Academic Qualifications
Ph.D. (2009) – Dept. of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
M.Sc. Medical Biochemistry (2003) – JIPMER, Pondicherry University.
B.Sc. Biochemistry (2000) – Sri Sankara Arts and Science College, Madras University.
Professional Experience
Scientist-D (Nov 2015 Onwards) – Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.
Ramanujan Fellow (Nov 2010 – Oct 2015) – Centre for Infectious Disease Research & Department of Biochemistry, IISc, Bangalore, India.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Jan 2010 – Sep 2010) – School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Research Associate (Sep 2009 – Dec 2009) – School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Research Interest
Malaria remains as one among the top five infectious diseases in the world leading to enormous morbidity and mortality. This devastating disease caused by Plasmodium species of phylum apicomplexa is transmitted by the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. The absence of an effective vaccine together with widespread and emerging resistance against frontline antimalarials including the most promising arteminsinin-based combination therapies has made malaria eradication daunting. For the past several decades, the malaria research has been focused mainly on asexual (blood) stages which are directly associated with disease pathogenesis, and the molecular aspects related to the transmission stages remained a black box.
Recently, it has been realized that besides targeting the blood stages, effective transmission blocking strategies are key for malaria eradication and this has been included as one of the prime agenda in WHO portfolio for malaria eradication. My research interest is mainly focused on gaining insights into the fascinating biology of Plasmodium transmission stages, and understanding the molecular and biochemical aspects that are crucial for the development of sexual stages in mosquitoes and liver stages in vertebrate hosts. Delineating these aspects and designing strategies to interfere with the homeostasis of host-parasite networks can be explored for new therapeutic approaches to prevent malaria transmission. I am also collaborating with industries to develop novel high-sensitive platforms for malaria diagnosis.
Awards & Honors
Received NAVDB Award for Outstanding Contribution on Molecular Biology from National Academy of Vector Borne Diseases, February 2017.
Global Health Travel Award funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to attend Keystone Symposia on “The Science of Malaria Eradication” held at Mexico in February, 2014.
Awarded Ramanujan Fellowship for the year 2010 by Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.
Prof. Giri Memorial Medal, Institute of science, Bangalore for the Best Ph.D. Thesis of the year 2009-2010, Dept. of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of science, Bangalore.
Dr. A. S. Perumal Award, Indian Institute of science, Bangalore for the Best Performance in Research Training Program, Dept. of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of science, Bangalore.
Sathya Bhama Award, JIPMER, Pondicherry University for the Best Outgoing Student (2003).
Best Outgoing Student Award (2000), Sri Sankara Arts and Science College, Madras University
Other Recognitions
Reviewer for BIRAC’s Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme
Invited Reviewer for Nature Scientific Reports, Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology, Molecular Biotechnology, Experimental Parasitology & Infection and Immunity
Member of Doctoral Advisory Committee, Manipal University (2013-2015)
MEDIA Coverage
1) “Indigenous malaria vaccine shows promise in mice studies”, S&T, The Hindu, April 17, 2014. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/medicine-and-research/indigenous-malaria-vaccine-shows-promise-in-mice-studies/article5918997.ece
2) “Knocking down the malaria causing parasite”, S&T, The Hindu, August 22, 2013. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/knocking-down-the-malaria-causing-parasite/article5045356.ece
3) Malaria Parasite-synthesized Heme is Essential in the Mosquito and Liver Stages and Complements Host Heme in the Blood Stages of Infection. Recommended in F1000 Microbiology for new finding and novel drug target. http://f1000.com/prime/718071268
Industrial Collaborations
Jigsaw Biosolutions Pvt Ltd, Bangalore to develop a novel PCR kit for Malaria detection based on unique IMR sequences in the parasite genome.
Omix Research & Diagnostic Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Bangalore to develop a novel Malaria point-of-care diagnostic test
PUBLICATIONS
1) Raju, L.S., Kamath, S., Shetty, M.C., Satpathi, S., Mohanty, A.K., Ghosh, S.K., Kolluri, N., Klapperich, C.M., Cabodi, M., Padmanaban, G. and Nagaraj, V.A. (2019). Genome Mining-Based Identification of Identical Multi-Repeat Sequences (IMRS) in Plasmodium falciparum Genome for Highly Sensitive qPCR Assay and its Application in Malaria Diagnosis. J. Mol. Diagn. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2019.04.004.
