Area
Faculty | School of STEMOffice Phone
706-865-2134, ext. 6402Location
Miller Building Room 211- The Endeavour Executive Fellowship Research (Microbiology): Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Postdoctoral Research (Plant-Microbial Interactions): National Academy of Agricultural Science, South Korea
- Certificate, Essentials of Global Health: Yale University, USA
- Certificate, Human Physiology: Duke University, USA
- PhD Microbiology: Calicut University, India
- MSc Microbiology: Mangalore University, India
- General Microbiology
- Medical Microbiology
- Principles of Biology I & II
- Concepts in Biology
- Ecology
- Capstone Research
- Discipleship
At the Socio-Microbiology & Microbial Interactions Laboratory (SMIL) in the School of STEM, Dr. Paul focuses his research on bacterial communication. Effective networking and co-existence among living beings rely on communication, and bacteria have their own ways of “chatting” through specific signal molecules, such as N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL). This process, known as Quorum Sensing (QS), regulates biofilm formation and virulence factor secretion, which are critical for surface attachment, toxicity, and pathogenicity. To counteract these undesirable bacterial traits, the strategy known as Quorum Quenching (QQ) targets QS. Understanding inhibitors of microbial communication systems is crucial for disrupting their networks and cooperative behaviors.
At SMIL, researchers use various phytomolecules as quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) to interfere with bacterial communication, thereby preventing their coordinated attacks. The lab also explores metabolites from various soil microorganisms as potential QSIs. These naturally occurring QSI molecules will be investigated as potential candidates for controlling pathogens in plants, animals, and humans.
Dr. Paul has published several research papers and book chapters on these topics.
- 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 earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology in 2004 and subsequently pursued post-doctoral research on plant-microbe interactions and bacterial stress adaptations. His work included studies on Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, rhizosphere microbial ecology, and bacterial tolerance to salt stress. After completing his post-doctoral fellowship at the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in South Korea, he joined Konkuk University in Seoul as an Assistant Professor in 2007. There, in addition to teaching Microbiology, he spearheaded research on disrupting bacterial biofilm formation on synthetic reverse osmosis membranes and published numerous articles on quorum-quenching phytomolecules, which interfere with bacterial communication systems known as quorum sensing.
In 2018, Dr. Paul joined Truett McConnell University as an Associate Professor of Biology. He teaches a range of Biology courses, including Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Ecology, and Principles of Biology. His teaching philosophy emphasizes developing critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills in his students. Dr. Paul also mentors undergraduate Biology capstone students, guiding them in innovative research projects across various cutting-edge areas of the field.
At the Sociomicrobiology & Microbial Interactions Laboratory (SMIL) within the School of STEM, Dr. Paul’s current research focuses on investigating phytomolecules to mitigate undesirable microbial properties. As a scientist, he draws profound inspiration from exploring the natural world’s healing potential, which remains central to his academic and research endeavors.