Dr. Laishram Shantikumar Singh

Research Experience including External & Internal Research Projects undertaken:

Experience                                         : More than 22 Years of Experience in Reseach & Teaching 

Area of Research                              : Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology & Bioprospecting     

Research specialization         : Exploration and Bioprospecting of Microorganisms for potential application in Industry, Agriculture & Therapeutics. Plant endophytes relation, Chemical Ecology of Endophytes,

Participation and work on External & Internal Research Projects:

• Provided Technical support to Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Sikkim Centre in the field work of their DBT sponsored project entitled “Biotechnology Led Organic Farming in North East Region”.
• Participated and contributed in the DBT funded project of IBSD, Imphal entitled “Establishment of a culture collection centre in North East Region” as worker from ecological niches of Sikkim Himalayan region.
• DRDO in house Project on Exploration of medicinal plants (essential oil, plant extracts) for antimicrobial property and biological control of vector mosquito.
• DRDO in house project on Bioprospecting of microorganisms from NE region of India for their bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites.
• DRDO in house project on Mass production of bacterial strains, Recovery & bio-efficacy testing of the cell mass against mosquito larvae.
• Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) Project on “Timber wood protection from wood decaying basidiomycetes using actinomycetes”. (Work done at School of Biotechnology, GGSIP University, Delhi).
• Development and formulation of Biofertilizers and Biocontrol Agents for organic cultivation of tea plants. (Work done at R and D centre, APPL, Tata Enterprise, Teok, Jorhat, Assam).
• Worked on Bioprospecting of microbial flora including endophytes from Sikkim Himalayas for their secondary metabolites, bioactive compounds and biocontrol agents. 

External Research Projects undertaken/Ongoing

Publications in Peer- Reviewed Journals:

• Salvia T, Shantikumar Singh L, Khati R, Ellapan K, Dolma KG, Dhakal O. Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from North Eastern region of India. Journal of Laboratory Physician. January 2024). http://dx.doi.org/10.25259/JLP-2023-5-17-(1795)

• Barman D, Salvia T, Sarma A, Sarma J, Singh LS. Effectiveness of Bacillus as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides for Sustainable Agriculture: An Overview on Recent Trends. International Journal of Biology, Pharmacy and Allied Sciences. 2023, 12(10): 447- 460.
• Salvia T, Pillai H.P. J, Dolma K.G and Singh L. S. Emerging MDR enterobacteriaceae and the antimicrobial resistance pattern in Indian Scenario: Challenge after C0VID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Biology, Pharmacy and Allied Sciences. 2023, 12(6): 360-373.
• Salvia T, Bhowmik D, Shamim M.Z, Sarma J, Singh L.S. Re-Imagining the Antiarthritic Potential of Ginger (Zingiber officinale): a Comprehensive Review. International Journal of Biology, Pharmacy and Allied Sciences. 2023, 12(6): 434-458.
• Manmohan M.S, Keral N, Singh L. S, Linganna C, Salvia T, Kataky S.S, Pillai HPJ. Effect of Abiotic Factors on the Growth of Mulberry (morus spp.) Root Rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum schlecht and Fusarium solani (mart.) sacc. - an in-vitro study. 2023, 12(6): 594-607.
•  Salvia T, Dolma KG, Dhakal OP, Khandelwal B, Singh L.S. Phenotypic Detection of ESBL, AmpC, MBL, and Their Co-occurrence among MDR Enterobacteriaceae Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sikkim, India. Journal of Laboratory Physician. 2022;14(3):329-335.
• Nongthombam, G.D., Sharma, C.K., Singh, L. S. and Talukdar, N.C. Selection of Fungi with Cellulolytic and Fermentative Capability from Sacred Groves for Consolidated Bioprocessing of Lignocellulose Biomass to Bioethanol. Annals of Multidisciplinary Research, Innovation and Technology (AMRIT); 2022; 1(1): 8-17.
• Salvia T and Singh L. S. Covid-19 pandemic, significance of reimagining Immunity and relevance of medicinal plants to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection: A perspective. ACTA Sc. Microbiol. (ISSN: 2581-3226). Volume 3 Issue 12 December 2020.

