Overview
The main research focus of the department is to understand the effects of contaminants and environmental stressors on human health and ecosystem function. The Department pursues research on a broad range of topics such as the biodegradation of toxic pollutants, the development of novel molecular tools for the detection of pathogenic bacteria, microbial ecology of contaminated ecosystems, geo-microbiology, soil nutrient cycling, and development of sustainable waste management and agriculture practices. Conventional microbiological tools along with the most advanced molecular tools (metagenomics and metatranscriptomics) are being employed to understand the diversity, distribution, and ecophysiology of archaea in the environment and their implications for public health. The research mission and goals of DEHT possibly identify and understand the key processes that affect public health and the environment, and help the government agencies to evaluate the risk assessment of pollutants. Faculty and students of DEHT seek practical solutions to complex environmental problems by interdisciplinary and integrative approaches.
Thrust Areas
- Risk Assessment of Environmental Contaminants
- Development of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) as a Plastic Alternative
- Interaction of Bdellovibrio Predatory Bacterium with Plant Pathogens
- Propagation of Trees and Medicinal Plants in vitro
- Host-microbe Interaction and Environmental Toxicants
- Degradation and Mitigation of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC's) using Biological Agents
- Bioremediation
- Phytoremediation
- Metabolite Analysis
Dr. DIVYASHREE M
- Designation Scientist (G-I)
- Email divyashree.m@nitte.edu.in
- Joining date
After competing my Ph.D., I have worked as Research associate and joined NUCSER as Scientist (G-I) in 2019. My research interest includes Infectious Disease Biology (Bacteriology), Antimicrobial Resistance, Food Microbiology and Biopolymers.
- Doctor of Philosophy - Allied Health Sciences (2017) – K S Hegde Medical Academy, NITTE University, Deralakatte
- MSc Microbiology (2009) - Manasagangotri, University of Mysore, Mysore
- Scientist G-I, Center for Science Education and Research, NITTE University, Mangalore (October 2019-till date)
- Research Associate, Center for Science Education and Research, NITTE University, Mangalore (April 2017-October 2019)
- Executive – Quality Control, Agila Specialities Private limited (Sterile Product Division) Bangalore (2010-2011)
- nfectious Disease Biology (Bacteriology)
- Antimicrobial Resistance in hospital and hospital wastewater
- Food Microbiology: gut microbiome, probiotics
- Biopolymer production: Polyhydroxyalkanoates a microbial plastic
- Predatory Bacterium - Bdellovibrio spp.
- SportCo-ordinator, NUCSER
- Member, Student welfare committee, NUCSER
- Member, I-CASA, NUCSER
- Divyashree M, Shama Prakash K, Veena Shetty A, Karunasagar I. Antibiotic Resistance in Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Effluents of Tertiary Care Hospitals (2015). Int J of Health Sci Res, 27-33.
- Veena Shetty, Divyashree M, Deekshit V.K, Avinash Shetty, Indrani Karunasagar. A poster on "Emergence of New Delhi Metallo-β - Lactamase (NDM - 1) - Encoding Gene among Gram Negative Bacteria Isolated from Hospital Effluents" has been published in International conference proceedings ID Week 2015 San Diego, CA.(IF: 3.2)
- M. Divyashree, Malathi Shekar, K. Shama Prakash, M. N. Venugopal, I. Karunasagar and A. Veena Shetty. Characterization of Extended Spectrum -Lactamase Producing and Non- Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Hospital and Fish Processing Plant Untreated Wastewaters (2015). Int J Curr Microbiol App Sci, 4(10): 179-189.
- Divyashree M, Deekshit V K, Krishna Kumar Ballamoole, Veena Shetty A, Anirban Chakraborty, Indrani Karunasagar. Occurrence of antibiotic resistance among Gram negative bacteria isolated from effluents of fish processing plants in and around Mangalore (2019). Int J of Environmental Health Research.
- Divyashree M, Madhu K Mani, Dhanasekhar Reddy, Ranjith Kumavath, Debmalya Barh. Clinical Applications of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs): where do we stand now? (2019) Protein and Pept Lett. 26, 1-15.
