Qualification: Ph.D. (Dairy Microbiology)

Major Research Accomplishments:

• Reported two novel genera of anaerobic fungi (Oontomycesanksri&Buwchfawromyceseastonii), which were only the 7th & 8th genera since their discovery in mid-seventies.
 
• Developed methods for differentiation of genera/ species of these fungi using D1/D2 domain of large-subunit r-DNA &’long-term preservation of anaerobic fungi’
 
• Contributed towards the diversity of methanogens & methane-mitigation interventions.

Awards

• ‘Nutri-Scholars Award’, Certificate of Winner – Season-3 (2020) Puniya AK (Mentor); Team -Nikam PB, Dasriya NV, Rizwan M and Sao K; on a project ‘Nutripoi with Soymus’ in the category of QSR Style Lunch/ Dinner from DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences
 
• Fellow of NAAS, 2020, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences
 
• ‘Associate Editor’; Board of Systems Microbiology (Specialty Section of “Frontiers in Microbiology”)
 
• APSI Award, 2019, Academy of Plant Sciences of India
 
• Certificate of Appreciation, (ABRCMS, Anaheim, California), 2019, The Annual Bio-medical Research Conference for Minority Students’, USA
 
• Best Oral Presentation Award (NPDF), 2019, 7th International Conference on Biological Sciences (9th World food & Agriculture Congress), New Delhi
 
• Fellow of BRSI, 2019, Biotech Research Society of India
 
• AFN-Membership; The Netherlands, 2019, Anaerobic Fungi Network
 
• Elsevier, BIORESTEC (‘Bioresource Technology’), 2018, ‘Bioresource Technology’ for Bioenergy, Bioproducts& Environmental Sustainability, Spain
 
• Fellow of FMSc, 2018, Indian Academy of Microbiological Sciences
 
• Awarded Second Best Prize in E-Poster presentation, 2018, Processing & value addition towards efficiency; 46th Dairy Industry Conference, Kochi, Kerala
 
• Best Poster Award, 2017, National Seminar on Food Processing India; GJUS&T, Hisar
 
• Elsevier – Awarded Certificate of Recognition, 2016, ‘Small Ruminant Research’&‘Energy Conservation & Management’
 
• Wiley – Awarded Reviewer Certificate, 2016, International Journal of Dairy Technology (Society of Dairy Technology)
 
• Elsevier – Awarded Certificate of Recognition, 2015, Animal Feed Science & Technology
 
• Elsevier – Awarded Certificate of Outstanding Contribution, 2015-16, Journal of Integrative Agriculture (Official Publication of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Training:

• National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC); Assessors Orientation Programme (AOP) at Punjab University, Chandigarh; 2019; to assess and accredit ‘Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs; Universities and Colleges)’.
 
• ‘Training programme on ‘Data Analysis using SAS’, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, 2011
 
• “Web Based E-learning & Content Management” for Dairy Science Faculty, National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, 2010
 
• ‘Sixth foundation training programme for scientists & technologists’, (sponsored by ‘Department of Science & Technology’), Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi; 2006-07
 
• ‘Computational biology & bioinformatics’, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal (sponsored by DBT, Govt of India), 2006
 
• ‘Exploration of microbial diversity: a polyphasic approach’, Microbial Type Culture Collection & Gene Bank, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, 2002
 
• ‘Molecular Tagging of inoculants Strains for Ecological Studies’, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 2000
 
• ‘Orientation Course’, Academic Staff College, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra; 1999

Patents, Technology, Methodology, Genetic Stock, Variety, etc.

• Discovery of novel genera&species of anaerobic fungi “Oontomycesanksri” from the digestive tract of Indian camel & “Buwchfawromyceseastonii” from buffalo faeces
 
• Development of genetic marker for molecular phylogeny & rapid method for differentiation of anaerobic rumen fungi&PCR based method for identification of multiple genera & species
 
• Methods for long-term preservation of anaerobic fungi
 
• Development of SSF-ENLAC technology&formulation of direct-fed microbials
 
• Probiotics for human health (CLA/ CLNA production; antidiabetic&anti-obesity effects)

Publication(s):

• Mahajan R,Chandel S, Puniya AK&Goel G 2020 Effect of pretreatments on cellulosic composition&morphology of pineneedle for possible utilization as substrate for anaerobic digestion. Biomass&Bioenergy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105705
 
• Singh N, Kaur R, Singh BP, Rokana N, Goel G, Puniya AK, Panwar H 2020 Impairment of Cronobactersakazakii& Listeria monocytogenes biofilms by cell-free preparations of lactobacilli of goat milk origin. Folia Microbiologica, 1-12
 
• Panwar H,Kaur J, Singh A, Singh J, Singh K,Chaudhary V, Puniya AK 2020 Gastrointestinal stress as innate defense against microbial attack; Journal of Applied Microbiology. DOI: 10.1111/jam.14836
 
