The laboratory is involved in following activities:

• Development of Real-Time PCR Probes (viz. Molecular Beacon, TaqMan, FRET, Scorpion) and Nano-Particle Probes for quantitative detection of microorganisms in water and food.

• Drug resistance and virulence gene profiles of pathogenic variants of water quality 'indicator' organisms, E. coli and Enterococci in surface & subsurface waters and processed waters.

• Detection of Pathogenic Microorganisms in Water and Food 
  Population growth and urban crowding has caused depletion in surface and subsurface water resources. Water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and gastroenteritis have been reported from geographically diverse locations in the country. 
  The laboratory has determined the profile and created a library of water-borne drug resistant and virulent E. coli and Enterococci strains present in raw and treated surface waters as well as ground waters in Lucknow and Kanpur city using microbiological, bioinformatics and molecular techniques. The profiles will be useful in pre- emptive monitoring for forecasting and management of outbreaks. The unique species-specific and strain-specific Real-Time PCR probes have been developed e.g. 'Molecular Beacon' for Enterotoxicogenic E. coli (ETEC), causative agent for 'Traveler's Diarrhea'. These probes will be useful in detection-monitoring of bacteriological contamination of water or food and clinical diagnostics in human population leading to reduction in treatment and hospitalization costs. 

Relevant Publications:

• S. Ram, P. Vajpayee and Rishi Shanker (2007) Prevalence of multi-drug resistant, shiga toxin and enterotoxin producing Escherichia coli in surface waters of river Ganga. Environmental Science & Technology 41: 7383-7388.

• S. Ram and Rishi Shanker (2005) Computing TaqMan probes for Multiplex PCR Detection of E. coli O157 serotypes in Water. In-Silico Biology 5: 1-6. 

• S. Ram and Rishi Shanker (2005) Plasmid and drug resistance of sorbitol non-fermenting cefixime-tellurite resistance Escherichia coli isolates from Gomti River. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology 75: 623-628.

• Bioremediation
  A microbiological process of great relevance to biosphere and present society is bioremediation. Our research has targeted the development of methodologies and strategies using microbes and plants that can help in transforming this idea into a useful technology for decontamination of surface and subsurface environments particularly soils. The following issues critical in bioremediation and phytoremediation of soils contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and recalcitrant halogenated compounds including agrochemicals have been addressed: 

• Genetically Engineered Bacteria

• Bacterial Consortia and "Microbial Inocula"

• Catabolic Genotypes in Microbial Communities for Remediation of Contaminated Soils

Relevant Publications:

• P. Padamanabhan and Rishi Shanker (2004). Strategies for Targeting Marker Bacterial Oxygenases Involved in Transformation of Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Soil. International Journal of Environmental Studies 61:709-717.

• J.S. Pandey, V. Joseph Rishi Shanker, R. Kumar and R.N. Singh (2004). Modelling the role of phytoremediation in mitigating groundwater contamination in India. Journal of Environmental Systems 30(3):1-13.

• S. Sukumaran, W. M. Atkins and Rishi Shanker (2002). Engineering Cytochrome P-450s: Chimeric Enzymes. Applied Biochemistry & Biotechnology 102-103:291-302.

• P. Vajpayee, A. Dhawan and Rishi Shanker (2006). Bacopa monnieri L. a wetland plant for eco-genotoxicity assessment using alkaline comet assay. Environmental Molecular Mutagenesis 47:483-489.

• Real Time PCR System (Bio-Rad iCycler)

• MiniCycler

• High Speed Centrifuge

• Gel Documentation System

• Freeze Dryer and Speed Vac System

• Freezers (-70^oC and -20^oC)

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