• Singh, L. S., Sharma, H. & Sahoo, D., Actinomycetes from Soil of Lachung, a Pristine High-Altitude Region of Sikkim Himalaya, Their Antimicrobial Potentiality and Production of Industrially Important Enzymes, Advances in Microbiology, 9 (2019):750-773.
• Singh, L. S., Sharma, H. & Sahoo, D., Actinomycetes: the Unparallel Potential Source of Antibiotics and Natural Products for Drug Discovery, Acta Scientific Microbiology, 2.9 (2019):15-17.

• Tiwari, A., Sherpa, Y.L., Pathak A. P., Singh, L.S., Gupta A., Tripathy, A. One-pot green synthesis of highly luminescent silicon nanoparticles using Citrus limon (L.) and their applications in luminescent cell imaging and antimicrobial efficacy. Materials Today Communications. (Elsevier). 19 (2019): 62-67.
• Deori, D.J., Abujam, S., Dakua, S., Laishram, S.  Investigation on Feeding, Growth and Condition Factor of Certain Ornamental Fish from Brahmaputra River at Dibrugarh, Assam, India.  Journal of FisheriesSciences.com, 11(3): 043-047 (2017).

• Singh L. S., Sharma H., Talukdar N.C. (2014). Production of potent antibiotic by actinomycete, Streptomyces sannanensis strain SU118 isolated from phoomdi in Loktak Lake of Manipur, India. BMC Microbiology 14:278.
• Nagpure A., Choudhary B., Shantikumar, Gupta R.K. (2014). Isolation and characterization of chitinolytic Streptomyces sp. MT7 and its antagonism towards wood-rotting fungi. Annals of Microbiology.  64 (2), 531-541.
• Singh L. S., Mazumder S., Bora T.C. (2009). Optimisation of process parameters for growth and bioactive metabolite produced by salt-tolerant and alkaliphilic actinomycetes - Streptomyces tanashiensis strain A2D. Journal De Mycologie Medicale 19: 225-233.
• Singh L. S., Das, N. G., Bailung, B., Dube, S.N., Srivastava, R.B. (2008). Evaluation of some medicinal plants of North-Eastern India for antibacterial activity: A preliminary study. J. of cell and Tissue Res. Vol. 8(1): 1285-1287.
•  Singh L. S., Baruah I, Bora T.C. (2006). Actinomycetes of Loktak Habitat: Isolation & Screening for Antibacterial Activities. Biotechnology, 5 (2): 217-221.
• Singh L. S, Bailung B., Baruah I., Bora T.C. (2006). Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Bacteria isolated from Loktak Lake of Manipur, India. Asian J. of Microbiol. Biotech. Env. Sc., 8 (2):  271-273.
• Singh L. S., Bora T. C. (2006). Antifungal spectra of activity of Streptomyces S 124 strain against plant pathogenic fungi. Indian phytopathology, 59 (3): 400.
• Singh L. S., Nath D.R., Bailung B., Baruah I. (2006). In vitro antibacterial activity of essential oil from rhizome of Homalomena aromatica against pathogenic bacteria. J. of cell and Tissue Res. Vol. 6 (2): 849-851.
• Baruah, I., Singh L. S., Das, S. C., Kalita, J. (2006). Larvicidal activity of indigenous Entomopathogenic soil bacteria from Northeastern region of India. J. of cell and Tissue Res. Vol. 8 (1): 1271-1274.
• Goswami S., Singh L. S. (2006). Antibacterial Potential of Some Indigenous plants Against Human Pathogenic Bacteria. Environ. and Ecol. 24S (2): 403- 405.

Publications in Souvenir 

• Salvia T and Singh L. S Reimagining organic farming, natural farming practices for Sustainable Development Goals: A Perspective. In: VAIBHAV; Published by VIBHA VANI- Assam Chapter, State Institute of Panchayat & Rural Development, Govt. of Assam, Nov. 2022.
• Deb L, Somkuwar B.G and Singh L. S. Documentation and Scientific Validation of Traditional Healthcare Practices are Essential for Sustainable Development of Traditional Healers of North-East India: A Case Study. In: VAIBHAV; Published by VIBHA VANI- Assam Chapter, State Institute of Panchayat & Rural Development, Govt. of Assam, Nov. 2022.    

