Profile
The respiratory bacterial pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the nasopharynx of healthy children and adults. Despite being a natural colonizer, S. pneumoniae also causes life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, septicemia and meningitis worldwide and erythromycin-resistant pneumococci is classified as priority pathogen by the WHO in 2024. The overall goal of my laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms of pneumococcal infections and develop targeted therapeutics. A major focus of the lab is to characterize and study the role of host extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. We will also engineer EVs with tailored cargo for precision medicine. A second aspect of our work focusses on drug repurposing strategy wherein we screen compounds to identify inhibitors targeting bacterial virulence factors as potential antimicrobials. Besides, we are also interested in understanding the bacterial adaptation and survival strategies with the host.
Academic Positions
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Scientist E-I (Jan 2025-Current)
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology
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Scientist C & DBT-Ramalingaswami Faculty Fellow (Dec 2020- Jan 2025)
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology
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Assistant Professor (April 2020-Sep 2020)
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Postdoctoral Fellow (May 2014-March 2020)
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Education
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PhD 2013
National University of Singapore
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BTech 2009
SASTRA University, Tamilnadu
Awards
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2025Reviewing Editorial Board member at ASM Microbiology Spectrum
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2025CSIR Travel grant for oral talk at the ISEV meeting on Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in Immunity, 5-7 November- Athens, Greece.
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2024SERB-International Travel Scheme for oral talk in Streptococcal Biology Gordon Research Conference 2024, Maine, USA
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2024Editorial Board (Early Career) at ACS Infectious Diseases
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2021Start up Research Grant, SERB
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2021DBT- Ramalingaswami Fellowship
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2021DST- INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Award
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2019Recommendation by Faculty of 1000 Prime
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2019Travel grant from Scandinavian Society for Immunology
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2018Best Scientific paper of the year award (Nature microbiology), Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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2014Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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2009Graduate Research scholarship, Singapore
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2009Best outgoing student award in B.Tech, SASTRA University, India
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2007-2008Summer Research fellowship award from the Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy and National Academy of Sciences
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2005-2009Dean's list award in B.Tech, SASTRA University, India
Patents
Filed
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Patent titled "Mannose Receptor-Derived Peptides For Treatment Of Pneumococcal Disease"
Swedish Patent No:2050805-7 dated 30/06/2020
Memberships
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Member, Scandinavian Society for Immunology
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Member, Indian Society for Extracellular Vesicles (InSEV)
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Member, Kerala Academy of Sciences
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Life Member, Indian Immunology Society