Professional Experience

Areas of Research

Major Area

Cancer pharmacology, Inflammation, Exosome research, Food miRNAs, Gut microbiome and Immunomodulation

Specific Research Interests

• Cancer Pharmacology : Here we are mainly focusing on the lead molecule identification against cancer, especially breast cancer. We are screening small molecules derived from natural sources (mainly medicinal plants) or through synthetic routes against different types of breast cancer cells (ER-positive, PR- positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative). Apart from the toxicity studies, we are into the molecular level studies like how the molecule is acting by studying various cellular processes against cancer cell proliferation like apoptosis, anoikis, angiogenesis, autophagy, epithelial to mesenchymal transition etc. by employing various cell biology, molecular biology, bioinformatics and transcriptome analysis techniques. During the in vitro studies itself we will identify the specific cellular targets and mechanism of action of the lead molecules. The identified lead molecules we are taking up to the preclinical studies as well.

• Endogenous and diet derived exosomes in health and diseases : Exosomes are lipid bilayer membrane nano vesicles with a multivesicular endosomal origin, secreted by all cell types and are found in almost all body fluids. Apart from the endogenous origin, exosome like nanovesicles (ELNs) are also reported from dietary sources. Inter-cellular communications through exosomes are important in physiological and pathological processes.

Role of endogenous exosomes in cancer management: Here we are mainly focussing on the how the endogenous exosomes derived from cancer cells vary under the treatment with different chemotherapeutic agents and how their intercellular communication affecting the cell death and further how it can be employed for developing better treatment against cancer.

Role of diet derived exosome like nanoparticles (ELNs) against inflammation, cancer and as drug delivery agents: Here we are focusing on isolation and characterization of exosome like nanoparticles (ELNs) from various dietary sources and studying their effects in managing inflammation and cancer. Apart from the whole exosomes, we are also diverted our studies in separating the molecular components of ELNs (proteins, lipids and RNAs especially miRNAs) and understanding their effects and mechanism of action in the above-mentioned processes. Also, we are using these ELNs as carriers for our secondary metabolites to target the cells and understand its efficacy in the drug delivery aspects as well.

• Food miRNAs, Gut microbiome and Immunomodulation: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in diverse biological contexts. They exist as extracellular/circulating miRNAs in biological fluids and another one found in vesicles such as exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. Here we are working on two aspects, firstly we are studying in the presence of anti-inflammatory agents, how the miRNAs are altered with respect to the gene regulation related to immunomodulation. Secondly, we are looking into the diet derived miRNAs, especially associated with exosomes and their effects on modulating gut microbiome and immunomodulation.
• Nutrigenomic and Nutrimiromic approaches to validate immunomodulatory products: Here we are focusing on the effects of immunomodulatory products on the gene level regulation and how it modulates the miRNA synthesis which will positively affects the NLR, RLR and TLR family of receptor mediated host immune response pathways.
• Studying the integral role of dietary miRNAs on gut microbiome dynamics and immune modulation: The microbiota plays a fundamental role on the induction, training, and function of the host immune system. Diet induced gut microbiota dysbiosis promotes metabolic complications by immune dysregulation, altered energy regulation, altered hormone regulation and by induced proinflammatory mechanisms. Intestinal microbiota interacts with the immune response elements (IREs) through various T helper cell mediated mechanisms. It is already established that diet derived miRNAs can cross the gut barrier and interact with human genes and exert cross kingdom reactivity and bioactivity. In this background, we are here focussing on how food miRNAs interact with IREs through Th mediated pathways and the mechanism of food miRNAs in gut microbiome management and immune modulation

   

Awards/Fellowships/Honors

Projects

Ongoing Projects

As PI

As Co-PI

Completed Projects

Memberships

Patent Filed

• Pyrazole amide based compounds and uses against breast cancer thereof. Inventors: Priya S, Sasidhar BS, Raghu KG, Lakshmi S, Ashitha KT. 202111052657 dtd 16-11-2021.

Publications