My research interests and long term goals are: (1) to identify enzymes with novel functions and exploit them in healthcare and agriculture industry and (2) to understand the mechanisms of genetic resistance in crops against bacterial and fungal pathogens at the molecular and biochemical levels and exploit this information for crop improvement.

"Ramanujan Fellowship” by SCIENCE & ENGINEERING RESEARCH BOARD, DST, GOI in 2017.

Scientific Editorial Roles:

Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Computational Genomics (speciality section of Frontiers in Genetics, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Frontiers in Plant Science).

Reviewer for several peer reviewed jounrals (https://publons.com/researcher/1242812/arun-kumar/peer-review/)

Academic Roles:

1. Mentor for U.S. Bose Scholar Program(https://www.winstepforward.org/indian-mentors/).

2. Associate Professor (Biological Sciences) in Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). 

Selected articles related to Enzymology/Protein Engineering/Redox-biology/CAZymes:

1. Himanshu, Chauhan, M., Kulharia, M., Kumar, A.* (2026). Activity-guided identification, cloning, heterologous expression, and characterization of a highly thermostable mitochondrial superoxide dismutase from Lantana camara. BBA - Proteins and Proteomics; https://10.1016/j.bbapap.2026.141166.
2. Chauhan, M., Himanshu, Sharma, V.K., Kumar, A.* (2026). Biochemical and biophysical characterization of a cold-active yet highly thermostable manganese superoxide dismutase (CsMnSOD) from Camellia sinensis. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 782: 110880;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2026.110880.
3. Dhiman, A., Singh, R., Kumar, A.*, Purohit, R*. (2026). Structure-guided engineering of serratiopeptidase using constant-pH molecular dynamics and site-directed mutagenesis to improve pH-dependent functional resilience. BBA - Proteins and Proteomics; 1874:141151;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2026.141151.
4. Kumar, A., Sharma, T., Kumari, N., Kumar, R., Acharya, V., Kumar, A^*. (2026). Unveiling the carbohydrate-active enzyme repertoire of Trichoderma caribbaeum IHBT through whole-genome analysis and transcriptional profiling. Archives of Microbiology, 208, 373 (2026); DOI: 10.1007/s00203-026-04924-4. *Corresponding author
5. Singh, R., Anurag, Chauhan, M., Kumar, A.*, Purohit, R.* (2025). Integrated Computational and Experimental Approaches to Identify New Papain-Like Protease Inhibitors. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1322: 140460 *Co-Corresponding author
6. Kumar, A., Singh, A., Sharma, V.K., Goel, A., Kumar, A.* (2024). The Upsurge of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases in Biomass Deconstruction: Characteristic Functions and Sustainable Applications. The FEBS Journal, 291: 5081–5101; DOI: 10.1111/FEBS.17063.*Corresponding author
7. Chauhan, M., Bhardwaj, V.K., Kumar, A., Kumar, V., Kumar, P., Enayathullah, M.G., Thomas, J., George, J., Bokara, K.K., Purohit, R., Kumar, A.*, Kumar, S. 2022. Theaflavin-3-gallate inhibits the main protease (M^pro) and reduces SARS-CoV-2 count in vitro. Scientific Reports,12: 13146; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17558-5). *Corresponding author
8. Kashyap, P., Chauhan, M., Chauhan, V., Purohit, R., Kumar, A*., Kumar, S. (2022). A ricin-based peptide BRIP from Hordeum vulgare inhibits main protease (M^pro) of SARS-CoV-2. Scientific Reports, 12: 12802; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15977. *Corresponding author
9. Kumar, S., Bhardwaj, V.K., Kaachra, A., Guleria, S., Kumar, A., Purohit, R., Kumar, S. (2021). Site-directed mutagenesis (P61G) of copper, zinc superoxide dismutase enhances its kinetic properties and tolerance to inactivation by H₂O₂. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 168: 221-229.
10. Kumar, A., Sharma, M., Bhardwaj, P.K., Singh, D., Kumar, S. (2016). Copper, zinc superoxide dismutase from Caragana jubata: a thermostable enzyme that functions under a broad pH and temperature window. Process Biochemistry, 51: 1434-1444.
11. Kumar, A., Randhawa, V., Acharya, V., Singh, K., and Kumar, S. (2015). Amino acids flanking the central core of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase are important in imparting activity after autoclaving. Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, 34: 475-485.
12. Kumar, A., Kaachra, A., Bhardwaj, S., Kumar, S. (2014). Copper, zinc superoxide dismutase of Curcuma aromatica is a kinetically stable protein. Process Biochemistry,49: 1288-1296.
13. Kumar, A., Dutt. S., Bagler, G., Ahuja, P.S., and Kumar, S. (2012). Engineering a thermo-stable superoxide dismutase functional at sub-zero to >50 °C, which also tolerates autoclaving. Scientific Reports, 2: 387; DOI, 10.1038/srep00387.