- Divyashree M, Madhu K Mani, Shama Prakash K, Deekshit VK, Veena Shetty A, Avinash K Shetty, Anirban Chakraborty, Indrani Karunasagar. Hospital wastewater treatment reduces NDM positive bacteria being discharged into water bodies (2019). Water Environment Research. 1-7.
- Divyashree M, Madhu K Mani, Mamatha B S, Sudarshan Kini. Algae and cyanobacteria as a source of novel bioactive compounds for biomedical applications. Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology, Elsevier Publication, Chapter 12, 2020.
- Suhan Alva, Divyashree M, Janardhana Kamath, P S Prakash, Shama Prakash K.A study on bicarbonate supplementation effect on the progression of chronic kidney disease (2020) Indian Journal of Nephrology. 30 (2)
- Aditya V, Kotian A, Saikrishnan S, Rohit A, Mithoor D, Karunasagar I, Deekshit VK. Effect of ciprofloxacin and in vitro gut conditions on biofilm of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical and environmental sources. J Appl Microbiol. (2021) 132.2 (2022): 964-977.
- Divyashree, M., Madhu K. Mani, and Indrani Karunasagar. "Association of exopolysaccharide genes in biofilm developing antibiotic-resistant Pseudomona s aeruginosa from hospital wastewater." Journal of Water and Health 20.1 (2022): 176-184.
- Ishani Bhat, Saisree Iyer, Venessa Fernandes, Divyashree M, Bangera Sheshappa Mamatha. Challenges in oral Bioavailability of Lutein. What to know about carotenoids. New York: Nova Science Publisher , 2021, 27-66.
- Divyashree, M., and Madhu K. Mani. "Detection and Real-time PCR Assay for the Quantification of Carbapenemase Gene [bla. sub. NDM-1] in Hospital Effluent." Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 15.4 (2021): 2403-2409.
- Rai P, Shetty SS, Prabell S, Kuntar A, Pinto D, Kumar BK, Divyashree M, Raj JRM, Premanath R, Deekshit VK, Karunasagar I, Karunasagar I. "Characterisation of broad-spectrum phiKZ like jumbo phage and its utilisation in controlling multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates." Microbial Pathogenesis 172 (2022): 105767.
UG students: 02 completed, PG students: 03 completed, 02 ongoing; PhD: 2 ongoing
Undergraduate: Basic Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Good Laboratory Practices
Post Graduate: Food Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, Molecular Diagnostics
Extramural
- Screening and production of Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB) by bacterial strains isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil using metagenomic approach. Principal Investigator, Funded by UGC-Faculty research promotion scheme, Start-up-Grant, 2021-2024
Intramural
- Isolation and activity evaluation of Bdellovibrio for hospital effluent isolates against biofilm forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Principal Investigator, funded by Nitte DU, 2021-2023.
DR. NEETHA NIRUPAM JATHANNA
- Designation Women Scientist -DBT BioCARe
- Email nirupam.neetha@nitte.edu.in
- Joining date
My area of research involves the isolation of novel strains of bacteria from ethnomedicinal plants and their application in the degradation process of various contaminants. Further, I also study the safety of the strain isolated and understand if these endophytic bacterial or fungal strains are safe for the environment.
Environmental biotechnology, Bioprocess technology bioremediation of contaminants, oil degradation, and toxicity assessment using biological systems are my areas of experimentation oriented towards contributing to the UN sustainable goal 3; 6;9;11; 15;13, and 14.
The purpose of my research is oriented towards developing sustainable methods to tackle the upcoming environmental problems concerned with pollutants and their toxicity.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Biotechnology), Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, Karnataka, April-2021
- Master of Science in biotechnology, Kuvempu University-2012
- Women Scientist -DBT BioCARe; Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research; 01-01-2024 -2026
- Research Associate; Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research; 04-11-2021 to 31-12-2023
- Research Coordinator; Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College (Autonomous), Ujire; 08-02-2021 to 11-11-2021.
