Research Projects

The project aimed to overcome the current challenges with plant-based antimicrobials and aid in the creation of innovative green antifungal formulations that could be use to control storage fungi and AFB1 mediated toxicity. Objective 1 Isolation, identification and molecular characterization of storage fungi and aflatoxin B1 producing Aspergillus flavus species from selected food grains (Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays, and Arachis hypogea procured from Varanasi region, Uttar Pradesh: The findings will provide the extent of fungal species including the toxigenic Aspergillus flavus associated with selected food grains. Objective 2 Development of novel green antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory formulation based on the strategic synergistic combination of selected plant-based compounds (listed under Generally Recognized as Safe for food additive): Deals with the use of mathematical modeling approach to design a novel synergistic antifungal formulation effective at low dose with less or no harm on food organoleptic properties. Objective 3 Synthesis and characterization of modified chitosan biopolymer for the encapsulation of developed antifungal formulations to boost their antimicrobial effectiveness against selected storage fungi and aflatoxin B1 production: It will also explore the potential application of modified chitosan biopolymer with high encapsulation yield and encapsulation efficiency as a carrier agent for plant-based compounds in the food system. Objective 4 Exploring the molecular insights of chitosan enriched green antifungal formulation in modulation of growth of storage fungi and aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis cluster genes: Biochemical, transcriptomic, RT-PCR and metabolomic approaches: Knowledge about the up-regulation and down-regulation of key genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis (prime target sites of action for Azole antifungal agents) and aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis cluster genes in response to treatment of developed antifungal formulation could help in development of novel antifungal and toxin inhibitory agents. This comprehensive assessment will enhance our understanding: • What are the key alterations in the metabolomic profile of Aspergillus flavus in response to treatment with developed plant-based antifungal formulation? • In what ways does the application of plant-based antifungal formulation influence the transcriptomic and metabolic profiles of Aspergillus flavus? Objective 5 deals with the investigating the integrative effects of food substrate composition and extrinsic factors in modulation of Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis cluster genes and antimicrobial effectiveness of developed chitosan-enriched green antifungal formulation. The findings will fill a critical gap in understanding the integrative effects of food substrate composition and developed antifungal formulation in modulation of growth of storage fungi and aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis.