Department of Science and Technology
Agharkar Research Institute
AGHARKAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Dr. Tushar Lodha

Google Scholar / Social Media

Name : Dr. Tushar Lodha

Designation : Scientist B

Brief Background :

A competent and passionate researcher with experience in studying microbial diversity of various habitats especially ‘not yet cultivated’, anaerobic, ammonia oxidizing bacteria (Anammox), anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB), genome enrichments, sequencing, comparative genomics, genome-based taxonomy. 

The microbes having potential antimicrobial compounds to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infections was discovered. 

I am working on a Bio-CNG process and extending the research area in  microbial electrosynthesis of biofuels. The potential conversion of biogas slurry into value-added products will be taken further. 

The group is aimed to work further on understanding the microbial dynamics of various ecosystems using next generation sequencing approach and developing new methods and techniques to increase the culturability of the not-yet cultured microbes and exploiting its biotechnological potential.

Contact Details :

tushardl@aripune.org, tushardlodha@gmail.com
Research Gate : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tushar-Lodha
  • B.Sc. Biotechnology, SPPU, Pune
  • M.Sc. Biotechnology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal
  • Ph.D. Microbiology, University of Hyderabad
  • Ph.D. topic: Mining bacteria for hopanoids and genomic insights of hopanogenesis; A critical analysis of global transcriptional response of shc mutant of Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1
  • Microbial electrosynthesis of Biofuel
  • Bio-CNG from different feedstocks: Pretreatment, optimization and process development
  • Microbial systematics and ecology

Publications:

  1. Holkar, SK., Ghotgalkar, PS., Lodha, T., Bhanbhane, VC., Shewale, SA., Markad, H., Shabeer, ATP., Saha, S. (2023) Biocontrol potential of endophytic fungi originated from grapevine leaves for management of anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. 3 Biotech, 13 (7), 1-20
  2. Mukherjee, S., Lodha, T., Madhuprakash, J. (2023) Comprehensive genome analysis of cellulose and xylan-active CAZymes from the genus Paenibacillus: Special emphasis on the novel xylanolytic Paenibacillus sp. LS1. Microbiology Spectrum, 11 (3), e05028-22
  3. Joshi, A., Thite, S., Lodha, T., Joseph, N., Mengade, P. (2023) Genomic insights of an alkaliphilic bacterium Halalkalibacter alkaliphilus sp. nov. isolated from an Indian Soda Lake. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 116 (5), 435-445
  4. Thorat, V., Kirdat, K., Tiwarekar, B., Dhanavade, P., Karodi, P., Shouche, Y., Sathe, S., Lodha, T., Yadav, A. (2023) Paenibacillus albicereus sp. nov. and Niallia alba sp. nov., isolated from digestive syrup. Archieves of Microbiology, 204, 127.
  5.   Ghare, U., Narvekar, S., Lodha, T., Mallebhari, R., Dastager, S., Barvkar, VT., Dhotre, D., Karmalkar, N., Pable, A. (2023) Bacterial communities and diversity of western ghats soil: A study of a biodiversity hotspot. Current Microbiology, 80 (4), 108
  6.   Sivaraman, GK., Gupta, SS., Visnuvinayagam, S., Muthulakshmi, T., Elangovan, R., Perumal, V., Balasubramanium, G., Lodha, T., Yadav A. (2022) Prevalence of S. aureus and/or MRSA from seafood products from Indian seafood products. BMC microbiology, 22 (1), 233
  7. Chauhan, NS., Joseph, N., Shaligram, S., Chavan, N., Joshi, A., Dhotre, D., Lodha, T., Shouche Y. (2022). Paenibacillus oleatilyticus sp. nov., isolated from soil. Archives of Microbiology, 204 (8), 516
  8.   Thorat, V., Tiwarekar, B., Kirdat, K., Chavan, S., Markad, S., Sathe, S., Lodha, T., Yadav, A. (2022). Hydrogenophaga crocea sp. nov. associated with cyanobacterial mat isolated from farmland mud. Archives of Microbiology, 204 (5), 265
  9.   Ray, P., Lodha, T., Biswas, A., Ramana Ch.V. (2022) Particle specific physical and chemical effects on antibacterial activities: A comparative study involving gold nanostars, nanorods and nanospheres. Colloids Surf, A Physicochem Eng Asp 634, 127915 .

10.Lodha T.#, Narvekar S. and Karodi K. Classification of uncultivated anammox bacteria and Candidatus Uabimicrobium into a new classes and provisional nomenclature as Candidatus Brocadiia classis nov. and Candidatus Uabimicrobiia classis nov. of the phylum Planctomycetes and novel family Candidatus Scalinduaceae fam. nov to accommodate the genus Candidatus Scalindua. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 44, 126272.

  1. Joshi A., Thite S., Karodi P., Joseph N., and Lodha T.# 2021. Alkalihalobacterium elongatum gen. nov. sp. nov. an antibiotic-producing bacterium isolated from Lonar Lake and reclassification of the genus Alkalihalobacillus into seven novel genera. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 722369.
  2. Kajale S., Deshpande N., Lodha T., Shouche Y. and Sharma S. 2021. Natronococcus pandeyae sp. nov. a novel haloarchaeon from Sambhar Salt Lake. Current Microbiology (Accepted).
  3. Jagtap C. B., Rama R. M., Tiwari O.K., Titus S., Lodha T.# 2021. Genome sequence of an obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium Alcanivorax marinus NMRL4 isolated from oil polluted seawater of the Arabian Sea. Marine Genomics. doi.org/10.1016/j.margen.2021.100875
  4. Thorat V., Kirdat K., Tiwarekar B., Debbarma P., Shouche Y., Sathe S., Goel R., Lodha T., and Yadav A. 2020. Pseudomonas lalkuanensis sp. nov., isolated from bacterial consortia of contaminated soil for the remediation of e-waste. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 70:6468–6475.
  5. Suresh G., Lodha T.*, Indu B., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2020. Corrigendum: Taxogenomics resolves conflict in the genus Rhodobacter: A two and half decades pending thought to reclassify the genus Rhodobacter. Front. Microbiol., 11:1111.
  6. Suresh G., Lodha T.*, Indu B., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2019. Taxogenomics resolves conflict in the genus Rhodobacter: A two and half decades pending thought to reclassify the genus Rhodobacter. Front. Microbiol., 10: 2480.
  7. Lodha T., Indu B., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2019. Transcriptome analysis of hopanoid deficient mutant of Rhodopseuodomonas palustris TIE-1. Microbiological Research. 218, 108-117.
  8. Suresh G., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2018. Rhodobacter alkalitolerans sp. nov. isolated from an alkaline brown pond. Archives of Microbiology, 200: 1487-1492.
  9. Lakshmi K.V.N.S., Lodha T., Abdullah M., Guruprasad L., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2018. Insights into the carbonic anhydrases and autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation pathways of high CO2 tolerant Rhodovulum viride JA756. Microbiological Research, 215: 130-140.
  10. Yadav S., Vaddavalli R., Siripuram S., Eedara R.V.V., Yadav S., Rabishankar O., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2018. Planctopirus hydrillae sp. nov., an antibiotic producing Planctomycete isolated from the aquatic plant Hydrilla and its whole genome shotgun sequence analysis. The Journal of Antibiotics, 71(6):575-583.
  11. Srinivas A., Divyasree B., Sasikala Ch., Lodha T., Bharti D. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Description of Jeotgalibacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov., isolated from a solar salt pan, and Jeotgalibacillus terrae sp. nov., a name to replace ‘Jeotgalibacillus soli’ Chen et al. 2010 Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 66, 5167-5172.
  12. Sasijyotsana T. S., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Erratum to Paraclostridium benzoelyticum gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment and reclassification of Clostridium bifermentans as Paraclostridium bifermentans comb. nov. Proposal of a new genus Paeniclostridium gen. nov. to accommodate Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium ghonii. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 66, 1268-1274.  
  13. Sravanthi T., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Alkalispirochaeta cellulosivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel cellulose hydrolyzing, alkaliphilic, halotolerant bacterium isolated from the gut of wood eating cockroach (Cryptocercus) and reclassification of four Spirochaeta spp. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 66,1612-9.
  14. Sasijyotsana T. S., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Paraclostridium benzoelyticum gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment and reclassification of Clostridium bifermentans as Paraclostridium bifermentans comb. nov. Proposal of a new genus Paeniclostridium gen. nov. to accommodate Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium ghonii. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 66, 1268-1274
  15. Sadaf K., Lodha T., Nirosha P., Appa Rao P., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Paenibacillus arachidis sp. nov., isolated from groundnut seeds. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 66, 2923-2928
  16. Srinivas A., Divyasree B., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Salinicoccus amylolyticus sp. nov., isolated from a saltern. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 66, 3814-3820
  17. Ramaprasad E.V.V., Lodha T., Bharti D., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2016. Rhodovulum algae sp. nov., isolated from an algal mat. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 66, 3367-3371
  18. Lodha T., Srinivas A., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2015. Hopanoid inventory of the genus Rhodoplanes. Archieves of Microbiology. 197, 861-867
  19. Shivani Y., Subhash Y., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2015. Spirochaeta lutea sp. nov., isolated from marine habitats and emended description of the genus Spirochaeta. Syst Appl Microbiol. 38, 110-114
  20. Lodha T., Sravanthi T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2015. Draft genome sequence of Spirochaeta sp. strain JC202, an endosymbiont of the Termite (Isoptera) gut. Genome Announc. 3, e01481-14
  21. Lodha T., Sasi Jyothsna T.S., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2015. Draft Genome sequence of antimicrobial-producing Clostridium sp. JC272, isolated from marine sediment. Genome Announc. 3, e00650-15
  22. Sravanthi T., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2015. Spirochaeta odontotermitis sp. nov., a novel obligately anaerobic, cellulolytic, halotolerant, alkaliphilic spirochaete isolated from the termite, Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) gut. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 65, 4589-94.
  23. Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2014. Draft genome sequence of Rhodomicrobium udaipurense JA643T with special reference to hopanoid biosynthesis. DNA Research. 21, 639-647
  24. Rahul D., Sasikala Ch., Lodha T., Roy D. and Ramana Ch.V. 2014. Alcanivorax xenomutans sp. nov., a hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium isolated from a shrimp pond. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 64, 3553-8
  25. Srinivas A., Vinay Kumar B., Divya Sree B., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch. V. 2014. Rhodovulum salis sp. nov. and Rhodovulum viride sp. nov., phototrophic Alphaproteobacteria isolated from marine habitats. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 64, 957–962
  26. Subhash Y., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana ChV. 2013. Erythrobacter odishensis sp. nov. and Pontibacter odishensis sp. nov. isolated from a dry soil of a solar saltern. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 4524-32
  27. Kathiravan R., Jegan S., Ganga V., Prabavathy V.R., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Ciceribacter lividus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 4484-8
  28. Vishnuvardhan S. R., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Cohaesibacter  haloalkalitolerans sp. nov., isolated from Lonar soda lake, India and emended description of the genus Cohaesibacter. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 4271-6
  29. Subhash Y., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Mongoliicoccus alkaliphilus sp. nov. and Litoribacter alkaliphilus sp. nov. isolated from salt pans. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 3457-62
  30. Ramana V.V., Shalem Raj P., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Rhodomicrobium udaipurense sp. Nov., a psychrotolerant phototrophic alphaproteobacterium isolated from a fresh water stream. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 2684-9
  31. Subhash Y., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Falsirhodobacter halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a dry soil of a solar saltern. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 2132-7
  32. Vishnuvardhan S.R., Aspana S., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Spirochaeta sphaeroplastigenens sp. nov., a novel halo-alkaliphilic, obligately anaerobic spirochaete isolated from soda lake Lonar, India. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 2223-8
  33. Subhash Y., Lodha T., Sasikala Ch. and Ramana Ch.V. 2013. Vogesella alkaliphila sp. nov., isolated from an alkaline soil, and emended description of the genus Vogesella. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 63, 2338-43
  34. Ramana Ch.V., Srinivas A., Subhash Y., Lodha T., Mukharjee T., Usha Kiran P. and Sasikala Ch. 2013. Salinicoccus halitifaciens sp. Nov., a novel bacterium participating in halite formation. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek., 103, 885-98
  35. Lodha T., Karmakar J., Roychoudhuri R. and Dey N. 2011. Assessment of genetic diversity of some commonly grown rice genotypes of South Bengal using microsatellite markers associated with the saltol QTL mapped on 1st Chromosome. NBU Journal of Plant Sciences. 5:35-39