• Rai S and Shantikumar L., 2021. Fungal endophytes from Panax sokpayensis producing host plant secondary metabolite: Impression of plant endophyte crosstalk. In: International Conference on Microbiology - Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms organized by The Institute of Microbiology, Academy Sciences of Uzbekistan & the Microbiological Society of Uzbekistan, with American society of Microbiology, Asian PGPR Society & Society for Environmental sustainability. Sept 16-17, 2021, Tashkent, Uzbekisatn.    
• Das, S., Sharma, H. N., Devi, H. S., Thongam, B., Shukla, J.K., Bhardwaj, P.K., Jeyaram, K., Rajashekar, Y., Devi, S. I., Deb, L., Singh, CH. B., Somkuwar, B.G., Chiang, A., Rai, A.K., Kharlyngdoh, E., Singh, L. S., Beevi, U. S. Compendium of Antiviral Medicinal Plants of North East India. (Editors, Mukherjee, P.K. & Mao, A.A.; Associate Editors, Thorat, S.S., Devi, S.S., & Labala, R.K.,). Published by Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal, Manipur, India & Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata, India. 2021.

• Sharma, H., Singh, L.S., Sahoo, D. 2018. Indigenous Microbial Resources for organic cultivation, fungal disease management of crop plants and conservation priority. In: Singh DR, Sharma L, De LC, Meitei AL (Eds.) Souvenir Cum Abstract of National Conference on Floriculture for Rural and Urban prosperity in the scenario of Climate Change, ICAR-NRC on Orchids, Sikkim, February 16-18, 2018: 88-93.
• Singh, L.S., Sharma, H., Sahoo, D. 2017. Prospect of Indigenous microbial strains for bio-control potential and biofertilization towards sustainable and organic farming practice in Sikkim. In: Devadas R, Meitei AL (Eds.) Souvenir-Kisan Mela 2017, ICAR-NRC on Orchids, Sikkim, March 10-11, 2017: 79-83.

• Sunil S. Thorat, J.K. Shukla, P.K Bhardwaj, L. Shantikumar Singh & Jayashankar Das. “Bridging Research to Extension: Strategies and Policies” Role of RCIBSD. In: “State Level Stakeholders’ Workshop on Bridging Research to Extensions: Strategies & Policies” Organised by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok on October 11-12, 2012.

Book chapter:

• Mazumder S, Singh L. S. and Bora T.C. “Endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants of Gibbon Wild Life Sanctuary, India and their antagonistic properties”. In: Advances in Life Sciences: Principles and Applications. Tayung, K., Barik, B.P., Mohapatra, U.B. (Eds.), Studium press LLC, Houston, USA. 2012, PP: 213 - 224. ISBN: 1-933699-69-8
• Khaidem Kennedy Singh, Laishram Shantikumar Singh & Chingakham Brajakishor Singh. “Cultural, Practical and Economic value of Edible plants use by Mizo tribe of Mizoram”. In: Edible plants in Health and diseases-Vol I: Culture, Practical and Economic Value. Springer Nature Group. 2022; Pp: 285-302.  ISBN: 978-981-16-4880-9.

Nucleotide sequences published at NCBI GenBank database:  25 Nos

Abstracts Published in Proceedings of Conference/Seminar: 28 Nos

M. Sc. Dissertation supervised                                              : 41 Students

Guidance of summer training for M. Sc. Students               : Three (03) students

PhD student guidance                                                                  : 05 (ongoing)

• 2024: 2nd Prize for oral presentation in the International Conference on Microbiological Research: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives (ICMR:CCFP-2024), 9th to 11th January 2024 held at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu organized by Dept. of Microbiology, Bharathidasan University in collaboration with Microbiologist Society, India.      
• 2023: Best oral Presentation award (1st position) conferred by Indian Phytopathological Society during North Eastern Zonal Symposium on “Plant Disease Management for Sustainable Crop Production” held on December 8-9, 2023 at dept. of plant pathology, COA, CAU, Imphal, Manipur.