 Selected articles related to Plant-Pathogen/Microbe/Environment interactions:

1. Godara, R., Mohapatra, S., Thakur, S., Roy, A, Vaishnavi, S., Anmol, Sharma, U., Hallan, V., Kumar, A., Dogra, V. (2026). Membrane lipid-derived heptanedioic acid primes defence and systemic growth in plants. Plant Physiology, 201: kiag425.
2. Kumar, V., Prasad, A., Goel, A., Sharma, V.K., Lore, J.S., Kumar, A.* (2026). Host-induced silencing of Rhizoctonia solani 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase impairs its virulence in rice. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 24:3573–3593; https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70582 *Corresponding author
3. Bhardwaj, P., Jain, R., Rawat, N., Joshi, R., Kumar, A., Pandey, S. S., & Kumar, S. (2025). Naganishia liquefaciens ARY7, a psychrophilic yeast endophyte improves plant low temperature acclimation through auxin and salicylic acid signaling. Physiologia Plantarum, 177(3), e70267.
4. Kumar, V., Chaudhary, P., Prasad, A., Dogra, V., Kumar, A.* 2023. Jasmonic acid limits Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA infection in rice by modulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 196:520-530, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.02.009 *Corresponding author.
5. Kaur, R., Kumar, P., Kumar, A.*, Prabha, U.P., Singh, R., Kaur, G., Lore, J.S., Neelam, K., Vikal, Y.* (2022). OsMATE6 gene putatively involved in host defense response toward susceptibility against Rhizoctonia solani in rice. Journal of Plant Interactions, 17: 744-755. *Corresponding author
6. Kumar, G., Kumar, P., Kapoor, R., Lore, J.S., Bhatia, D., Kumar, A*. (2021). Characterization of an evolutionarily distinct rice BAHD-Acyltransferase gene family provides insights into its plausible role in rice susceptibility to Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA. The Plant Genome, e20140.DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20140.*Corresponding author
7. Kumar, A*., Guleria, S., Dogra, V., Kumar S. (2021). How plants manage Reactive oxygen species – Some learnings from extremophytes. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 189: 104525*Corresponding author
8. Karre, S., Kumar, A., Yogendra, K.N., Kage, U., Kushalappa, A.C., Charron, JB. (2019). HvWRKY23 regulates flavonoid glycoside and hydroxycinnamic acid amide biosynthetic genes in barley to combat Fusarium head blight. Plant Molecular Biology,100: 591–605.
9. Kumar, A., Jansky, S., Halterman, D. (2017). Potato stem cuttings to study Verticillium dahliae infection for resistance breeding and -omics studies. American Journal of Potato Research, 94: 270-274.
10. Karre, S., Kumar, A., Dhokane, D., Kushalappa, A.C. (2016). Metabolo-transcriptome profiling of barley reveals induction of a novel chitin elicitor receptor kinase gene (HvCERK1) conferring resistance against Fusarium graminearum. Plant Molecular Biology, 93: 247-267.
11. Kumar, A., Yogendra, K.N., Karre, S., Kushalappa, A.C., Dion, Y., Choo, T.M. (2016). WAX INDUCER1 (HvWIN1) transcription factor regulates free fatty acid biosynthetic genes to reinforce cuticle to resist Fusarium head blight in barley spikelets. Journal of Experimental Botany, 67: 4127-39.
12. Yogendra, K.N., Kumar, A., Sarkar, K., Li, Y., Pushpa, D., Mosa, K., Duggavathi, R., Kushalappa, A.C. (2015). Transcription factor StWRKY1 regulates phenylpropanoid metabolites in potato to resist late blight. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66: 7377-7389.
13. Kumar, A., Karre, S., Dhokane, D., Kage, U., Hukkeri, S., Kushalappa, A.C. (2015). Real-time quantitative PCR based method for the quantification of fungal biomass to discriminate quantitative resistance in barley and wheat to fusarium head blight. Journal of Cereal Science, 64: 16-22.

