About Me
My home town is at Khardasahi, in Jagtsinghpur District of Odisha State in India. I like reading biography of scientists, knowing the events that lead to interesting scientific discoveries. Keep strong faith on basic understanding.
Academic
- Schooling was in village (Khardasahi, Brundaban Chandra Vidyamandir, Redhua, Jagatsinghpur)
- 10+2 in J.K.B.K., College, Cuttack and BSc in Christ College, Cuttack. I studied Zoology, Botany and Chemistry in BSc (1992). During BSc I tried to learn biochemistry properly, which helped me to qualify JNU, New Delhi conducted MSc Biotech entrance.
- MSc Biotech at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and passed out from there in 1994.
- Ph.D. at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad in 1995 and got the degree in 2002. I worked with Dr. Ramesh V. Sonti. The topic of my PhD research was to study virulence functions of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. My seven year at CCMB and interaction with eminent scientists of the country gave me a new way to look at science.
- Joined as a faculty in Tezpur University in 2002.
- On a DBT overseas Associateship I got an opportunity to go and work in the laboratory of Dr. C. Boucher, CNRS- INRA, Castanet- Tolosan, France for one year (Sept 2010 to Aug 2011). There I worked with Dr. Stephane Genin. This is a leading laboratory in studying type III protein secretion system and effectors of R. solanacearum. The training in France at a different age and stage of life is being immensely helpful in developing a different attitude in doing science.
Teaching
I mainly teach genetics, evolutionary genetics, and molecular biology to students. I prefer emphasizing more on the philosophy of the topics rather than sharing lots of informations with students. In genetics I teach Mendelian, Non-mendelian inheritance, recombination and linkage, Hardy-Wienberg equilibrium, different aspects of bacterial genetics, bacterial genomes. In molecular biology I teach mainly DNA structure, DNA replication, mismatch repair in DNA, mechanisms of different recombinations in DNA. In evolutionary genetics I teach selection of recessive traits in organisms, selection, neutral theory of molecular evolution, evolution of genome composition, molecular phylogeny. I try to encourage students to ask questions and I teach for learning from students.
Research Interest
I developed interest to study virulence functions of phytopathogenic bacterium during my PhD. I studied the role of type II protein secretion system (T2SS) in the virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal agent of bacterial leaf bight of rice. I learned molecular genetic tools during these days. The observation which I found surprising is that T2SS deficient mutant fails to co-migrate with wild type strain upon co-inoculation. I also studied the role of an adhesion function in this bacterium.
After joining Tezpur University, my research interest has been divided in two different areas: (i) Molecular plant microbe interactions (ii) Molecular evolution .
Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions
R. solanacearum is a plant pathogenic bacterium.
The bacterium is soil borne and causes a lethal wilt disease in more than 200 plant species which includes important vegetables such as brinjal, potato, tomato etc.
The bacterium is widely distributed on the globe as the disease is reported from tropical, subtropical and temperate countries.
Because of its aggressiveness, large host range, broad geographical distribution, and long persistence in soil, the bacterium is regarded as the most important plant pathogen.
In India, bacterial wilt is an important disease. We are addressing the following questions:
a. what is the role of hemagglutinin adhesion functions in this bacterium.
b. what is the role of other bacteria associated with Ralstonia solanacearum in wilted plant.
c. after inoculation, how do some susceptible plants among the population escape the lethal wilting caused by the bacterium.
Molecular Evolution
Though synonymous codons encode the same amino acid, they are used in different frequencies in genomes.
This is known as codon usage bias which is observed in all genomes including viruses.
It is now well known that selection mechanisms are operating at the translational level to shape codon usage bias in organisms.
We are addressing the following questions:
a. how much tRNA gene number contributes towards the selection.
b. whether codon dictates anticodon or the vice versa.
c. how protein folding influences codon usage bias in organisms.
Computer Aided Drug Design
As an application part to our codon usage bias study, we realized that codon-anticodon interaction is important attribute to the selection of certain synonymous codons in high expression genes. Further the codon-anticodon interaction is also influenced by anticodon modification enzymes. It is interesting to learn from the literature that anticodon modification enzymes are not always same among the three kingdoms of life Eukarya, Bacteria and Archaea. We are trying to exploit this avenue to design novel antibiotics using computer aided drug design approach.