• 2022: Best faculty award conferred by Assam down town University (AdtU), Guwahati, Assam India during the academic session 2021-2022 (March).
• 2021: Certificate of Appreciation by Microbiology (ICMBB 2021) during international conference held on 16-17 September 2021 organized by Institute of Microbiology, Uzbekistan, American society for Microbiology, Asian PGPR Society.
• 2020: Certificate of Recognition as expert member for poster evaluation session in the 7th International Congress of Society for Ethnopharmacology, India held at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India on 15-17th Feb 2020.
• 2018: Best Poster Award for the poster entitled “Bioprospecting of Endophytes of Important Medicinal Plants viz. Panax spp. of Sikkim Himalayas for their bioactive compounds: A Chemical Ecology Prospect” by Singh, L. S., Shankaar, R. U., Rai, S. during the 3rd Annual SAC & PSC meeting of the DBT funded Project - Chemical Ecology of the North East Region (NER) of India: A Collaborative Programme Linking NER and Bangalore Researchers held at Imphal from 19 - 20th April 2018.
• 2009: Group technology award 2009 by Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, Tezpur, Assam, for the formulation and evaluation of herbal product “Herbol”, a Germicidal Floor Cleansing Emulsifier.
• 2002-2007: Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship award by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
• 2001: Academic Excellence Award by Post Graduate Department of Microbiology, NFG College, Bangalore University, Bengaluru.
• 1992: 46th Rank in the state level “First Search Talent Examination in Science” organized by Besant Academy, Sastri Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

• 1990: 2nd position in state level Quiz competition on the occasion of “National Science Day” organized by Science Teachers’ Forum, Manipur.

Product/Technology Developed:

Core team member in the formulation and development of an herbal product, “Herbal Floor cleaner” a Germicidal Floor Cleansing Emulsifier developed by DRL, DRDO Tezpur, Assam. TOT was given to “Biotech International Ltd” Delhi – 48.

Invited Talks delivered as Resource Person:

• Delivered a talk as resource person on the topic entitled “Antibiotics and their mode of action” in a Continuing Education Program (CEP course) on the theme Naturally Occurring Microbes for Control of Human Disease organized by Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam from 11-15 October 2006, sponsored by DRDO, Govt. of India.
• Delivered a talk as resource person on the topic entitled “Principles and selective isolation of Microbes –Actinomycetes” in a Continuing Education Program (CEP course) on the theme Naturally Occurring Microbes for Control of Human Disease held at Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam from 11-15 October 2006, sponsored by DRDO, Govt. of India.

• Delivered a lecture as invited resource person on the topic “Mechanism of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Association and Harnessing their Potentiality” in a training program on the theme – Bioinformatics and Microbiology of VAM research organized by Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of Sikkim on 31st March 2015, sponsored by DBT, Govt. of India.
• Contributed as a co-author to deliver an invited lecture on the topic “Understanding the Molecular Dynamics of Endophytism in Medicinal Plants” in a symposium of the 1st Annual Meeting of SBC (I), North East Chapter organized by CSIR-North East Institute of Science & Technology, Jorhat, Assam held on 22nd February, 2014.

• Delivered a lecture as invited resource person on the topic “Bioprospecting of Endophytes: Chemical Ecology Perspective”. In: First Workshop on Collaborations in Indian Chemical Ecology held at NCBS Bangalore during September 10-13, 2016.
• Served as chairperson in a session “Focus on North East India” during the First workshop on Collaborations in Indian Chemical Ecology held at NCBS Bangalore during September 10-13, 2016.

