introduction/brief CV
I completed my Master degree in Biotechnology from University of Kerala, India in 2002. After securing a scholarship from the Government of Austria to do PhD, I moved to University of Vienna, Austria in 2005 to do PhD studies in Genetics and Microbiology from Max. F. Perutz Laboratory (University of Vienna), Austria under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Udo Blaesi. During my PhD, I worked on a project devoted to the development of novel antimicrobial peptide against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Apart from this, I was also able to elucidate the interaction between prokaryotic ribosomal proteins S1 and S2. After my PhD studies in 2009, I moved to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Maryland, USA as a Postdoctoral Visiting fellow in the lab of Prof. Dr. Vinay K. Pathak. My studies at NCI included the interaction of Apobec3F with HIV-1 VIF protein. My second postdoctoral studies involved the non coding RNA mediated gene-regulation in Hyper thermophilic archaeon Solfolobus solfataricus, at the University of Vienna. Since, 2013 I have been employed at King Saud University as Assistant professor and head of life sciences unit at Central Laboratory, College of Science, King Saud University.
areas of expertise
My research is focused on the therapeutic potentiality of bacteriophage and phage derived proteins. It was long known about the advantages of phage therapy against pathogenic bacteria. However, the studies on phage therapy subsided in the last few decades due to the discovery of antibiotics. A renewed interest in phages and phage derived proteins developed owing to growing antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Studies in my lab have shown that phage proteins, either canonical or recombinant display high activity against drug resistant bacterial pathogens. Moreover, these proteins also shows efficiency in disrupting pre-formed bacterial biofilms in vitro. A synergy between these recombinant proteins and green synthesized nanoparticles was also found in disrupting and annihilating bacterial biofilms. The second part of our work focusses on the development of novel microbial peptides against bacterial pathogens. We are exploring these research possibilities in developing a coupled drug with nano particles and intact phage/phage proteins to be used clinically or industrially.
publications
see all
The emergence of antibiotic resistance in enterococci is a great concern encountered worldwide. Almost all enterococci exhibit significant levels of resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, semi-…
Development of multidrug antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a predicament encountered worldwide. Researchers are in a constant hunt to develop effective antimicrobial agents to counter these…
Staphylococcal biofilms predominantly cause persistent nosocomial infections. The widespread antibiotic resistance followed by its ability to form biofilm in biological and inert surfaces often…
courses
see all
Training in theoretical and practical aspects in imaging of fluorescently labeled samples. Trouble shooting problems associated with confocal imaging.
office hours
| Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from | _ | 08:00 AM | 08:00 AM | 08:00 AM | 08:00 AM | 08:00 AM | _ |
| to | _ | 03:30 PM | 03:30 PM | 03:30 PM | 03:30 PM | 03:30 PM | _ |
| location | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ |