Biswarup Mukhopadhyay

We investigate the biochemical mechanisms that have made methanogenesis, an ancient respiratory metabolism of Earth performed by methanogenic (methane producing) archaea and evolving 3.5 billion years ago, a key thermodynamic facilitator of anaerobic microbiome processes occurring in human and animal gut, numerous niches of nature, and waste-treatment and bio-energy production systems. Towards that goal we analyze the metabolic activities in pure and synthetic mixed microbial cultures, environmental samples, and gut microbiomes. We employ omics, bioinformatics, genetic analysis, bioreactor-based controlled condition cultivation, and enzyme and cofactor biochemistry approaches. Efficient livestock and biofuel production, improving human health, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission are the application areas of our research.