• Delivered a lecture as invited resource person on the topic “Application of Biotechnology” during training Programme on Molecular Biology Techniques and Bioinformatics for beginners organized by the Institutional Biotech Hub, Sikkim Government College, Tadong, Gangtok on 08-03-2018.
• Invited talk delivered on the topic “Ginsenosides production by fungal endophytes from indigenous Panax sokpayensis of Sikkim Himalayas” in the technical session of 7th International Congress of Society for Ethnopharmacology, India held at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India on 15-17th Feb 2020.
• Delivered a talk on “Actinomycetes isolates from Panax sokpayensis of Sikkim exhibiting antibacterial activity” in the technical session of 7th Convention of Society for Ethnopharmacology, India & International Symposium on “Combating COVID-19- Ethnopharmacology & Traditional food & medicine” organised by IBSD (DBT) Imphal, SFE, India & ISE, Switzerland during 17-19 December 2020 held at IBSD Imphal.
• Served as Chairperson in the Oral Presentation I: Session X in the International Symposium on “Combating COVID-19-Ethnopharmacology & Traditional food & medicine” organised by IBSD (DBT) Imphal, SFE, India & ISE, Switzerland during 17-19 December 2020 held at IBSD Imphal.  
• Invited talk delivered on the topic “Fungal endophytes from Panax sokpayensis producing host plant secondary metabolite: impression of plant endophyte crosstalk”. Virtual international conference on Microbiology (ICMBB 2021) held on 16-17 September 2021 organised by Institute of Microbiology, Uzbekistan, American society for Microbiology, Asian PGPR Society.
• Talk delivered on the topic “Bioprospecting of endophytes of Panax sokpayensis for ginsenoside production” IN: International conference on biodiversity: exploration, exploitation, conservation for sustainable development (ICB-01)-2022 held on 05/01/2022 organised by Department of botany, Pandit deendayal upadhyaya adarsha mahavidyalaya, behali, Assam, India. 
• Talk delivered on the topic “Reimagining organic farming, natural farming practices for Sustainable Development Goals: A Perspective” in Assam state Conclave on Sustainable Livelihood through Science, TECHNOLOGY AND Innovation Capabilities” held at PWD Convention and training Centre, Dispur, Guwahati -05 organised by Vibha Vani India, Assam CHAPTER AND State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development, Govt. of Assam from 25 – 27 November 2022.  

Other Academic activities (organizers of seminars/conferences)

• • Dr. Laishram Shantikumar Singh served as Joint Convenor of “Assam state Conclave on Sustainable Livelihood through Science, TECHNOLOGY AND Innovation Capabilities” held at PWD Convention and training Centre, Dispur, Guwahati -05 organised by Vibha Vani India, Assam CHAPTER AND State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development, Govt. of Assam from 25 – 27 November 2022.
  • Dr. Laishram Shantikumar Singh Served as Editor of the Souvenir “Vaibhav” Published by Vibha Vani India, Assam Chapter. Nov. 2022.
  • Member of SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STEERING COMMITTEE for 7th National Asian PGPR Conference for Sustainable & Organic Agriculture September 5-6, 2022 Organized by India Chapter of Asian PGPR Society In Collaboration with Loyola Academy Alwal, Secunderabad, India Prathista Group of Industries, Hyderabad Osmania University, Hyderabad In association with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS) and International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).   

• Extracurricular and external duties:

• Served as a member of a committee responsible for screening of traineeship, studentship for DISC project at RCIBSD, Sikkim, as per office order no. 11/1/2011-RCIBSD-RECTT dated 29th June, 2014.
• Served as a member of a committee for a Personal Interview for the selection of Project Assistant (Microbiology & Bioinformatics Laboratories) for Regional Centre of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (RCIBSD), Sikkim, held on 20th August, 2012, as per office order no. 11/1/2011-RCIBSD-RECTT dated 31st July, 2012.
• Served as a member of the committee for the selection of Senior Technical Assistant for PBD and MRD at IBSD Sikkim centre held on 30th June, 2011, as per office order no. RCS/11/RECTT/9/2011 dated 18th June, 2011.
• Served as a subject expert of the committee for the selection of Junior Research Fellow under DBT twining project at Department of Botany, Sikkim Government College, Tadong, Gangtok held on 10th August 2018, vide order No. 812/NBBDG/Tadong/2018 dated 6/8/2018.
• Member Routine Committee – Even and Odd Sem 2022 of AdtU vide Memo No. Memo No.: AdtU/R/2022/211
• Member Secretary Board of Studies (BOS) Faculty of Science, AdtU, Vide Memo No. AdtU/R/2022/250

• Role in setting up of Laboratory:

  1.  Lead role in the expansion and set up of the Biofertilizer and Biocontrol unit of the Research and Development Centre of Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited (A Tata enterprise), Teok, Jorhat, Assam in the capacity as Assistant Manager, R & D.

  2.  Lead role in setting up of the Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory of the Regional Centre of IBSD, Sikkim, DBT and Many high end research facilities/equipments have been set up at IBSD Sikkim centre Gangtok and installed for research purpose as a PI of collaborative project funded by DBT, Govt. of India.