Curriculum Vitae - TBGRI

Dr. Shiburaj Sugathan
Scientist – C
Applied Microbiology Lab
Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Science Division
Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute
Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala,
India, Pin -6955 62
Mob: 9495826669
Phone: +91 (0)472-2869226
Fax: +91(0) 472 - 2869646
E-mail: drshiburaj@gmail.com
Residence
SCTNRA 128, TC 2/3159(19),
Sree ChithraTirunalNagar,
Chalakuzhi, Pattom PO,
Trivandrum, Kerala- 695 004,
India
Area of Interest: Molecular Microbiology and Proteomics
Bio-prospecting for antimicrobial metabolites (FtsZ inhibitors).
Functional analysis of Heat shock Proteins of Streptomyces are related organisms.
Microbial enzymes
Academic qualifications
1 BSc [Botany] University of Kerala, 1992
2 MSc[Botany] University of Kerala, 1994
3 BEd [Natural Science] University of Kerala, 1995
4 PhD [Microbiology] University of Kerala, 2003
5 PDF [Molecularbiology] Madurai Kamaraj University, 2004-07
6 PDF [Proteomics] Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, 2011-12

Membership in professional societies
Life Member, Proteomics Society of India (PSI)
Life Member, Association of Microbiologists India (AMI)
International Member, American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
Member, Canadian National Proteomics Network (CNPN)
Professional recognition, honors/awards, fellowships
Best Student Award for the year 1992, S.N. College, Varkala,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
University Union Councillor -University of Kerala, 1995-1996,
Recipient of Post Doctoral Fellowship in Biotechnology (2004-2007); Kerala
Biotechnology Commission; KSCSTE; Govt of Kerala.
Awarded Rapid Grant for Young Investigator (RGYI) - 2007, Dept of
Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
Project Officer, Kerala Biotechnology Commission, Govt of Kerala, 2009-2011.
Programme Officer (i/c), Kerala Biotechnology Commission, June to September
2011.
Recipient of BOYSCAST fellowship- 2011, Dept of Science and Technology,
Govt. of India.
Visiting Scientist in Cell biology lab, Department of Biology, Dalhousie
University, Halifax, Canada, 2011-12.
Won Canadian National Proteomics Network best Poster presentation award in
4 th Annual CNPN Symposiumon „Proteomics: from protein structures to clinical
applications‟, Toronto, Canada, April 23-25, 2012.
Included as a member of Editorial board in Research Journal in Microbiology.
Selected as the Regional Editor in Current Research in Bacteriology.

Completed projects
No Title of the project Funding agency Position Duration
1 Molecular studies on the secondary
metabolic production in
Streptomyces setoniiTBG19NRA1
2 Screening & Isolation of the
antifungal micro-organisms from
the Sacred grooves of South Kerala
4 Studies on the microbial biomass
and its role in nutrient addition and
litter decomposition in the hill shola
forests of Munnar and Wyanad
5 Agro-industrial development and
economic upliftment of weaker sections
through biofertilizer manufacturing
Ongoing Projects
DBT, Govt. of
India
KSCSTE,Govt
of Kerala
Dept. of forests,
Govt. of Kerala
State Planning
Board, Govt. of
Kerala
Principal
Investigator
Principal
Investigator
Principal
Investigator
Co-Principal
Investigator
2009-
2012
2003-
2007
2002-
2005
2003-
2006
No Title of the project Funding agency Position Duration
1 Cloning and Expression of Small
Heat Shock Proteins from
Streptomyces spp& Exploration of its
Industrial Applications
2 Exploration of Microbial Diversity
for Novel Therapeutic Proteins and
its Industrial Validation
Specialised Training Acquired
KSCSTE,Govt
of Kerala
DBT, Govt of
India
Principal
Investigator
Principal
Investigator
2013-
2015
2013-
2014
DST sponsored workshop on “Taxonomy, Ex-situ Conservation and
Bioprospecting of Fungi‟ organised at National Fungal Culture Collection of
India, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, 26 th November to 10 th December,
2012.