Other Research interest
We also address some questions relating to plasmid transformation, recombination, bacterial growth in colony
External Collaborators
| Research Area | Collaborators Name | Collaborators Address |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions | Dr. Ramesh V. Sonti | CCMB, Hyderabad, India |
| Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions | Dr. Gopaljee Jha | NIPGR, New Delhi, India |
| Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions | Dr. Stephane Genin | LIPM, France |
| Molecular Evolution | Prof. Tapash C. Ghosh | Bose Institute, Kolkata, India |
| Molecular Evolution | Dr. Rajat Banerjee | Calcutta University, Kolkata , India |
| Molecular Evolution | Dr. B. R. Powdel | Dept. of Statistics, Darrang College, Tezpur, Assam , india |
| Molecular Evolution | Dr. S. S. Satapathy | Dept. Of CSE, Tezpur Universsity, Assam , India |
| Molecular Evolution | Prof. Alak K. Buragohain | Dept. of MBBT, Tezpur University , Assam, India. (Now VC at Dibrugarh University, Assam, India) |
| Molecular Evolution | Prof. Malyananda Dutta | Dept. of CSE, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam , India |
| Molecular Evolution | Prof. M. Borah | Dept. of Mathematics, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam , India |
| Computer Aided Drug Design | Dr. N. Hoda | Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi , India |
| Computer Aided Drug Design | Dr. M. V. Satish Kumar | Dept. of MBBT, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam , India |
| Computer Aided Drug Design | Prof. R. C. Deka | Dept. of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam , India |
| Computer Aided Drug Design | Prof. Alak K. Buragohain | Dept. of MBBT, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam , India. (Now VC at Dibrugarh University, Assam, India) |
Research Group
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Dr. Rahul Kumar Research Associate Research Area : Studying the role of rpoN, the alternative sigma factor, in the pathogenicity of R. solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt in plants. Email: rahultu@tezu.ernet.in , rahuls697@gmail.com Contact: +91 9957769371 |  |
Dr. Niraj Agarwala Research Associate Research Area : Sequencing genomes of some bacteria that invade/resides in tomato plant. Email: btniraj@tezu.ernet.in , niru.niraj.s@gmail.com Contact: +918486027249 |
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Mr. Anjan Barman NET-JRF PhD Student Research Area : Characterization of hemagglutinin gene functions in Ralstonia solanacearum. Email: abarman@tezu.ernet.in , anjbth@gmail.com Contact: +91 9864334900 |
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Ms. Tarinee Phukan PhD Student Research Area : Characterization of hemagglutinin gene functions in Ralstonia solanacearum. Email: tarinee@tezu.ernet.in , tarineebiotech90@gmail.com Contact: +91 9401121354 |
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Mr. Niraj Singh DBT-JRF, ICAR(NET-LS) PhD Student Research Area : Studying rpoN regulon in Ralstonia solanacearum Email: niraj12@tezu.ernet.in , neerajsingh710@gmail.com Contact: +91 9678462554 |
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Mr. Pankaj Losan Sharma PhD Student Research Area : Sequencing genome of Ralstonia solanacearum and other associated bacteria. Email: pankaj1@tezu.ernet.in , pankajsarma88@gmail.com Contact: +91 9613111679 |
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Ms. Ruksana Aziz, PhD Student Research Area : Codon Usage Bias, Molecular evoluiton and protein folding. Email: ruksana@tezu.ernet.in , rks.aziz786@gmail.com Contact: +91 8399966064 |
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Ms. Kristi Kabayshree, PhD Student Research Area : A study on the association of Ralstonia solanacearum to host plants. Email: kristib@tezu.ernet.in , kkabyashree29@gmail.com Contact: +91 8876754584 |
PhD Thesis Supervised
Dr. B. R. Powdel
Research Topic: Statistical study of nucleotide composition in bacterial genomes.Dr. Powdel is a faculty member in the Dept. of Statistics, Darrang College, Tezpur.
Email: powdel@gmail.com
Dr. Siddhartha Sankar Satapathy Research Topic: Computational analysis of genome sequences to find out factors influencing codon usage bias in bacteria.
Dr. Satapathy is a faculty member in the Dept. of Comp. Sc and Engg., Tezpur University, Tezpur.
Email: ssankar@tezu.ernet.in
Dr. Rahul Kumar
Research Topic:Studying virulance funcitons of Ralstonia solanacearum the causal agent of bacterial wilt in plants.
Email: rahultu@tezu.ernet.in
Research Projects
| Project | PI and Co-PI | Funding Agency | Duration | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein Folding Kinetics is a Selection Force on Shaping Codon Usage Bias in the High Expression Genes. (DoRD/MBBT/SKR/20-221) | Dr.S. K. Ray, Dr. S. S. Satapathy, CSE, TU Dr. R. Banerjee, Kolkata University | DBT, Twinning Under U-EXCEL-NER | 2 years(11/08/2014 – 10/08/2016) | 24.72 lakhs to TU(out of 42.32)lakhs | |
| Sequencing genomes of some bacteria that invade/resides in tomato plant | Dr.S. K. Ray, MBBT, TU | DBT, Govt. of India Under U-EXCEL-NER | 3 years | 127.63 lakhs | Ongoing, Started Oct, 2013 |
| Studying the role of rpoN, the alternative sigma factor, in the pathogenicity of R. solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt in plants | Dr.S. K. Ray, MBBT, TU (India) and Dr. S. Genin, LIPM, CNRS-INRA, Castanet Tolosan, FRANCE | IFCPAR/CEFIPRA, New Delhi, India | 3 Years | Rs. 44.17 lakhs(Indian) and 45000.00 €(French) | Ongoing, Started Dec, 2013 |
| Characterization of a potential auto transporter adhesion function in Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt in plants | Dr.S. K. Ray, MBBT, TU and Dr. R. V. Sonti, CCMB, Hyderabad | DBT, Govt. of India (Twining) | 3 years | 35.66 lakhs (out of 61.32) | Ongoing, Started Nov, 2012 |
| Understanding causes of codon usage bias in organisms | Dr.S. K. Ray, MBBT,TU, Dr. S. S. Satapathy, CSE, TU and Dr. T. C. Ghosh, Bose Institute, Kolkata | DBT, Govt. of India (Twining) | 2 years | 15.50 lakhs (out of 26.36) | Ongoing, Started Nov, 2012 |
Research Publications
Other Publications
- Ray SK, 2015, Why no SSB prize after 45 years of age?. Curr Sci, 109: 1762
- Ray SK, Kalita E. 2014. Impact of MSc Biotechnology programme supported by DBT GoI, on research and teaching of modern biology in India. Curr Sci, 107: 938-939.
