Professor Pravindra Kumar is an Indian biophysicist, bioinformatician, biochemist and Professor & Former Head Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute Of Technology–Roorkee (IIT–Roorkee) India. He is known for his work on protein-protein interactions, protein engineering and structure-based drug design. Prof. Pravindra Kumar's primary research interest lies in studying Bacterial enzymes and pathways involved in the degradation of toxic aromatic compounds, such as PCBs, dibenzofuran, chlorodibenzofurans, DDT, dyes, and plastics/plasticizers. He focuses particularly on oxidoreductases enzymes due to their unique ability to catalyze challenging reactions, with a special emphasis on understanding their catalytic mechanisms and structural basis for guiding protein engineering. One notable achievement of his research group is the successful engineering of dioxygenases capable of metabolizing various toxic compounds, including those found in plastics (J. Bacteriol. 2016, BBRC 2012, JMB 2011, J.Biol. Chem. 2011).
Biography
The global surge in plastic consumption has led to the "Plastic Age," prompting his interest in finding innovative strategies for PET bioconversion and recycling through the engineering of robust enzymes and microbial strains. Toxic substances, such as phthalate and terephthalate, commonly found in plastic bottles, packaging, personal care items, and industrial waste, leading to their detection in various aquatic environments. These toxic substances cause cancer and heart diseases and have been found to disrupt the endocrine system and have adverse effects on reproductive health and physical growth. Hiss recent work has resulted in determining the first crystal structures of key enzymes involved in the degradation of phthalates and terephthalate, leading to the successful engineering of oxidoreductases with remarkable abilities to metabolize these toxic compounds (J. Biol. Chem., 2021; J. Bacteriol., 2021; Arch. of Biochem. and Biophys., 2022). Additionally, he has also developed a phthalate binding protein-based system for extracting phthalates from contaminated water. Prof. Kumar's lab has engineered potent microbial enzymes to eliminate these harmful substances from the atmosphere, potentially mitigating environmental contamination.This was helpful for the development of biological systems that convert waste plastic into valuable products, promoting a circular economy and reducing plastic waste's environmental impact. Further, his contributions extend to antimicrobial research, where he has made significant strides. Notably, he successfully determined the crystal structure of a crucial bacterial enzyme (OXA-58) and identified a novel inhibitor that shows promise in combating antibiotic resistance (Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015; Mol Biosys. 2016; JMB 2019). Moreover, his research efforts have identified potential drug targets in Moraxella catarrhalis, leading to the discovery of new inhibitors that could be utilized in developing novel antimicrobials (Acta Crystallogr D 2015; Biochim Biophys Acta. 2018; Biochemie. 2018; Arch. of Biochem. and Biophys., 2020; Biochemie. 2022). In addition to his antimicrobial research, Prof. Kumar's laboratory has explored the antibacterial properties of chlorogenic acid, a natural compound found in various plant species, as a potential new class of antibiotics (Sci. Rep. 2017; J. Bacteriol., 2020). Furthermore, his team has extensively studied the structural aspects of plant proteins and secondary metabolites from medicinal plants, leading to various discoveries with potential therapeutic implications (FEBS J 2012; PLoS One. 2013; Proteins; Proteomics 2015; Sci. Rep. 2017; Sci. Rep. 2020). Through collaboration, his team has discovered novel antivirals and patented an enzyme assay and kit for identifying inhibitors of alphavirus/Chikungunya virus (PLoS One 2013; J Virol. 2014; Sci Rep. 2017; Antiviral Res. 2017; Virology 2018; Virus Res. 2021; Virology 2022; FEBS J 2022). Prof. Pravindra Kumar's wide-ranging contributions to the understanding of enzymes, bacterial pathways, and potential drug targets have significant implications for both national and international issues. His research on plastics degradation can help address environmental pollution and promote sustainable practices in waste management. Additionally, his antimicrobial work offers promising solutions to combat antibiotic resistance and emerging viral threats, benefiting global public health efforts. Furthermore, his investigations into plant therapeutic proteins contribute to the advancement of medicinal sciences and the development of novel therapies for various ailments. Pravindra Kumar also focuses his interest on protein engineering and interactions as well as drug design and leads a team of researchers. In 2017, his team worked on Chlorogenic acid, an aromatic compound found naturally in plants like coffea and their biochemical and structural studies using x-ray crystallography techniques revealed that the compound had anti-bacterial properties. The discovery is reported to have opportunities in the development of a new class of antibiotics as the compound clings to the chorismate mutase enzyme in the shikimate pathway which assists in the synthesis of aromatic amino acids and this could inhibit the growth of bacteria. His studies have been documented by way of a number of articles and ResearchGate, an online repository of scientific articles has listed 117 of them.
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