Scholarly Publications
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This community showcases the academic contributions of faculty and researchers at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and provides a year-wise compilation of publications across disciplines. Institutional Repository BHU
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PublicationArticle Microalgae: A sustainable tool for microplastic degradation(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Priya Yadav; Rahul Prasad Singh; Himani Sharma; Ajay KumarMicroplastics, pervasive pollutants in aquatic and terrestrial environments, pose significant ecological and health risks due to their persistence and accumulation in ecosystems. Conventional methods for addressing microplastic pollution, such as filtration and chemical degradation, are often energy-intensive and inefficient, underscoring the need for alternative approaches. In this context, microalgae present a promising, eco-friendly solution for the degradation and removal of microplastics. By harnessing their unique biological mechanisms such as bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and enzymatic activity. Microalgae can interact with microplastics in ways that reduce their environmental impact. Moreover, their role in bioremediation highlights the potential of microalgae to serve as a green alternative to traditional micrplastic removal methods. Understanding the specific interactions between different microalgae species and microplastics, while optimizing cultivation conditions, could pave the way for innovative biotechnological applications aimed at combating the global plastic pollution crisis. This review synthesizes current research, discusses the challenges ahead, and explores the future prospects for using microalgae in microplastic degradation strategies, contributing to the development of a more sustainable and cleaner environment. © 2025PublicationArticle Antioxidant potential of UV-screening pigment scytonemin isolated from the cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. HKAR-8(Springer, 2025) Neha Kumari; Jyoti Jaiswal; Amit Gupta; Varsha K. Singh; Rajeshwar Prasad SinhaThe most promising class of photosynthetic microorganisms, cyanobacteria, can produce a wide range of useful natural products. Some cyanobacteria are capable of biosynthesizing the indole-alkaloid scytonemin, a secondary metabolite of significant ecological and medicinal value. Scytonemin is a small, yellow-brown, 544-Da molecular mass, lipid-soluble compound that can screen UV-A radiation. In this study, scytonemin was extracted and purified from the cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. HKAR-8. Further, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify and characterize scytonemin. The antioxidant potentials of scytonemin were assessed using several in vitro antioxidant tests, including DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 scavenging activity. Scytonemin extracted from this cyanobacterium showed dose-dependent in vitro antioxidant activity as compared to ascorbic acid. By producing the photoprotective compound scytonemin, cyanobacteria can colonize and thrive in harsh environmental conditions by reducing the negative effects of UV radiation. This UV-shielding compound, scytonemin may be of significant importance for the formation of natural and sustainable sunscreen in the cosmetic and other therapeutic industries because of its significant antioxidant capacity and photoprotective activity. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research 2025.PublicationBook Chapter Importance of Omics in Microalgal Biofuel Production(Springer Science+Business Media, 2025) Ashish P. Singh; Amit Gupta; Varsha K. Singh; Sapana Jha; Palak Rana; Rajeshwar Prasad SinhaThe oxygenic photoautotrophs, cyanobacteria, possess vital biochemical pathways in their metabolism that enable them to fix atmospheric CO[[inf]]2[[/inf]] and synthesize a variety of metabolites. Nevertheless, the economic viability of cyanobacteria-based biofuels poses a barrier, prompting the development of various strategies to enhance the production performance of these microorganisms. The creation of bioengineering methods has made it possible to manipulate cyanobacterial metabolic pathways to produce a range of valuable bioproducts through photosynthetic processes. The efficient use of cyanobacteria as photosynthetic cell factories requires a thorough comprehension of their metabolism and how it interacts with other cellular processes. The application of systems and synthetic biology tools has produced a lot of data on various metabolic pathways. However, to create effective engineering strategies for additional growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and increased production of target biochemicals, a thorough understanding of their carbon/nitrogen metabolism, pathway flux distribution, genetic regulation, and integrative analyses