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Dr. Geetha Kumar

Dean & HoS, School of Physical Sciences, Amritapuri | Professor, School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri

Qualification: Ph.D
gkumar@am.amrita.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Bio

Dr. Geetha Kumar obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA, where she elucidated the structure-function activity of FadL, a bacterial Long Chain Fatty Acid binding protein. Following her Ph.D, Dr.Kumar did her post-doctoral studies under Dr. Neil Nathanson, at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, on the regulation of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor (mAChR). She was subsequently associated with Ceptyr Inc., a Biotech company where she worked in the High Throughput Screening (HTS) division that focused on developing drugs against Diabetes.

Dr. Kumar is currently a Professor at the School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, where she heads the Microbial Active Genetics lab. that is focused on studying the molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in nosocomial gram-negative pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Another area of related interest is the use phage biology and active genetics, to target the multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria in order to revert antibiotic resistant to antibiotic sensitive phenotypes.

The primary research focus of the lab is on combating Antimicrobial Resistance using multiple approaches:

  • Screening Natural Products that can function as anti-quorum sensing agents and elucidating their mechanism of action
  • Isolation, characterization and application of bacteriophages or cocktails of phages for environmental as well as potential clinical use – phage therapy
  • Mutational analysis of the AMR genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Phage-mediated gene drive using CRISPR-Cas9 to target the AMR genes of pathogens
  • Understanding Persistence and its role in antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • Studying the inter-relationship between virulence and antimicrobial resistance
  • Studying the emergence of resistance patterns using AI/ML

Education/Training

Institution and Location Degree Year Field of Study
Chinoy College, Mumbai B.Sc. 1982 Microbiology
M.S. University, Baroda M.Sc. 1985 Microbiology
University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA Ph.D. 1992 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
University of Washington, Seattle, USA Postdoc 1994 Pharmacology

Area of Specialization

Antimicrobial Resistance, Host Pathogen Interactions,  Pharmacology, Drug Discovery, Cancer Biology

Research Support

  • Grant funded in 2018 by The Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS): Reversal of  antibiotic resistance in ESKAPE
  • Grant funded in the Science Research Scheme (SRS),(2014) Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Govt. Of Kerala:  Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Anacardic Acid Mediated Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Cancer.

Positions and Honours

  • Research Fellow, 1994-1996, MDS Pharma, Seattle, Washington, USA.
  • Research Scientist, 1996 – 2004, Ceptyr Pharmaceuticals Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA.
  • Professor, 2007-Current, Amrita School of Biotechnology
  • Organizing and Program committee member, International Conference on Biotechnology for Innovative Applications (Amrita BioQuest  2013), Amritapuri, India.

Teaching Courses

Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2022

Systematic Understanding of Anti-tumor Mechanisms of Tamarixetin through network and Experimental Analyses

Cite this Research Publication : Sanu K. Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Systematic understanding of anti-tumor mechanisms of tamarixetin through network and experimental analyses”, 39th Annual Conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR-2020): “Leading the Fight against Cancer”, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, February 5-7. 2020.

Publisher : Scientific reports

Year : 2021

Mathematical Modeling of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Network with Cytokine Storm, Oxidative Stress, Thrombosis, Insulin Resistance, and Nitric Oxide Pathways

Cite this Research Publication : Sasidharakurup H, Kumar G, Nair B, Diwakar S. Mathematical Modeling of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Network with Cytokine Storm, Oxidative Stress, Thrombosis, Insulin Resistance, and Nitric Oxide Pathways. OMICS. 2021 Dec;25(12):770-781. doi: 10.1089/omi.2021.0155. Epub 2021 Nov 22. PMID: 34807729, 2021

Publisher : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

Year : 2021

Mathematical modeling of SARS-CoV-2 infection network with cytokine storm, oxidative stress, thrombosis, insulin resistance and nitric oxide pathways.

Cite this Research Publication : Sasidharakurup H, Kumar G, Nair B, Diwakar S., Mathematical modeling of SARS-CoV-2 infection network with cytokine storm, oxidative stress, thrombosis, insulin resistance and nitric oxide pathways, OMICS A Journal of Integrative Biology, Volume 25, Number 12, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2021.0155.

