Profile
The research group specializes in identifying and characterizing phytoplasma effectors, which are essential virulence factors that elucidate their roles in host-pathogen interactions. Additionally, the group focuses on developing strategies for disease management, including the creation of resistant plant lines. Their research extends to studying insect vectors responsible for phytoplasma transmission, emphasizing the complex ecological dynamics involved in disease spread. Moreover, the group possesses expertise in microbial taxonomy, utilizing advanced genomic and bioinformatic tools to classify and characterize diverse microbial species. This includes the characterization of novel taxa, shedding light on their ecological roles and evolutionary relationships.
Current Focus Areas
Phytoplasma Biology, where the research group focuses on identifying and characterizing phytoplasma effectors, essential virulence factors elucidating their roles in host-pathogen interactions, and developing strategies for disease management including developing resistant lines.
Microbial taxonomy, where we employ advanced genomic and bioinformatic tools to classify and characterize diverse microbial species including characterising novel taxa shedding light on their ecological roles and evolutionary relationships.
AMR, where our focus is in advancing knowledge and strategies for tackling AMR within the framework of One Health, promoting collaboration and synergy across different sectors to mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Selected Publications
Kirdat K, Tiwarekar B, Sathe S, Yadav A. From sequences to species: Charting the phytoplasma classification and taxonomy in the era of taxogenomics. Front Microbiol. 2023;14:1123783. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1123783. eCollection 2023. Review. PubMed PMID: 36970684; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10033645.
Kirdat K, Tiwarekar B, Swetha P, Padma S, Thorat V, Manjula KN, Kavya N, Sundararaj R, Yadav A. Nested Real-Time PCR Assessment of Vertical Transmission of Sandalwood Spike Phytoplasma ('Ca. Phytoplasma asteris'). Biology (Basel). 2022 Oct 12;11(10). doi: 10.3390/biology11101494. PubMed PMID: 36290399; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9598993.
Kirdat K, Tiwarekar B, Thorat V, Sathe S, Shouche Y, Yadav A. 'Candidatus Phytoplasma sacchari', a novel taxon - associated with Sugarcane Grassy Shoot (SCGS) disease. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2021 Jan;71(1). doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004591. Epub 2020 Dec 8. PubMed PMID: 33289626.
Yadav A, Teware R, Bhatt A, Bhavsar Y, Maurya A, Thorat V, Vemuluri VR, Kirdat K. Ureibacillus aquaedulcis sp. nov., isolated from freshwater well and reclassification of Lysinibacillus yapensis and Lysinibacillus antri as Ureibacillus yapensis comb. nov. and Ureibacillus antri comb. Nov. Arch Microbiol. 2024 May 2;206(5):242. doi: 10.1007/s00203-024-03970-0. PubMed PMID: 38698177.
Bhatt A, Pujari S, Mantri S, Kirdat K, Thakkar L, Poojary R, Kuyare S, Patil K, Yadav A. A rare urinary tract infection of multidrug-resistant Chryseobacterium urinae sp. nov. isolated from a diabetic, non-catheterized patient. Arch Microbiol. 2024 Mar 11;206(4):150. doi: 10.1007/s00203-024-03881-0. PubMed PMID: 38466448.