Biographical note

Dr. Natarajan Amaresan is an Assistant Professor at C.G. Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology, Uka Tarsadia University, Gujarat. He has received his undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate degrees in Microbiology. Dr. N. Amaresan has over 16 years of experience in teaching and research in various allied fields of microbiology mainly microbial ecology, plant-microbe interactions, and others. He has been awarded young scientist awards by Association of Microbiologists of India, National Academy of Biological Sciences, and recipient of visiting scientist fellowship from National Academy of India. He has published more than 60 research articles, 13 books, and 45 book chapters of national and international repute. He has handled various projects sponsored by DBT, DST, GEMI etc., and guided students for their doctoral and master degrees.

Dr. Dhanasekaran Dharumadurai is working as an Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. He was awarded UGC-Raman Post-Doctoral Fellowship and worked in the University of New Hampshire, USA. He was awarded Fellow of Linnean Society, London, UK, and INSA Visiting Scientist Fellowship by the National Science Academy. He has graduated 12 PhDs and 76 M.Scs with over 106 research publications, 49 Book chapters, and an H-index of 30 and citations of 2850. He filed two Indian Patents and organized 8 national level seminar, conference and workshop programs. He has edited 11 books and authored 4 laboratory manuals. His research focus is microbiome profiling of actinorhizal root nodules, lichen, poultry gut, and cattle’s reproductive system.

Dr. Diana R. Cundell received her Ph.D. in medicine from The Royal Postgraduate Medical Federation, London, U.K. in 1993 and is currently a Professor of Biology and the Pre-Medical Studies Program Director at Jefferson University. Her research spans over 30 years and during the past decade has focused on herbal medicines as antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents. Dr. Cundell has published research on several phytomedicines including curcumin (turmeric) and their utility in safely managing chronic inflammatory disease. She is the recent author of the book Allicin, the natural sulfur compound from garlic with many uses as well as over 60 articles and holds 4 process patents associated with breathing wall systems. Dr. Cundell sits on the Editorial Board of Plant Biology and Phytomedicine and has acted as a guest editor for Current Immunology Reviews.