Publisher : International Journal of Integrative Biology

Year : 2021

A Novel N4-Like Bacteriophage Isolated from a Wastewater Source in South India with Activity against Several Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates

Cite this Research Publication : Menon N.D., Kumar, M. S., Dr. Satheesh Babu T. G., Bose, S., Vijayakumar, G., Baswe, M., Chatterjee, M., D’Silva, J. R., Shetty, K., Haripriyan, J., Priyanka Somanath, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, Kumar, A., and Dr. Geetha Kumar, “A Novel N4-Like Bacteriophage Isolated from a Wastewater Source in South India with Activity against Several Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates”, mSphere, vol. 6, no. 1, 2021.

Publisher : mSphere

Year : 2021

Nuclear factor-κB plays an important role in Tamarixetin-mediated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

Cite this Research Publication : Shaji Sanu K., G. Drishya, Damu Sunilkumar, Nanjan Pandurangan, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Nuclear factor-κB plays an important role in Tamarixetin-mediated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.”, European Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 893, p. 173808, 2021.

Publisher : European Journal of Pharmacology

Year : 2021

A Feasibility Trial to Evaluate the Composite Efficacy of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in the Treatment of Covid 19 Pneumonia : Impact on Viral Load and Clinical Outcomes

Cite this Research Publication : Merlin Moni, Thushara Madathil, Dipu T. Sathyapalan, Veena Menon, Georg Gutjahr, Fabia Edathadathil, Sureshkumar, D., Preetha Prasanna, Soumya Jose, Jerome, R., Krishnan, A., Indulekha C. L. Pillai, Dr. Geetha Kumar, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Aveek Jayant, “A Feasibility Trial to Evaluate the Composite Efficacy of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in the Treatment of Covid 19 Pneumonia : Impact on Viral Load and Clinical Outcomes”, medRxiv, 2021.

Publisher : medRxiv, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Year : 2020

Oxyresveratrol Drives Caspase-independent Apoptosis-like Cell Death in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells through the Induction of ROS.

Cite this Research Publication : Damu Sunilkumar, Drishya G., Aneesh Chandrasekharan, Sanu K. Shaji, Chinchu Bose, Jennifer Jossart, J. Jefferson P. Perry, Dr. Nandita Mishra, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Oxyresveratrol drives caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through the induction of ROS.”, Biochemical Pharmacology, p. 113724, 2020.

Publisher : Biochemical Pharmacology

Year : 2020

RECK and TIMP-2 mediate inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by Annona muricata

Cite this Research Publication : Drishya G., Dr. Jyotsna Nambiar, Sanu K. Shaji, Muralidharan Vanuopadath, Achuthan A., Kumar Abishek, Alias Ashna, Ayesha Sherif, Catherine Joseph, Divya P., Damu Sunilkumar, Chinchu Bose, Dr. Sobha V. Nair, S. Sudarslal, Dr. Geetha Kumar, Lakshmi S., and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “RECK and TIMP-2 mediate inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by Annona muricata”, Journal of Biosciences, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 1-11, 2020.

Publisher : Journal of Biosciences

Year : 2019

Recent Insights into Natural Product inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Geetha Kumar, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, J. Perry, J. P., and Martin, D. B. C., “Recent insights into natural product inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases”, Med. Chem. Commun., vol. 10, pp. 2024-2037, 2019

Publisher : Med. Chem. Commun

Year : 2019

Analysis of Microarray Data for Identification of key MicroRNA signatures in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Cite this Research Publication : Sanu K. Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Mahalakshmi N. V., Geetha B. Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Analysis of microarray data for identification of key microRNA signatures in glioblastoma multiforme”, Oncol Lett, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 1938-1948, 2019.

