Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics (EGB) Laboratory

Tel: +91-11-25307-322 (Office), -328 (DNA sequencing Lab.), -340 (Mol. Biol. Lab.), -406 (Bioinformatics Lab.)

Fax: +91-11-25307-371 (Direct)

E-mail: egblab.nimr@gmail.com

The major focus of this laboratory is to understand evolutionary interactions of malaria parasites-vectors-host at the gene and genome level in the malaria triangle and use the information in malaria control program of the country.

 

 

To achieve these goals, we use genomics and bioinformatics in an evolutionary perspective.  All our current research programs are based on scoring of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) both in putatively neutral genomic regions and of candidate genes of interest followed by rigorous statistical analyses of genetic diversity data of the SNPs under different population genetic and molecular evolutionary models independently in malaria parasites, vectors and host.

Broadly, our current research falls into following major projects

·         Gene and genome diversity and evolution in Indian malaria parasites

·         Population and evolutionary genomics of Indian malaria vectors

·         Evolutionary genetics of immune system genes involved in malaria pathogenesis in Indian humans

Publications by the members of EGB Laboratory

Selected Recent Publications:

·               Gupta B, Srivastava N and Das A (2012) Inferring the evolutionary history of Indian Plasmodium vivax from population genetic analyses of multilocus nuclear DNA fragments. Molecular Ecology: In press

·               Awasthi G, Prasad GBKS and Das A (2012) Pfcrt haplotypes and evolutionary history of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Mem Inst Oswald Crutz: In press

·               Das A, Anvikar AR, Cator LJ, Dhiman RC, Eapen A, Mishra N, Nagpal BN, Nanda N, Raghavendra K, Read AF, Sharma SK, Singh OP, Singh V, Sinnis P, Srivastava HC, Sullivan SA, Sutton PL, Thomas MB, Carlton JM, Valecha N (2012) Malaria in India: The Center for the Study of Complex Malaria in India. Acta Tropica: In Press.

·               Khan N, Pandey V and Das A (2011) Characterization, comparative genomics, and evolutionary inferences of a human drug metabolizing (NAT2) gene. Interventional Medicine and Applied Science 3: 65–73.

·               Awasthi G, Prasad GBKS and Das A (2011). Population genetic analyses of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine receptor transporter gene haplotypes reveal the evolutionary history of chloroquine-resistant malaria in India.  Int J Parasitology 41: 705-709.

·               Dixit J, Srivastava H, Singh OP, Saksena DN, Das A (2011) Multilocus nuclear DNA markers and genetic parameters in an Indian Anopheles minimus population. Infect Genet Evolut 11: 572-579.

·               Awasthi G, Srivastava G and Das A (2011) Comparative evolutionary analyses of beta globin gene in eutherian, dinosaurian and neopterygii taxa.  J Vector Borne Diseases 48: 27-36.

·               Das Sutar SK, Gupta B, Ranjit MR, Kar SK and Das A (2011) Sequence analysis of coding DNA fragments of pfcrt and pfmdr-1 genes in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Odisha, India.  Mem Inst Oswald Crutz 106: 78-84.

·               Tyagi S, Sharma M and Das A (2011) Comparative genomic analysis of simple sequence repeats in three Plasmodium species. Parasitology Res 108: 451-458.

·               Gupta B, Dash AP, Srivastava N and Das A (2010) Single nucleotide polymorphisms, putatively neutral DNA markers and population genetic parameters in Indian Plasmodium vivax isolates.  Parasitology 137: 1721-1730.

·               Gupta B, Awasthi G and Das A (2010) Malaria parasite genome scan: Insights into antimalarial resistance. Parasitol Res 107: 495-499.

·               Dixit J, Srivastava H, Sharma M, Das MK, Singh OP, Raghavendra K, Nanda N, Dash AP and Das A (2010) Phylogenetic inference of Indian malaria vectors from multilocus DNA sequences.  Infect Genet Evolut 10: 755-763.

·               Gupta B, Gupta P, Sharma A, Singh V, Dash AP and Das A (2010) High proportion of mixed-species Plasmodium infections in India revealed by PCR diagnostic assay. Trop Med Int Health 15: 819-824.

·               Srivastava H, Sharma M, Dixit J and Das A (2010)  Evolutionary insights into insecticide resistance gene families of Anopheles gambiae. Infect Genet Evolut 10: 620-628.

·               Sharma M, Mohanty S, Tyagi S and Das A (2010) Comparative and evolutionary genomics of malaria parasites. Proc Natl Acad Sci (Ind) 79: 111-121.

