In a normal physiological state, several bacteria are present in the human gut that is essential to maintain the normal to healthy gastrointestinal function. Disturbances in this “normal flora” lead to gut inflammation and infection. This volume explores the potential of probiotics, the healthy bacteria, to manage gut-related diseases including gastrointestinal cancers, ulcerative colitis, H. pylori infections, and diarrhea; vaginosis; oral health; airway inflammation; and atopic dermatitis. The concept of designer probiotics, edible vaccines and future scope of research in the field is also presented. The animal models used for studying the benefits of probiotics in gut inflammation are described for beginners.
Dr. Indu Pal Kaur, presently the Chairperson and Professor of Pharmaceutics at University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, has more than 25 years of teaching and research experience. Her research forte is enhancing bioperformance of small and large biomolecules including probiotics using active-tailored delivery systems. Emphasis of her work lies on clinical translation of her work as evidenced by the transfer of three technologies from her lab to the Industry. She has been granted six Indian and one US patent and has 19 patent applications in the pipeline. She has > 135 high impact publications and 17 book chapters to her credit and falls in the top 2% of highly cited scientists in the world. A book volume on ‘Nanobiomedicine’ and special issues of journals ‘Current Pharmaceutical Design’ and ‘Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology’ have been edited by her. She has received funding to the tune of 72.5 millon INR from Government agencies and has Industrial consultancies amounting to 15.3 million INR. She was awarded the very prestigious ‘Fulbright- Fellowship (FNAPE)’ by USA, and was a visiting faculty at Rutgers State University, New Jersey, USA for 6 months in 2017-18. The Organizers of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) bestowed upon her ‘The best Women Scientist Award-2018. She was also awarded Researcher of the Year Award-2019, and BRIC Idea Exposition Award – 2019, BRIC Technology Exposition Award and Tynor Leadership Award for Innovation - 2020.
Dr. Sandip V. Pawar, is currently working as a UGC-Assistant Professor at University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India since June 2018. Over the past 10 years, he got opportunities to work at some of the best industrial and research institutions in Canada and India. Dr. Pawar is B. Pharm from University of Pune, India, M. Tech – National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India. He has worked previously as a Research Scientist – Bioplus Lifesciences (VB Medicare), Hosur, India after completing his M. Tech. Dr. Sandip completed his PhD in Bioprocess technology from Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. He was awarded with prestigious MITACS postdoctoral research fellowship at University of British Columbia, Canada in August 2014. At UBC Vancouver, he worked on multidisciplinary research projects in areas of metagenomics, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for development of pharmaceuticals and biotechnological products in collaboration with industry partners viz., Metamixis Inc, and InMed Pharmaceuticals. His primary area of research is Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. He has published 21 high impact publications and filed one Indian and one US patent.
Dr. (Mrs.) Praveen Rishi, presently a Professor, Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh has been working in the field of Medical Microbiology for the last several years. ln view of the emerging drug resistance in pathogens, her major research focus has been on the development of various biotherapeutics including antimicrobial peptides and probiotics. She has filed 6 patents and has one technology transfer to her credit. She has published more than 140 research publications in International journals of repute. She has carried out several research projects successfully, funded by various National agencies including ICMR and DST. In view of her contribution in several areas of Microbiology, she has been the recipient of DBT Overseas Associateship and INSA Visiting fellowship and has also been awarded prestigious National awards such as Prof SR Vyas Memorial Award by Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) and Dr. Y.S. Narayana Rao Award by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India. She was also elected as the Fellow, Academy of Microbiological Sciences (FAMSc), and Fellow, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (FABMS).
