Contact Dr Abhishek Baghela
Areas of expertise
- Biomass and Waste
- Fuels
- Hydrogen
Background
Dr. Abhishek Baghela is a distinguished alumnus of Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India, where he earned his M.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology. He pursued his Ph.D. in Molecular Mycology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, graduating in 2011. His doctoral research led to the development of innovative molecular diagnostic and genotyping techniques for medically significant zygomycete fungi. Following his Ph.D., Abhishek joined the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore (2011–2013), where he investigated hybridization in Candida species. His pioneering work introduced a novel strategy to induce a haploid state in the obligate diploid Candida albicans.
In 2014, he established his own research group at the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. His research spans three key domains: fungal biotechnology and biofuels, filamentous fungi - yeast taxonomy and genomics, and understanding the molecular basis of genetic variation in asexual fungi.
Abhishek has made significant contributions to biomass conversion, developing efficient second-generation ethanol production processes using non-conventional yeasts. His work also includes fungal lipid production for biodiesel applications and yeast-based probiotics. Additionally, he played a crucial role in discovering over 25 new fungal species, incorporating whole-genome-based delineation of yeast species.
His fundamental research in fungal biology has advanced the understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying genetic variation in asexual fungi. Alongside his Ph.D. student, he discovered that conidial anastomosis tubes (CATs), analogous to bacterial conjugation tubes, generate phenotypic and genotypic variation in asexual fungi. This groundbreaking work opens new avenues for studying non-meiotic mechanisms of genetic variation.
Dr. Abhishek Baghela has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal research papers and has supervised three Ph.D. students as well as several master's thesis students.
After more than eight years leading an academic research group, Abhishek transitioned to a Berlin-based startup focused on sustainable food production involving mycoproteins. He was actively involved in optimizing and scaling up mycoprotein fermentation processes. Building on his extensive academic and industry experience, he joined Cranfield University in February 2025 to spearhead advancements in fungal-based bioenergy research and innovation.
Research opportunities
Dr. Abhishek Baghela's research is dedicated in harnessing the fungal-based solutions for sustainable bioenergy production, with a strong emphasis on the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value biofuels.
His work focuses on optimizing fungal enzymatic pathways, engineering microbial consortia for enhanced production of bioethanol, biodiesel, biomethane, and biohydrogen, and advancing scalable bioprocessing strategies.
Additionally, he explores the valorisation of agricultural, food, and industrial waste through innovative fungal biotechnology, driving forward the principles of the circular bioeconomy and accelerating the transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Sipiczki M & Baghela A. (2025). Identification of Starmerella aleppica f.a., sp. nov. and large indels in the rRNA cistron that split the Starmerella genus. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 75(1)
- Tiwari S, Lee DK, Lachance M-A & Baghela A. (2023). Metschnikowia ahupensis f.a., sp. nov., a new yeast species isolated from the gut of the wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes sp.. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 73(8)
- Wadmare N, Baghela A, Kociolek JP & Karthick B. (2022). Description and phylogenetic position of three new species of Stauroneis Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyceae: Stauroneidaceae) from the Indian Subcontinent. European Journal of Phycology, 57(1)