Publisher : Oncology Letters

Year : 2018

(I-3,II-3)-Biacacetin-mediated Cell Death involves Mitochondria

Cite this Research Publication : Jyotsna Nambiar, Gayathri Vijayakumar, G. Drishya, Sanu K Shaji, Nanjan Pandurangan, Geetha B. Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “(I-3,II-3)-Biacacetin-mediated cell death involves mitochondria.”, Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 2018

Publisher : Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Year : 2018

Clove Bud Oil Modulates Pathogenicity Phenotypes of the Opportunistic Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Cite this Research Publication : Jayalekshmi H., Omanakuttan, A., Menon, N. D., Muralidharan Vanuopadath, Nair, S. Sadasivan, Corriden, R., Nair, B. G., Nizet, V., and Kumar, G. B., “Clove Bud Oil Modulates Pathogenicity Phenotypes of the Opportunistic Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.”, Sci Rep, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 3437, 2018.

Publisher : Scientific reports

Year : 2017

Coconut Shell Derived Bioactive Compound Oxyresveratrol Mediates Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Cite this Research Publication : Damu Sunilkumar, Chinchu Bose, Sanu K Shaji, Nanjan Pandurangan, Geetha B Kumar, Asoke Banerji, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Coconut Shell Derived Bioactive Compound Oxyresveratrol Mediates Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9”, International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 202 – 210, 2017.

Publisher : International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences

Year : 2016

Nitric Oxide and ERK Mediates Regulation of Cellular Processes by Ecdysterone

Cite this Research Publication : A. Omanakuttan, Chinchu Bose, N., P., G. B. Kumar, A. Banerji, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Nitric Oxide and ERK mediates regulation of cellular processes by Ecdysterone”, Experimental Cell Research, vol. 346, no. 2, pp. 167-175, 2016.

Publisher : Experimental Cell Research .

Year : 2016

Natural Product Anacardic Acid from Cashew Nut Shells Stimulates Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Production and Bactericidal Activity.

Cite this Research Publication : A. Hollands, Corriden, R., Gysler, G., Dahesh, S., Olson, J., Ali, S. Raza, Kunkel, M. T., Lin, A. E., Forli, S., Newton, A. C., Dr. Geetha Kumar, Nair, B. G., J Perry, J. P., and Nizet, V., “Natural Product Anacardic Acid from Cashew Nut Shells Stimulates Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Production and Bactericidal Activity.”, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 291, no. 27, pp. 13964-13973, 2016.

Publisher : Journal of Biological Chemistry

Year : 2016

Discovery of Arjunolic Acid as a Novel Non-zinc Binding Carbonic Anhydrase II Inhibitor

Cite this Research Publication : S. Kalyanavenkataraman, Pandurangan Nanjan, Dr. Asoke Banerji, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Geetha B Kumar, “Discovery of arjunolic acid as a novel non-zinc binding carbonic anhydrase II inhibitor”, Bioorganic chemistry, vol. 66, pp. 72–79, 2016

Publisher : Bioorganic chemistry

Year : 2016

Combinatorial Effect of D-amino Acids and Tetracycline against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm

Cite this Research Publication : Jayalekshmi H., Norin Mary G Victus, R. Anoop, T. M. Sarath, Sajin Sali, C. .Harikrishnan, N. Kaushik, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Combinatorial effect of d-amino acids and tetracycline against pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm”, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 8, no. 11, pp. 216-220., 2016.

Publisher : International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Year : 2016

Clove Bud Oil Reduces Kynurenine and Inhibits pqs A Gene Expression in P. Aeruginosa

Cite this Research Publication : Jayalekshmi H., A. Omanakuttan, N. Pandurangan, V. S. Vargis, M. Maneesh, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Geetha B. Kumar, “Clove Bud Oil Reduces Kynurenine and Inhibits pqs A Gene Expression in P. Aeruginosa”, Applied microbiology and biotechnology, vol. 100, no. 8, pp. 3681-3692, 2016

Publisher : Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Year : 2016

Anacardic Acid Inhibits Gelatinases through the Regulation of Spry2, MMP-14, EMMPRIN and RECK

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Jyotsna Nambiar, Chinchu Bose, Meera Venugopal, Dr. Asoke Banerji, T. B. Patel, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Anacardic acid inhibits gelatinases through the regulation of Spry2, MMP-14, EMMPRIN and RECK”, Experimental Cell Research, vol. 349, pp. 139-151, 2016

Publisher : Experimental Cell Research

Year : 2016

Anacardic acid inhibits gelatinases through the regulation of Spry2, MMP-14, EMMPRIN and RECK.