·               Sharma M, Dash AP and Das A (2010) Evolutionary genetic insights into Plasmodium falciparum functional genes.  Parasitol Res 106: 149-155.

·               Singh V, Mishra N, Awasthi G, Dash AP and Das A (2009) Why is it important to study malaria epidemiology in India?  Trends Parasitol 25: 452-457.

·               Awasthi G., Dash AP and Das A (2009) Evolutionary insights into Duffy gene in mammalian taxa with comparative genetic analysis. J Vect Borne Dis 46: 230-236.

·               Srivastava H, Dixit J, Dash AP and Das A (2009) Fine-scale evolutionary insights into Anopheles gambiae X chromosome.  J Biomed Sci Engg 2: 304-311.

·               Raghavendra K, Niranjan Reddy BP, Dash AP and Das A (2009) Reanalysis of rDNA-ITS2 region sequences of Anopheles cf. culicifacies ‘Bluchistan’ revealed conspecificity to A. dthali. Curr Sci 97: 923-925.

·               Das A, Sharma M, Gupta B and Dash AP (2009) Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax: So similar yet very different.  Parasitol Res 105: 1169-1171.

·               Awasthi G, Dash AP and Das A (2009) Characterization and evolutionary analysis of human CD36 gene. Ind J Med Res 129: 534-541.

·               Kar PK, Nagpal BN, Dua VK, Ghosh SK, Raghavendra K, Bhatt RM, Anvikar A and  Das A (2009) Molecular characterization of chikungunya virus from Andhra Pradesh, India. Ind J Med Res 129: 335-337.

·               Awasthi G, Singh S, Dash AP and Das A (2008) Genetic characterization and evolutionary inference of TNF-α with computational analyses. Braz J Infect Dis 12: 374-379.

·               Bajaj R, Mohanty S, Dash AP and Das A (2008) Fine-scale genetic characterization of Plasmodium falciparum chromosome 7 encompassing the antigenic var and the drug-resistant pfcrt genes. J Genet 87: 59-64.

·               Das A and Dash AP (2007) Evolutionary paradigm of drug-resistant malaria in India.  Trends Parasitol 23: 132-135.

·               Thomas C, Shalini S, Raghavendra N, Choudhury M, Verma A, Joshi H, Dash AP and Das A (2007)  Development of nuclear DNA markers for evolutionary studies in Plasmodium falciparum.  J Genet 86: 65-68.

·               Das A, Bajaj R, Mohanty S and Swain V (2007)  Genetic diversity and evolutionary history of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Curr Sci 92: 1516-1524.

 Significant Publication:

·         Das A (1991) DNA fingerprinting in India. Nature 350: 387.

 

Scientific Staff of the EGB Laboratory

 

Aparup Das
Scientist D

(Since December 2005) 

 

 

  

 

                                  

 

 

 

                         

                                 

 

 

 

                                     E-mail

Academic Records:

 

·         Post-Doc Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich, Germany

·         Ph. D. (Population Genetics) Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

·         M. Sc. (Zoology) Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India

·         B. Sc. (Zoology Hons.) Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India

 

Recent Awards and Achievements:

 

·         Overseas Associateship from the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, 2007

 

Research Interests:

 

·         Gene and genome diversity of malaria parasites

·         Population and evolutionary genomics of malaria vectors

·         Evolutionary genetics of host immune system

 

Professional Activities:

 

·         Member, Editorial Board of the Journal of Genetics (2008 - till date)

·         Member, Editorial Committee of the Journal of Vector Borne Diseases (2006 - till date)

·         Member, Editorial Board of the Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering (2009 – till date)

·         Editor, Global Journal of Biotechnology (2006 - till date)

·         Editor, Global Journal of Molecular Sciences (2006 - till date)

·         Editor, Plasmodium, NIMR Newsletter (2006 - till date)

 

 

 

Gauri Awasthi
SRF, ICMR-Direct

(Since May 2007)                      

                             

                                    

 

 

                                     E-mail

Academic Records:

 

·         Post-M. Sc. research experience at NEHM and NIMR, Delhi

·         M.Sc. (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology), Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan

·         B. Sc. (Biotechnology, Hons.), Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Noida, under CCS University, Meerut

 

Research Interests:

 

·         Seeking new gene target (s) for chloroquine resistance in Indian Plasmodium falciparum

 

Recent Awards and Achievements:

 

·         International Travel Award from the Journal of Cell Sciences, United Kingdom, 2008

·         International Travel Award from the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Germany, 2008

