I am a passionate research scientist working in the fields of molecular microbiology and plant pathology. Currently I am working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Texas A&M University trying to unravel the network assemblage and the crucial role of the pathobiome causing disease in cotton plants.

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I have been captivated by the sheer ability of diverse microbial species in the environment establish various modes of molecular interactions that lead to the formation of complex microbial communities. These microbial interactions promote the activation of cryptic biosynthetic pathways, thereby leading to the production of secondary metabolites, that possess not only defense functions but also steer cell to cell communication and other interactive dynamics.

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We previously characterized the mutualistic relationship between the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans and the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Our studies provide evidence of their spatial and metabolic interaction that facilitate inter-species communication, thereby exploring untraveled environmental niches and obtaining nutrients. It is understandable that there are extensive untraveled territories of microbial communities. Confronting this interactive nature, further bipartite interactive dynamics of growth and motility of an array of environmental fungal and bacterial species were investigated. To visualize their genomic potential and expression in coexistence, subsequent to their phenotypic characterization, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses were employed which assisted in defining the factors that may help establish and maintain the relationships of the microbes in the microbial network setting. This research approach impart insights to the significant contribution of symbiosis that regulates the fungal-bacterial species specific interactions.

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