- Ray SK, Deka RC, Hussain A, Choudhury HK, and Choudhury K. (2014). The industry inside. (Page 41-80) in the book “The world of Chemistry” (edt Choudhury HK). ISBN 978-81-929471-0-5
- Barman A, Kumar P, Kumar R, Ray SK, 2013, Exclusion of replicative transposons from linear chromosome: an interesting observation. Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences, 3 (2): 85-90.
- Barman A, Baruah VJ, Ray SK, 2013, A critical insight into the double strand break repair model of homologous recombination. Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences, 3(1): 233-236.
- Dubey B, Buragohain AK, Ray SK. 2009, Positive correlation of bacterial genome GC% with the number of different anticodons used by the genome to decode all the codons. Icfai Univ J Biotech 3:39-47.
- Ray SK, Buragohain AK, Sen S., 2008, A simple theoretical approach to estimate the minimum bending angle between the two adjacent codons on a mRNA to overcome the steric hindrance between the anicodon stem-loops of two tRNA molecules binding to the codons. Icfai Univ J Biotech, 2:60-64.
- Ray, S. K. and Buragoahin, A. K. (2007) Evolutionary genomics: a computational approach to find out common genomic patterns in eubacterial genomes, Network, Security And Soft Computing (edts: Bhattacharyya D. K. and Hazarika, S. M.), Narosa Publications, New Delhi, pp 224-229.
- Buragohain, A. K. and Ray S. K., PhD entrance examination schedules, 2007, Curr Sci., 93: 279.
- Ray S. K., Book review: "DNA The Secret of Life" by James D. Watson and Andrew Berry, 2004, Arrow publisher, 2007, Curr. Sci., 92: 387-388.
- Ray S. K., Book review: A clone of your own: the science and ethics of cloning, 2004, by Arlene Judith Klotzko by Oxford University Press, 2007, Curr. Sci., 92:126-127.
- Ray S. K. Squeeze Your Brain 2005, A Few Riddles for Passing Time, A tiny riddle book printed at M/s Seagull Industry, Lachit Chowk, Tezpur-784001.
LAB Alumni
| Sl.No. | Name | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr. Kulbhushan | 2001-2003 |
| 2 | Dr. Ajeet Pratap Singh | 2001-2003 |
| 3 | Dr. Debojyoti Das | 2003-2005 |
| 4 | Dr. Sujit Kumar Verma | 2003-2005 |
| 5 | Mr. Akhauri Yash Sinha | 2004-2006 |
| 7 | Mr. Badri Nath Dubey | 2004-2006 |
| 8 | Mr. Amit Ranjan | 2004-2006 |
| 9 | Mr. Gaurav Kumar | 2005-2007 |
| 10 | Mr. Aditya Kumar | 2005-2007 |
| 11 | Mr. Vinay Kumar | 2005-2007 |
| 12 | Mr. Anjan Barman | 2007-2009 |
| 13 | Mr. V. J. Baruah | 2007-2009 |
| 14 | Mr. Rahul Kumar Rathour | 2007-2009 |
| 15 | Mr. Rupesh Kumar | 2008-2010 |
| 16 | Mr. Amit Kumar | 2008-2010 |
| 17 | Mr. Praveen Kumar | 2010-2012 |
| 18 | Ms. Shabiha Nudrat Hazarika | 2011-2013 |
| 19 | Mr. Sachin Sharma | 2010-2012 |
| 20 | Ms. Sangeeta Rani Sinha | 2010-2012 |
| 21 | Ms.Kristi Kabyashree, (MSc) | 2012-2014 |
| 22 | Mr.Yurembam Rojiv, (MSc) | 2012-2014 |
| 23 | Mr.Vinod Kumar Prajapati,(MSc) | 2012-2014 |
| 24 | Ms.Priyanka Nath, (Int.MSc.) | 2009-2014 | 25 | Ms.Anasuya Bhargab, (Int.MSc.) | 2010-2015 |
| 26 | Mr.Madhurjya Borah, (Int.MSc.) | 2010-2015 |
| 27 | Ms.Priyanka Koiri, (MSc.) | 2013-2015 |
| 28 | Ms.Chandrika Burhagohain, (MSc.) | 2013-2015 |
