Dr. Neelam Kungwani, PhD

About

I am a Marine Biotechnologist working in the area of bacterial biofilms, quorum sensing, marine pollution, and marine drugs. I began my academic and research career in 2009 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology at Shantiniketan College, affiliated with Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur (CG.). I obtained my doctoral degree from the Department of Life Sciences, National Institute of Technology. In my doctoral research, I investigated the role of quorum sensing in marine bacterial biofilms and their interaction with pollutants. I also worked on other projects related to oral biofilms, marine drugs, microbial fuel cells, and ocean acidification. Between 2011 and 2013, I was a visiting research scholar at the Biofouling and Biofilm Processing section of the BARCF, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, where I received research training and developed expertise in high-end microscopy techniques for studying biofilms and biofouling.

 

Upon completing my PhD,  I joined the National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF), an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in Gandhinagar, as a Senior Innovation Fellow in the Human Health Department. In this role, I worked on value addition and research and development (VARD) of grassroot innovations related to human health, with a particular emphasis on innovations for and by women. My primary focus was on identifying and advancing grassroot innovations for the prevention and control of mastitis, tuberculosis, and hepatic diseases. I also served as a faculty member in Biotechnology at Government Science College (GSC), KK Shastri Education Campus, Ahmedabad, which is affiliated with Gujarat University, where I was actively engaged in both academic and research.

 

My research focuses on bacterial biofilms, quorum sensing, and their role in environmental health management. I study quorum sensing networks in marine bacterial biofilms for the bioremediation of organic pollutants and investigate how altering microbial community dynamics and EPS can be employed to mitigate marine pollution. Additionally, I examine antimicrobial resistance in biofilms, specifically the physiological barriers that contribute to resistance and persister cell formation. My work aims to mitigate antimicrobial resistance by using bioactive compounds derived from marine sources to target EPS and persister cells in biofilms.

 

Currently, I am heading the “BIOFILM” research group at GBU. The theme of my research group is to understand the environmental (marine) and clinical significance of bacterial biofilms and associated biomolecules for various applications, which include:

• Development of marine bacterial biofilm- EPS-based composite materials for the mitigation of marine pollution
• Biofilm- pollutant interaction
• Synthesis of biofilm-inspired multifunctional hydrogels and their composites using natural biopolymers for various biomedical (antibiofilm, drug release, etc.) and environmental applications (wastewater treatment, oil spills cleanup, etc.)
• Studies on bioactive compounds derived from natural resources to control the progression of bacterial biofilms on biotic (pathogenesis) and abiotic surfaces (biofouling).

Background

• PhD in Life Science (area of research, Marine Biotechnology and Microbiology) from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha (2015)
• M.Sc in Biotechnology from School of Biotechnology, Guru Ghasidas University Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh (2009)
• B.Sc in Microbiology, Botany, Chemistry from D.P.V College, Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh (2007)
• Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education from IGNOU, New Delhi (2021)
• PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights from IGNOU, New Delhi (2021)

Honours and Awards

• Selected as one of the Young Investigator in YIM-2024, IndiaBioscience, DBT, GoI.
• Travel Grant from DBT, Govt. Of India and NIT, Rourkela for attending 5th Congress of European Microbiologists, FEMS, Leipzig, Germany (2013)
• Visiting Research Scholar, Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, BARCF- Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India (2011-2013)
• Student travel award from Institute of Marine Research, Tromso, Norway for attending “Workshop on acidification in aquatic environments: What can marine science learn from limnological studies of acid rain?” at Tromso, Norway (2011, not availed)
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering- Life Science (2009)

Research Group Overview

My research group is primarily focused on applying bacterial biofilms and hydrogels for the bioremediation of microplastics, phthalates, and petrochemicals from the marine environment. We are also working on the bioactive compounds derived from natural sources to control biofilms and related antimicrobial resistance. Major ongoing projects are as follows:

• Plastic-bacteria integration via biofilm formation and to achieve sustainable bioremediation of plastic-associated phthalic acid esters.
• Anti-biofilm activities and antibiotic synergy of natural bioactive compounds.
• Biopolymers-based hydrogels/aerogels for the treatment of microplastics and petrochemicals from the contaminated seawater
• Sustainable biopolymer-based hydrogel and bigels as controlled drug delivery systems

Publications

• Nayak D, Mishra AK., Biswas K, Sen A, Malakar C, Panda J, Kungwani N, Rustagi S. Panda BP,  Mohanta YK (2025) Mangrove pneumatophores as biocatalyst for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles and its potential applications against biofilm and hepatic carcinoma.” Nanoscale Advances. DOI: 10.1039/D4NA00722K
• Kungwani N, Panda J, Mishra AK, Chavda N, Shukla, S Vikhe K, Sharma G, Mohanta YK, & Sharifi-Rad M (2024) Combating bacterial biofilms and related drug resistance: Role of phyto-derived adjuvant and nanomaterials. Microbial Pathogenesis 195:106874.
• Mangwani N, Kumari S & Das S (2021) Taxonomy and characterization of biofilm forming polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria from marine environments. Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds. 41: 1249-1262.
• Kumari S, Mangwani N, & Das S (2020) Naphthalene catabolism by biofilm forming marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa N6P6 and the role of quorum sensing in regulation of dioxygenase gene. Journal of Applied Microbiology 130(4): 1217-1231.
• Mangwani N, Kumari S & Das S (2017) Marine bacterial biofilms in bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under terrestrial condition in a soil microcosm. Pedosphere 27(3): 548-558.
• Mangwani N, Kumari S & Das S (2016) Effect of synthetic N-acylhomoserine lactones on cell–cell interactions in marine Pseudomonas and biofilm mediated degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Chemical Engineering Journal 302: 172–186.

Books Edited: Das S & Kungwani NA (Eds.) Understanding microbial biofilms: Fundamentals to applications. Elsevier (2022).

• Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=LpFMkKQAAAAJ