DST workshop on „Advances in Biotechnology‟ organised at TERI, New Delhi,
8-13 November, 2010.
International workshop and hands-on training in DNA-bar-coding of marine life
– 7 days - NBFPGR Lucknow, organized by IO-CoML - April 2007.
Indo-US workshop on Molecular Microbial Ecology - 7 days- Bangalore
University (Organized by Prof.AdrewOgram, University of Florida, US) –
2003.
Molecular tools and Analytical techniques in Biology- 12 days- Tapar Institute,
Patiala, Panjab, India -2003

Advanced Biochemistry & DNA Technology Training Workshop -20 Days-
Department of Biochemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India –
2000.
Seminars/Symposium Organized
Publications
Organizing Secretary, National Seminar on „Microbial Diversity an innovative Source of
Biotechnology‟, at TBGRI, Palode, Trivandrum, Kerala -2004.
Organized anone day seminar on 'GM Crops and Food Security'on 17 th November
2009 at SasthraBhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram.
Colloquium on „R&D-Industry Interface for Biotech Development in Kerala‟ at Kochi
on 12 th January 2011.
Journal Articles 26
Chapters in Books, Proceedings etc. 11
Books/Edited Volumes/Proceedings 2
Papers presented in Seminar/Symposia 30
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
Papers published in National and International Journals
1. Hosagoudar,V.B., Abraham, T.K., Biju, C.K. and Shiburaj S. 1997.
Asterinatheacearum sp. nov.from Kerala, India. New Botanist 24: 23-25.
2. Shiburaj S. and T.K. Abraham, 1998.Studies on the distribution of antagonistic
Actinomycetes in Neyyar and Peppara wild life Sanctuaries of Kerala State,
India.Geobios 25: 221-226.
3. Hosagoudar, V.B and. Shiburaj S. 2002. Meliola gamsii sp. nov. from Kerala, India.
Nova Hedwigia74: 411-413. (IF: 0.588)
4. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 2002. Studies on the optimization of cultural
conditions of a strain of Streptomycessetonii 19NRA1 for antibiotic production. J.
Mycopathol. Res. 40 (2): 181-184.
5. Hosagoudar, V.B., Abraham, T.K. andShiburaj S. 2002 Black Mildew disease on
Acacia species in India.J. Mycopathol. Res. 40 (1) : 45-47.
6. Hosagoudar, V.B and. ShiburajS. 2003. Asterinacynanchi sp. nov. In:
Hosagoudar‟s, Studies on foliicolous fungi – X. Five new species and a new record.
Zoos’ Print Journal 17: 943-944.
7. Mathew, J., ShiburajS. and George, V. 2003. Antimicrobial activity of
Amomumcannicarpium. Fitoterapia74 (5): 476-478. (IF 0.848)
8. Hosagoudar, V.B andShiburaj S. 2003 Studies on foliicolous fungi – XIV. Two
new records to India. Zoos’ Print Journal 18 (9): 1193-1194.
9. Gopanraj, Shiburaj S., Sethuraman M. G. and George V.. 2004. Chemical
composition and antibacterial activity of the leaf oil from Clausenaaustroindica.J.
Trop. Med. Plants 5 (2): 233-236.

10. Anil John, J., Shiburaj S., Sethuraman, M.G. and George, V. 2005. Composition and
Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from stem bark of
Pittosporumneelgherrense. J. Trop. Med. Plants. 6 (1) : 45-49.
11. Gopanraj, Mathew Dan, Shiburaj S., Sethuraman M. G. and George V 2005.
Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the rhizome oil of
Hedychiumlarsenii .ActaPharmaceutica. 55(3):315-320. (IF 0.962).
12. Nair GM, Narasimhan S, Shiburaj S, Abraham TK.2005. Antibacterial effects of
CosciniumfenestratumFitoterapia. 76 (6): 585-587. (IF 0.845).
