Understanding the basic biological interactions using advanced nanotechnological interventions have always fascinated me. After my post graduation, i joined CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore to pursue research (with Dr. Praveena Bhatt & Dr M. S. Thakur) on nanoparticles based biosensing and bio-imaging. I gained requisite expertise in nanoparticle synthesis, functionalisation and characterisation and developing various biosensing methods based on colorimetric and fluorimetric outputs. I published my work at high impact journals and my research was highlighted in Nature-India. Followed by my PhD, i was awarded prestigious Marie-Curie Individual Fellowship at University of Leeds, UK wherein i worked on polyvalent multifunctional glycan-nanoparticles to decipher virus-host interactions with HIV/Ebola viruses as models. At NUCSER, Nitte University my group is working towards developing biosensors and glycan-nanoparticle probes to decipher viral/bacterial-host interactions.
October 2020- Scientist-Grade-II, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research-NUCSER
Nitte University (DU), Paneer Campus, Kotekar-Beeri Road, Deralakatte Mangalore-575018
July 2018-
June 2020 Marie-Curie Fellow (Awarded MC-Individual Fellowship 17/18)
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK
Project and Grant details-
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/214490_en.html
Advisors: Prof. Dejian Zhou, Professor, University of Leeds, UK(https://physicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/staff/199/dr-dejian-zhou)
Prof. Bruce Turnbull, Chair of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK
(https://physicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/staff/194/professor-bruce-turnbull)
Brief overview of work carried out
Multivalent lectin-sugar interactions play a key role in facilitating viral infections, affecting hundreds of millions people worldwide. Understanding the structural mechanisms is key to be able to design glycoconjugates that can block such interactions, thereby preventing infection. However, research advances have been hampered by inability of current methods to reveal key structural information of some important cell surface lectins. For example, despite 17 years of extensive research, the structure of two vitally important tetrameric lectins, DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR, remain unknown. These lectins bind to virus surface multiple glycans and enhance many viral infections (e.g. HIV, HCV and Ebola). This fellowship addressed the challenge by developing a novel multimodal readout strategy (e.g. FRET, TEM and particle size analysis) using compact polyvalent glycan-quantum dots (QD) to fully exploit multivalency and QD’s unique properties. By tuning QD surface glycan structure, valency, inter-glycan spacing and flexibility, we will create a perfect spatial & orientation match to those of glycan-binding-domains (CRDs) in DC-SIGN/R, leading to greatly enhanced binding affinity. By studying QD-glycan binding with DC-SIGN/R, we revealed key structural data (e.g. CRD orientation, distance, binding mode) in DC-SIGN/R. We verified the binding data with native receptors on cell surfaces, correlate receptor binding affinity with virus inhibition potency, and study their immune cell activation
This research was extremely timely and important because it will, 1) address the capability gap of current methods; 2) reveal key structural information of CRD spatial arrangement in DC-SIGN/R; 3) reveal how ligand multivalency & affinity control intracellular trafficking and modulate dendritic cell response. These are important not only to fundamental structural biology, lectin biochemistry, chemistry, and nanotechnology, but also to develop novel potent anti-viral reagents. Apart from this project, I am also involved in developing magnetic nanoparticle based biosensors and guiding dissertation students as a part of my Marie-Curie fellowship career development
2014-March 2018 PhD in Biological Sciences- AcSIR, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, Karnataka, India. Thesis Submitted on Feb-2018.
