Bioinformatics Structural Biology
Bioinformatics analysis of Genomes, expression, functional analysis and
structural studies of candidate genes through X-ray crystallography, mass
spectrometry.
1. Vaccine candidates from Leishmania: Leishmania is a digentic protozoal
parasite having two distinct life cycles that of amastigotes in sand fly its
vector and promastigotes in mammalian hosts. The mechanistic basis of its
phagocytosis and strategies it employs to evade the harsh conditions of the
macrophage environment are active areas of research not fully understood yet.
There is very scant information on the Leishmania surface molecules and
macrophage receptors interactions involved. Adhesin and adhesin-like surface
molecules of Leishmania are involved in interaction with macrophages for
phagocytosis and we have identified putative candidates involved in this
interaction through a bioinformatics study. We are cloning and expressing
candidate genes from about 100 hits from bioinformatics analysis and are
investigating them functionally and structurally through X-ray
crystallography.
2. Lectins as host protectant and potential therapeutics: Lectins are sugar
binding proteins of non-immune and non-enzymatic origin which have a
specific and reversible interaction with sugars and are found in almost all
organisms. They are involved in cell-cell, cell-matrix communication,
adhesion, plant defense, etc. They are the first-line of defence against invading
microorganisms with the interaction mediated through mannan-binding
lectin in the innate immune system and are also involved in tumour cell
recognition and metastasis. We are making investigations on lectin candidates
form plants and microbial sources to evaluate their potential as host
protectants, potential therapeutics.
3. Microbial biofilms: Microbes form biofilms as host evasion strategies and
to colonize successfully. Lectins are important targets of the biofilm
architecture and we are analyzing them through bioinformatics, functional,
structural studies for targeted disruption in pathogenic bacteria and for
enhancing in the probiotics.
- Listing ID: 3133