MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
Supervisor:
Dr. C. D. Sebastian, Professor
AREAS OF CURRENT RESEARCH
Our research is devoted to areas of Entomology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology works. We carry out morpho-molecular studies of insect groups, biochemistry and toxicology in insect pests, mites and aphids of agricultural importance. We are interested in insect- microbe symbiosis and insect- plant interactions. Our microbiological works focus on diversity studies of microbes from multiple sources including soil, water, plants and other organisms, symbionts and antagonistic relations, optimization and purification of microbial bioactive compounds and evaluating potential industrial and pharmacological applications relying on conventional methods as well as molecular techniques. We undertake molecular studies involving techniques such as gene sequencing, metagenomics, functional genomics and gene expression studies.
EXTERNALLY FUNDED PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN
- Yeast strain from mangrove sediments as single cell protein and process optimization for mass production as a nutraceutical Funding agency: DST SERB - SURE.
- Diversity and bioactivity studies of Yeasts from the mangroves of Kerala coast with potential industrial applications. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Biosystematic studies of predatory mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) associated with economically important plants of North Kerala. DST, Government of India.
- Development of Microbial consortia as Bioremediators from the Mangroves of Northern Kerala. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Molecular barcoding and phylogenetic assessment of selected insect pests (Lepidoptera: Hemiptera) of major cucurbits cultivated in Malappuram District, Kerala. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Molecular barcoding and biodiversity analysis of aquatic beetles of the Order Coleoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta) of Northern Kerala. University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
- Biodiversity analysis and Molecular barcoding of the Order Odonata (Arthropoda: Insecta) of Northern Kerala. KSCSTE, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Innovative Research Project under XII Plan, UGC, New Delhi.
THE RESEARCH GROUP
POST DOCTORAL FELLOWS (PDF) ONGOING
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Qualifications: M. Sc. (Biotechnology), Ph. D. (Applied Zoology) Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. UGC DSK- PDF Topic: Purification and characterisation of lipase from mangroves sediment yeasts and gene expression |
Ph. D. SCHOLARS (ONGOING)
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Ms. Surya P. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. KSCSTE Fellowship Title of Thesis: Phylogenetic analysis of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in North Kerala based on mitochondrial CO gene sequences. |
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CSIR SRF Title of Thesis: Phylogenetic and functional characterization of actinomycetes from the mangrove sediments of North Kerala. |
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Sr. Maiby Thankachan Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. University Fellowship Title of Thesis: Morphological characterization of olfactory sensilla with respect to mammalian host preference patterns among the mosquitoes from Mananthavady Taluk, Wayanad. |
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Assessment of community structure and xylan utilization potential of mangrove bacteria along the coastal belt of North and Central Kerala. |
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. KSCSTE Fellowship Title of Thesis: Diversity and functional characterisation of microbes associated with fungus cultivating termites |
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CSIR JRF Title of Thesis: Diversity and bioactivity assessment of microbes from selected wetlands of North Kerala. |
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Ms. Anagha A. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CSIR JRF Title of Thesis: Diversity, distribution and functional characterization of sediment microbes from selected wetlands of North Kerala |
POST DOCTORAL FELLOWS (PDF) COMPLETED
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Qualifications: M. Sc. (Biotechnology), Ph. D. (Applied Zoology) Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. KSCSTE WSD - PDF Duration: 2018 - 2021 Topic: Diversity and bioactivity studies of yeasts from the mangroves of Kerala coast with potential industrial applications |
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Qualifications: M. Sc., M. Phil., Ph. D. (Zoology) Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. WOS-A PDF, DST Duration: 2018 - 2022 Topic: Biosystematic studies of predatory mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) associated with economically important plants of North Kerala |
Ph. D. COMPLETED
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Dr.Rukhsana K., M. Phil., Ph. D. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Studies on the phylogenetic relationship among the Hymenopteran parasitoids using COI gene sequences. Date of Award: 09. 09. 2016 Current Position: Environmental Engineer, Nautica Environmental Associates, UAE |
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Dr. Jisha Krishnan E. K., M. Phil., Ph. D. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Molecular characterization and molecular phylogenetic assessment of selected families of Odonatesin North Kerala. Date of Award: 18. 07. 2019 Current Position: Assistant Professor (contract), MES Keveeyem College, Valanchery) |
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Dr. Priya Bhaskaran K. P., M. Phil., Ph. D. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Molecular barcoding and phylogenetic analysis of the insect pests of Cucurbitaceae from selected districts of Kerala. Date of Award: 28. 02. 2020 Current Position: Teacher, PKMMHSS, Edarikkode, Malappuram |
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Dr. Bindu P. U., Ph. D. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Molecular phylogenetic analysis of true bugs under Infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Northern Kerala using mitochondrial gene sequence. Date of Award: 29. 01. 2021 Current Position: Assistant Professor (contract), Vimala College, Thrissur |
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Dr. Akhilesh V. P., Ph. D. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Mitochondrial COI gene based molecular phylogenetic analysis of economically important insects from selected coleopteran families of North Kerala. Date of Award: 25. 02. 2021 Current Position: Senior Analyst, Amplicon Biolabs, KINFRA, Malappuram |
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Title of Thesis: Morphotaxonomy and molecular phylogeny of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of North Kerala Date of Award: 17. 12. 2021 Current Position: Assistant Professor (contract), SD College, Alappuzha |
M. Phil. COMPLETED
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Dr. Jisha Krishnan E. K., M. Phil., Ph. D. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Topic: Mitochondrial genetic variation and phylogenetic analysis of four Odonate species using Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene.
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Ms. Remya P. K. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Topic: Mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene sequence analysis of selected Moths (Lepidoptera: Insecta) and deciphering their phylogenetic status |
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Ms. Reshma K. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Topic: Characterization of bacterial isolates from the mangrove sediments of Kadalundi, Kerala. |
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Ms. Greeshma V. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Topic: Isolation, identification and phylogenetic analysis of culturable soil bacteria from different organic rice farms in Malappuram district, Kerala |
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Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Topic: Assessment of biology, damage potential and gut-associated cultivable bacterial composition of Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on chilli plant, Capsicum annum under experimental conditions |