Reviews

  1.   Lodha T. and Basak J. 2012. Plant pathogen interaction: what microarray tells about it? Molecular Biotechnology. 50:87-97
  2. Lodha T., Padmalochan H., Nitile T. and Basak J. 2013. Proteomics: A successful approach to understand the molecular mechanism of plant-pathogen interaction. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 4: 1212-1226

Book Chapters

Lodha T.#, Prachi K. 2020. Insights into the diversity of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria and its application. Anaerobes and anaerobic processes. (pp. 49-78). New India Publishing Agency.

Extramural Project Grant Awards

Anaerobic ammonia oxidising bacteria (Anammox) as potential source for treating ammonia rich waste: Diversity and technologies. Reference Number: SRG/2019/001818, Funded by, Start-up Research Grant of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST); Cost: 24.11L

Awards and Achievements

  1. Received Dr. K.V. Rao Young Scientist Award 2017 in Biology.
  2.   Received gold medal for best thesis from University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India in 2017.
  3.   Stood first in M.Sc. Biotechnology course in Visva Bharati University, West Bengal, India with 8.8 CGPA
  4. University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC–NET) for Junior Research Fellowship with all India rank 207.
  5. Ranked 68 in the Graduate Aptitude Test Exam (GATE) conducted by Indian Institute of technology (IIT), Feb 2011