Bacterial Laccases: Engineering, Immobilization, Heterologous Production, and Industrial Applications

Dr. Deepti Yadav grew up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. After getting a master’s degree in microbiology from Delhi University, she joined the Durban University of Technology in South Africa to pursue her PhD in biotechnology with Prof. Tukayi Kudanga’s research group within the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. Dr. Yadav has worked in a number of research labs, where she gained hands-on experience in techniques such as molecular biology, tissue culture, cloning, protein expression in recombinant hosts and protein purification. She is particularly interested in the fields of enzyme biotechnology, enzyme kinetics, and enzyme applications. After obtaining her PhD degree, Dr. Yadav was hired as a Research Associate by the School of Energy Materials at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, where she is working on synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate from a locally available water hyacinth plant. She has written several scholarly papers and has been invited to speak at conferences. She has also coached and encouraged numerous young students to seek professions in biotechnology.

Prof. Tukayi Kudanga holds a PhD in biotechnology and is a professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at Durban University of Technology, South Africa. He is a recognized authority in laccase applications, particularly in biocatalysis and surface functionalization of lignocellulose materials. His areas of expertise include enzyme biotechnology, biocatalysis, and biomaterials. His current research focuses on enzymatic synthesis of bioactive compounds, enzymatic modification of food biopolymers, and development of green technologies for functionalization of lignocellulose materials. He is also interested in the search for novel biocatalysts, developing new applications and modifying enzymes for relevant biotechnological applications. Prof. Kudanga has extensive experience in teaching and research and has published his works widely. He has been invited to be plenary speaker at international conferences and reviews for several scientific journals.