• Garsa AK, Choudhury PK, Puniya AK, Dhewa T, Malik RK &Tomar SK 2020Bovicins: The Bacteriocins of Streptococci & Their Potential in Methane Mitigation. Probiotics & Antimicrobials Proteins, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-018-9502-z
 
• Singh N, Sharma C, Gulhane RD, Rokana N, Singh BP, Puniya AK, Attri S, Goel G, Panwar H 2018 Inhibitory effects of lactobacilli of goat’s milk origin against growth & biofilm formation by pathogens: an in vitro Food Bioscience, 22: 129-138
 
• Sharma C, Rokana N, Chandra M, Singh BP, Gulhane RD, Gill JPS, Ray P, Puniya AK, Panwar H 2018 Antimicrobial Resistance: Its Surveillance, Impact & Alternative Management Strategies in Dairy Animals.Frontiers in Veterinary Science 01/2018; 4., DOI:10.3389/fvets.2017.00237
 
• Kumar S, Dagar SS, Agrawal R &Puniya AK 2018 Comparative diversity analysis of ruminal methanogens in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalusbubalis) in four states of North India. Anaerobe (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2018.05.012)
 
• Veena N, Wadhwa M, Mehta H, Barui AK, Puniya AK, Hundal JS, Grewal RS 2018 Effect of supplementing bypass fat on milk yield, milk composition & chemical parameters of ghee in crossbred cows. International Journal of Current Microbiology & Applied Sciences 7(10): 2604-2609
 
• Thakur N, Sharma C, Rokana N, Singh BP, Gulhane RD, Mishra SK, Khatkar SK, Puniya AK, Panwar H 2018 In vitro assessment of antibiotic resistance pattern among lactobacillus strains isolated from goat milk. International Journal of Current Microbiology & Applied Sciences 01/2018; 7(1): 2108-2116
 
• Dahiya DK, Renuka&Puniya AK 2018 Conjugated linoleic acid enriched skim milk prepared with Lactobacillus fermentumDDHI27 endorsed anti-obesity in mice. Future Microbiology, 13(9): 1007-1020.
 
• Dahiya DK &Puniya AK 2018 Optimization of fermentation variables for conjugated linoleic acid bioconversion by Lactobacillus fermentum DDHI27 in modified skim milk. International Journal of Dairy Technology, 71: 46–55.
 
• Dahiya DK &Puniya AK 2018 Impact of nano-silver on gut microbiota: a vulnerable link. Future Microbiology, 13 (4): 483-492.
 
• Dagar SS, Kumar S, Mudgil P, Puniya AK Comparative evaluation of lignocellulolytic activities of filamentous cultures of monocentric & polycentric anaerobic fungi. Anaerobe, 50: 76-79
 
• Yadav R, Singh PK, Puniya AK& Shukla P 2017 Catalytic interactions & molecular docking of bile salt hydrolase (BSH) from plantarum RYPR1 & its prebiotic utilization. Frontiers in Microbiology. 7:2116. 1-7
 
• Sharma C, Gulati S, Thakur N, Singh BP, Gupta S, Kaur S, Mishra SK, Puniya AK, Gill JPS &Panwar H 2017 Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of indigenous lactobacilli isolated from curd & human milk samples. 3 Biotech, 7(1), 53
 
• Jena R, Choudhury PK, Puniya AK, Tomar SK 2017 Isolation & species delineation of genus Bifidobacterium using PCR-RFLP of partial hsp60 gene fragment. LWT-Food Science & Technology, 80: 286-293
 
• Edwards JE, Forster RJ, Callaghan TM, Dollhofer V, Dagar SS, Cheng Y, Chang J, Kittelmann S, Fliegerova K, Puniya AK, Henske JK, Gilmore SP, O’Malley MA, Griffith GW, Smidt H 2017 PCR & Omics Based Techniques to Study the Diversity, Ecology & Biology of Anaerobic Fungi: Insights, Challenges & Opportunities. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8: 1657
 
• Dahiya DK, Puniya M, Shandilya UK, Dhewa T, Kumar N, Kumar S, Puniya AK, Shukla P 2017 Gut microbiota modulation & its relationship with obesity using prebiotic fibers & probiotics. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8:563
 
• Dahiya DK, Puniya AK 2017 Isolation, molecular characterization & screening of indigenous lactobacilli for their abilities to produce bioactive conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Journal of Food Science & Technology, 54: 792-801
 
• Anchal S &Puniya AK 2017 Conjugated linolenic acid production by lactobacilli isolated from human milk, feces & fermented dairy products. Current Biotechnology, 2017, 7, 00-00 DOI:10.2174/2211550105666160729121711

Books:

• Puniya AK (Editor), Fermented Milk & Dairy Products, 2015; pp 1-714, CRC Press/ Taylor & Francis (ISBN 9781466577978)
 
• Puniya AK, R Singh & DN Kamra (Editors), Rumen Microbiology: Evolution to revolution, 2015; pp 1-379, Springer India (ISBN 978-81-322-2401-3)
 
• Salem AZM, Kholif AE &Puniya AK, Yeast Additive & Animal Production, 2016, pp 1-99, PubBioMed Central Research Publishing Services (ISBN: 978-93-83312-02-3)

Manuals:

• Puniya AK&Vij S Practical manual on ‘Food & Industrial Microbiology’, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal; Publication No. 60/ 2010, pp. 1-118
 
• Vij S, Malik RK &Puniya AK Practical manual on ‘Dairy Biotechnology’, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal; Publication No. 59/ 2010, pp. 1-100
 
• MandalSurajit&Puniya AK Practical manual on ‘Environmental Microbiology’, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal; Publication No. 42/ 2009; pp.1-102
 
• Puniya AK, MandalSurajit&Tomar SK Practical manual on ‘Fundamentals of Microbiology’, ICAR – NDRI, Karnal; Publication No. 41/ 2009; pp. 1-110
 
• Sirohi SK, Kundu SS, Mohini M &Puniya AK Laboratory manual on ‘Biotechnology of Ruminant Feed Utilization’, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal; ISBN No. 81-900467-1-3, 2007; pp. 1- 135

Book chapters:

• Dahiya DK, Renuka, Dangi AK, Shandilya UK, Puniya AK, & Shukla P New-generation probiotics: perspectives & applications. In: Microbiome&Metabolome in Diagnosis, Therapy, & other Strategic Applications Faintuch, J &Faintuch (Eds), Academic Press, ISBN: 9780128152508, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-815249-2.00044-0, 2019, pp 417-424
 
• Elghandour MMY, Vázquez JC, Salem AZM, Kholif AM, Martínez JS, Camacho LM, Barbabosa A &Puniya AK The rumen microbes & yeast culture in feed. In: Yeast Additive & Animal Production, Salem AZM, Kholif AE &Puniya AK (Editors) PubBioMed Central Research Publishing Services (ISBN: 978-93-83312-02-3), 2016; 32-50
 
• Roy U, Kumar R, Kumar S, Puniya M &Puniya AK Enzymes in milk, cheese & associated dairy products. In: Enzymes in food & beverage processing, Ed: Chandrasekaran, M) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015; PP 325–336
 
• Puniya AK, Kumar S, Puniya M & Malik RK Fermented milk & dairy products – An overview. In: Fermented Milk & Dairy Products Ed: Puniya AK) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015; pp 3-24.
 
• Choudhury PK, Salem AZM, Jena R, Kumar S, Singh R &Puniya AK Rumen Microbiology: An Overview. In: Rumen Microbiology: Evolution to Revolution, Ed: Puniya AK, Singh R &Kamra DN) Springer India, 2015; pp 3-16.
 
• Kaur M, Kumar H, Kumar N &Puniya AK Recent Trends in Production of Fermented Dairy & Food Products. In, “Dairy & Food Processing Industry Recent Trend” Part 1,9: 141-161, Ed. Mishra BK, Astral Publications, 2014; Part 1,9: 141-161
 
• Upadhyay RC, Mohini M, Sirohi SK, Puniya AK, Sirohi S, Singh SV, Renuka, Dwivedi J, Kumar A, Singh R &Damle P Measurement of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock. In, “Measurement of Greenhouse Gas Emission from Crop, Livestock & Aquaculture” Editors, H Pathak; RC Upadhyay; M Muralidhar; P Bhattacharyya & B Venkateswarlu, Venus Printers &  Publishers, New Delhi, 2014; pp 29-35
 
• Upadhyay RC, Mohini M, Sirohi SK, Puniya AK, Sirohi S, Singh SV, Renuka, DwivediJ, Kumar A, Singh R &Damle P; Inventory for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock Sector. In, “Measurement of Greenhouse Gas Emission from Crop, Livestock &Aquaculture” Editors, H Pathak; RC Upadhyay; M Muralidhar; P Bhattacharyya & B Venkateswarlu, Venus Printers &  Publishers, New Delhi, 2014, pp 78-86
 
• Dagar SS, Kumar S, Mudgil P, Puniya M, Sirohi SK, Sehgal JP, Kundu SS &Puniya AKAnaerobic rumen fungi for the benefits of livestock. In: Microbes in the Service of Mankind: Tiny Bugs with Huge Impact.Eds: Nagpal R, Kumar A & Singh R; I.K. International Publishers, New Delhi, 2014; pp 125-139
 