Thesis title: Synthesis of Fluorescent Nanoparticles and their application in biosensing and bio imaging,
Advisor: Dr. Praveena B Mudliar and Dr. M. S. Thakur
Brief note on PhD achievements
- Development of ultrasensitive formaldehyde detection method using enzyme-nanoparticle supramolecular hybrids
- Enzyme tunneling using non-classical cofactor functionalized quantum dots for monitoring bio catalytic events
- FRET based nanoprobes for sniffing formaldehyde in water, juice and milk samples
- LSPR based enzyme Nano hybrids for naked eye detection of formaldehyde-In process of commercialisation
- Unraveling molecular interaction of metal-ions with proteins and application of these architectures in sensing and imaging
- In-vivo localisation studies of fungal toxins using Quantum dot based FRET probes whose site of binding is not known till date
Apart from my PhD objectives, I also worked on nanoparticle-aptamer sensing probes for detection of food toxins. As a part of Indo-EU project, I gained experience in aptamer SELEX (coloum), aptamer characterization (Surface plasmon resonance), conjugation with quantum dots and gold nanoparticles and development of nano-probes for colorimetric and fluorimetric sensing.
Process development/Patent
- Colorimetric nano-particle based enzyme-Nano hybrids kit for sensitive detection of formaldehyde in food samples-On-going-Contribution-80%
- Colorimetric biosensor to detect formaldehyde in water-NPMASS-DRDO-process submitted- Contribution-80%
- Potentiometric sensor to detect formaldehyde in food samples-NPMASS-DRDO-process submitted- Contribution-80%
- APD/PMT based Bioluminometer to detect bacterial food contaminants-NPMASS-DRDO-process & device submitted- Contribution-30%
2010-2014 , CSIR-CFTRI- I worked on NPMASS-DRDO (National Programme on Micro and Smart system- Defense Research & Development Organisation) sponsored a project in development of potentiometric & colorimetric kits to detect formaldehyde in food samples. Skills obtained include enzyme immobilisation onto electrode surface by cross linking, characterisation and potentiometric analysis. To design a colorimetric probe, I worked on a resazurin-resofurin system to monitor dehydrogenase enzyme. These two products were demonstrated to many industries (Ex; Ideas Unlimited Inc., Mysore) and DRDO. These two methods are now open for commercialization. I was also part of developing hand held device for bio photonic based microbial load detection. I learned how APD-PMT devices could be used to design ultrasensitive assays for microbial load detection in food samples. I worked on Luciferase based system for ATP detection in food samples by bio-luminescence. Skills include integration of diode (APD) and photomultiplier tubes for the detection of photons generated by bio-luminescence. In addition, I also worked on IgY antibody based sensing using dip-stick approach. Skills gained are, IgY generation, purification, characterisation and application for immuno-assays. I gained expertise in conjugation of nanoparticles with IgY and immobilisation of these probes on dipstick membrane for colorimetric detection of analytes.
Community development
- In my BSc tenure, I had designed a new method of paddy cultivation that was applied on-field where least water was available. I was honoured by the State minister (59th Indian Independence Day) for this significant achievement since this method was adopted in filed by a large number of farmers.
- In my Ph.D. tenure, as CSIR motto is to serve billions of people in this country, I took up the project of converting banana waste to wealth under CSIR-800 project. This work was highly appreciated and received a large audience and farmer’s interest and considered to be a revolutionary one(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/Turning-banana-farm-waste-into-income/article14471813.ece)
- In my BSc tenure, I was team leader in several National Service Scheme (NSS) camps conducted in villages and National Heritage sites.
Awards and Fellowships
1. Marie-Curie Individual Fellowship-17/18-University of Leeds, UK.
2. Professional membership-Royal Society of Chemistry
3. CSIR-CFTRI Annual award-2017 & 2018 for best paper published in Applied Sciences- Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 85 (2016): 240-246, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 100, 15 February 2018, 201–207
4. Honoured by Karnataka State Govt on 59th Independence Day on the eve of Designing new methods for Paddy cultivation-2005.
5. First place in State level science exhibition in ‘Biology Model’ conducted by St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, Dec 2004.
6. Honoured by Karnataka State Govt on 59th Independence Day on the eve of Designing new methods for Paddy cultivation-2005.
7. First place in State level science exhibition in ‘Miracle Model’ conducted by St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, Nov. 2005.