Department of Microbiology

Small components are the most vital and potent parts of any system and so are microorganisms for the planet earth. The University started the first ever M.Sc. Microbiology program of Rajasthan in 1993. The Department of Microbiology (DoM) aims to quench the curiosity about life of organisms invisible to the naked eye. Knowledge about this microcosmos shall impart deeper understanding of the life as a whole. It answers how life is sustained (evolution), whether there is life on other planets (exobiology), how do the microorganisms live (cell biology, physiology and genetics), how many different types of microorganisms are there (biodiversity), what is their role, how do they interact with other beings and what are the extremes of their life (biogeochemical cycles-ecology) and whether man can utilize them for his benefit and for the continued existence of life on earth comprising fields of biotechnology, industrial, agricultural, environmental, medical, food, water and air microbiology. With a motto “unveil the hidden strength”, the faculty tries unveiling the hidden strength of the students and that of the invisible friends. 

The DoM was recognised as Satellite Centre for Microalgal Biodiversity in Arid Zones of Rajasthan(SCMBAZR) for 1999-2002 by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and as Prosthecate Bacteria & Micrococcus Centre (ProMiC) for 2000-2012 by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.

Algae Biofuel & Biomolecules Centre is the first and only interdisciplinary research Centre of the University being run under the aegis of the DoMsince 3.3.2011. It has collaborations from the faculty members of the Departments of Environmental Science, Food Science & Nutrition, Economics and Management. It has completed one MDS University coordinated research project in collaboration with Central University of Rajasthan (~Rs. 45 lakh) on developing algal cultivation systems and is running a project funded by the Parenteral Drug Association India Chapter (Rs. 50 lakh) for the development of moist wound care material.

Its research focus on desert microorganisms earned the faculty inclusion in Earth Microbiome Project and subsequent authorship contribution for an article on microbial diversity in the world’s most prestigious scientific journal “Nature”. The faculty collaborated in developing a mist based cultivation system for algae with the University of Georgia Athens USA, for which it has been awarded a US patent. For algae cultivation, it has worked on plant hormone based medium to stimulate growth of algae and poultry litter extract and carpet industry wastewater as media as replacements of fertilizers. 

The faculty successfully developed biopolymer based moist wound care material and presented a detailed protocol on evaluation of such material. For the first time it proposed and used an interactive biosorption process for anion (fluoride) removal. The DoM has also been the seat for deciphering- mechanisms of resistance of green algae to fluoride, quicker healing of wounds by ROS scavenging and triggering of desiccation tolerance by physical absence of water and not by osmotic water potential. 

The Department has raised ~Rs. 75 lakh from Professional faculty fund fee, Rs. 51.9 lakh from SFS courses, Rs. 186.06 lakh for research projects as extramural funds. It has the unique distinction of leading a bi-institutional collaborative project, be a part of a multi-institutional collaborative research project and the only department that earned grants for research from industrial association.Total 585 alumni have passed from the Department of Microbiology of which it holds record of 88 alumni who qualified national level test. For placement record of the department one can visit: https://www.mdsuajmer.ac.in/alumnilist/microbiology_placement.pdf
Facilities
The department has an online platform Microsphere: https://microsphere.wooqer.com/loginRegister.do# provided by Wooqer.com to deliver presentations (PowerPoint and video) to the students, obtain assignments and provide literature and extra teaching material to the students. It uses Microsoft Teams for Online teaching and Canvas as the LMS.

Preparatory Lab: Serological incubator, Refrigerator, Deepfreez, Millipore water system for HPLC grade water, RO Unit, Distillation unit, Balances, Waterbath, To and Fro shaker waterbath, Oven, Benches for sample drying and material preparation, Sieve shaker, Microwave oven (donated by Prof. Bhatnagar)
Fractionation and Separation Room : Centrifuges, Heavy Duty refrigerated centrifuge, Sieve shaker, Homogenizers, Vacuum evaporator, Vacuum filtration, Blender/Grinder-Mixer, Vortex mixer, Gyratory shaker
Environmental Microbiology lab: AutoKjeldahl digester and distillator, Autotitrator, Titrimetry benches with Burettes, Flame photometer, Oxitop system, Oxitop BOD incubator, pH meter, Water quality analyser, DO meter, Weather monitor, Multisample COD digester, Lux meter, hygrometer, Air sampler, Soil thermometer, Fluorimeter
Molecular Biology & Analytical Biochemistry Lab: GC, HPLC, PCR, Electrophoresis units, Gel Doc, Gel Drier, Gel rocker, Dry bath, Cryogenic container, TLC, CC, PC, Vortex mixer, Densitometer, Warburg manometers, Table top microfuge, UV-vis spectrophotometer 
Biofuel & Bioprocessing Lab: Brookfield Viscometer, Soxhlet Extractor 6 place, Table top centrifuge, CO2 incubator, anaerobic jar, Lyophilizer
Microscopy Lab: General purpose compound microscopes and Fluorescence upright, Fluorescence inverted, Phase contrast Microscopes, Stereomicroscope
Bioploymer Lab: Spectrophotometer, Binocular Research Microscope, Fractionation unit, Membrane casting system, refrigerated centrifuge, pH and ion selective meter, ELISA Reader
Bacteriology Lab: Vertical laminar hood (to be procured), BOD Incubator, Oven, Serological Incubator, Biolog, ELISA reader
Mycology Lab: Horizontal Laminar air flow, BOD Incubator, Oven, Serological Incubator
Two lecture halls and One Seminar Hall with Smart Board and Multimedia projector, One library and museum room, Separate chambers/space for Algae Growth room with temperature control, photoperiodic racks, incubator shaker and fabricated photobioreactors, Mushroom Growth room, Inoculation room for algae with horizontal laminar flow, Fumehood space, Autoclaving zone as per safety norms, Separate chamber for Ultrasonicator and Ball Mill. Outdoor Azolla and Algae Cultivation units.
 

Placement: Microbiology Placement List