Research interest in this laboratory concentrates on the physiology and biochemistry of synthesis and accumulation of biopolyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by diverse heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria isolated from natural environments. Efforts are being made to develop cost effective method for production of novel PHAs with improved properties from renewable resources and to link PHA synthesis with bacterial metabolism and differentiation.

There is a strong interest in studying intracellular utilization and mobilization of accumulated PHAs by intracellular PHA depolymerise (i-PHA depolymerise) as well as in vitro degradation of homo- and copolymers of short-chain-length hydroxyalkanoic acids (scl-PHAs) with emphasis on isolation and characterization of extracellular PHA depolymerises (e-PHA depolymarase).

Studies are also conducted on microbial ecology of serpentine soils, a naturally occurring metal-percolated ecosystem inhabited by endemic nickel hyperaccumulators. Diversity, metabolic physiology and metal resistance in serpentine and non-serpentine microflora are compared. Metal-microbe interactions in rhizo-microflora of metal hyperaccumulating plants are also studied for application in bioremediation approaches.

Microorganisms in chromite mining biotopes are another new field of research for exploring their potentials in metal prospecting and bioremediation. Bioleaching of metals from mine overburden and biosorption of metals help in removal and recovery of toxic metals. Chromium-resistant bacteria ubiquitous in chromite mine environment show bioreduction and bioaccumulation potential. Search for chromium reductases in bacteria from anthropogenic and geogenous sources are under progress.

Microbiology: fundamental and applied aspects of microbiology including Microbial Biotechnology.

Visiting Professor in the University of Yangon, Myanmar under the Tripartite Agreement between Union of Myanmar, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Ed.Cil in 2005 and 2006

Biotech Research Society

Association of Microbiologists of India

Indian Mycological Society

1. Arundhati Pal and A. K. Paul (2008) Microbial extracellular polymeric substances: central elements in heavy metal bioremediation. Indian J. Microbiol. 48: 49-64.

2. S. PalSaha, A. Patra and A. K. Paul (2007) Intracellular mobilization of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids-polyethylene glycol copolymer accumulated by Azotobacter chroococcum MAL-201. J. Biotechnol. 132 : 325-330.

3. M. Debnath, A.K. Paul and P.S. Bisen (2007) Natural Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnological Potential of Marine Bacteria. Curr. Pharma. Biotechnol. 8: 253-260.

4. Arundhati Pal, G. Wauters and A. K. Paul (2007) Nickel tolerance and accumulation by bacteria from rhizosphere of nickel hyperaccumulators in serpentine soil ecosystem of Andaman, India. Plant Soil 293: 37-48.

5. Puspita Sanyal, P. Samaddar and A. K. Paul (2006) Degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by some soil Aspergillus spp. J. Polym. Environ. 14: 257-263.

6. S. PalSaha, A. Patra and A. K. Paul (2006) Incorporation of polyethylene glycol in polyhydroxyalkanoic acid accumulated by Azotobacter chroococcum Mal 201. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 33: 377-383.

7. Arundhati Pal, Suchanda Ghosh and A. K. Paul (2006) Biosorption of cobalt by fungi from serpentine soil of Andaman. Biores. Technol. 97: 1253-1258.

8. S. PalSaha and A. K. Paul (2005) Intracellular degradation of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) accumulated by Azotobacter chroococcum MAL-201. Romanian Arch. Microbiol.64: 50-56.

9. Arundhati Pal, Sumana Dutta and A. K. Paul (2005) Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium by Cell-free Extract of Bacillus sphaericus AND 303 Isolated from Serpentine Soil. Curr. Microbiol. 51: 327 - 330.

10. Mahuya Mukhopadhyay, A. Patra and A. K. Paul (2005) Production of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by Rhodopseudomonas palustris SP5212. W. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 21:765-769.

11. Arundhati Pal, Suman Dutta, P. K. Mukherjee and A. K. Paul (2005) Occurrence of heavy metal-resistance in microflora from serpentine soil of Andaman. J. Basic Microbiol. 45(3) 207-218.

12. Arundhati Pal, Paramita Choudhury, Suman Dutta, P. K. Mukherjee and A. K. Paul (2004) Isolation and characterization of nickel-resistant microflora from serpentine soils of Andaman. W. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 20: 881-886.

13. Arundhati Pal and A. K. Paul (2004) Aerobic chromate reduction by chromium-resistant bacteria isolated from serpentine soil. Microbiol. Res. 159: 347-354.

14. S. PalSaha and A. K. Paul (2003) Induction of mutation in Azotobacter chroococcum MAL-201 for improvement of P(3HB) production. Romanian Arch. Microbiol. 62: 203-2215.

15. A. Manna and A. K. Paul (2003) Growth associated production and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) of Azotobacter beijerinckii DAR-102. Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 41: 129-134.

16. Soma Pal and A. K. Paul (2002) Physico-chemical characteristics of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) isolated from Azotobacter chroococcum MAL-201. Curr. Sc. 83: 1565-1568.

17. S. Raytapadar and A. K. Paul (2001) Production of an antifungal antibiotic by Streptomyces aburaviensis 1DA-28. Microbiol. Res. 155: 315-323.

18. Swapan Bhattacharyya and A. K. Paul (2001) Enhanced UV sensitivity of Thiobacillus ferroxidans resulting from caffeine and acriflavine treatment of irradiated cells. Curr. Microbiol. 43: 149-153.

19. Anupam Manna and A. K. Paul (2000) Degradation of microbial polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in environmental samples and in culture. Biodegradation 11: 323-329.

20. A. Manna, S, Pal and A. K. Paul (2000) Synthesis and accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) by Rhizobium sp. Acta Biol. Hung. 51: 73-82.

21. A. Manna, P. Giri and A. K. Paul (1999) Degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by soil streptomycetes. W. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 15: 705-709.

"Exploration and characterization of chromium reductase producing bacteria from anthropogenic and geogenous sources" sponsored by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi (PI: Dr. A. K. Paul)

"Diversity of metallophiles in eastern ghats: exploration and exploitation in metal prospecting and bioremediation" Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi (PI: Dr A. K. Paul)

"Investigating nickel resistance mechanism and biosorptive potential of Cupriavidus pauculus KPS 201 native to serpentines of Andaman" Funded by Department of Science Technology, New Delhi (PI: Dr. Arundhati Pal)

Dr. Arundhati Pal, DST Fast Track Young Scientist
Ms. Amrita Biswas
Ms. Suchhanda Ghosh, JRF (DBT)
Ms. Satarupa De, JRF (DBT)
Mr. Suvadip Neogi, JRF (CSIR)

Department of Microbiology, University Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Department of Biotechnology, NIIST, Trivandrum, India.
Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India.
Department of Chemistry, University of Burdwan, Burdwan, India