• Bacterial Glycan Recognition by Lectins

    A biofilm is an assemblage of microbial cells that is irreversibly associated (not removed by gentle rinsing) with a surface and enclosed in a matrix of primarily polysaccharide material. Noncellular materials such as mineral crystals, corrosion particles, clay or silt particles, or blood components, depending on the environment in which the biofilm has developed, may also be found in the biofilm matrix.

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  • Chemically Modified Biopolymers : Synthesis, Characterization & Applications

    The research activity in our laboratory aims at the development of novel biopolymer matrices with potential applications in waste water management, drug delivery etc. For instance, the β-oxothioamide derivative of chitosan biopolymer was found to have potential applications as a metal chelator for waste water management. We have also successfully grafted analogues of drugs like bupropion onto the chitosan backbone which will facilitate the slow release of the drug into the biological system. The newly synthesized biopolymers are characterized by FT-IR spectroscopic as well as thermal studies like DSC, TGA, etc.

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  • Identification of Endophytes from Marine Algae by 16S rRNA sequencing

    Endophytes/ endosymbionts from marine micro algae have recently gained attention as potential sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. Our aim is to isolate and identify the endophytes by molecular biology methods. 

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  • Marine Algae - An Important Source for Lectins

    The role of various sugars on the surface glycans in bacterial /fungal pathogenesis of plants and animals is well known. The focus of our research group is to hit upon proteins which are capable of interacting with these sugars. A class of proteins called ‘’lectins” which are widely present in natural sources like plants, marine algae etc. are very specific in their interaction with various sugars/glycoproteins. The interactions will be studied by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and Surface Plasmon resonance (SPR). 

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  • Role of Universal Stress Protein in Bacterial Pathogenesis

    The Universal Stress Protein (USP) superfamily represents a growing set of small cytoplasmic proteins whose expression is affected by a wide variety of internal or external environmental stresses.

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