About
The Department of Biochemistry at the ICMR-RMRIMS, Patna is mainly focused on research activities around the following areas: (i) Cellular redox homeostasis and thiol metabolism; (ii) Mechanism of drug resistance; (iii) Drug screening and testing; (iv) Fe-S cluster assembly and iron homeostasis; (v) Cytokine profiling and biochemical markers of pathogenesis; (vi) Development of diagnostic tools and identification of vaccine candidates and (vii) Host-pathogen interactions and defense mechanism. The department is well equipped with a rich collection of instruments and research facilities.
The scientists have shown excellence in their research work and have published research papers in several high impact peer-reviewed national and international journals and their projects attract funds from various reputed agencies like DST, ICMR, CSIR etc. The expertise of scientists has also been used in editorial work of various scientific journals and also in scientific advisory committee.
The quality work of the department has attracted many bright students from various states for Post-Doctoral and Ph. D. programmes. The department also offers workshops in special techniques, training to various under and posts graduate students, and short term research projects. The supporting staffs are actively involved in maintaining the laboratories and the facilities.
- Gradient and real time PCR
- Agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting facilities
- UV trans-illuminator and Gel documentation facility
- Biosafety cabinets and cell culture facilities
- UV-Vis and Fluorescence spectroscopy
- ELISA plate reader, Nanodrop
- Compound and Fluorescence Microscopy
- Cold and high speed centrifugation facilities
- -20 & -80 deep-freeze, and liquid nitrogen storage facilities
- CO2, BOD and shaking incubators
- Autoclave, Water bath, Hot air oven etc
- First time demonstrated and characterized iron sulfur clusters (ISC) assembly components (IscS, IscU, Isd11, & frataxin proteins) in Leishmania parasites and established their roles in AmpB resistance and parasites survival under-oxidative stress, and iron deficient conditions.
- First time demonstrated the role of cysteine biosynthetic pathway proteins (CS and SAT) in parasites survival under-oxidative stress and its association with AmpB resistance.
- Demonstrated the role of trypanothione metabolic pathways proteins in drug resistance and identified new drug targets against leishmaniasis.
- Screening and in vitro testing of compounds against target proteins in order to give lead molecules against leishmaniasis.
- Exploring proteins of L. donovani as diagnostic marker for PKDL and HIV-VL co-infected patient.
- Secretome analysis of L. donovani promastigotes and axenic amastigotes proteins to identify new drug targets, vaccine potential and diagnostic markers.
- Development of a novel biomarker with diagnostic potential for the detection of PKDL and HIV-VL co-infected patients in Bihar (ongoing)
- Role of Cfd1 and Nbp35 proteins of L. donovani in parasites survival, infectivity and drug resistance (ongoing)
- “Ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA mutations and immunomodulation in the development of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) in Bihar” (ongoing)
- Role of cysteine biosynthetic pathway of Leishmania donovani in the parasite survival and drug resistance: A rational drug target (ongoing)
- Role of Leishmania donovani dithiol glutaredoxin1 (LdGrx1) in oxidative stress and Amphotericin B resistance: A potential drug target (ongoing)
- APOA1 mediated immune modulation and its role in the Leishmania pathogenesis (Leishmania pathogenesis)
- Combining cyclodetrin (CD) nanoparticle with IL-10 antagonist peptide and AmB to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy and anti leishmanial immunity (Drug target and resistance)
- Exploring the role of Leishmania donovani ascorbate peroxidase in modulation of host immune response in visceral leishmaniasis (vaccine candidate and drug resistance)
- Study the impact of ultraviolet (UV) rays penetration on increasing incidence of PKDL in kalaazar endemic region of Bihar -funded by DST (completed)
- Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism analysis in Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients in endemic region of Bihar -funded by DST (completed)
Email: vahab.ali@icmr.gov.in