Debabrata Biswas, Ph.D.
Professor, UM - Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, CFS3
(301) 405-3791
Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
University of Maryland, Bldg. 142
College Park, MD 20742
United States
dbiswas@umd.edu
Education: 
  • B.S.- University of Dhaka, 1994
  • M.S.- University of Tokyo, 1998
  • Ph.D.- University of Tokyo, 2001
Awards and Honors: 
  • Research and Scholarship Award, University of Maryland, MS, 2013
  • Outstanding Mentoring Award, Ronald E. McNair Summer Scholarship Program, University of Maryland, MD, 2013
  • Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS)-Postdoctoral Competitive Fellowship, 2003
  • Young Scientist Award, 11th International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms, Freiburg, Germany, 2001
  • Young Investigator Award, 10th International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms, Baltimore, MD, 1999
  • Japanese Government Graduate Student Competitive Fellowship, University of Tokyo, Japan, 1996
Current Research: 

Pathogens transmitted from animals to human via contaminated food and water cause up to 33 million cases (>50% of human infectious diseases) of reported illness each year in North America. Six bacterial species including Campylobacter jejuni, Enerohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), non-typhoid Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens andStaphylococcus aureus account for over one half of the illness.

Reducing levels of these bacterial pathogens in food-producing animals and prevent the cross contamination in the food processing plants are effective ways to reduce food safety risks for humans. Dr. Biswas’s research projects focused on the reduction of pre- and post-harvest levels of colonization and contamination these foodborne bacterial pathogens in foods specifically meat and meat products and development of vaccines that prevent colonization of animals by E. coli O157, C. jejuni and Salmonella enterica species which may reduce human gastrointestinal infections. In addition, Dr. Biswas’s researches also focus to develop the monoclonal antibodies against foodborne bacterial pathogens to improve the detection of pathogens in food and other polluted materials.

Courses Taught: 
ANSC489R: Zoonotic Diseases and Control
ANSC688J: Advance Zoonotic Diseases and Control
ANSC399: Special Topics-Animal Sciences
ANSC699: Graduate Research-Animal Sciences
ANSC489M: Gut Microbiome and Its Roles in Health and Disease
ANSC688M: Advanced Gut Microbiome and Its Roles in Health and Disease

Books and Chapters

Book edited

Biswas, D. and Micallef, S. 2016. Safety and Practice for Organic Food (In Progress), Elsevier Book Division, Elsevier.

Chapters in books

Biswas, D. and Micallef, S. 2017. Diversity of foodborne bacterial pathogens and parasites in produce and animal products and limitations of current detection practices. Book entitled “Foodborne Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance” Edited by Dr. Singh, Published by Wiley Blackwell, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Joo, J., Rao, A. and Biswas, D. 2016. Safety management on the poultry farm. Book entitled “Achieving sustainable production of poultry meat” Edited by Dr. Ricke, Published by Burleigh Dodds, UK.

Chowdhury, N., Salaheen, S., Peng, M. and Biswas, D. 2015. Antimicrobial and prebiotic properties of some common fruits, herbs and vegetables. Book entitled “Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants-Phytotherapeutics III” Edited by Dr. Govil, and Dr. Pathak Published by Studium Press LLC.

Biswas, D., Hanning, I., O’Bryan, C.A., Crandall, P., Jarquin, R. and Ricke, S. 2015. Poultry pests related to food safety” Book entitled “Poultry Production and Safety. Edited by Dr. Burnett, published by Wiley-Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons (In Press).

Salahen, S., Peng, M., and Biswas, D. 2014. Replacement of conventional antimicrobials and preservatives in food production to improve consumer safety and enhance health benefits. Book entitled “Microbial Food Safety and Preservation Techniques” Edited by Dr. Vittal, Published by Taylor & Francis.

Peng, M., Salaheen, S., and Biswas, D. 2014. Animal health: Antibiotic global issues. Book entitled “Encyclopaedia of Agriculture and Food Systems” Edited by Dr. van Alfen, Published by Elsevier.

Yang, H., Dey, S., Buchanan, R., and Biswas, D. 2013. Safety concern of pests in poultry and poultry product-borne infection and precautions in pre- and post-harvest levels for future practices. Book entitled “Practical Food Safety: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions” Edited by Dr. Lopez and Dr. Bhat, Published by Wiley Blackwell.

Ricke, S., Herrera, P. and Biswas, D. 2012. Bacteriophages for potential food safety. Book entitled “Organic meat production and processing” Edited by Dr. Ricke, Dr. Johnson and Dr. O’Bryan, Published by Wiley-Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons.

Review articles in Refereed Journals

Biswas, C., Comis, C., Scardina, J., Lebovic, A. and Biswas, D. 2017. Safer post-harvest processing, proper storing and transporting to the retail markets of broiler products. Food Processing and Engineering (In Press).