13. Ramesh Kumar K.B., Shiburaj S., and George, V. 2006. Constituents and
antibacterial activity of the stem bark of Garciniaimberti J. Trop. Med. Plants.
6 (2):271-274
14. Mathew, J., Sabulal, B., Dan, M., Shiburaj S. and George, V. 2006. Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf oil of Amomumcannicarpum
(Wight) Bentham ex Baker J. Essential Oil Res. 18 (1):35-37. (IF 0.309)
15. Rameshkumar KB; George V and Shiburaj S 2006 Chemical constituents and
antimicrobial activity of the leaf oil of CinnamomumfilipedicellatumKosterm. J.
Essential Oil Res 18 (2): 234-236. (IF 0.309)
16. George, V; Mathew, J., Sabulal, B., Dan, M., and Shiburaj S. 2006. Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil from the rhizomes of
Amomumcanicarpum. Fitoterapia; 77(5) :392-394. (IF. 0.908)
17. Sabulal, B., George, V. andShiburaj S (2006) Volatile constituents and antibacterial
activity of the Flower oil of Evodialunu-ankenda (Gaertn) Merr. J. Essent. Oil Res.
18 (4): 462-464. (IF 0.309)
18. Gopanraj, Dan, M., Shiburaj S., Sethuraman, M.G. and George, V. (2006) Chemical
composition and antibacterial activity of the rhizome oil of Alpiniaabundiflora J.
Med. Arom. Pl. Sci. . 28(1), 45-47.
19. Ramesh kumar K. B., George V. and Shiburaj S. (2007) Chemical composition and
antibacterial activity of the leaf oil of Cinnamomumchemungianum Mohan & Henry
J. Essnt. Oil Res. 19(1): 98-100 (IF 0.368)
20. Anil John J., Shiburaj S., Sethuraman, M.G. and George, V. (2007) Chemical
composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils from the leaf, bark and
fruit of Neolitsea cassia. J. Trop.Med. Plants. 7(2): 251-256.
21. Lini N., Rehna E.A., Shiburaj S., Jeyamaheswari J., Shankarnarayan N.P. and K.
Dharmalingam (2008) Functional characterization of a small heat shock protein from
Mycobacterium leprae. BMC Microbiology 8:208 (IF 2.88)
22. George J., Arunachalam R., Paulkumar K., Weseley E.G, Shiburaj S. and Annadurai
G (2010)Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Cellulase Producing
Streptomyces noboritoensisSPKC1. InterdiscipSciComput Life Sci 2: 205–212.
23. ShiburajS (2011) Anti-Microbial Screening of
StreptosporangiumnondiastaticumTBG-75A20, Isolated from the Forest Soil of
South India. Res. J. Microbiol. 6(12): 912-918.
24. Indhuja S., Shiburaj S., Pradeep N.S, Thankamani V. & Abraham T.K. (2012)“Isolation and
Characterization of a Feather Degrading Alkalophilic Streptomyces sp. TBG-S13A5 and its
Keratinolytic Properties. Korean J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. Vol. 40, No. 4, 303–309.

Papers In Press
25. Indhuja S., Shiburaj S., Pradeep N.S, Thankamani V. & Abraham T.K. (2013)Extracellular
Keratinolytic Proteases from an Alkalophilic Streptomyces albidoflavus TBG-S13A5:
Enhanced Production and Characterization” Accepted for publication in Journal of Pure and
Applied Microbiology.
26. Sandip Kumar Nandi, Elengikal Abdul AzeezRehna, Alok Kumar Panda,
SugathanShiburaj, KuppamuthuDharmalingam, and AshisBiswas (2013) S52P
Mutation within T-cell Epitope Region ofMycobacterium lepraeHSP18 Decreases Its
ChaperoneFunction by Destabilizing the Structural Integrity. J. Biochemistry.