Cite this Research Publication : J. Nambiar, Bose, C., Venugopal, M., Banerji, A., Patel, T. B., Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Nair, B. G., “Anacardic acid inhibits gelatinases through the regulation of Spry2, MMP-14, EMMPRIN and RECK.”, Experimental Cell Research, vol. 349, no. 1, pp. 139-151, 2016.

Publisher : Experimental Cell Research.

Year : 2015

A Novel2-Alkoxy-3, 5-Dihydroxypyridine Mediated Regulation of Gelatinases

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Jyotsna Nambiar, Dr. Geetha Kumar, Sanjana S. R., Gorantla S. N., Lankalapalli R. S., and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “A Novel2-Alkoxy-3, 5-Dihydroxypyridine Mediated Regulation of Gelatinases”, International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, vol. 6, pp. 779-788, 2015.

Publisher : International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences

Year : 2012

Anacardic Acid Inhibits the Catalytic Activity of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9

Cite this Research Publication : A. Omanakuttan, Dr. Jyotsna Nambiar, Rodney M. Harris, Chinchu Bose, Pandurangan Nanjan, Rebu K. Varghese, Geetha B. Kumar, John A. Tainer, Dr. Asoke Banerji, J. Jefferson P. Perry, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Anacardic Acid Inhibits the Catalytic Activity of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9”, Molecular Pharmacology, vol. 82, no. 4, pp. 614-622, 2012

Publisher : Molecular Pharmacology

Year : 2001

Identification of a basolateral sorting signal for the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Cite this Research Publication : L. S. Nadler, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Nathanson, N. M., “Identification of a basolateral sorting signal for the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells”, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 276, pp. 10539–10547, 2001.

Publisher : Journal of Biological Chemistry

Year : 1999

Asymmetric distribution of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Cite this Research Publication : L. S. Nadler, Dr. Geetha Kumar, Hinds, T. R., Migeon, J. C., and Nathanson, N. M., “Asymmetric distribution of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells”, American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, vol. 277, pp. C1220–C1228, 1999.

Publisher : Am Physiological Soc

Year : 1993

Bacterial long-chain fatty acid transport. Identification of amino acid residues within the outer membrane protein FadL required for activity.

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Geetha Kumar and Black, P. N., “Bacterial long-chain fatty acid transport. Identification of amino acid residues within the outer membrane protein FadL required for activity.”, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 268, no. 21, pp. 15469–15476, 1993.

Publisher : Journal of Biological Chemistry

Year : 1991

Linker mutagenesis of a bacterial fatty acid transport protein. Identification of domains with functional importance.

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Geetha Kumar and Black, P. N., “Linker mutagenesis of a bacterial fatty acid transport protein. Identification of domains with functional importance.”, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 266, no. 2, pp. 1348–1353, 1991.

Publisher : Journal of Biological Chemistry

Year : 1989

Hemin and cyclic AMP stimulate message-dependent translation in lysates from Friend erythroleukemia cells.

Cite this Research Publication : V. G. Chinchar, Turner, L. A., and Dr. Geetha Kumar, “Hemin and cyclic AMP stimulate message-dependent translation in lysates from Friend erythroleukemia cells.”, Experimental hematology, vol. 17, pp. 405–410, 1989.

Publisher : Experimental hematology

Conference Paper

Year : 2015

Ecdysterone Mediates Wound Healing in a Nitric Oxide Dependent Manner in 3T3L1 Fibroblasts.

Cite this Research Publication : A. Omanakuttan, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Ecdysterone Mediates Wound Healing in a Nitric Oxide Dependent Manner in 3T3L1 Fibroblasts.”, in The XXXIX All India Cell Biology Conference , 2015.

