The 7th International Conference on Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (ABB 2024)

Abstract: Synthetic anionic surfactants find wide application in xenobiotic degradation and environmental remediation techniques. The toxicity of xenobiotic anionic surfactants and the environmental pollution caused by it is a matter of great concern. The role of biosurfactants in removing the xenobiotic Linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS), one of the most widely used synthetic anionic surfactants, is reported in this research work. LAS based rhamnolipid production by the isolates Pseudomonas aeruginosa L12 (MTCC 10462) was screened on minimal agar plates using cetyl trimethylammonium bromide-methylene blue method. The rhamnose sugar and alkyl chains of the rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa L12 were detected using Nuclear Magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis. The production of monorhamnolipid (C26H48O9) and dirhamnolipids (C32H58O13) were confirmed using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI TOF MS). The LAS degradation efficiency of a non biosurfactant producer Pseudomonas nitroreducence L4 was studied with and without rhamnolipid obtained from L12 and the results showed that rhamnolipid enhanced growth and LAS degradation rate. The biosurfactant production by the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa L12 (MTCC 10462) can be exploited for in situ xenobiotic degradation, a green technique which will increase bioremediation and decrease surfactant pollution simultaneously.

Biography: Dr Jisha MS is a Professor at School of Biosciences and Coordinator of National Institute of Plant Science and Technology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. She has been actively involved in research since 2003 and currently she has 19 yrs of teaching experience. She attained her PhD from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, (IARI) New Delhi, India. She was a gold medalist from UAS Dharwad New Delhi for M. Sc. in Microbiology (1993). She was also a recipient of ICAR Junior Research Fellowship and IARI Senior Research Fellowship. Her research area focuses mainly on microbial synthesis of nanoparticles, bioprospecting of endophytic microorganisms for bioactive compounds, exploration of plant growth promoting and biocontrol microorganisms and also biodegradation of xenobiotics. Being an active researcher, she has been the Principal Investigator of several external funded major research projects. She has also organized 11 workshops and seminars. She is a prolific writer whose published more than 100 research papers in prestigious national and international journals and presented 85 research papers in conferences. She has also edited 4 books and published 15 book chapters. She has produced 16 PhDs under her supervision. She is a lifetime member in several academic bodies. She has also filed 3 patents. Being an ardent academician, she is a recipient of multiple academic awards and has delivered invited talks at national and international conferences. She has also signed MoUs with several institutions and universities.