is needed. The field of systems biology and genomics has led to the recognition of a new paradigm in systems metabolic engineering. Specifically, a systems-based approach essential for whole-cell inquiry and prediction is a reconstruction and modeling of the genome-scale metabolic network. To highlight our present understanding of cyanobacterial metabolism, we address recent developments in integrative modeling techniques and omics investigations (genomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) in this chapter. © 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.PublicationBook Chapter Advancements and Trends in Omics of Cyanobacterial Ultraviolet-Screening Compounds, Scytonemin and Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids(Springer Science+Business Media, 2025) Haseen Ahmed; Minu Kesheri; Swarna Kanchan; Rajeshwar Prasad Sinha; Jainendra K. PathakCyanobacteria, on exposure to ultraviolet radiations (UVR), synthesize UV-absorbing compounds such as scytonemin and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) to mitigate their harmful effects. Only a few cyanobacteria are capable of synthesizing scytonemin, an extracellular polysaccharide sheath pigment. It is a lipophilic pigment that consists of phenolic and indolic monomer components connected by an olefinic carbon atom. In MAAs, the nitrogen moiety of an amino acid or its amino alcohol is coupled with an aminocyclohexinimine or aminocyclohexenone chrompohore. These are small, colorless, hydrophilic molecules. These compounds have strong antioxidative potential, are photostable, and are effective photoprotectants. The complex stress response pathway and environmental signals that contribute to the synthesis and induction of these secondary metabolites are poorly understood, despite the fact that a great deal of work has been invested in the past ten years to bio-prospect and describe them. Cyanobacterial molecular biology has greatly benefited from the application of “omics” approaches. Although targeted metabolome approaches only measure small groups of metabolites, metabolomics research provides an investigative tool for the quick exploration, discovery, and characterization of secondary metabolites produced by an organism. Metabolomics has emerged as a key technique in synthetic biology for identifying new molecules from microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria. Additionally, it makes it possible to manufacture whole sets of metabolites or their precursors with the appropriate titers. This chapter discusses developments made in the field of metabolomics of cyanobacterial ultraviolet-screening compounds, scytonemin, and MAAs in detail. © 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.PublicationBook Chapter Proteomics and Bioinformatics Approaches for Exploring Resilience Strategies in Cyanobacteria(Springer Science+Business Media, 2025) Minu Kesheri; Swarna Kanchan; Donat Peter Häder; Rajeshwar Prasad SinhaThis chapter envisages the responses of cyanobacteria to different abiotic stresses with special reference to the cyanobacterium Scytonema tolypothrichoides VB-61278. We describe the in silico approach to compare Fe and Mn Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) for deciphering their role in promoting resilience in Scytonema tolypothrichoides VB-61278. Various physicochemical parameters such as molecular weight, instability index, isoelectric point (pI), aliphatic index, and GRand Average of Hydropathy (GRAVY) were predicted and explained in an illustrative manner. The secondary structure of the protein was predicted followed by the prediction of three-dimensional (3D) structural models using Modeller and trailblazing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered AlphaFold2 tools have been illustrated. Exhaustive explanations of validation methods for the models using Prosa-web, Verify-3D, Ramachandran plot, and LDDT score have been highlighted. Studies emphasizing the conservation and prediction of metal binding positions, domains, and motifs, along with residues of structural and functional importance, as well as the generation of phylogenetic trees, have been well explained. This chapter serves as a state-of-the-art about methodologies, ensuing results, and inferences drawn from tools used in bioinformatics to decipher protein modeling and relevant biotechnological applications in a lucid and illustrative way. © 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.PublicationArticle Cyanobacterial based bioremediation of xenobiotics compounds(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Sandeep Kumar Singh; Nisha Yadav; Priya Yadav; Livleen N. Shukla; Twinkle Pradhan; Manish Kumar; Rachana Singh; Ajay KumarCyanobacterial-based bioremediation has emerged as a promising eco-friendly approach for the degradation and removal of xenobiotic compounds, which are synthetic pollutants resistant to natural breakdown processes. Xenobiotics, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and