- Junior Research Fellow (JRF); Clinical Embryology, Kasturba Medical College, MAHE; 02-06-2014 to 02-12-2014
- Phyto-symbionts and their applications
- Bioremediation and assessment of metabolite toxicity
- Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal metabolites of endophytes
AWARD
DST- AWSAR [AUGMENTING WRITING SKILLS FOR ARTICULATING RESEARCH] Topic: "Bacterial Endophytes: Nature's Hidden Battalion against Environmental Pollution"
Fellowship
NITTE TRUST FELLOWSHIP -2015-2018 DBT-BioCARe Women scientist-07-12-2023 (3 years)
• Member of student welfare committee, NUCSER
• Member, Women cell -NUCSER
- Neetha, J. N*, Girish Kumar Krishnamurthy, Mahendra Gowdru Srinivasa, Bilachi S. Ravindranath, Nidhi G Shetty (2024) Deciphering Phyto-Fungal dye concoction mitigation, degraded metabolite analysis, and assessment of ecotoxicity: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering: Impact: 7.7 (Accepted for publication)
- Neetha, J. N*., Kumar, G., Gopal, J., Hegde, S., Concepta, L., Ravindranath, B. S., & Gowdru, M. (2023). Phyto-bacterial biosorption of basic fuchsine : A self-sustainable approach towards biomitigation of contaminant of emerging concern. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 11(2), 109330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.109330. Impact: 7.7
- Keerthana, S. P. R. K. V, Sangam, P. A., Vinayaka, K. S., & Neetha. (2021). Statistical optimisation of saccharification process using Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tubers into fermentable sugars for bioethanol production in stirred tank batch reactor ( STBR ). Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 0123456789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01748-8. Impact: 4.0
- Neetha, J. N*., Ujwal, P., Kumar, K. G., Chidananda, B., & Goveas, L. (2021). Aerobic biodegradation and optimization of 2 , 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by E . hormaechei subsp . Xiangfangensis and assessment of biodegraded metabolite toxicity. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102055. Impact: 7.1
- Neetha, J. N., Sandesh, K., Kumar, K. G., Chidananda, B., & Ujwal, P. (2019). Optimization of Direct Blue-14 dye degradation by Bacillus fermus (Kx898362) an alkaliphilic plant endophyte and assessment of degraded metabolite toxicity. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 364, 742-751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.10.074. Impact: 13.6
- Neetha, J. N., Ujwal, P., Sandesh, K., Santhosh, H., & Girish, K. (2018). Aerobic biodegradation of Acid Blue-9 dye by Bacillus fermus Isolated from Annona reticulata. Environmental Technology and Innovation, 11, 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2018.06.007. Impact: 7.7
- Applications Benefitting Health; Editors: K. Arunkumar, A. Arun, Rathinam Raja, Ramasamy Palaniappan; Algae Materials., Chapter 25: Phytoremediation: Algae-based bioremediation. Rachel Carmelita Mathias, Sharanya Kushalan, Himamshu Hegde, Neetha Nirupam Jathanna, Sowmya Sharada P and Smitha Hegde ISBN: 9780443188169. Date of publication: February 17, 2023
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=gxwjfiEAAAAJ&hl=en
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=58083481900
PhD students: None
PG Students: None
UG Students: 1
Undergraduate- Biosafety and Bioethics, Environmental science
Postgraduate- Environmental and plant biotechnology, Bioprospecting and drug discovery, Bioprocess and fermentation technology, Microbial physiology
Extramural Funding
• DBT-BioCARe- 6th call "Eliciting degradation of contamination of emerging concern (CEC) using a novel endophytic bacterial consortium" 07-12-2023 to 07-12-2026
Intramural Funding
• NUSR-2024
Dr. Matam Pradeep
- Designation Assistant Professor Grade II
- Email .
