ICAR-CIFT Research Scholar to Participate in 46th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica

Kochi: Athira A. S., a research scholar at the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi, will participate in the 46th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (46th ISEA), scheduled to depart from India on 7 November 2026. She will be stationed at the Maitri Research Station in Antarctica to undertake research on microbial diversity in the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem.

Her research forms part of the project titled “Contaminant Load Evaluation in Antarctic Natural Systems (CLEAN-ANT)” (ISEA-63), coordinated by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

The collaborative research initiative between NCPOR and ICAR-CIFT brings together expertise in polar research, aquatic microbiology and environmental microbiology. Athira’s research will focus on “Actinomycete Diversity in Antarctic Soil,” with the objective of isolating and characterising actinomycetes from Antarctic soil samples to assess their diversity and distribution under the extreme environmental conditions of the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem.

A key component of the study is to explore the potential of these microorganisms to produce bioactive compounds, particularly antimicrobial substances, including antibiotics. Actinomycetes are an important group of microorganisms known for their ability to produce biologically active natural compounds. Investigating their diversity in the relatively unexplored Antarctic environment could provide valuable insights into microbial adaptation and help identify microorganisms with potential novel bioactive properties.

The findings are expected to enhance understanding of microbial diversity in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems and contribute to research on extreme-environment microorganisms as potential sources of novel bioactive compounds. Athira’s participation in this prestigious national scientific expedition marks an important milestone for ICAR-CIFT in expanding its research activities into polar microbial biodiversity and bioprospecting.