Vidhya Prakash currently serves as Assistant Professor at Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri. She received her Master's in Microbiology from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore in 2004.
Professional Affiliations (Roles): Currently serves as Academic coordinator, UG Programs, School of Biotechnology.
Educational Qualification
- 2002-2004: M. Sc. (Microbiology)
GRD College of Science, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 2004: PG Diploma in Bioinformatics
GRD College of Science, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore
Research Interests
- Probiotics /Prebiotics /Functional Foods/Fermented food Microflora
- Probiotic mediated control of infections in Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model
- Synergistic investigations with probiotic/phytochemical combinations
- Bacteriocins Isolation, Purification and Applications
- Probiotics in Waste water treatment
Research Lab Association
Sanitation Biotechnology Lab
Funded Projects
- Contributed to Development of bacteriophages and lytic agents to target and kill pathogens and odour-producing bacteria in faecal waste / Funded by DBT-BIRAC-BMGF (Govt of India - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) (Completed)
Awards/Honors/Recognitions
- Best Young Researcher Award at Biospectrum 2019 - International Conference on Advances in Food and Industrial Biotechnology.
Extension Activities
Subject matter expert (SME) in field of Microbiology developing Sakshat Amrita Virtual Labs project which is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) under National Mission on Education (NME) through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Amrita .
Subject matter expert in Biology for Online learning labs (O-labs), educational initiative pioneered by CREATE @ Amrita, in partnership with CDAC, Mumbai under a research grant from the Department of Information Technology,Government of India.
Under Graduate Dissertations Guided (BRITE Projects)
- Investigations on probiotic characterization of L. plantarum and L. casei isolated from indigenous food (2020)
- Studies on characterisation of probiotic properties of Lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented foods (2019)
- Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Vanadium pentoxide Nanofibrils (2019)
- Probiotic mediated control of enteric infections in C.elegans (2018)
- Antagonistic Effects of Bacteriocins from Lactobacillus Spp. against Enteric Pathogens. An in vivo study (2017)
- Studies on antagonistic effects of partially purified bacteriocins from microflora of fermented vegetables against enteric pathogens (2016)
- Effects of Nisin in enhancing the efficiency of conventional antibiotics against a few enteric pathogens: An in vitro study.(2015)
- Screening, Identification and characterization of Bacteriocins isolated from wine flora (2014)
- Partial purification and characterization of bacteriocins from fermented carrot.(2013)
- Studies on biofilm inhibition and antibacterial activity of plant extracts against dental plaque pathogens (2012)
- Enhancement of biodegradative activity in commercial and lab scale compost preparations with lignocellulolytic bacteria and nitrogen fixing bacteria as supplements-a comparative study (2011)
- Antimicrobial activity of different plant parts and their comparative effect with antibiotics (2010)
- Bio enhancing property of cow’s urine in combination with antibiotics and natural plant extracts (2010)
- Effects of inorganic salts on antibacterial effects of phenolic compounds (2010)
PG Dissertations Guided
- Evaluation of virulence factors and resistance genes in Staphylococcus warneri & Lactobacillus strains isolated from fermented foods (2020)
- Studies on enhancing synergistic effects of protective cultures with oxyresveratrol: an in vitro study (2020)
- Partial purification and characterisation of potential bacteriocin producers from fermented rice water. Dissertation submitted to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam (2017)
Teaching
- MIC180 / Introductory Microbiology Lab / 2 Credits / B.Sc. Biotechnology & B.Sc. Microbiology Semester 1
- MIC100 / Introductory Microbiology / 3 Credits / B.Sc. Biotechnology & B.Sc. Microbiology Semester 1
- MIC207 / Food Microbiology / 3 Credits / B.Sc. Microbiology Semester 4
- MIC283 / Food Microbiology Lab / 3 Credits / B.Sc. Microbiology Semester 4
- MIC214 / Microbial Physiology and Metabolism / 4 Credits / B.Sc. Microbiology Semester 4
- MIC402 / Microbial Physiology / 2 Credits / M.Sc. Microbiology Semester 1
- MIC 407 / Microbiology / 2 credits / M.Sc. Biotechnology & Microbiology Semester 1
- MIC 480 / Microbiology Lab / 2 credits / M.Sc. Biotechnology & Microbiology Semester 1
- MIC 503/Food Microbiology/2 credits/M.Sc Microbiology/Semester 3
- BIO485/Industrial Biotechnology Lab/2 Credits/M.Sc. Biotechnology & M.Sc. Microbiology/Semester 3
- MIC509/Environmental & Agricultural Microbiology/3 Credits/M.Sc. Microbiology/Semester 3
- BIO399/ B.Sc Dissertation/Thesis /7 Credits/B.Sc. Biotechnology & B.Sc. Microbiology/Semester 6
- MIC599/M.Sc. Dissertation/Thesis/ 10 credits/M.Sc. Biotechnology & M.Sc Microbiology/Semester 4
Publications
| Year of Publication | Title |
|---|---|
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2020 |