Peng, M. and Biswas, D. 2016. Short chain and polyunsaturated fatty acids in host gut health and foodborne bacterial pathogen inhibition. In Press (Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, DOI:10.1080/10408398.2016.1203286).

Salaheen, S., Chowdhury, N., Hanning, I. and Biswas, D. 2015. Zoonotic bacterial pathogens and mixed crop-livestock farming. Poultry Science 94(6):1398-1410.

Diaz, S., D'Souza, D., Biswas, D. and Hanning, I. 2015. Botanical alternatives to antibiotics for use in organic poultry production. Poultry Science 94(6):1419-30.

Research articles in Refereed Journals

Tabashum, Z., Peng, M., Salaheen, S., Comis, C. and Biswas, D. 2017. Competitive inhibition and virulence property alteration of Campylobacter jejuni by genetically engineered Lactobacillus casei. (Under review, Food Control).

Salaheen, S., Kim, S., Haley, B.J., Van Kessel, J. and Biswas, D. 2017. Alternative growth promoters modulate broiler gut microbiome and enhance body weight gain. (Under review, Frontiers in Microbiology).

Salaheen, S., Tabashsum, Z., Gaspard, S., Dattilio, A., Tran, T.H., and Biswas, D. 2017. Reduced Campylobacter jejuni colonization in poultry gut with bioactive phenolics. Food Control (In Press).

Peng, M.; Zao, X. and Biswas, D. 2017. Polyphenols and tri-terpenoids from Olea europaea L. in alleviation of enteric pathogen infections through limiting bacterial virulence and attenuating inflammation. Journal of Functional Foods 36: 132-143.

Salaheen, S., Peng, M., Biswas, D. 2017. Eradication and sensitization of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus to methicillin with bioactive extracts of berry pomace. Frontiers in Microbiology 8: 253.

Del Collo, L., Karns, J., Lombard, J. Haley, B. Biswas, D. and VanKessel, J. 2017. Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular characterization of Campylobacter spp. in bulk tank milk and milk filters from US dairies. Journal of Dairy Science 100: 3470-3484.

Salaheen, S., Jaiswal, E., Joo, J., Peng, M., Ho, R., O’Connor, D., Aranda-Espinoza, J., Biswas, D. 2016. Bioactive extracts from berry byproducts on the pathogenicity of Salmonella Typhimurium. International Journal of Food Microbiology 237: 128-135.

Salaheen, S., Peng, M. and Biswas, D. 2016 Ecological dynamics of Campylobacter in integrated mixed crop-livestock farms and its prevalence and survival ability in post-harvest products. Zoonoses and Public Health 63: 641-650.

Peng, M., Salaheen, S., Almario, J. A., Tesfaye, B., Buchanan, R. and Biswas, D. 2016. Commonness and drug resistance pattern of Salmonella serovars in integrated crop-livestock farms and their products sold in local markets. Environmental Microbiology 18(5): 1654–1665.

Federman, C., Christopher, M. and Biswas, D. 2016. Major components of orange oil inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth and biofilms formation, and alter its virulence factors. Journal of Medical Microbiology 65(7): 688-95.

Teramoto, H., Salaheen, S. and Biswas, D. 2016. Contamination of post-harvest poultry products with multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Maryland-Washington DC Metro Area. Food Control 65:132-135.

Federman, C., Joo, J.; Salaheen, S. and Biswas, D. 2016. Citrus derived oil inhibits Staphylococcus aureus growth and alters its interactions with bovine mammary cells. Dairy Science 99:3667–3674.

Peng, M., Richman, G. and Biswas, D. 2015. Lactobacillus casei and its byproducts alter the virulence factors of foodborne bacterial pathogens. Journal of Functional Food 15: 418-428.

Salaheen, S., Nguyen, C., Mui, C. and Biswas, D. 2015. Alternative and natural inhibitor for avian pathogenic Salmonella. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 24:186-197.

Peng, M., Bitsko, E. and Biswas, D. 2015. Functional dynamics of peanut fractions on the growth of probiotics and foodborne bacterial pathogens. Journal of Food Sciences 80(3): 635-641. 

Peng, M., Aryal, U., Cooper, B. and Biswas, D. 2015. Metabolites produced during the growth of probiotics in cocoa supplemented media and their role in host-enteric bacterial pathogen interactions. Food Control 53: 124-133.

Garcia, O.M., Elsessor, T., Biswas, D. and Moyes, K. 2015. The effect of citrus-derived oil on bovine blood neutrophil function and gene expression in vitro. Dairy Science 98: 918–926.