Papers/Chapters Published in Books/Edited Volume/Proceedings
1. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 1997. Screening of Actinomycetes for antibacterial
antibiotics. Proc. 9 th Kerala Science Congress. pp: 389-390.
2. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 1998. A comparative study on the distribution of antagonistic
Actinomycetes in the forests of Neyyar wild life Sanctuary. Proc.10 th Kerala Science
Congress. pp: 426-428.
3. Mathew, J.,ShiburajS and George, V. 2003 Antibacterial activity of
Acrotermaarnottianum.Proc. 15 th Kerala Science Congress pp:746-747.
4. ShiburajS. and T.K. Abraham, 2004. Molecular level characterization of an antibiotic
producing novel strain of Streptomyces setonii 19NRA1 Proceedings 16 th Kerala Science
Congress (Ed. Valiathan M.S.) pp: 144-152.
5. PradeepN.S., Vishnu Prasad C.N. and Shiburaj S. 2005. Bioprospecting of the
commercially explored oyster mushrooms (Pleurotusspp.) in Kerala. Proc. 17 th Kerala
Science Congress (Ed. Muthunayagam A.E.) pp:229-231.
6. ShiburajS. and Prakashkumar R. 2005. Actinomycetes – A continuing source of Bioactive
metabolites. In „Microbial Diversity An Indian Perspective’ TBGRI, Kerala, India.
7. Shiburaj S. and Dharmalingam K. 2005. Microbial Diversity and Genomics. In „Microbial
Diversity An Indian Perspective’ TBGRI, Kerala, India.
8. Shiburaj S., Rehna E.A. and Dharmalingam K. 2007. Cloning, Exoression and
Characterization of the 18kDa Secreated antigen of M. leprae. Proc. 19 th Kerala Science
Congress (Ed. Muthunayagam A.E.) pp:148-149.
9. Renjukrishna V., Pradeep N.S. and Shiburaj S. 2007. Studies on the Distribution and
Phylogenic analysis of Antifungal Actinomycetes in selected Sacred Groves of Kerala. Proc.
19 th Kerala Science Congress (Ed. Muthunayagam A.E.) pp:730-732.
10. DivyaBalakrishnan and Shiburaj S. 2011. Studies on Extra-cellular α-Amylase Production
from Streptomyces setoniiTBGA19NRA1 Proc. 23 rd Kerala Science Congress.
11. Shiburaj. S and Preethi S. (2012) Phylogenetic analysis of few Actinobacteria with potential
antimicrobial properties, isolated from the forest soils of Western Ghats of Kerala, In
Prospects in Bioscience: Addressing the issues, Sabu, Abdulhameed; Augustine, Anu (Eds.)
510 p.
Books/Edited Volumes/Proceedings
1. Abraham T.K., Pradeep N.S. and ShiburajS. 2004. Abstracts of National Seminar on
„Microbial Diversity an innovative Source of Biotechnology‟. TBGRI, Kerala, India.

2. Nair C.T.S, Sabu A.,Shiburaj S., Krishnakumar K.K. &Ajith Kumar (2011) Report of the
colloquium on „R&D-Industry Interface for Biotech Development in Kerala‟ at Kochi on 12 th
January 2011.
Papers presented in Seminar/Symposia
1. Shiburaj S. and Abraham, T.K. 1996 Actinomycetes of Agasthyavanam biological park,
Thiruvananthapuram. Seminar on Recent Advances in Botany, Satara, Maharastra.
2. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 1996. Screening of Actinomycetes for antimicrobial
substances. 37 th Annual Conf. Of Association of Microbiologists India, IIT, Madras.
3. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 1997. Selection of a suitable medium for the isolation of
Actinomycetes from litter. 84 th Indian Science Congress, New Delhi.
4. ShiburajS., Pradeep N.S and Abraham, T.K. 1997. From studies on the antibiotic producing
Actinomycetes from the forest soil samples of Kerala. 18 th Annual Conference of Indian
Association of Biomedical Scientists, New Delhi.
