About
The Division of Immunology is actively participating in mainstream research programmes of the Institute. This department is actively engaged in immunodiagnosis, host – parasite interaction, identification of leishmania research on target for vaccine development and Immunoprophylactic. Thirteen research scholars have been awarded PhD under the ages of university as Allahabad, University of Calcutta, Bihar University, Muzaffarpur and NIPER, Hajipur. The nature of our research is on advancement of current understanding on immune response against parasitic diseases especially the leishmaniasis and as utilized both in basic and applied aspect to fit competency in elimination program strategies governed by ICMR and government of India. The department has a well-established sera bank to cater the need of researchers from different research organizations in India. Besides, the Division offers on the job training courses' to post graduate students from various Universities in India. To accomplish the above, the division has fully developed infrastructure.
1.Well Equipped Animal Cell Culture facility; 2.Flow Cytometry (FACS Calibur, 4-colour); 3.Confocal Microscope; 4.High Yield Florescent Microscope; 5.ELISA Reader; 6.Well-equipped parasite culture; 7.propagation and cryopreservation facility; 8.Refrigerated micro and Plate Centrifuge; 9.Proteomics Lab; 10.Lyophilizer; 11.Vertical Gel Electrophoresis; 12.Western blotting system; 13.Gel Documentation system; 14.Facilities for molecular studies; 15.Thermal Cycler (PCR); 16.Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis; 17.High Speed Cold Centrifuge (50,000 g); 18.High Speed Cold Centrifuge (12,000 rpm); 19.High Speed Cold Centrifuge (50,00 rpm); 20.Shaking Incubator; 21.CO2 Incubator; 22.Cold chain for storage of reagents;
- Reported a preferential defect in expression of HLA-DR antigen on monocytes in Indian Kala-Azar patients (1992).Further studies identified HLA-DQ11 as a susceptible factor in KA patients ( 1996).
- Evaluated and established Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) as a diagnostic tool for detection of sub-clinical infection of Kala-azar.
- Evaluation of field suitability of rapid diagnostics kits (rK-39, rK-16 & rK26). (WHO/TDR study and World Bank Study).
- Role of CD2 adhesion molecule in protective immunity against visceral leishmaniasis established and the feasibility of use of CD2 as as immune-modulator shown as immuno-chemotherapy.
- Differential role of T-cell in cellular immune response in same host against different Leishmania donovani strain reported in visceral leishmaniasis.
- Role of ABC transporters in drug resistance in a collaborative study and immunological features in HIV-VL co-infection are very useful for future research.
- A new whole Blood Assay system for innate immune function in VL patients and under malnutrition was established in a collaborative study. (Indo-German Project)
- Trial of available field diagnostics for VL (WHO/TDR)
- Innate immune response in VL patients at single cell level (Indo-German)
- Quality control of rapid diagnostic kits (World Bank/NVBDCP/ICMR)
- Role of CD2 antigen (LAF-3) during cellular immune response in VL.
- Effect of Leishmania donovani antigen on NK-T cells in VL.
- Role of Leishmania antigen, KMP11 on APCs during immune response.
- Cellular immune response changes in T-cells against different Leishmania strains.
- Change in immunity and infection pattern after use of inhibitors of ATP transporters after SAG treatment.
- Ld ODC as virulent factor in infection for DNA- construct of ODC as a vaccine in pre-clinical study
- Role of innate immune cells at alternative mechanism of immune protection during malnutrition in VL.
- ATP degradation, release of ADA and increase of A2B receptor linked to immune-pathogenicity.
- cTXN, PDI and ODC are identified as virulent factors with many MHC-I and MHC-II restricted epitopes. Prospects for fusion poly-peptide vaccine.
Email: bimal.sanjiva@icmr.gov.in