About

Sanjay Antony-Babu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology at Texas A&M University. His research emphasizes understanding the dynamics of inter-kingdom microbiome interactions and their effects on crop production. He employs culture-independent methods such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics, alongside culture-dependent techniques like culturomics, combined with computational biology to identify individual organisms involved in these interactions, their biological functions, impacts on neighboring niches, and metabolic activity. His work focuses on developing biotechnological applications such as biofertilizers and biopesticides by studying natural ecosystems and wild plants related to crops, with an aim to create sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Additionally, he investigates plant pathobiomes, particularly the bacterial microbiota associated with pathogenic fungi, to better understand pathogen behavior and develop control measures. His research also includes studying microbial dysbiosis during biotic and abiotic stresses to detect stress indicators and design stress alleviation strategies, including microbial inoculants.

Research topics

• Biology
• Botany
• Genetics
• Biochemistry
• Demography

Selected publications

• Core hyphosphere microbiota of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum

  Environmental Microbiome · 2024 · 6 citations

  • Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Botany

  BACKGROUND: Bacteria and fungi are dynamically interconnected, leading to beneficial or antagonistic relationships with plants. Within this interkingdom interaction, the microbial community directly associated with the pathogen make up the pathobiome. While the overall soil bacterial community associated with Fusarium wilt diseases has been widely examined, the specific bacterial populations that directly interact with the Fusarium wilt pathogens are yet to be discovered. In this study, we define the bacterial community associated with the hyphae of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 (FON2). Using the 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, we describe the hyphosphere pathobiome of three isolates of FON2. RESULTS: Our results show a core microbiome that is shared among the three tested hyphospheres. The core hyphosphere community was made up of 15 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) that were associated with all three FON2 isolates. This core consisted of bacterial members of the families, Oxalobacteraceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Micrococcaceae, Bacillaceae, Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae and unclassified bacteria. The hyphosphere of FON2 was dominated by order Burkholderiales. While all three isolate hyphospheres were dominated by these taxa, the specific OTU differed. We also note that while the dominant OTU of one hyphosphere might not be the largest OTU for other hyphospheres, they were still present across all the three isolate hyphospheres. Additionally, in the correlation and co-occurrence analysis the most abundant OTU was negatively correlated with most of the other OTU populations within the hyphosphere. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates a core microbiota associated with FON2. These results provide insights into the microbe-microbe dynamic of the pathogen's success and its ability to recruit a core pathobiome. Our research promotes the concept of pathogens not being lone invaders but recruits from the established host microbiome to form a pathobiome.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Characterization of differences in seed endophytic microbiome in conventional and organic rice by amplicon-based sequencing and culturing methods

  Microbiology Spectrum · 2024 · 7 citations

  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Biotechnology

  AG11, the fungal pathogens causing seedling blight in rice. IMPORTANCE: In this paper, we studied the differences in the endophytic microbial composition of rice seeds grown in conventional and organic farming systems. Our results demonstrate a greater bacterial diversity in conventional farming, while organic farming showcases a higher fungal diversity. Additionally, our research reveals the ability of seed bacterial endophytes to inhibit the growth of three fungal pathogens responsible for causing seedling blight in rice. This study provides valuable insights into the potential use of beneficial seed microbial endophytes for developing a novel microbiome-based strategy in the management of rice diseases. Such an approach has the potential to enhance overall plant health and improve crop productivity.

  PublisherDOI

• Progressive drought alters the root exudate metabolome and differentially activates metabolic pathways in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

  Frontiers in Plant Science · 2023 · 34 citations

  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Biochemistry

  ) root exudates. The molecular composition of the collected root exudates was characterized by untargeted metabolomics using Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and mapped to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Over 700 unique drought-induced metabolites were identified throughout the water-deficit phase. Potential KEGG pathways and KEGG modules associated with the biosynthesis of flavonoid compounds, plant hormones (abscisic acid and jasmonic acid), and other secondary metabolites were highly induced under severe drought, but not at the wilting point. Additionally, the associated precursors of these metabolites, such as amino acids (phenylalanine and tyrosine), phenylpropanoids, and carotenoids, were also mapped. The potential biochemical transformations were further calculated using the data generated by FT-ICR MS. Under severe drought stress, the highest number of potential biochemical transformations, including methylation, ethyl addition, and oxidation/hydroxylation, were identified, many of which are known reactions in some of the mapped pathways. With the application of FT-ICR MS, we revealed the dynamics of drought-induced secondary metabolites in root exudates in response to drought, providing valuable information for drought-tolerance strategies in cotton.

  DOI

• Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis Reveals Diversity of the Rice Kernel Smut Populations in the United States

  Frontiers in Microbiology · 2022 · 5 citations

  • Biology
  • Genetics
  • Botany

  populations. The results will help develop effective management strategies, especially breeding for resistant cultivars, for the control of kernel smut in rice.

  DOI

• Complete Genome Sequence of <i>Geobacter</i> sp. Strain FeAm09, a Moderately Acidophilic Soil Bacterium

  Microbiology Resource Announcements · 2021 · 2 citations

  • Biology
  • Genetics

  sp. strain, FeAm09, was isolated from forest soil. The complete genome sequence is 4,099,068 bp with an average GC content of 61.1%. No plasmids were detected. The genome contains a total of 3,843 genes and 3,608 protein-coding genes, including genes supporting iron and nitrogen biogeochemical cycling.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• A. Peyton Smith

  Texas A&M University

  9 shared

• Elek M. Nagy

  Texas A&M University

  9 shared

• Julie A. Howe

  Texas A&M University

  7 shared

• Steve Hague

  Auburn University

  7 shared

• Heng‐An Lin

  Texas A&M University

  7 shared

• Harrison R. Coker

  Texas A&M University

  7 shared

• İlksen Topçu

  Texas A&M University

  5 shared

• Julio S. Bernal

  Texas A&M University

  4 shared

Labs

• Antony-Babu, Sanjay - Department of Plant Pathology & MicrobiologyPI

Awards & honors

• Associate editor – BMC Microbiome (2019 – present)
• Associate editor – BMC Environmental Microbiome (2019 – pres…

Similar researchers at Texas A&M University

• Stephen Safeh-131
• Raymond Carrollh-119
• Fuller Bazerh-114
• Renyi Zhangh-106
• Kim Dunbarh-103