5. Pradeep N.S., Shiburaj S., Radhakrishnan A. and Abraham. T.K. 1998. A comparative
account of the cellulolytic activity of some Pleurotusspp. (Basidiomycetes). 39 th Annual
Conference of AMI, Magalore.
6. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 2000. Studies on the antibiotic production by a Streptomyces
isolate (19NRA1) from Neyyar wild life sanctuary of Kerala State. International Conference
on Microbial Biotechnology Trade &Public Policy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andra
Pradesh.
7. Soorej M Basheer, Shiburaj. S and Abraham T K (2000). Optimization of cultural
conditions for antimicrobial antibiotic accumulation by a Streptomyces strain TBGA120.
Proceedings of National seminar on recent advances in Biological sciences-Biospectrum
2000.(2nd Best poster award)
8. ShiburajS. and Abraham, T.K. 2002. Studies on the optimization of cultural conditions of a
strain of Streptomycessetonii 19NRA1) for antibiotic production. National Symposium on
Frontier studies in Microbes & Host-Microbe Interactions, Indian Mycological Society,
Kolkata.
9. Abraham, T.K., Hosagoudar, V.B., Biju, C.K. andShiburajS. 2002. A checklist of the
microflora of Peppara and Neyyar wild life sanctuaries of Kerala State, India. International
Seminar on Plant Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Bose Institute, Kolkata.
10. Shiburaj. S and Abraham T.K 2003. Isolation and characterization of a novel strain of
Streptomyces setonii 19NRA1 with promising Antimicrobial activity. 44 th Ann. Conf. AMI.
Dharwad, November 2003.
11. Remya, Panickar C. and Shiburaj S. 2004. Antimicrobial activity of Wrightiatinctoria.
National Seminar on „Microbial Diversity an innovative Source of Biotechnology‟. TBGRI,
Palode, Kerala, May 2004.
12. Akithadevi N.K., Kasthuri J. and Shiburaj S. 2004 Studies on the characterization of a
Cellulase producing isolate Streptomyces TBGRIA2 using 16s rRNA sequence
analysis.National Seminar on „Microbial Diversity an innovative Source of Biotechnology‟.
TBGRI, Palode, Kerala, May 2004.
13. Shaju S., Vishnuprasad C., Shiburaj S. andPradeep N.S. 2004 Preliminary physiological and
molecular studiesa on a diazotrophAzotobacterchroococcum TBG-1.National Seminar on
„Microbial Diversity an innovative Source of Biotechnology‟. TBGRI, Palode, Kerala, May
2004.
14. Renju Krishna, Arun S., Shiburaj S. and Abraham T.K. 2004. Studies on the antagonistic
properties of Actinomycetes isolated from selected Sacred Groves Alleppy District of

Kerala.National Seminar on „Microbial Diversity an innovative Source of Biotechnology‟.
TBGRI, Palode, Kerala, May 2004.
15. Vishnuprasad C., Arun S., Shiburaj S and Pradeep N.S. 2004 Phylogenetic analysis of litter
inhabiting Aspergillus spp. using ITS-RFLP. Annual conference of Indian Phytopathological
Society, Goa University, November 2004
16. Renju Krishna, Vishnuprasad C., Shiburaj S and Pradeep N.S. 2004. ITS-RFLP analysis for
distigushing commercial cultivars of oyster mushroom (Pleurotusspp.) in Kerala. Annual
conference of Indian Phytopathological Society, Goa University, November 2004.
17. Shiburaj S., SmithaSoman and Abraham T.K. 2004. Studies on a L-Asparginase Producing
Streptomyces Isolate and its Characterization using 16s rRNA SequencingInternational
seminar on Bioconvergenece, Taper Institute, Patiala, November 2004
18. S. Shiburaj N. Lini, E. A. Rehna, J. JeyaMaheshwari and K. Dharmalingam (2005)
„Functional characterization and over expression of 18kDa small heat shock protein of M.
leprae in E. coli.‟ Presented in 24 th Biennial Conference of Indian Association Leprologists
at Jalma Institute Agra on November 2005.
