Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K.K.Birla Goa campus.Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K.K.Birla Goa campus.
Field of Research:
The genus Staphylococcus belongs to the family Staphylococcaceae. Staphylococci are gram positive bacteria.Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections worldwide (Steinberg et al, 1996). S. aureus is responsible for a large number of diseases ranging from mild skin infections such as boils to life-threatening diseases such as toxic shock syndrome whereby the bacteria releases superantigens into the bloodstream.
Phi11 (previously designated as P11) is a temperate S.aureus phage with a double stranded linear DNA genome of 43.6 kb. The Phi11 genome is a storehouse of gene regulatory elements which have not been exploited so far. Characterization of these gene regulatory elements will be very helpful in the construction a tightly-regulated expression vector.
Several expression vectors suitable for staphylococcal systems had been demonstrated but all of them have some limitations such as leaky expression and low levels of expression.
Hence a tightly regulated expression vector will be of great help in enriching our knowledge about the S.aureus system.
Our lab. also works with bacteriophage proteins which are antagonistic towards S.aureus.Recently we have characterized a Phi11 protein (Gp07) which actually prevents cell division in S.aureus. Further, we have reported that this protein also plays a very important role in the lytic-lysogenic switch in Phi11.
Currently we are attempting the construction of a recombinant bacteriophage carrying gp07 to enhance the bacteriocidal effect of the bacteriophage, This will be extended towards phage therapy.
Our research also focuses on interaction of human and Staphylococcal proteins. The emergence of numerous antibiotic-resistant varieties of S. aureus has necessitated the discovery of effective key elements in S. aureus which can serve as drug targets. Identification of the proteins which help the invasive behavior of S.aureus can help in the identification of potential candidates for molecular drugs.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
· COMPLETED PROJECTS
1. “Cloning and characterization of the promoters of Staphylococcus.aureus temperate bacteriophage,Phi 11” . (BRNS, DAE; 23,99,719 INR)
2. Co-PI for a DST-SERB project entitled “Development of PCDA-liposome based detection kit for Alzheimer's disease biomarker" (2017-2020); Rs.26,63,200
3.“Studies on the gene regulation involved in the lytic-lysogenic switch in Staphylococcus aureus temperate bacteriophage Phi11” .
Project File No.: EMR/2015/002229;Funding Agency: DST-SERB,Govt. of India, 2016
· ONGOING PROJECTS
1.PI for “Development
of Therapeutic Phages to Combat Drug Resistant Staphylococci Infection” (CRG/2020/004968) funded
by DST . (40,41000 INR).
2. Co-PI for a DBT funded project ' Conservation of the Bilaterian Organizer: Novel Studies in the horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas; Müller'
Scholar profile:
1. Dr. Avijit Das , currently Postdoctoral Research Associate at Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal
2. Dr. Vijay Hemmadi, post doctoral position in the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (Department of Microbial Pathogenesis)..
3. Vivek Ratre, UGC SRF, Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K.K.Birla Goa campus.
4. Manideep Goud Burra, project fellow, Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K.K.Birla Goa campus.
5. Rizelia Rodrigues, Institute fellow, Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K.K.Birla Goa campus.
First Degree Thesis:
Supervisor for BITS F 421T-TH1 (UNDERGRADUATE THESIS) of RAJAT TEWARI (2014B1A10944G) . Thesis title:Plant bioactives and their anti-bacterial activity
ME Thesis:
Off campus supervisor for Shikha Aggarwal (2012H129006G), who pursued her ME dissertation from CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi.
Off campus supervisor for Vanshika Saxena (2017H1290009G), who pursued her ME dissertation from Indus Biotech Pvt. Ltd.
Off campus supervisor for Uma Matlani (2018H1290017G), who pursued her ME dissertation from IIT Bombay