Lee, H.Y., Biswas, D. and Ahn, J. 2015. In-Vitro Adhesion and invasion properties of Salmonella Typhimurium competing with bacteriophage in epithelial cells and chicken macrophages. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola 17(4):427-432.

Ahn, J., Lee, H.Y. and Biswas, D. 2015. Assessment of bacteriophage-induced inflammatory mediators in Salmonella -infected chicken macrophage HD-11 cells. Journal of Poultry Science 52(3): 238-243.

Salaheen, S., White, B., Bequette, B. and Biswas, D. 2014. Peanut fractions boost the growth of Lactobacillus casei altering the interactions between Campylobacter jejuni and host epithelial cells. Food Research International 62: 1141-1146.

Salaheen, S., Nyguen, C., Hews, D. and Biswas, D. 2014. Berry pomace extracts on the cellular and molecular properties and dynamics of interaction with host cells of Campylobacter jejuni. Food Control 46: 174-181.

Salaheen, S., Almario, J.A. and Biswas, D. 2014. Inhibition of growth and alteration of host cell interactions of Pasteurella multocida with natural byproducts. Poultry Science 93: 1375-1382.

Ryu, K., Biswas, D. and Ahn, J. 2014. Effect of bacteriophage on the susceptibility, motility, invasion, and survival of Salmonella Typhimurium exposed to the simulated intestinal conditions. Archive Microbiology 196: 201-208.

Ahn, J., Almario, J.A., Salaheen, S. and Biswas, D. 2014. Physicochemical, mechanical, and molecular properties of nonlysogenic and P22-lysogenic Salmonella Typhimurium treated with citrus oil. Food Protection 77: 758-764.

Kim, S., Ryu, S. Biswas, D. and Ahn, J. 2014. Survival, prophage induction, and invasive properties of lysogenic Salmonella Typhimurium exposed to simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Archive Microbiology 196:655-659.

Ahn, J. and Biswas, D. 2014. Influence of bacteriophage P22 on the inflammatory mediator gene expression in chicken macrophage HD-11 cells infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.  FEMS Microbiology Letters 351: 11-17.

Ahn, J. Lae-Seung J., Kim, S. and Biswas, D. 2014. Effect of bacteriophage on the transcriptional and translational expression of inflammatory mediators in chicken macrophage. Journal of Poultry Science 51: 96-103.

Yang, H., Hewes, D., Salaheen, S., and Biswas, D. 2014. Effects of blackberry juice on growth inhibition of foodborne pathogens and growth promotion of Lactobacillus. Food Control 37: 15-20.

Saengkerdsub, S., Lingbeck, J., Corliss, O., Crandall, P., Muthaiyan, A., Biswas, D., and Ricke, S. 2013. Characterization of isolated yeast growth response to methionine analogs. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part-B 48: 1112-1120.

Ahn, J., Kim, S., Jung, L., and Biswas, D. 2013. In vitro assessment of the susceptibility of planktonic and attached cells of foodborne pathogens to bacteriophage P22-mediated Salmonella lysates. Food Protection 76: 2057–2062.

Park, S., Biswas, D. and Ricke, S. 2013. Enhancement of macrophage chicken cytokine response to Salmonella Typhimurium when combined with bacteriophage P22. FEMS Microbiology Letters 339: 137–144. 

Hanning, I., Biswas, D. and Ricke, S.C. 2012. Evaluation of whole genome sequencing as a genotyping tool for Campylobacter jejuni by comparison with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and flaA typing. Poultry Science 92: 573–580.

Datta, S., Shah, I., Akter, A., Fatema, K., Islam, K., Bandyopadhyay, A., Khan, Z. and Biswas, D. 2012. Microbiological quality assessment of raw meat products and antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus isolates. Agriculture and Food Analytical Bacteriology 2: 187-194.

Dey, S., Lingbeck, J., Cordero, P.A., Ricke, S. and Biswas, D. 2012. Growth and survival of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria in milks with or without linoleic acid. International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics 7: 109-112.

Muthaiyan, A., Biswas, D., Crandall, P., Wilkinson, B. and Ricke, S. 2012. Application of orange essential oil as an anti-staphylococcal agent in a dressing model. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 12:125-131.

Biswas, D., Wideman, N.E., O’Bryan, C.A., Muthaiyan, A., Lingbeck, J.M., Crandall, P.G. and Ricke, S.C. 2011. Blueberry (Vacciniumcorymbosum) juice inhibits growth of bacterial pathogens in milk but not survival of probiotic bacteria. Journal of Food Safety 32: 204-209.

Biswas, D., Hannon, H., Townsend, H., Potter, A. and Allan, B.  2011. Prevalence of virulence genes of Campylobacter jejuni in clinical and cattle isolates in Alberta, Canada. International Journal of Microbiology 14: 25-32.