industrial chemicals, persist in the environment and pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. Cyanobacteria, photosynthetic microorganisms, offer a sustainable solution to this problem by utilizing their metabolic versatility and adaptation to diverse environments for the detoxification and degradation of these harmful compounds. Cyanobacteria can transform or degrade xenobiotics through various enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways, such as oxidative, reductive, and hydrolytic reactions. Certain cyanobacterial strains produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which can adsorb xenobiotic molecules, reducing their bioavailability and toxicity. Additionally, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and specific enzymes such as laccases, peroxidases, and monooxygenases play crucial roles in breaking down complex organic molecules. Their potential for bioremediation is enhanced by their ability to grow in diverse environments, including freshwater, marine, and extreme conditions. In addition to degrading xenobiotics, cyanobacteria can also contribute to the recovery of polluted environments by fixing carbon and nitrogen, promoting the growth of other beneficial organisms. The integration of cyanobacterial systems in constructed wetlands, biofilms, and algal-bacterial consortia has shown promise in improving the efficiency of xenobiotic removal. However, challenges such as optimizing conditions for maximum degradation, understanding the metabolic pathways involved, and scaling up for industrial applications remain. This chapter highlights the potential of cyanobacterial-based bioremediation as a green technology for the sustainable removal of xenobiotics and emphasizes the need for further research into their practical applications in environmental restoration. © 2025PublicationArticle Nitric Oxide Synthases in Cyanobacteria: Diversity, Cellular Implications and Ecological Pertinence(Springer, 2025) N. Gupta; Ankit Srivastava; Arun Kumar MishraNitric oxide synthases are heme-based monooxygenases responsible for oxidizing L-arginine to produce nitric oxide (NO), a pivotal signaling molecule integral to various physiological processes. Although NOS-like activity has been reported in various photosynthetic microorganisms, our current understanding largely delves from mammalian NOS studies. Over the past five years, the identification and characterization of cyanobacterial NOS homologs have expanded our insights into these enzymes, encompassing their enzymology and functional aspects. However, due to limited research, the functionality of NOS in photoautotrophs remains poorly understood, highlighting the need for further investigation into NOS-derived NO signaling pathways. Here, we review NOS and its multifaceted functionalities across diverse domains of life, with a special emphasis on their relevance in cyanobacteria. It explores the occurrence of NOS in cyanobacterial genomes, delineating diverse NOS domains, including novel configurations, and elucidates the dynamics of cofactor requirements for various NOS isoforms. The exploration of active NOS-like enzymes in photosynthetic organisms has been detailed, presenting a novel perspective that enriches the understanding of NOS evolution. The biological functions of NOS-derived NO, ranging from influencing Plant Nitrogen Use Efficiency to playing roles in stress responses and microbial communication under both normal and stress conditions, have been discussed. A significant bottleneck in this research area is the accurate quantification of NO in biological systems. The comprehensive review offers a detailed perspective on the significance of NOS among cyanobacteria, emphasizing the need for further exploration and understanding of NOS functionality in photoautotrophic organisms. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.PublicationReview Current insights into molecular mechanisms of environmental stress tolerance in Cyanobacteria(Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2025) Preeti Rai; Ruchi Pathania; Namrata Bhagat; Riya Bongirwar; Pratyoosh Shukla; Shireesh SrivastavaThe photoautotrophic nature of cyanobacteria, coupled with their fast growth and relative ease of genetic manipulation, makes these microorganisms very promising factories for the sustainable production of bio-products from atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, both in nature and in cultivation, cyanobacteria go through different abiotic stresses such as high light (HL) stress, heavy metal stress, nutrient limitation, heat stress, salt stress, oxidative stress, and alcohol stress. In recent years, significant improvement has been made in identifying the stress-responsive genes and the linked pathways in cyanobacteria and developing genome editing tools for their manipulation. Metabolic pathways play an important role in stress tolerance; their modification is also a very promising approach to adapting to stress conditions. Several synthetic as well as systems biology approaches have been developed to identify and manipulate genes regulating cellular responses under different stresses. In this review, we summarize the impact of different stresses on metabolic processes, the small RNAs, genes and heat shock proteins (HSPs) involved, changes in the metabolome and their adaptive mechanisms. The developing knowledge of the adaptive behaviour of cyanobacteria may also be utilised to develop better stress-responsive strains for various applications. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.PublicationArticle Polyphasic characterization of 15 heterocytous cyanobacterial isolates from different habitats of India and description of 9 novel species belonging to the genera Desikacharya, Aliinostoc, and Desmonostoc(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Sagarika Pal; Aniket G. Saraf; Naresh Kumar; Harsh Pant; Shaikh Soyeb Akhatar Badruddin; Shaikh Maksood Ali Sajibulla; Shaikh Kalamuddin Nijamuddin; Ambika Prajapati; Utkarsh Talukdar; Niraj Kohar; Arush Singh; Pampi Sarmah; Prashant SinghA total of 15 cyanobacterial strains from India exhibiting the typical Nostoc-like morphology were characterized using a polyphasic approach. The strains were collected from the states of Tripura, Nagaland, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh in climatic conditions that ranged from tropical to sub-tropical. Despite prior studies on tropical cyanobacteria, many regions remain unexplored, requiring extensive research studies to discover novel cyanobacterial diversity. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene indicated that out of the fifteen strains under study, eight clustered within the genus Desikacharya, six represented the genus Desmonostoc, and one of the strains belonged to the genus Aliinostoc. Upon further analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene, 16S-23S ITS p-distance values, and 16S-23S ITS secondary structure analysis to enhance the resolution at the species level, 9 out of the 15 new strains were found to be representatives of novel taxa belonging to the genera Desikacharya, Aliinostoc, and Desmonostoc. Thus, in the present study, we have described herein nine novel species of cyanobacteria, namely Desikacharya nitens, Desikacharya fasciculatum, Desikacharya caementicola, Desikacharya pachmarhiensis, Desikacharya globata, Desikacharya brahmaputrae, Desikacharya grandispora, Aliinostoc fuscum, and Desmonostoc guwahatiense, in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN). The study highlights the potential to discover new cyanobacterial lineages in underexplored regions, emphasizing the need for further research in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Moreover, the study also sheds light on the geographical distribution of Desmonostoc salinum and its vast ecological adaptation. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.PublicationArticle Impacts of PAR and UV radiation on diurnal photosynthesis performance, pigment composition, and antioxidant function of the hot-spring cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain VKB02(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Megha Jaiswal; Nasreen Amin; Vinod K. KannaujiyaDiurnal oscillations are 24 h clock, that synchronize organisms biological functions based on the daily environmental fluctuation. Continuous increase in ultraviolet radiation have been shown to affect the biological clock of cyanobacteria. The present investigation deals with the 12/12 h of light/dark effects of PAR and PAB (PAR + UVA + UVB) irradiations on ecophysiology and defense management of a hot-spring cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain VKB02. The alternative L/D exposure of PAR showed increase in growth and pigment compositions. However, PAB radiation has significantly decreased within the same parameters after the L1 phase except for carotenoid and APC, while PE and PC recovered till the D2 phase corresponding to the counter light phase. The pigments destruction also resulted in Chl a fluorescence (Fv/Fm, Fv׳/Fm׳, Y(II), rETR) emission decline. In addition, PAB exposure accelerated free radicals generation with induced protein oxidation (RCG) and antioxidative enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) as counteract defense during the light phase. The overall circadian regime facilitated the resynthesis fate of pigment-protein complexes and the mitigation of the high level of ROS production. This result suggests the unique survival strategy of the hot-spring cyanobacterium against ultraviolet radiation in a diurnal manner. This study also offers a deep understanding of the diurnal eco-physiological and biochemical responses of the cyanobacterium for the advancement in sustainable agricultural production with lower input in variable climate. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.