19. S. Shaju, R. Remya, S. Shiburajand N.S. Pradeep (2006) Phylogenetic analysis of few
Azotobacter spp. using ARDRA and RAPD. International Symposium on Agriculturally
Important Microorganisms: Conservation, Utilization, Bioremediation and Ecological
Significance. 23-25, February, Kolkatta, WB.
20. V. Renju Krishna, Amrithendu Bhattacharya, S. ShiburajandN.S. Pradeep (2006) Genetic
diversity analysis of few air-borne Aspergillusisolates using RAPD and ITS-RFLP.
International Symposium on Agriculturally Important Microorganisms: Conservation,
Utilization, Bioremediation and Ecological Significance. 23-25, February, Kolkatta, WB.
21. S. Shiburaj T.K. Abraham and K. Dharmalingam (2007) TBGA-1, A Novel Antimicrobial
Metabolite From Streptomyces Setonii TBG19NRA1. Indo-German Bilateral Symposium on
„Antimicrobial Drug Resistance and the Development of New Antibiotics‟ is being organized
by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the German Academy of Sciences
Leopoldina at INSA, New Delhi, November 21–25, 2007.
22. T.K. Abraham, S. ShiburajN.S. Pradeep and S. Indhuja (2007) Extra cellular protease
activity of a Streptomyces sp. capable of keratin degradation. AMI Annual Conference, IIT,
Chennai.
23. S. ShiburajA. Ganga Prasad and V. Renjukrisna (2007) Antifungal and Chitinolytic
activities of Streptomyces strains isolated from the Sacred Groves of Kerala. AMI Annual
Conference, IIT, Chennai.
24. S. Indhuja, S. ShiburajN.S. Pradeep and T.K. Abraham (2007) Studies on keratinolytic
activity of a Streptomyces sp. S13A5 and the extracellular protease acossiated with feather
degradation.International Conference on New Horizon in Biotechnology, 26-29 November,
Trivandrum.
25. N.S. Pradeep, V. Renju Krishna and S. Shiburaj(2007) Genetic similarity among
environmental isolates of Aspergillus spp. National Symposium on Microbial Diversity and
Plant Health. 29-30, November, BCKV, Kalyani, WB.
26. S. ShiburajN. Lini, E.A. Rehna and K. Dharmalingam (2008) Functional Analysis of sHSP
18 Antigen of Mycobacterium leprae. 17 th International Leprosy Congress, Hyderabad.
27. S. Shiburaj V. Renju Krishna and N.S. Pradeep (2008) Studies on the Anti-Fungal Activities
of Streptomyces strains Isolated from the Sacred Groves of Kerala. National Symposium in
Plant Disease Management for Sustainable Crop Protection, Indian Phytopathological
Society, Agarkhar Research Institute, Pune.
28. Renju Krishna, V., Renjini K. Nair, Justin Jeorge, Shiburaj S.,Gangaprasad, A. and Pradeep,
N.S. (2010) Identification and characterization of an antifungal ChitinolyticStreptomycessp.
from Kerala. First Indian Biodiversity Congress 2010.

29. ShiburajSugathan, Jinnie Kim, Svetla Bojikova-Fournier and Thomas H. MacRae (2012)
Analysis of ArtemiafranciscanaEmbryogenesis by Shotgun Proteomics. 4 th Annual CNPN
Symposium: Proteomics: from protein structures to clinical applications, Toronto, Canada
April 23-25. (Won Best Poster award).
30. ShiburajSugathan(2012) Phylogenetic Analysis of Few Actinobacteria with potential
Antimicrobial Properties, Isolated from the forest soils of Western Ghats of Kerala.
International Conference on Advances in Biological Sciences, Kannur University, Kerala,
India, March 15-17.