- Joining date 01-09-2025
Dr. Pradeep holds a Ph.D. in the field of Agricultural Sciences from Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, with expertise in plant tissue culture and metabolomics. His doctoral research was focused on understanding the hypericin biosynthesis via dark gland regulation in Hypericum perforatum L using in vitro float seedling systems and analytical platforms. Later, post-doctoral research was worked on plant-nanoparticle interactions using in vitro studies, nanoadsorption, and green extraction strategies for purification and stability of high value plant secondary metabolites. Overall, he has 13 indexed publications in reputed journals like IJBM, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, PCTOC, chemosphere, industrial crops and products, etc., 2 book chapters in springers, and 1 process technology was developed and commercialised. At NUCSER, his research directed toward integrating tissue culture with metabolomic and nanotechnological approaches to optimize the production, recovery, and functional applications of bioactive compounds.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural Sciences), Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 2022
- Master of Science (Molecular Biology), Yuvaraja’s college, University of Mysore, 2012
- Post Doctorate, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland (Jan, 2023-Aug, 2025)
- Biologist, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland (Oct, 2022-Dec, 2022)rn
- Project JRF, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore (Jun, 2017-Mar 2018)rn
- Project Assistant-II, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore (Dec 2012-Mar 2017)
- Secondary metabolite biosynthesis and its regulation
- Sustainable production of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical and functional food applications
- Plant-nanoparticle interactions
Best Poster presentation award for the topic entitled ““Rapid Green Synthesis of Gold (Au) Nanoparticles Using Hypericum perforatum L. extract” at International Conference on Functional Nanomaterials and Nanodevices held in Warsaw, Poland from August 27 to 30th, 2023.
- Establishing research programs integrating metabolomics, tissue culture, and nanotechnology
- Curriculum development, research collaborations, and outreach activities.
All Publications: Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=uwzJecMAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Web of Science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/OBN-7300-2025
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5843-0378
Web of Science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/OBN-7300-2025
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5843-0378
- Megha Saxena, Lakshmipathy Muthukrishnan, Matam Pradeep, Rajendran K Selvakesavan, Gregory Franklin, Dibyendu Mondal (2025). Circular valorization of Hypericum perforatum biomass into CuO-lignin and CuO-cellulose bionanocomposites for mitigating copper nanotoxicity in plants. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 146474. (IF-8.5)
- Matam Pradeep, Megha Saxena, Dibyendu Mondal, Gregory Franklin (2024). Do nanoparticles delivered to roots affect plant secondary metabolism? A comprehensive analysis in float seedling cultures of Hypericum perforatum L. Chemosphere. 356: 141789. (IF-8.1)
- Matam Pradeep, Dariusz Kruszka, Piotr Kachlicki, Dibyendu Mondal, Gregory Franklin (2022). Uncovering the Phytochemical Basis and the Mechanism of Plant Extract-Mediated Eco Friendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with a Photodiode Array and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 10 (1), 562-571. (IF-7.3).
- Matam Pradeep, Gregory Franklin (2022). Understanding the hypericin biosynthesis via reversible inhibition of dark gland development in Hypericum perforatum L. Industrial Crops and Products 182: 114876. (IF-6.2)
- Matam Pradeep, Piotr Kachlicki, Gregory Franklin (2020). Simultaneous determination of naphtodianthrones, emodin, skyrin and new bisanthrones in Hypericum perforatum L. in vitro shoot cultures. Industrial Crops and Products. 144: 112003. (IF-6.2).
