(A). Microbial Biotechnology
1. Attenuation of virulence by inhibition of Quorum Sensing in A.baumannii
a. Enzymatic Method (degradation of quorum sensing signal by lactonase)
b. Natural compounds and plant extracts (T. chebula and G. glabra)
2. Targeting persister cells formation in A. baumannii
• Study persister cell formation in response to various stresses (antibiotics, oxidative stress,                  nutrient limitation, etc) in planktonic and biofilm cells.
• Role of quorum sensing in persistence
• Inhibition of persister cell formation (screening of natural compounds to reduce persister                   cells formation)
• Transcriptome analysis to identify candidate genes involved in persister cell formation
• Pan genomics to study evolution of antibiotic resistance.
3. Targeting Polyphosphate Kinase: A potential therapeutic drug target
• Knockout mutant of ppk in A. baumannii will be made to study its role in virulence, stress                  response and persistence to antibiotics.
• Virtual screening of natural compounds acting as potent inhibitors of PPK enzyme
• Validation of PPK inhibiting activity of selected natural compounds
(B). Cancer Epigenetics
• Reactivation of epigenetically regulated tumor suppressor genes (FANCF, TIMP2, PAX1) by                natural compounds in cervical cancer cell lines
• Targeting UHRF1 nuclear protein by natural compounds in cervical cancer cell lines.
• Molecular mechanism of down-regulation of UHRF1 by natural compounds.

• Listing ID: 3143