• Mudgil P, Dagar SS, Yadav D, Dahiya D, Puniya M,Sangu KPS, Gupta D &Puniya AKProbiotics: a panacea for management of lifestyle disorders with special emphasis on diabetes, cancer & obesity. In: Microbes in the Service of Mankind: Tiny Bugs with Huge Impact.Eds: Nagpal R, Kumar A & Singh R; I.K. International Publishers, New Delhi, 2014; pp 799-819
 
•  

Popular Articles/ News and Views/ Magazine:

• Singh VP &Puniya AK Dairy Education in India: Present Status and Future Prospects. Employment News, Vol 10, 8 – 14 June, 2019; P1
 
• Singh VP, Puniya AK&Saxena J Dairy Kshetra main sikshaaurrozgarkeavsar. DugdhSarita, 2019; pp. 15-17
 
• Veena N &Puniya AK Bakarikadudh, bahutkhoob. DugdhSarita, 2018; July-August, pp 23-24
 
• Talwar G, Chawla R, Mishra S &Puniya AK Success story of a small Dairy Entrepreneur from Punjab – S. Baldev Singh (DugdhSarita, Jan to Feb, 2018; PP 33-35).
 
• Talwar G, Goyal N, Kumar S &Puniya AK Success story: Driver se dairy udyamibehtar – Ajivikakinayi rah banayi! (DugdhSarita, Nov to Dec, 2018; PP 18-19)
 
• James L, Mandal S, Puniya AK, Krauss-Etchmann S & Singh K Human gut: a targeted organ for the development of functional synbiotics. Beverage & Food World, 2008; 35(12): 22-27
 
• Mishra V and Puniya AK Some mushrooms wears ‘death caps’. The Tribune (Health) 1997; June 10, p 8
 
• Nagpal R, Kumar S, Puniya AK, Sehgal JP & Singh KExploitation of fungi as microbial feed additives for domestic ruminants for improved animal nutrition. Agrovetbuzz, 2009; 2(3): 26-31
 
• Nagpal R, Puniya AK& Singh K, Rumen anaerobic fungi & lignocellulosic plant cell-wall degradation: an overview.Animal Science Reporter, 2007; 1: 13-31
 
• Puniya AK Wanted: a pied piper with attitude – or at least a public that knows what leptospirosis is all about. The Indian Express 2000; Aug 22, Edit p 8
 
• Puniya AK, Singh S and Shukla HD BGA – A biofertilizer for paddy. The Hindu 1995; April 12, p 24
 
• Puniya AK and Parasher R Biotechnology: Then and now. The Tribune 1994; November 10, p 8
 
• Puniya AK and Singh K Phasalavseshaunkeposak gun badhanekidishameineknayakadam. Dairy Samachar, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, 1993; July-Sept, 3: 5-7
 
• Thakur RL, Puniya AK and Puniya M Role of microbes in human life. The Employment News 1998; July 11, p 1
 
• Puniya AK, Singh K and Neelakantan S Bioconversion of farm residues. The Hindu 1992; September 30, p 24
 
• Puniya AK, Singh K and Neelakantan S Improved technique of composting. The Hindu 1992; August 5, p 22
 
• Puniya AK, Singh K and Neelakantan S Mycotoxins – A health hazard to livestock. The Hindu 1992; July 22, p 20
 
• Suseela MR and Puniya AK Role of cyanobacteria in rice cultivation. The Hindu 1992; February 12, p 24
 
• Puniya AK and Rao KJ Improving the quality of crop-residues. The Hindu 1991; July 10, p 24
 
• Puniya AK, Singh K and Rao KJ Recipe for super silage. The Tribune 1991; April 18, p 8

Popular Articles/ News&Views/ Magazine:

• Singh VP &Puniya AK Dairy Education in India: Present Status&Future Prospects. Employment News, Vol 10, 8 – 14 June, 2019; P1
 
• Singh VP, Puniya AK&Saxena J Dairy Kshetra main sikshaaurrozgarkeavsar. DugdhSarita, 2019; pp. 15-17
 
• Veena N &Puniya AK Bakarikadudh, bahutkhoob. DugdhSarita, 2018; July-August, pp 23-24
 
• Talwar G, Chawla R, Mishra S &Puniya AK Success story of a small Dairy Entrepreneur from Punjab – S. Baldev Singh (DugdhSarita, Jan to Feb, 2018; PP 33-35).
 
• Talwar G, Goyal N, Kumar S &Puniya AK Success story: Driver se dairy udyamibehtar – Ajivikakinayi rah banayi! (DugdhSarita, Nov to Dec, 2018; PP 18-19)
 
• James L, Mandal S, Puniya AK, Krauss-Etchmann S & Singh K Human gut: a targeted organ for the development of functional synbiotics. Beverage & Food World, 2008; 35(12): 22-27
 
• Mishra V&Puniya AK Some mushrooms wears ‘death caps’. The Tribune (Health) 1997; June 10, p 8