories as a source of bioenergy and biopolymers. In Frontiers in Soil and Environmental Microbiology, 207-216. Editor: B.B. Mishra and S.K. Nayak. ISBN 978-1-138-59935-2 https://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780429485794-22
11. Chandrasekhar K, Jujjavarapu SE, Kumar P, Kumar G, Chandrasai PD, Kumar EM, Chavali M. Sources of Natural Polymers from Microorganisms with Green Nanoparticles. In Green Polymeric Nanocomposites 2020 Jan 28 (pp. 103-132). CRC Press. https://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781351045155-5
12. Kumar P, Chandrasekhar K, Kumari A, Kim BS (2019). Electrofermentation in Aid of Bioenergy and its Industrial Application. In Biogas Technology, Ed.: S. Mishra, T. K. Adhya, S.Kumar. pp. 207-226. NIPA Publisher (National).
13. Kumar P (2019). Fatty Acids as Novel Building-Blocks for Biomaterial Synthesis. In Soil Microenvironment for Bioremediation and Polymer Production, 239-252. Editor: N. Jamil, P. Kumar and R. Batool. Scrivener-Wiley Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-119-59205-1 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119592129.ch13
14. Poltronieri P, Kumar P (2017). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in industrial applications. In Handbook of Ecomaterials. Ed: Dr. Leticia Myriam Torres Martínez, Dr. Oxana Vasilievna Kharissova, Dr. Boris Ildusovich Kharisov. Springer International Publishing. Print ISBN 978-3-319-48281-1. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-48281-1_70-1
15. Kumar P, Mehariya S, Ray S, Mishra A, Kalia VC (2015). Biotechnology in aid of biodiesel industry effluent (glycerol): biofuels and bioplastics. In Microbial Factories, 105-119. Editor: VC Kalia. Springer India. Print ISBN 978-81-322-2597-3. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2598-0_7
16. Patel SKS, Kumar P, Singh M, Lee JK, Kalia VC (2015). Integrative approach for biohydrogen and polyhydroxyalkanoate production. In Microbial Factories, 73-85. Editor: VC Kalia. Springer India. Print ISBN 978-81-322-2597-3. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2598-0_5
17. Kumar P, Koul S, Patel SKS, Lee JK, Kalia VC (2015)  Heterologous Expression of Quorum Sensing Inhibitory Genes in Diverse Organisms. In: Quorum Sensing vs Quorum Quenching: A Battle with No End in Sight, 343-356. Editor: VC Kalia. Springer India. ISBN 978-81-322-1981-1.
18. Kalia VC, Kumar P (2015)  Potential Applications of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors in Diverse Fields. In: Quorum Sensing vs Quorum Quenching: A Battle with No End in Sight, 359-370. Editor: VC Kalia. Springer India. ISBN 978-81-322-1981-1 doi:10.1007/978-81-322-1982-8_29
19. Kalia VC, Kumar P (2015) The Battle: Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors Versus Evolution of Bacterial Resistance . In: Quorum Sensing vs Quorum Quenching: A Battle with No End in Sight, 385-391. Editor: VC Kalia. Springer India. ISBN 978-81-322-1981-1 doi:10.1007/978-81-322-1982-8_31
20. Kalia VC, Kumar P, Pandian SK, Sharma P (2015) Biofouling Control by Quorum Quenching. Handbook of Marine Biotechnology, 431-440. Editor: SK Kim. Springer Verlag, Germany. ISBN 978-3-642-53970-1 doi:10.1007/978-3-642-53971-8_15

Books Edited:

1. Microbial Applications Vol. I Editors: Kalia VC, Kumar P. (2017): Springer ISBN 978-3-319-52666-9
2. Soil Microenvironment for Bioremediation and Polymer Production. Editors: Nazia Jamil, Kumar P, Rida Batool (2019). Publisher: Scrivener-Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-119-59205-1
3. Bioelectrochemical systems: Vol.- 1 Principles and Processes. Ed.: Kumar P, Kuppam C (2021): Springer ISBN 978-981-15-6872-5
4. Bioelectrochemical systems: Vol. – 2 Current and Emerging Applications Ed.: Kumar P, Kuppam C. (2021): Springer ISBN 978-981-15-6868-8
5. Wound Healing Research: Current Trends and Future Directions Ed.: Kothari V, Kumar P. (2021): Springer ISBN 978-981-16-2676-0
6. Biomaterials-Based Sensors: Recent Advances and Applications Ed.: Kumar P, Dash Sandip, Parween Shahila, Ray Subhasree. (2023). ISBN-13: 978-981-19-8501-0
7. Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics Ed.: Kothari V, Kumar P. (2023). ISBN: 978-981-99-1462-3.
8. Microbial Products for Health and Nutrition Ed.: Dr. Vijay Kothari, Dr. Subhasree Ray, Dr. Prasun Kumar (2024). ISBN: 978-981-97-4235-6

Patents and Copyrights:

Indian patent published on “Self-healing concrete incorporating nanotechnology for enhanced durability.” Ujjwala Rani, Prasun Kumar, under IP act 1970(39/1970), App. No. 202411034119, dt. 10/05/2024.

Area of Interest

• Microbial Technology, Pigments, Biofilms, Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Biofuels