Expanding Horizon of Cyanobacterial Biology

Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram. He completed his Ph.D. degree from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. In his 14 years of research carrier, he has published more than 50 articles and book chapters and one book related to cyanobacteria and plant molecular biology. Dr. Singh also has exposure to various national and international institutes. Dr. Singh is also awarded by the Young Scientist Award and lifetime members of various scientific societies as well as reviewer of various peer reviewed journals. María F. Fillat earned the Ph.D. degree in Sciences (University of Zaragoza, Spain) in 1988. She completed her instruction as PhD student at the University of Konstanz (Germany) and Emory University (GA, USA) studying the role of flavoproteins flavodoxin and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase in photosynthetic electron transport and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria. From 1989 to 1991, Dr. Fillat worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Utrecht (The Netherlands) where she studied several aspects of molecular genetics in cyanobacteria. Since 2000, Dr. Fillat´s work is mainly focused in the functional study of FUR (ferric uptake regulation) proteins in cyanobacteria. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 1999 and Professor in 2012. Dr. Viji Sitther serves as a professor of biology at Morgan State University, USA. Her research specializes on the genetic manipulation of cyanobacteria and use of nanotechnological approaches for sustainable energy applications. She holds M.Phil., Ph.D. degrees in the biological sciences, and has more than 20 years of research experience. Her efforts to genetically engineer genes for salt tolerance and lipid production, and the use of plasmon-resonant nanomaterial for improved light capture have led to patents, and a start-up company, “HaloCyTech” reliant on the technology has been formed. Dr. Ajay Kumar is an Assistant Professor in Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, India. Dr. Kumar completed his Postdoc from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani center, Rishon Leziyon, Israel. Dr. Kumar has published more than 275 scientific contributions in the form of research and review articles, books or book chapters with leading International Journals or Publishers. He has wide area of research experience, especially in the field of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Microbial biocontrol, Postharvest management, Endophytes related with the medicinal plants and cyanobacteria-pesticides interactions.

• 1. Cyanobacterial diversity2. Cyanobacteria in extreme environment3. Cyanolichens: An Evolutionary perspective4. Cyanobacterial endophytes5. Polyphasic approaches for cyanobacterial diversity and their characterization6. Marine cyanobacterial diversity and ecology7. Cyanobacterial metabolomics and fluxomic: Role in understandings of cyanobacterial synthetic biology8. The exploitation of cyanobacteria for the production of bioactive compounds 9. Cyanotoxins and their implications on human health10. Bioprospecting of sponge-associated marine cyanobacterial species11. Antifouling potential of cyanobacteria 12. Molecular biology of non-ribosomal peptides (NRPSs) and polyketide (PKs) biosynthesis in cyanobacteria 13. Comparative genomics of the cyanobacteria for the biosynthetic diversity of bioactive compounds 14. Chemical pesticides and their impact on crop productivity and cyanobacterial diversity 15. Cyanobacteria mediated heavy metal and xenobiotics bioremediation16. Cyanobacterial biofilms, diversity, and conservation of cultural heritages17. Biochemical changes during the synthesis of nanoparticles in cyanobacteria18. Cyanobacteria as nanogold factory19. Cyanobacterial nanoparticles: Application in agriculture and allied sectors 20. Cyanobacteria nanoparticles: Evaluation of photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity21. Role of cyanobacterial nanoparticles in inhibition of bloom formation22. Biotechnological exploitation cyanobacterial nanoparticles23. Methanogenic cyanobacteria and their role in the environment 24. Cyanobacterial based biofertilizers and it’s limitations