Success Story of CP # 2071

Enrichment of Facilities to Promote Quality Higher Education and Research in Biotechnology

SPM Prof. Dr. Md Tofazzal Islam Department of Biotechnology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University

Gazipur 1706. E-mail: tofazzalislam@yahoo.com, www.btlbsmrau.org The field of biotechnology has very high potentials to address new challenges in agriculture and improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products in a sustainable ways and ensure food security in the country. Bangladesh’s “Agricultural Research Vision 2030 and Beyond” and “National Science and technological Policy 2009” also recommended application of biotechnology as a priority research area for solution of future challenges in agriculture and ensure food security of the country. The Department of Biotechnology is a newly established department at BSMRAU, which has been offering Master in Biotechnology since April 2011 and Ph D since 2017. However, research facilities and capacities of the department were inadequate for offering high quality education and cutting-edge research. To overcome these limitations, the objectives of the subproject CP2071 were to (i) establish modern laboratories for research in biotechnology; (ii) develop research protocols; (iii) develop a plant growth room; (iv) establish a web portal with e-learning facilities; and (v) enhance capacity and networking of the faculty members. As planned, all these objectives were successfully accomplished within the stipulated time and allocated budget. As a result, the Department of Biotechnology has become of a Center of Excellence in need-based cutting-edge research in biotechnology in Bangladesh. Considering the outstanding success and potentials of biotechnology for sustainable food security and economic development of the nation, the university has approved an ordinance of the establishment of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) by upgrading the department of biotechnology. Major achievements of the sub-project CP # 2071 are briefly noted as follows:

ü Three laboratories (ca. 2,200 sft) with state-of-art facilities for advanced research in biotechnology were established and made functional.

ü Total 25 protocols developed/optimized for research in biotechnology. The students and faculty members routinely use these protocols. Substantial research discoveries were achieved by using these protocols (please see research publications).

ü A growth room of about 220 sft. was developed and it has been used for tissue culture experiments. ü Faculty members (4) received local and foreign trainings. In addition to advanced skills and experiences,

faculty members have developed a strong network with researchers in home and abroad. Some of these collaborations have made research breakthroughs such as discovery of genetic identity and origin of wheat blast through genomic studies with a large number of international researchers from 4 continents.

ü An interactive website (www.btlbsmrau.org) established which illustrates the detail activities of the department including e-learning of the MS in Biotechnology students.

ü 240 BS, 45 MS and 1 Ph D students received hands-on training and conducted advanced research in the established enriched facilities.

ü Published 35 research articles, 15 conference proceedings, 10 book chapters and 1 book. ü The department organized a large number of national and international conference, workshop and symposia.

Microscopy & Genetic Engineering Laboratory Molecular Biology Laboratory Tissue Culture Growth Room Notable Research Breakthroughs by the Department of Biotechnology 1. Genomics study unveils the genetic identity and origin of fearsome wheat blast in Bangladesh

Wheat blast is a fearsome fungal disease which has posed a serious threat to approximately 3 million hectares of wheat growing areas in South America since it first emerged in the Paraná state of Brazil in 1985. In February 2016, wheat blast was spotted across eight districts in Bangladesh– its first report in Asia. The epidemic spread to an

estimated 15,000 hectares, approximately 16% of the cultivated wheat area in Bangladesh, with yield losses reaching up to 100%. Wheat is the second major food source in Bangladesh after rice.

In a rapid response to this fearsome disease, Prof. Tofazzal Islam (SPM of CP # 2071), of BSMR Agricultural University of Bangladesh, collaborated with scientists at The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, and The Genome Analysis Centre of UK to determine the genetic identity and origin of the wheat blast. In order to engage the wider scientific community in this task, they developed a dedicated website, Open Wheat Blast (www.wheatblast.net), which enabled the team to upload the sequencing data compiled from these infected wheat fields alongside Brazilian wheat blast data. Through this open data sharing, scientists across the world were able to download the sequencing data from both cases and compare it with blast sequences data available in their labs.

After months of collaborative phylogenomic and population genomic analyses with 31 researchers from 14 institutions across four continents, Prof. Tofazzal Islam’s team concluded that the wheat blast outbreak in Bangladesh was caused by a wheat-infecting South American lineage of the blast fungus (Islam et al. 2016, BMC Biology 14:84). Please the research article at http://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-016-0309-7. This scientific breakthrough was a cover news story in weekly Nature, Science and other famous news media including The Daily Prothom Alo. The results from this research have suggested that similar genomic surveillance can be applied to monitor further plant disease outbreaks and provide valuable data on the identity and origin of infectious agents.

In 2017, wheat blast re-emerged in Bangladesh and was identified in more than 1,000 hectares of wheat in West Bengal, threatening food security in this region. With the wheat blast now identified, Prof. Tofazzal Islam has been sponsored by BBSRC project with UK researchers Prof. Nicolas Talbot (Exeter University), Prof. Sophien Kamoun (The Sainsbury Laboratory) and Dr. Emma Wellington (National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology) to develop durable blast resistant wheat by genome editing through CRISPR/Cas9. 2. Discovery of novel plant probiotics from native environment for eco-friendly and low input sustainable agriculture Under an ambitious project titled “Mining Bangladesh Biogold”, Prof. Islam’s team discovered a large number of plant probiotics from native environment that have shown high promise as biofertilizer, biopesticide and bioprospecting in the field level experiments. Successes of this project are briefly described below:

1. Isolated, characterized and evaluated for plant growth promoting activities of ca. 650 bacteria from native

environments and deposited in the freezer in the laboratory (first BANK of beneficial bacteria in Bangladesh).

2. One hundred isolates identified through molecular techniques including 16S rRNA gene sequencing and their sequences were deposited to the NCBI genbank.

3. Twenty eight isolates (BIOFERTILIZERS) significantly increased biomass and grain yield of rice, wheat and strawberry. It appeared that application of some bacterial isolate can reduce 50% of NPK fertilizers with up to 20% increase in yield. These isolates are ready for commercialization for practical application for sustainable crop production.

4. Twenty one isolates suppressed major plant diseases and thus have potential for development of BIOPESTIDES.

5. In collaboration with University of Nottingham, UK, we completed whole Genome Sequencing and annotation of 4 potential bacteria having biofertilizer and biopesticidal activity.

6. Twelve new bioactive natural products (antibiotics) were discovered from marine and terrestrial bacteria. These novel metabolites are potential for development of new drugs and/or agrochemicals.

The Serratia marcescens (BN8) and Micrococcus endophyticus (BTS-2) could be commercialized as biofertilizers for the reduction of synthetic chemical fertilizers use in rice and also increase in rice cultivation in Bangladesh. Fifty percent (50%) reduction of N, P, and K fertilizers in rice is a billion taka business in Bangladesh

3. Nanotech breakthrough for mitigation of air pollutants In collaboration with a research team led by Prof. Yusuke Yamauchi of Wollonging University in Australia, Prof. Tofazzal Islam have developed a nanomaterial that can be used to make markedly more effective catalytic converters for vehicles. Catalytic converters reduce the pollution from vehicle exhaust by converting toxic gases and pollutants to less toxic pollutants, so the research has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of pollution caused by cars and trucks. In a paper published in Nature Communications, the research team describes how they created porous rhodium (Rh) on a nanoscale. Rhodium is a chemical element commonly used in catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) in exhaust gases; making it porous increases its surface area, thereby making it more effective. Air pollutants NOx and SOx badly impacts on photosynthesis of plants, damage immune system and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells of affected organisms. Increased production of ROS can attack biomacromolecules and results in oxidative damage in nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. This nanotech research breakthrough significantly reduces environmental pollution and indirectly improves the productivity of crops and other agricultural produces. Moreover, this discovery highly benefit the developing countries like Bangladesh for maintaining higher agricultural productivity which is essential for ensuring food and nutritional security of this highly populated country. Reduction of air pollutants in Dhaka city (one of the most polluted) by this nanotechnology would improve it to more habitable. In collaboration with Prof. Yamauchi group, Prof. Islam’s team is now involved in production high value chemicals, electrically and magnetically conductive fibers from raw jute fibers. Two patents are in progress of submission and it is expected that these research lead to new technology which boost national economy of Bangladesh. Awards and recognitions: The SPM Prof. Tofazzal Islam and his team received many awards during and after the implementation of subproject CP # 2071 and developed active collaborations worldwide.

