Area
Faculty | School of STEMOffice Phone
706-865-2134, ext. 6402Location
Miller Building Room 211- The Endeavour Executive Fellowship Research (Bacterial Stress Response): Murdoch University, WA, Australia
- Postdoctoral Research (Bacterial-Plant Interactions): National Academy of Agricultural Science, South Korea.
- Further ed. (Coursera): Essentials of Global Health, Yale University
- Further ed. (Coursera): Human Physiology, Duke University
- PhD (Microbiology): Calicut University, India
- MSc (Microbiology): Mangalore University, India
- Principles of Biology I & II
- Microbiology
- Medical Microbiology
- Environmental Microbiology
- Ecology
- Capstone Research
- Human Biology
- Biology Internship
- Discipleship
At the Sociomicrobiology & Microbial Interactions Laboratory (SMIL) of the school of STEM, Dr. Paul focuses his research on bacterial communication. Communication is the sole means by which effective networking and co-existence is accomplished amongst living beings. Bacteria have their own chit-chats that carefully coordinate their effective strategies via certain signal molecules that includes N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL). This Quorum Sensing (QS) regulated biofilm formation and virulence factor secretion are of concern as they are involved in surface-attachment, toxicity, and pathogenicity. Targeting QS is a promising strategy to inhibit undesirable bacterial traits and is referred to as Quorum Quenching (QQ). A clear understanding of the inhibitors of microbial communication systems is vital to dismantle their networking and co-working. The (SMIL) employ various phytomolecules as quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) to cut off communication between these bacteria, so as to hinder their combinatorial attacks. Metabolites of various soil microorganisms are also sought as effective QSI candidates. Researchers at the SMIL use naturally occurring QSI molecules towards biofouling-control of membranes. Natural compounds are also explored as QSI agents to control plant diseases.
Dr. Paul has published several research papers in the area including book chapters.
- Endeavour Executive Fellowship Award (2015) Dept. of Education, Australian Government
- Awards for Excellence in Teaching- (2008, 2011, 2012), Konkuk University, Seoul, Rep. Korea
- Young Scientist Award (2004). Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, India
- Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN
- The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative
- Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education-Government of India- (2018)
- American Society for Microbiology
- Member, Topical Advisory Panel (Molecular Microbiology) of ‘International Journal of Molecular Sciences’
- Linking Soil Microbial Diversity to Modern Agriculture Practices: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022), 19, 3141.
- Novel Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Bacterial Communities from Diverse Ecosystems and their Impact on Environment. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. (2021) 33, 102005
- Biodiversity of pesticide degrading microbial communities and their environmental impacts. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. (2020) 31. 1-16.
- Saline microbiome: Biodiversity, ecological significance and potential role in amelioration of salt stress in plants. In: Rastegari et al (eds) New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Trends of Microbial Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture and Biomedicine Systems- Diversity and Functional Perspectives, Elsevier, Amsterdam, (2020) pp. 283-310.
- Lesson from Ecotoxicity: Revisiting the Microbial Lipopeptides for the Management of Emerging Diseases for Crop Protection. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020), 17(4), 1434.
- Seed Biopriming with Salt-Tolerant Endophytic Pseudomonas geniculata-Modulated Biochemical Responses Provide Ecological Fitness in Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown in Saline Sodic Soil. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020), 17, 253.
- Ultrasound mediated accelerated Anti-influenza activity of Aloe vera. Scientific Reports (2018) 8:17782 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35935-x
- Earthworm Grazed-Trichoderma harzianum Biofortified Spent Mushroom Substrates Modulate Accumulation of Natural Antioxidants and Bio-Fortification of Mineral Nutrients in Tomato. Frontiers in Plant Sciences (2018) 9:1017. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01017
- Pertinency of Pulsed Sonication for Activating Commercial Yeast Clusters. Journal of Cluster Science (2018) 29(10). doi: 10.1007/s10876-018-1376-4
- Exploration of rice husk compost as an alternate organic manure to enhance the productivity of blackgram in Typic Haplustalf and Typic Rhodustalf . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2018) 15, 358. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020358
- Enhanced Harnessing of the Graviola Bioactive Components Using a Neoteric Sonication Cum Microwave Coadjuvant Extraction Protocol. Applied Sciences (2018), 8, 232.
- Nature to the natural rescue: Silencing Microbial Chats. Chemico-Biological Interactions (2017) 25;280:86-98. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2017.12.018.
- Nature nominee Quercetin’s anti influenza combat strategy – demonstrations and remonstrations. Reviews in Medical Virology (2017). 27, 3, e1930. doi: 10.1002/rmv.1930
- Methylotrophic bacteria in the sustainable agriculture. World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (2016) 32:120, DOI: 10.1007/s11274-016-2074-8
- Bactericidal activity of green tea extracts: the importance of catechin containing nano particles. Scientific Reports (2016). 6, 19710; doi: 10.1038/srep19710
- Combined effects of curcumin and epigallocatechin gallate on inhibition of N-acylhomoserine lactone-mediated biofilm formations in wastewater bacteria. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (2015) 25(11), 1908–1919 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1506.06010
- Bioremediation of Heavy Metals from Soil and Aquatic Environment: An Overview of Principles and Criteria of Fundamental Processes. Sustainability (2015)., 7, 2189-2212; doi:10.3390/su7022189
- Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria to improve crop growth in saline soils: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development (2014). 34:4,737-752 (DOI: 10.1007/s13593-014-0233-6)
- N-acyl homoserine Lactone-Mediated Quorum Sensing with Special Reference to Use of Quorum Quenching Bacteria in Membrane Biofouling Control. BioMed Research International (2014). Article ID 162584, 25 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/162584
- Quorum Quenching Mediated Approaches for Control of Membrane Biofouling. International Journal of Biological Sciences (2014). 10(5):547-562. doi:10.7150/ijbs.9028
- Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Biofouling Bacteria and Profiling of Quorum Sensing Signal Molecules from Membrane Bioreactor Activated Sludge. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2014). (15), 2255-2273. doi:10.3390/ijms15022255
- Aqueous plant extracts as possible Quorum Sensing Inhibitory (QSI) agents against soft rot caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum in tobacco, Journal of pure and applied microbiology (2014). 8(1), 63-68.