Pradeesh Babu, Veedu, A. Palillam, Vidhya Prakash, Megha Prasad, Amrita Salim, Madhavan, A., Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Pal, S., “Draft Genome Sequence of a Lactobacillus fermentum Strain Isolated from Domestic Sewage in Kerala, India”, Microbiology Resource Announcements, vol. 9, 2020.[Abstract] We report the draft genome sequence of a putative probiotic strain, Lactobacillus fermentum ASBT-2, isolated from domestic sewage in Kerala, India. The strain showed probiotic properties (tolerance to low pH and bile salts, binding to host matrix) and reduced the coliform count by 90% in a biofilter used to treat wastewater. More »» |
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2018 |
Vidhya Prakash, H. Sreetha, K. H. Poornima, K. N. Lakshmimol, R. Regma, H. Fathima, T. V. Vishnu, S. Venu, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Dr. Sanjay Pal, “Antagonistic Effects of Bacteriocins from Lactobacillus Spp. against Enteric Pathogens”, Pollution Research Paper, vol. 37, pp. 128-134, 2018.[Abstract] Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are natural antimicrobial peptides or proteins with potential applications in food preservation and healthcare. The study aimed at screening and characterization of bacteriocins from the secretome of five Lactobacillus strains. We were able to screen the antagonistic potential of two strains, L. fermentum and L. casei 335 against the multidrug resistant pathogens, Escherichia coli MDR (multidrug resistant) and Salmonella typhi isolated from sewage. Different dialysate fractions of the Lactobacillus strains were screened by soft agar diffusion and microtitre inhibition assay. Dialysate fractions from ammonium sulfate precipitate, at 65% (LF 65) and at 90% (LF 90) from L. fermentum were tested. LF60 (40μg/mL) was found to be inhibitory to the growth of E. coli MDR strain. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) against biofilm formation were found to be 40μg/mL for both E. coli MDR and Salmonella typhi, though inhibition was found at sub MIC of 20 μg/mL. Biofilm dispersal inhibition of E. coli MDR and S. typhi demonstrated a percentage inhibition rate of 50%. For initial characterization of the proteome of LAB strains, Tricine SDS-PAGE was performed which yielded a protein band of molecular size of 11 kDa from LF 60 fractions. Gel overlay assay showed an inhibitory effect on growth of E. coli MDR, indicating the presence of bacteriocin activity. Caenorhabditis elegans was employed as a nematode model to study the in vivo protection against E. coli MDR. Significant enhanced survival (91%) of the nematode was observed on treatment with LF 60. The efficacy of these partially purified preparations in inhibiting enteric pathogens showcase a prospective strategy of application of these antimicrobials in food and other environmental applications where cost of purification is of concern. More »» |
| Year of Publication | Title |
|---|---|
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2019 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus fermentum strains isolated from rice water and lemon pickle”, Proceedings of Biospectrum-2019; International Conference on Advances in Food and Industrial Biotechnology. 2019. |
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2017 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Partial Purification and Characterisation of Potential Bacteriocin Producers from Fermented Rice Water”, Proceedings of 27th Swadeshi Science Congress. 2017. |
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2016 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Studies on Antagonistic Effects of Partially Purified Bacteriocins from Microflora of Fermented Vegetables Against Enteric Pathogens”, NextGen Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics and Technologies (NGBT) Conference. 2016. |
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2015 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Detection, Partial Purification and Characterization of Bacteriocins from Microflora of Pineapple Wine”, Kerala Science congress . 2015. |
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2015 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Effects of Nisin in Enhancing the Effect of Conventional Antibiotics against a Few Enteric Pathogens: An in Vitro Study”, Proceedings of International Conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology (NHBT-2015). 2015. |
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2013 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Studies on Biofilm Inhibition and Antibacterial Activity of Plant Extracts Against Dental Plaque Pathogens”, International Conference on Biotechnology for Innovative Applications Amrita Bioquest 2013. 2013. |
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2013 |
Vidhya Prakash, ,, Surendran, S., Krishnan, A., Mohan, A., Nair, P., and Nair, B., “Studies on biofilm inhibition and antibacterial properties of plant extractsagainst Streptococcus mutans”, Amrita Bioquest 2013. 2013. |
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2011 |
Vidhya Prakash, “Enhancement of Biodegradative Activity in Commercial and Lab Scale Compost Preparations with Lignocellulolytic Bacteria and Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria as Supplements - A Comparative Study”, Proceedings of International Conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology (NHBT-2011). 2011. |
Related
Dr. Saswata Barpanda
Associate Professor
Lakshmi Mohan
Asst. Professor
Ambili S. Nair
Asst. Professor
