I have been working on Biology of Acinetobacter since last two and half decades and contributed significantly to science. My significant contributions in research in microbiology and biotechnology are summarized as follows.

 

Establishment of Acinetobacter as a novel plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and development of    novel Acinetobacter bioinoculum for growth of crop plants in India. This is the first report in the world.
   
Discovery of plasmid pUPI126 mediated indole acetic acid (IAA), its isolation, purification and characterization.
   
Discovery of plasmid pUPI126 mediated pyrolnitrin antibiotic production by Acinetobacter spp., isolation purification and characterization. This is the first report in the world.
   
Establishment of Acinetobacter as a novel biocontrol agent for phytopathogens
   
Discovery of Acinetobacter spp. as novel nitrogen fixing microorganism from rhizosphere of wheat.
 
  Discovery of 5 new species of Acinetobacter from rhizosphere and endophyte
   
Establishment of Acinetobacter spp. as commensal organism from healthy human skin and upper respiratory tract.
   
Demonstration of production of bioemulsifiers from commensal Acinetobacter genospecies.
   
Demonstration of lectins from commensal Acinetobacter genospecies from upper respiratory tract of healthy   humans.
   
Developed a novel method of isoelectric focusing (IEF) for the purification of bioemulsifier/s / biosurfactant/s.
   
Demonstration of complex formation between Ndk, pyruvate kinase (PK) and Pra in P.aeruginosa.
   
Isolation, purification and characterization of GTP binding protein in P. aeruginosa PAO1and elucidation of its role in alginate biosynthesis in Pseudomonas.
   
Transcriptional regulation of alginate promoters in P. aeruginosa PAO1.
   
Cloning and sequencing of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) gene from P. aeruginosa PAO1and elucidation of its role in alginate biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa.
   
Discovery of ras oncogene homolog in P. aeruginosa called Pseudomonas ras like protein (Pra).
   
Plasmid encoded antibiotic resistant gene escape model developed in the soil microcosm and environment.
   
Discovery of plasmid mediated silver and antibiotic resistance plasmid (pUPI276) from Acinetobacter baumannii BL54.
   
Discovered large number of naturally occurring antibiotic and metal resistance plasmids in Acinetobacter genospecies (Agr, Hgr, Cur, Cdr, Asr). Phenomena of metal resistance first time demonstrated in genus Acinetobacter.
   
Discovery of 15 Md multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) transposon (Tn3216) in Acinetobacter baumannii and successfully demonstrated its inter generic transfer and mechanism of resistance to multiple antibiotics.
   
Established the plasmid transfer system for 17 incompatibility groups of vector plasmids with respect to PAV2 mediated restriction modification system on Acinetobacter calacoaceticus EBF65/65.
   
2 USA patents on Acinetobacter genospecies through World Treaty Organization (WTO).
   
Large numbers of Acinetobacter spp. are deposited in National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (NCIM), Pune, National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune and Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC), Chandigarh, India, Japanese Culture Collection, and German Culture Collection, etc. This has become a valuable gene pool to the Country.
   

Patenting of microorganisms and preservation of gene pool of microorganisms.
   
Developed a new method of IEF for purification of bioemulsifier from marine Acinetobacter spp.
   
Developed a new medium (Chopade and Kazmipour Medium) for Acinetobacter spp. and other Gram negative bacteria.
   
Discovery of 5 new species of Acinetobacter from endophytic root of pearl millet.
   
Discovery of novel bioemulsifier/biosurfactant from Halomonas spp from marine environment
   
Deposited large number of DNA sequences in GenBank.
   
Discovery of two new species of Acinetobacter and other from rhizosphere/rhizoplane of wheat.
   
Discovery of biosurfactants from Halobacterium halobium.