- Identification of volatiles produced by Cladosporium cladosporioides CL-1, a fungal biocontrol agent that promotes plant growth. Sensors. (2013) 13(10), 13969-13977.
- Osmo-adaptation in Rhizosphere Bacteria. Basic Microbiol. (2013). 53: 101–110
- Effect of N-acetylcysteine on the Biofouling of Reverse Osmosis Membrane. Desalination (2012) 285:184-187.
- Vanillin a Potential Agent to Prevent Biofouling of Reverse Osmosis Membrane. Biofouling (2010). 26(6) : 667-672.
- 2(5H)-Furanone as quorum quenching agent: A prospective strategy for biofouling-control in membrane systems. Brazilian J. Microbiol. (2010). 41:227-234.
- L-Alanine Augments the Rhizobacterial ISR (Induced Systemic Resistance) in Cucumber as Evidenced through RT-PCR Analysis. Folia Microbiologica (2009) 54 (4), 322–326
- Application of Quorum Quenching to Inhibit Biofilm Formation. Environmental Engineering Science (2009). 26(8): 1319-1324.
- Inhibition of Quorum Sensing Mechanism and Aeromonas hydrophila Biofilm Formation by Vanillin. Environmental Engineering Science (2009). 26(8): 1359-1363.
- Stress adaptations in a Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacterium (PGPR) with increasing salinity in the coastal agricultural soils. Journal of Basic Microbiology. (2008). 48(5) 378-384.
- Microbial diversity of culturable heterotrophs in the rhizosphere of salt marsh grass, Porteresia coarctata (Tateoka) in a mangrove ecosystem. Journal of Basic Microbiology. (2008) 48: 10-15.
- Characterization of the Predominant Bacterial Population of Different Mangrove Rhizosphere Soils using 16S rRNA gene-Based Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP). World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (2008). 24(3): 387-394.
- Hyaluronic acid of Streptococcus Induce Systemic Resistance in Cucumber against Anthracnose disease. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (2008). 24 (7): 1153-1158
- Induced Systemic Resistance by Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 Suppressed Bacterial Wilt in Tomato Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Plant Pathology Journal. 23 (1): 22-25(2007). Induced Systemic Resistance by Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 Suppressed Bacterial Wilt in Tomato Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Plant Pathology Journal. (2007). 23 (1): 22-25
- Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 – Mediated Growth Promotion and Disease Suppression in Rice (Oryza sativa). Plant Pathology Journal (2006) 22(3): 278-282.
- Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 – Mediated Systemic Resistance against Potato Virus X and Y in the field. Plant Pathology Journal. (2006) 22(4): 360-363.
- Proteomics of a Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens MSP-393 subjected to salt shock. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. (2006) 22(4):369-374.
- Osmotolerance in biocontrol strain of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes MSP-538: A study using osmolyte, protein and gene expression profiling. Annals of Microbiology. (2005) 55(4) 243-247.
- Mycolytic enzymes produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma spp against Phytophthora capsici, the foot rot pathogen of black pepper (Piper nigrum). Annals of Microbiology (2005). 55(2): 45 – 49.
Biography
Dr. Diby Paul received his PhD in Microbiology in 2004 and then pursued his post-doctoral research in the area of Plant-Microbe interactions. His post-doctoral work included research on Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, microbial ecology of the rhizosphere and salt-stress tolerance in bacteria. After brief stints as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in South Korea, he joined Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea as an Assistant Professor in 2007. There, he supervised research on disruption of bacterial biofilm formation on surfaces. He published several research articles on Quorum Quenching Phytomolecules that disrupts bacterial communication system, the so-called, Quorum Sensing. In the fall of 2018, Dr. Paul joined Truett McConnel University as an Associate Professor of Biology.
Dr. Paul’s current research at the Sociomicrobiology & Microbial Interactions Laboratory (SMIL) of the school of STEM, are centered on the use of beneficial microorganisms and Quorum Quenching Phytomolecules. He believes that these beneficial microorganisms in the natural environment and Phytomolecules from medicinal plants are liberally packed and deposited by Creator God into the nature to protect and to heal. God has created everything beautiful and perfect. Dr. Paul thinks it’s exciting as a Scientist, to explore what God has created for us in this beautiful earth, to heal and for harmony.
Dr. Paul believes, every class meeting should be platforms for students to create ideas based on strong foundations of scientific knowledge and spiritual truth. The Bible says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Dr. Paul has been active in campus Christian ministries in preaching the Word of God and he has ministered in Korean, Chinese, Mongolian, African and other multicultural churches. He understands that true hope is found in Christ alone and truth will set people free. He believes, It’s the mission of a Christian professor to equip students with faith in Jesus Christ and to raise up a generation, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who will carry the presence of God in their personal lives, family, and society.