Selected Research Publications from sub-project CP # 2071 in high impact international journals and books:

1. Jiang B et al. 2017. Mesoporous metallic rhodium nanoparticles. Nature Communication 8:15581 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15581. Impact Factor 11.42

2. Rahman M 2017. Molecular Identification of Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Fish Pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis and their Control by Medicinal Herbs. Scientific Reports, in press. Impact Factor 5.25

3. Mondol MAM et al. 2017. Metabolites from the endophytic fungus Curvularia sp. M12 act as motility inhibitors against Phytophthora capsici zoospores. Journal of Natural Products 80: 347–355. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00785 Impact Factor 3.66.

4. Kumar A et al. 2017. Co-inoculation with Enterobacter and Rhizobacteria on yield and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the alluvial soil under Indo-Gangetic plain of India. J Plant Growth Regul. doi:10.1007/s00344-016-9663-5. Impact Factor 2.166

5. Akita S et al. 2017. Gold nanoparticles supported on mesoporous titania thin films with high loading as a CO oxidation catalyst. Chemistry: An Asian Journal 12 (8): 877–881. Impact Factor 4.592

6. Mia MAB et al. 2017. Growth promotion of non-legumes by the inoculation of Bacillus species. In Bacilli and Agrobiotechnology, Islam MT eds. Springer International Publishing, pp. 57-76.

7. Islam et al. 2017. Bacilli and Agrobiotechnology. An edited series book published by Springer International Publishing, ISBN: 978-3-319-44408-6 (Print) 978-3-319-44409-3 (Online). pp. 416.

8. Islam MT et al. 2016. Emergence of wheat blast in Bangladesh was caused by a South American lineage of Magnaporthe oryzae. BMC Biology, 14:84 DOI 10.1186/s12915-016-0309-7. Impact Factor 6.97

9. Dame, T.D., et al. 2016. Oligomycins pamamycin homologues impair motility and induce lysis of zoospores of the grapevine downy mildew pathogen, Plasmopara viticola. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 363 (16): fnw167 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnw167 Impact Factor 1.858

10. Islam MT et al. 2016. Inhibitory effects of macrotetrolides from Streptomyces spp. on zoosporogenesis and motility of peronosporomycete zoospores are likely linked with enhanced ATPase activity in mitochondria. Frontiers in Microbiology 7: 1824. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01824. Impact Factor 4.165

11. Islam, S., et al. 2016. Isolation and identification of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from cucumber rhizosphere and their effect on plant growth promotion and disease suppression. Frontiers in Microbiology 6:1360. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01360. Impact Factor 4.165

12. Zohara F et al. 2016. Inhibitory effects of Pseudomonas spp. on plant pathogen Phytophthora capsici in vitro and in planta. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 5: 69–77. doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2015.12.009. CiteScore 1.64

13. Abdullah AHM et al. 2016. Socio-demographic factors influencing Bangladeshi professionals’ towards biotechnological products. Indian Res. J. Ext. Edu. 16: 96-102.

14. Ansary MWR et al. 2016. Medicinal plant extracts and protein kinase C inhibitor suppress zoosporogenesis and impair motility of Phytophthora capsici. Plant Protection Science 52: 113–122. Impact Factor: 0.597

15. Sarker U et al. 2016. Genetic variation and interrelationships among antioxidant, quality, and agronomic traits in vegetable amaranth. Turk J Agric For 40: 526-535. doi:10.3906/tar-1405-83. Impact Factor: 1.311

16. Sarker U et al. 2015. Variability, heritability and genetic association in vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.). Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 13(2), e0702, 8 pages, eISSN: 2171-9292. Impact Factor: 0.703

17. Mondol, M.A.M. et al. 2015. Macrocyclic trichothecenes from Myrothecium roridum Strain M10 with motility inhibitory and zoosporicidal activities against Phytophthora nicotianae. J. Agric. Food Chem. 63:8777–8786. Impact Factor 2.857

18. Sarker U et al. 20165. Genotype variability in composition of antioxidant vitamins and minerals in vegetable amaranth. Genetika 47: 85-96. Impact Factor: 0.44

19. Sayed MA et al. 2015. Dietary effects of chitosan and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) on the performance and serum lipid profile of broiler chicks. South African Journal of Animal Science 45(4): 429-440. Impact Factor: 0.57

20. Siddiqui MN et al. 2015. Effect of dietary supplementation of acetone extracts of Nigella sativa L. seeds on serum cholesterol and pathogenic intestinal bacterial count in broilers. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 25: 372-379. Impact Factor: 0.61

21. Islam MT et al. 2015. Bioactive natural products for managing peronosporomycete phytopathogens. In: Sustainable Crop Management using Natural Products, Sangeetha Ganesan, Kurucheve Vadivel and Jayaraj Jayaramen. CAB International 2015, pp. 307-344.