- Avchar R, Lanjekar V & Baghela A. (2022). Bioprospecting thermotolerant yeasts from distillery effluent and molasses for high‐temperature ethanol production. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 132(2)
- Tiwari S, Behera BC & Baghela A. (2022). Nakazawaea odontotermitis f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast isolated from the gut of Odontotermes horni in India. Archives of Microbiology, 204(4)
- Avchar R, Lanjekar V, Dhakephalkar PK, Dagar SS & Baghela A. (2022). Compost as an untapped niche for thermotolerant yeasts capable of high‐temperature ethanol production. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 74(1)
- Tiwari S, Jadhav R, Avchar R, Lanjekar V, Datar M, .... (2022). Nectar Yeast Community of Tropical Flowering Plants and Assessment of Their Osmotolerance and Xylitol-Producing Potential. Current Microbiology, 79(1)
- Mehta N, Patil R & Baghela A. (2021). Differential Physiological Prerequisites and Gene Expression Profiles of Conidial Anastomosis Tube and Germ Tube Formation in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Journal of Fungi, 7(7)
- Borde M, Kshirsagar Y, Jadhav R & Baghela A. (2021). A Rare Stinkhorn Fungus Itajahya rosea Attract Drosophila by Producing Chemical Attractants. Mycobiology, 49(3)
- Mehta N & Baghela A. (2021). Quorum sensing-mediated inter-specific conidial anastomosis tube fusion between Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. siamense. IMA Fungus, 12(1)
- Tiwari S, Baghela A & Libkind D. (2021). Rhodotorula sampaioana f.a., sp. nov., a novel red yeast of the order Sporidiobolales isolated from Argentina and India. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 114(8)
- Avchar R, Lanjekar V, Kshirsagar P, Dhakephalkar PK, Dagar SS, .... (2021). Buffalo rumen harbours diverse thermotolerant yeasts capable of producing second-generation bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. Renewable Energy, 173
- Crous PW, Osieck ER, Jurjevi Ž, Boers J, Van Iperen AL, .... (2021). Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284–1382. Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi, 47(1)
- Pereira RP, Jadhav R, Baghela A & Barretto DA. (2021). In Vitro Assessment of Probiotic Potential of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae DABRP5 Isolated from Bollo Batter, a Traditional Goan Fermented Food. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 13(3)
- Jadhav R, Tiwari S, Avchar R, Groenewald M & Baghela A. (2020). Suhomyces drosophilae sp. nov., isolated from Drosophila flies feeding on a stinkhorn mushroom. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 70(9)
- Tiwari S, Avchar R, Arora R, Lanjekar V, Dhakephalkar PK, .... (2020). Xylanolytic and Ethanologenic Potential of Gut Associated Yeasts from Different Species of Termites from India. Mycobiology, 48(6)
- Kshirsagar Y. (2020). Morphological, ultrastructural and phylogenetic study of Calvatia candida and Calvatia craniiformis reported from Northern western Ghat of India. Current Research in Environmental & Applied Mycology, 10(1)
- Devadatha B, Mehta N, Wanasinghe DN, Baghela A & Sarma VV. (2019). Vittaliana mangrovei Devadatha, Nikita, A.Baghela & V.V.Sarma, gen. nov, sp. nov. (Phaeosphaeriaceae), from Mangroves Near Pondicherry (India), Based on Morphology and Multigene Phylogeny. Cryptogamie, Mycologie, 40(7)
- Avchar R, Groenewald M & Baghela A. (2019). Wickerhamiella shivajii sp. nov., a thermotolerant yeast isolated from distillery effluent. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 69(10)
- Niranjan M. (2018). New records of Ascomycetous fungi from Andaman Islands, India and their molecular sequence data. Current Research in Environmental & Applied Mycology, 8(3)
- Barretto DA, Avchar R, Carvalho C, Sampaio JP, Vootla SK, .... (2018). Blastobotrys bombycis sp. nov., a d-xylose-fermenting yeast isolated from the gut of the silkworm larva Bombyx mori. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 68(8)
- Wang X-H, Das K, Horman J, Antonin V, Baghela A, .... (2018). Fungal Biodiversity Profiles 51-60. Cryptogamie, Mycologie, 39(2)