Parti, R., Biswas, D., Wang, M., Liao, M. and Dillon, J. 2011. A MinD mutant of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 has reduced adherence to human epithelial cells. Microbial Pathogenesis 51: 378-383.

Parti, R., Biswas, D. and Dillion, J. 2011. Interactions of wild-type Neisseria gonorrhoeae and cell division mutants with HeLa, ME-180 and T-uec cells. Microbes and Infections 13: 545-54.

Biswas, D., Herrera, P., Fang, L, Marquardt, R.R. and Ricke, S. 2010. Cross-reactivity of anti-Salmonella egg-yolk antibodies to select strains of Salmonella serovars. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part-B 45: 824-829.

Hanning, I., Biswas, D., Roesler, M. and Ricke, S. 2010. Prevalence and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from pasture flock poultry. Food Science 75: M496-502.

Fernando, U., Biswas, D., Allan, B., Attah-Poku, S., Willson, P. and Potter, A. 2008. Serological assessment of synthetic peptides of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168 FlaA protein using antibodies against multiple serotypes. Medical Microbiology and Immunology 197: 45-53.

Fernando, U., Biswas, D., Allan, B., Willson, P. and Potter, A. 2007. Influence of Campylobacter jejuni fliA, rpoN and flgK genes on colonization of the chicken gut. International Journal of Food Microbiology 118: 194-200.

Biswas, D., Reiman, C., Wilson, P., Potter, A. and Allan, B. 2007. Correlation between in vitro secretion of virulence-associated proteins of Campylobacter jejuni and colonization of chickens. Current Microbiology 54: 207-212.

Biswas, D., Reiman, C., Wilson, P., Potter, A. and Allan, B. 2006. The Effect of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Campylobacter jejuni on adhesion and internalization in cultured cells and in colonization of the chicken gut. Avian Diseases 50: 586-593.

Biswas, D., Gomes, D. J. and Reiman, C. 2005. The bile salt deoxycholate enhances the virulence factors of Campylobacter jejuni. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science 11: 85-90.

Konkel, M. E., Rivera-Amil, V., Klena, J. D., Monteville, M. R., Biswas, D. and Floam, A. F. 2004. Secretion of the Campylobacter invasion antigens via Type III flagellar apparatus. Journal of Bacteriology 186: 3296-3303.

Biswas, D., Niwa, H. and Itoh, K. 2004. Infection of Campylobacter jejuni induces tyrosine phosphorylated proteins into INT-407 cells. Microbiology and Immunology 48:221-228.

Biswas, D., Gomes, D.J. and Itoh, K. 2003. Comparative study of in vitro invasiveness of Campylobacter jejuni and infection with germ free mice. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science 9: 11-16.

Biswas, D., Itoh, K. and Sasakawa, C. 2003. Role of microfilaments and microtubules in the invasion of Campylobacter jejuni into INT-407 cells. Microbiology and Immunology 47: 469-473.

Biswas, D., Itoh, K. and Sasakawa, C. 2000. Uptake pathways of healthy and clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni into INT-407 cells. FEMS Immunology and Microbiology 29: 203-211.

Saha, S.K., Rikitomi, N., Watanabe, K., Ruhulamin, K., Ahmmade, K., Biswas, D., Hanif, M., Khan, W.A., Matsumoto, K. and Nagatake, T. 1997. The increasing burden of disease in Bangladeshi children due to Haemophilus influenzae type-b meningitis. Annals of Tropical Pediatrics 17: 5-8.

Saha, S.K., Rikitomi, N., Biswas, D., Watanabe, K., Ruhulamin, K., Ahmmade, K., Hanif, M., Matsumoto, K., Sack, R.B. and Nagatake, T. 1997. Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing invasive childhood infections in Bangladesh, 1992 to 1995. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 35: 785-787.

Lab Information: 

Pathogens transmitted from animals to human via contaminated food and water cause up to 33 million cases (>50% of human infectious diseases) of reported illness each year in North America. Six bacterial species including Campylobacter jejuni, Enerohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), non-typhoid Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens andStaphylococcus aureus account for over one half of the illness. Reducing levels of these bacterial pathogens in food-producing animals and prevent the cross contamination in the food processing plants are effective ways to reduce food safety risks for humans.

Dr. Biswas’s research projects focused on the reduction of pre- and post-harvest levels of colonization and contamination these foodborne bacterial pathogens in foods specifically meat and meat products and development of vaccines that prevent colonization of animals by E. coli O157, C. jejuni and Salmonella enterica species which may reduce human gastrointestinal infections. In addition, Dr. Biswas’s researches also focus to develop the monoclonal antibodies against foodborne bacterial pathogens to improve the detection of pathogens in food and other polluted materials.