Publisher : The XXXIX All India Cell Biology Conference

Conference Proceedings

Year : 2020

Role of AIF in Plumbagin induced Paraptosis-A caspase independent cell death in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells

Cite this Research Publication : Anupama Binoy, Divya Nedungadi, Damu Sunilkumar, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Dr. Nandita Mishra, “Role of AIF in Plumbagin induced Paraptosis-A caspase independent cell death in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells”, 39th Annual Conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR-2020): “Leading the Fight against Cancer”, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, February 5-7. 2020.

Publisher : 39th Annual Conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR-2020): “Leading the Fight against Cancer”, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Year : 2017

MicroRNA-491 Functions to Down Regulate both Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and Inhibit Cell Migration in MDA-MB-231 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells (Poster)

Cite this Research Publication : Sanu K Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Drishya G., Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “MicroRNA-491 functions to down regulate both matrix metalloproteinase-9 and epidermal growth factor receptor expression and inhibit cell migration in MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells (Poster)”, 27th Swadeshi Science Congress. Amritapuri, 2017.

Publisher : 27th Swadeshi Science Congress

Patents

Year : 2012

Medical device keypad interface.

Cite this Research Publication : Bipin G Nair, Geetha Kumar, Crystal Eastman, Eckhard Schafer. Medical device keypad interface. US Patent No. 29/420,881, May 14, 2012.

Publisher : US Patent No. 29/420,881, May 14, 2012.

Year : 2012

Key pad for Medical Devices

Cite this Research Publication : E. Schaefer, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Dr. Geetha Kumar, “Key pad for Medical Devices”, 2012.

Publisher : The Patent Office, Government of India_ Certificate of Registration of Design

Teaching
Projects

Research Projects

Sl. No. Name of the Project Name of the Funding Agency Status On-going / Completed Project Grant / Assistance (Rs.) Duration of the Project Start Year
1. Insulin Pump DST Completed 4 crores 6 Years 2010
2. Wound Healing BMS Completed 30 Lakhs 4 Years 2012
3. Role of MMPs in Cancer Amrita University Completed 2 crores 4 Years 2012
4. Anacardic Acid and its derivatives as novel template for cancer therapy KSCSTE Completed 30 Lakhs 3 Years 2014
5. Reversal of antibiotic resistance in ESKAPE pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa TIGS Completed 3.6 crores 2 Years 2018
6. Reversal of antibiotic resistance in ESKAPE pathogens TIGS On-going 30 Lakhs 2 Years 2020
Conferences attended

Conferences attended

  • 23rd Biennial Evergreen International Phage Meeting – Date: August 4-9th, 2019 – Hosted by: The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
  • International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (ICBRAMR)
  • Date: December 12-13th, 2019 – Hosted by: Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Biocrest ’21 International Symposium on Antimicrobial Resistance – Date: February 21-24th, 2021 – Hosted by: Amrita School of Biotechnology, Kollam, Kerala, India
  • New Tools and Technologies for Health and Agriculture – Date: October 24-25th, 2018 – Hosted by: NCBS and inStem, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Poster presentations

  • Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages AM.P1 and AM.P2 from wastewater and characterization of phage activity against multidrug resistant clinical strains from South India – Authors: Nitasha D. Menon, Gayathri Vijayakumar, Manasi Baswe, Bipin G. Nair, Priyanka Somanath, Geetha B. Kumar – Presented at: 23rd Biennial Evergreen International Phage Meeting; International Conference on Bacteriophage Research and Antimicrobial Resistance (ICBRAMR) – Dates: August 4-9th, 2019; December 12-13th, 2019
  • Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophages against Clinical Multidrug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from South India – Authors: Nitasha D. Menon, Sudhanand M., Sruthi S., Anjali John, Susanna Thomas, Alan Anil, Akhila S. J., Bipin G. Nair, Priyanka Somanath, Geetha B. Kumar – Presented at: 23rd Biennial Evergreen International Phage Meeting – Date: August 4-9th, 2019
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