·         Invited to work as an Independent Researcher at the Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich, Germany, 2008

·         Second-best prize for poster presentation at the International Conference of Vector and Vector-borne Diseases, Puri, 2008

 

 

Hemlata Srivastava
SRF, ICMR-Project

(Since June 2007)                

                                            

                                                 E-mail

 

Academic Records:

 

·         Post -M. Sc. teaching experience at 10+2 level in Lucknow and research experience at NIMR Delhi

·         M.Sc. (Biotechnology), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Applied Sciences, Jaipur, Rajasthan University

·         B. Sc. (Life Sciences), Harishchandra Post Graduate College, Purvanchal University, Varanasi (U.P)

 

Research Interests:

 

·        Evolutionary genetic studies of immune system genes in Indian Anopheles minimus

 

 

 

 Picture 022

Jyotsana Dixit
SRF, ICMR - Project

(Since June 2007)                

                                                E-mail

Academic Records:

 

·         Post-M.Phill research experiences at NIMR and at Centre for Advanced Studies in Zoology (D.U.), Delhi

·         MPhill (Reproductive Physiology) Centre for Advanced Studies in Zoology, Delhi University, Delhi

·         M.Sc. (Zoology), M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana

·         B. Sc. (Zoology, Hons.), North Campus, Delhi University, Delhi

 

Research Interests:

 

·         Population structure and demography of Indian Anopheles minimus with genomics and bioinformatic approaches

 

Anita C.
SRF, CSIR-NET

(Since April 2008)                     

 

                        

                             E-mail

 

 

 Academic Records:

 

·         Post M.Sc. research experience at University of Delhi, South Campus (human genetics lab)

·         M.Sc. (Biotechnology) Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan

·         B.Sc. (Genetics) Dayal Singh College, Kurukshetra University

 

Research Interests:

 

·       Evolutionary genetics of Duffy gene in Indian humans

 

Recent Awards and Achievements:

 

·       Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, 2006

Meenu Sharma

SRF, ICMR-Direct

(Since Jan 2009)                  

                                            

                                             E-mail

 

       Academic Records:

 

·         Post -M. Sc.  teaching experience at UG level in Gwalior

·         M. Sc. (Biochemistry),  Jiwaji University, Gwalior

·         B. Sc. (Life Sciences), KRG College, Jiwaji University, Gwalior (MP)

        Research Interests:

·         Estimation of genetic diversity in Erythrocyte binding antigenic genes of Plasmodium falciparum

 

 

 

 

Bhavna Gupta
JRF, ICMR-NET

(Since January 2008)                  

 

                            

                                               

 

 

                                        E-mail

 

 

Academic Records:

 

·         Post-M.Sc. research experience at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi

·         M.Sc. (Agriculture Biotechnology), Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

·         B. Sc. (Agriculture), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu

 

Research Interests:

 

·     Population genomics of Indian Plasmodium vivax

 

Recent Awards and Achievements:

 

·     Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, 2007

 

 

Naazneen Khan

JRF, ICMR-NET

(Since October 2008)    

                            

                             E-mail

Academic Records: 

 

·         M. Sc. (Biotechnology),  Jamia Millia Islamia, New  Delhi

·         B. Sc.  (Biotechnology), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

 

Research Interests: 

 

·         Genetic diversity and Evolutionary history of an anti-malaria drug detoxifying gene in Indian Humans.

 

Recent Awards and Achievements:

 

·         Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, 2008.  

 

 

Suchi Tyagi

RA, ICMR - Project

(Since November 2008) 

                               E-mail

Academic Records: 

 

·             Post -M. Sc.  research experience at NIMR, Delhi

·             M. Sc. (Bioinformatics), Banasthali University, Rajasthan

·             B. Sc.  (Botany, Hons.), Delhi University, New Delhi

 

Research Interests:

·             Evolutionary history of PTEX150 gene in Indian Plasmodium falciparum.

 

Other Staff of the EGB Laboratory

 

·         Ms. Kamla Negi, Laboratory Technician

·         Mr. Kumar Vikram, Research Assistant

·         Mr. Satveer Singh, Technician B

·         Mr. Sunil Tyagi, Field-cum-Laboratory Attendant

·         Mr. Satyaveer Sharma, Laboratory Attendant (DW)

Important Information for Project/Summer Trainee Applicants to the EGB Laboratory

 

Apply (by e-mail only) with a recent CV and a brief outline of the proposed work you are interested to perform in this laboratory (choose any one of the three broad areas indicated above)

 

CVs without the write-up will NOT be considered in ANY CASE