- Das K, Ghosh A, Baghela A, Avchar R, Bhatt RP, .... (2018). Morphological and phylogenetic evidence for Russula butyroindica sp. nov. (Russulaceae) from the Indian Himalaya. Nova Hedwigia, 106(3-4)
- Buyck B, Antonín V, Chakraborty D, Baghela A, Das K, .... (2018). Cantharellus sect. Amethystini in Asia. Mycological Progress, 17(8)
- Chakraborty D, Das K, Baghela A, Mehta N, Singh SK, .... (2017). Morphological and phylogenetic studies of Lycoperdon rupicola: First report for the Indian Mycobiota. Taiwania, 62(1)
- Mehta N, Hagen F, Aamir S, Singh SK & Baghela A. (2017). Development of a High-Resolution Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing Method for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Mycobiology, 45(4)
- Das K, Verbeken A, Chakraborty D, Avchar R & Baghela A. (2017). Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidence for Two NewLactariusSpecies (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from India. Cryptogamie, Mycologie, 38(4)
- Das K, Ghosh A, Chakraborty D, Li J, Qiu L, .... (2017). Fungal Biodiversity Profiles 31–40. Cryptogamie, Mycologie, 38(3)
- Chakraborty D, Das K, Baghela A, Adhikari S & Halling RE. (2017). A new species of porcini mushroom from India with morphology and phylogeny. Nova Hedwigia, 105(1-2)
- Tibpromma S, Hyde KD, Jeewon R, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Liu J-K, .... (2017). Fungal diversity notes 491–602: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity, 83(1)
- Chakraborty D. (2017). A new species of Xerocomus (Boletaceae) from India. Mycosphere, 8(1)
- Hembrom ME, Das K, Nilsson RH, Parihar A, Baghela A, .... (2017). Morphology and phylogeny reveal a novel hydnoid taxon from India: Mycorrhaphoides stalpersii gen. and sp. nov. Nordic Journal of Botany, 35(1)
- Buyck B, Duhem B, Das K, Jayawardena RS, Niveiro N, .... (2017). Fungal Biodiversity Profiles 21–30. Cryptogamie, Mycologie, 38(1)
- Hyde KD, Hongsanan S, Jeewon R, Bhat DJ, McKenzie EHC, .... (2016). Fungal diversity notes 367–490: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity, 80(1)
- Das K, Chakraborty D, Baghela A, Singh SK & Dentinger BTM. (2016). New species of xerocomoid boletes (Boletaceae) from Himalayan India based on morphological and molecular evidence. Mycologia, 108(4)
- Li GJ, Hyde KD, Zhao RL, Hongsanan S, Abdel-Aziz FA, .... (2016). Fungal diversity notes 253–366: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity, 78(1)
- Singh PN. (2015). Exosporium gymnemae sp. nov. from India. Mycosphere, 6(5)
- Das K, Chakraborty D, Baghela A, Singh SK & Dentinger BTM. (2015). Boletus lakhanpalii, a new species in Boletaceae from Sikkim (India) with uncertain phylogenetic placement. Sydowia, 67
- Chakraborty D, Das K, Baghela A, Singh SK & Dentinger BTM. (2015). Boletus recapitulatus (Boletaceae), a new species from India with peculiar mushroom-shaped cells. Phytotaxa, 236(2)
- Das K, Hofstetter V, Chakraborty D, Baghela A, Singh SK, .... (2015). Cantharellus sikkimensis sp.nov. (Cantharellales, Agaricomycetes) from the Indian Himalayas. Phytotaxa, 222(4)
- Das K, Chakraborty D, Baghela A, Singh SK & Dentinger BTM. (2015). Boletus lakhanpalii, a new species in Boletaceae from Sikkim (India) with uncertain phylogenetic placement. SYDOWIA, 67
- Baghela A, Thungapathra M, Shivaprakash MR & Chakrabarti A. (2010). Multilocus microsatellite typing for Rhizopus oryzae. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 59(12)
- Chakrabarti A, Marak RSK, Shivaprakash MR, Gupta S, Garg R, .... (2010). Cavitary Pulmonary Zygomycosis Caused by Rhizopus homothallicus. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 48(5)
- Chakrabarti A, Shivaprakash MR, Curfs-Breuker I, Baghela A, Klaassen CH, .... (2010). Apophysomyces elegans : Epidemiology, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Typing, and In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 48(12)
- Shivaprakash MR, Jain N, Gupta S, Baghela A, Gupta A, .... (2009). Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis caused byNeosartorya hiratsukaefrom India. Medical Mycology, 47(3)