PhD students: 0
PG Students: 0
UG Students: 03 (ongoing)
PG Students: 0
UG Students: 03 (ongoing)
Undergraduate-
Fundamentals of Tissue Culture; General Biochemistry; Physico-Chemical Separation Techniques; Upstream and Downstream Processing; Applications of Bioprocess Engineering; Analytical Techniques in Biotechnology
Postgraduate-
Plant Biotechnology; Fundamentals of Tissue Culture; Crop improvement; Phytochemistry and Secondary Metabolites; Upstream and Downstream Processing of Secondary Metabolites
Fundamentals of Tissue Culture; General Biochemistry; Physico-Chemical Separation Techniques; Upstream and Downstream Processing; Applications of Bioprocess Engineering; Analytical Techniques in Biotechnology
Postgraduate-
Plant Biotechnology; Fundamentals of Tissue Culture; Crop improvement; Phytochemistry and Secondary Metabolites; Upstream and Downstream Processing of Secondary Metabolites
Dr. SHILPA O
- Designation Assistant Professor G-I
- Email shilpa.raghavan@nitte.edu.in
- Joining date 04-08-2025
Dr. Shilpa completed her Ph.D. (Zoology) from Central University of Kerala and has post-doctoral experience from University of Calicut. Her specific area of research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking environmental toxicant exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using Drosophila as a model system. She is also engaged in developing neuroprotective strategies targeting neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases using in-vivo Drosophila model, Identification of ASD-associated novel genetic variants in the south Indian population and to identify potential biomarkers for early diagnosis.
• Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology), Central University of Kerala, 2022
• Master of Science, Animal Science, Central University of Kerala, 2014
• Master of Science, Animal Science, Central University of Kerala, 2014
- Assistant Professor, Nitte University Centre for science education and research, Mangaluru August 2025 – till date.
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Biotechnology), University of Calicut, Malappuram (2023 - 2025)
- Assistant Professor (Temporary), Payyanur College, Kannur University (August 2022- March 2023)
- Drosophila Biology and its applications in Toxicology
- Modeling neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder in Drosophila model
- Genotoxicity
- Oxidative stress
- Awarded Chief Minister's Nava Kerala Post Doctoral Research Fellowship (CMNKPDF) by Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), Govt. of Kerala, 2023
- Best Innovation Award, Innovation Fest, Organized by Innovation club of Central University of Kerala, India, 2019
- Best Innovator Award of Central University of Kerala, at AVISHKAR organized by Innovation club of Central University of Kerala, India, 2019
- Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) conducted by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 2016
- National Eligibility Test for Lectureship (NET) and UGC-JRF by CSIR & UGC, Govt. of India, 2016
- Life time member: The Indian Science Congress Association: Section: New. Bio. (Include. Biochem., Biophys. & Mol. Biol. & Biotech.)
- Malabar Awareness and Rescue Centre for Wildlife [MARC] Kannur, Kalliassery, India.
- Fraternity for” One-Health” Research and Conservation Education [FORCE] Ernakulum, India.
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=o7OJMekAAAAJ&hl=en
Web of Science:
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/OGP-5609-2025
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57196095050
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4551-3806
Web of Science:
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/OGP-5609-2025
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57196095050
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4551-3806
- Anet A, Anupama KP, Shilpa O, Shweta Dhannura, Shamasoddin S, Konkallu Hanumae Gowd, Gurushankara HP. Antimicrobial and antitumor properties of anuran peptide temporin-SHf induce apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells. Amino Acids. 2024. 56:12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-023-03373-3.
- Anet A, Shilpa O, Anupama KP, Shamasoddin S, Konkallu Hanumae Gowd, Gurushankara HP. Antitumor activity of Tigerinin-1: Necroptosis mediates toxicity in A549 cells. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects. 2022, 1866, 130182.
- Anupama KP, Shilpa O, Anet A, Shamprasad VR, Gurushankara HP. Jatamansinol from Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. Protects Aβ42-induced Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's Disease Drosophila Model. 2022. Neurotoxicology. 90, 62-78.
- Shilpa O, Anupama KP, Anet A, Gurushankara HP. Lead (Pb) induced oxidative stress as a mechanism to cause neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. 2021b. Toxicology. 462, 152959.
- Shilpa O, Anupama KP, Anet A, Gurushankara HP. Lead (Pb)-induced oxidative stress mediates sex-specific autistic-like behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster. 2021a. Molecular Neurobiology. 58, 6378-6393.
PhD students: None
PG Students: None
UG Students: None
PG Students: None
UG Students: None
Undergraduate- Model systems in Biomedical Research
Postgraduate- Genetics (Elective)
Postgraduate- Genetics (Elective)