1. Kumar, A., Kumar, A., Srivas, P., Singh, D., Anmol, Sharma, U. A process for production of recombinant novel lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) and its applications thereof. Filed in India and PCT countries (0058NF2026; dated 02.3.2026).

2. Kumar, A., Dutt, S., Ahuja, P.S., and Kumar, S. An autoclave stable recombinant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase with enhanced thermoflexibility (NF0050/2011). Filed in India (Application no. 1031del 2011 dated 11.4.2011).

3. Bhardwaj, P.K., Kumar, A., Kishore, A., Ghawana, S., Rani, A., Singh, K., Singh, H., Singh, R.S., Kumar, H., Sood, P., Dutt, S., Kumar, S., and Ahuja, P.S. Method of cloning stable stress tolerant superoxide dismutase using degenerate primers. US Patent No. US 9212350 B2 (2015/12/15). (Granted).

4. Bhardwaj, P.K., Kumar, A., Kishore, A., Ghawana, S., Rani, A., Singh, K., Singh, H., Singh, R.S., Kumar, H., Sood, P., Dutt, S., Kumar, S., and Ahuja, P.S. Method of cloning stable stress tolerant superoxide dismutase using degenerate primers. European patent Publication no. EP2268661 (Other details: Application no. EP20090727645; PCT no. A2909727645.5; publication date: January 5, 2011).

Technology Transfer: An engineered variant of Cu,Zn SOD with a very unique property of autoclave-stability was developed, patented and the technology for production of enzyme was licensed to M/s PHYTO BIOTECHTM, Kolkata; http://www.phytobiotech.in/superoxide-dismutase.html) (MoU signed on 28th Feb, 2014).

Ph.D. students:

Asheesh Kumar (CSIR/UGC-JRF)

Mahima Chauhan (CSIR/UGC-JRF)

Apoorva Prasad (CSIR/UGC-JRF)

Akshita Goel (CSIR/UGC-JRF)

Sunanda Jassal

Naveen Kumar 

Project Associates:

Himanshu 

Paridhi Srivas

Postdocs:

Dr. Neha Thakur, DHR Woman Scientist

Dr. Monika Rana, DBT Woman Scientist under BIOCARE scheme

Dr. Anuj Sharma, Research Associate under DBT project

Past lab members:

Postdocs

Dr. Pankaj Sharma (Assistant Professor at YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, H.P. INDIA)

Dr. Vinod Kumar (Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden)

Dr. Vijay K Sharma (Postdoctoral Fellow at IBBR-University of Maryland, USA)

Dr. Aishwarya Singh (Postdoctoral Fellow at UBB, Cluj-Nacopa, Romania)

Dr. Kavita Rana, SPA

Laboratory Assistant:

Mr. Kuldeep Pathania

Lab Helper:

Mr. Ranvir Singh Mehra

*I am looking for Ph.D./postdoctoral candidates having independent fellowships and backgroud experience in enzymology and structural biology to join my lab. Those having experience in use of computational tools/structural bioinformatics and willing to learn proetin biochemistry are also encouraged to contact me through email (; ).