22. Islam MT 2015. Bioactive natural products for managing downy mildew disease in grapevine. In: Biocontrol of Major Grapevine Diseases, S. Comphant and F. Mathieu eds., CAB International 2015, pp. 125-149.

23. Ahmed I et al. 2015. Isolation and characterization of arsenic resistant soil bacteria and their effects on germination of rice under arsenic contamination. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish. 2(2): 229-237.

24. Tareq FS et al. 2015. Gageopeptins A and B, new inhibitors of zoospore motility of the phytopathogen Phytophthora capsici from a marine-derived bacterium Bacillus sp. 109GGC020. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 25: 3325–3329. Impact Factor: 2.420

25. Tareq, F.S., et al. 2014. Gageotetrins A-C, noncytotoxic antimicrobial linear lipopeptides from a marine bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Organic Letters 16: 928–931. mpact Factor 6.732

26. Sarker U 2014. Genotypic variability for nutrient, antioxidant, yield and yield contributing traits in vegetable amaranth. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment 12 (3&4): 168-174.

27. Talukder S 2014. Evaluation of fertility disrupting potentials of Abrus precatorius seed extracts in male rats for arresting spermatogenesis and suppressed fertility in Vivo. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 34(1): 18-23. Impact Factor 1.65.

28. Tatong MDK et al. 2014. Banchromene and other secondary metabolites from the endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. obtained from Piper guinensis inhibit the motility of phytopathogenic Plasmopara viticola zoospores. Tetrahedron Letters, 55(30): 4057-4061 Impact Factor: 2.397

29. Tareq FS et al. 2014. Non-cytotoxic antifungal agents: isolation and structures of Gageopeptides from a marine-derived Bacillus subtilis 109GGC020. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, DOI: 10.1021/jf502436r. Impact Factor: 2.857

30. Sarkar A et al. 2014. Proteomics potential and its contribution toward sustainable agriculture. In: Agroecology, Ecosystems, and sustainability, Noureddine Benkeblia N ed., CRC Press. pp. 151-179.

31. Mondol, M.A.M. et al. 2013. Diversity of secondary metabolites from marine Bacillus species: chemistry, biosynthesis and biological activity. Marine Drugs 11: 2846-2872. Impact Factor 3.345

32. Islam MT and Hossain MM 2013. Biological control of peronosporomycete phytopathogen by bacterial antagonist. In Bacteria in Agrobiology: Disease Management. Maheshwari DK ed. Springer Berlin-Heidelberg, pp 167-218.

33. Mia MAB et al. 2013. Plant-associated bacteria in nitrogen nutrition in crops, with special reference to rice and banana. In Bacteria in Agrobiology: Crop Productivity. Maheshwari DK ed. Springer Berlin-Heidelberg, pp 97-126

34. Talontsi, F.M., et al. 2012. Zoosporicidal metabolites from an endophytic fungus Cryptosporiopsis sp. of Zanthoxylum leprieurii. Phytochemistry 83: 87-94. Impact Factor 2.779

35. Sarkar A et al. 2012. Screening for phosphate solubilizing bacteria inhabiting the rhizoplane of rice grown in acidic soil in Bangladesh. Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica 59 (2) DOI: 10.1556/AMicr.59.2012.2.5 Impact Factor 0.568

36. Talontsi FM et al. 2012. Depsidones and other constituents from Phomopsis sp. CAFT69 and its host plant Endodesmia calophylloides with potent inhibitory effect on motility of zoospores of grapevine pathogen Plasmopara viticola. Phytochemistry Letters 5: 657–664. Impact Factor 1.353.

37. Islam MT and Hossain MM 2012. Plant probiotics in phosphorus nutrition in crops, with special reference to rice. In Bacteria in Agrobiology: Plant Probiotics. Maheshwari DK ed., Springer Berlin-Heidelberg, pp. 325-363.