Dr. Elavarashi E is an accomplished Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), Chennai, where she leads the Medical Probiotics Lab with a research career focused on microbial biotechnology and probiotic applications.
She has focused her research on exploring probiotic Bacillus strains for human health applications, targeting conditions such as antimicrobial potential against gut pathogens, oral health, and cancer. Her innovative work includes characterizing strains from diverse sources like marine water, rhizospheric soil, and fermented foods, employing phenotypic screening, genotypic analysis, and computational methods like molecular docking and dynamics. She has contributed over 50 partial nucleotide sequences and five whole-genome sequences to the NCBI database, underscoring her impact in microbial genomics.
She has published extensively, with 11 journal articles in high-impact journals such as Annals of Microbiology (IF: 2.1), Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Journal, and Microbiology Resource Announcements. She has presented at numerous conferences, earning accolades such as second place at the 2024 “Rencontres de Quy Nhon VII” International Biology Conference for her pilot study on marine-derived Bacillus probiotics and first place at the 2023 National Conference on Recent Trends in Biosciences and Healthcare for siderophore research. As an invited speaker, she has shared her expertise online at global events, including the 2021 International Conference on Microbial Interactions in Spain and the World Congress on Traditional and Complementary Medicine in London.
As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Elavarashi supervises five PhD scholars, has co-supervised one awarded PhD, and has guided 17 postgraduate and 18 undergraduate students. Her leadership extends to securing research funding, including the SRU Chancellor Fellowship Grant (2009), and receiving honors such as the Letter of Appreciation from SRIHER’s Dean of Faculties (2021) and a meritorious research publication award (2013). Her contributions to microbiology, coupled with her academic leadership and innovative research, position her as a leading expert in probiotic biotechnology, driving advancements in health and disease management.
PhD in Microbiology
Institution: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai
Completion: September 2016
MSc in Applied Microbiology
Institution: Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai
Completion: April 2008
BSc in Microbiology
Institution: Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai
Completion: April 2006
Short-Term Course: Health Research Fundamentals (NIE-ICMR Certificate Course, NIeCer 101)
Organized by: National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL)
Duration: 20 hours (July – September 2016)
Assignment Score: 21.25/25
Proctored Score: 52.5/75
Final Exam Score: 74% with Elite tag
Short-Term Course: Protein Modeling and Rational Drug Design
Institution: bioCampus, Chennai
Certification: Accelrys certified Level II professional
Duration: Four months (July – October 2008)
Research Project: ABL-1 protein 3D structure prediction using homology modeling and identification of novel inhibitors for ABL-1 protein by structure-based drug design, QSAR, and Pharmacophore studies
Probiotics offer considerable potential by promoting both intestinal and extraintestinal health. In collaboration with the Department of Clinical Nutrition, we have undertaken several projects with both postgraduate and undergraduate students to investigate Bacillus strains from diverse sources, including fertile agricultural soil, fermented soybean products, human feces, and marine water. The research encompassed a range of studies, such as assessing the antimicrobial potential of these strains against various gut pathogens, evaluating their probiotic properties, screening for extracellular enzymes like protease, lipase, and amylase, profiling virulence factors, and identifying bioactive compounds. These probiotic strains can positively influence the host’s overall well-being, providing a versatile and effective strategy for disease prevention and treatment across multiple body systems.