2) Dende, C., Meena, J., Nagarajan, P., Nagaraj, V.A., Panda, A.K. and Padmanaban, G. (2017). Nanocurcumin is superior to native curcumin in preventing degenerative changes in Experimental Cerebral Malaria. Sci. Rep. 7(1):10062. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10672-9.
3) Nagaraj, V.A. and Padmanaban, G. (2017). Insights on heme synthesis in malaria parasite. Trends in Parasitol. 33, 583-586.
4) Padmanaban, G. and Nagaraj, V.A. (2017). Curcumin May Defy Medicinal Chemists. ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 8, 274.
5) Nagaraj, V.A., Mukhi, D., Sathishkumar, V., Subramani, P.A., Ghosh, S.K., Pandey, R.R., Shetty, M.C. and Padmanaban, G. (2015). Asparagine requirement in Plasmodium berghei as a target to prevent malaria transmission and liver infections. Nat. Commun. 6:8775. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9775.
6) Varadarajan, N.M., Sundaram, B., Subramani, P.A., Kalappa, D.M., Ghosh, S.K. and Nagaraj, V.A. (2014). Plasmodium berghei glycine cleavage system T-protein is non-essential for parasite survival in vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 197, 50-55.
7) Sundaram, B., Varadarajan, N.M., Subramani, P.A., Ghosh, S.K. and Nagaraj, V.A. (2014). Purification of a recombinant histidine-tagged lactate dehydrogenase from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax, and characterization of its properties. Biotechnol Lett. 36, 2473-2480.
8) Nagaraj, V.A., Sundaram, B., Varadarajan, N.M., Subramani, P.A., Kalappa, D.M., Ghosh, S.K. and Padmanaban G. (2013). Malaria Parasite-synthesized Heme is Essential in the Mosquito and Liver Stages and Complements Host Heme in the Blood Stages of Infection. PLoS Pathogens 9(8):e1003522. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003522.
Recommended in F1000 Microbiology for new finding and novel drug target.
This work was also covered in the following newspaper articles.
“Knocking down the malaria causing parasite”, S&T, The Hindu, August 22, 2013. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/knocking-down-the-malaria-causing-parasite/article5045356.ece
“Indigenous malaria vaccine shows promise in mice studies”, S&T, The Hindu, April 17, 2014. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/medicine-and-research/indigenous-malaria-vaccine-shows-promise-in-mice-studies/article5918997.ece
9) Padmanaban, G., Nagaraj, V.A. and Rangarajan, P.N. (2012). Artemisinin-based combination with curcumin adds a new dimension to malaria therapy. Curr. Sci. 102, 704-711.
10) Vathsala, P.G., Dende, C., Nagaraj, V.A., Bhattacharya, D., Das, G., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2012). Curcumin-arteether combination therapy of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice prevents recrudescence through immunomodulation. PLoS One. 7, e29442.
11) Nagaraj, V.A., Arumugam, R., Prasad, D., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2010) Protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase from Plasmodium falciparum is anaerobic and is localized to the mitochondrion. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 174, 44-52.
12) Nagaraj, V.A., Prasad, D., Arumugam, R., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2010). Characterization of coproporphyrinogen III oxidase in Plasmodium falciparum cytosol. Parasitol Int. 59, 121-127.
13) Nagaraj, V.A., Prasad, D., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2009). Mitochondrial localization of functional ferrochelatase from Plasmodium falciparum. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 168, 109-112.
14) Nagaraj, V.A., Arumugam, R., Chandra, N.R., Prasad, D., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2009). Localization of Plasmodium falciparum uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase of the heme-biosynthetic pathway in the apicoplast and characterization of its catalytic properties. Int. J. Parasitol. 39, 559-568.
15) Nagaraj, V.A., Arumugam, R., Gopalakrishnan, B., Jyothsna, Y.S., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2008). Unique properties of parasite genome-coded porphobilinogen deaminase from Plasmodium falciparum. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 437-444.
16) Padmanaban, G., Nagaraj, V.A. and Rangarajan, P.N. (2007). An alternative model for heme synthesis in the malarial parasite. Trends Biochem. Sci. 32, 443-449.
17) Padmanaban, G., Nagaraj, V.A. and Rangarajan, P.N. (2007). Drugs and drug targets against malaria. Curr. Sci. 92, 1545-1555.
18) Nandakumar, D.N., Nagaraj, V.A., Vathsala, P.G., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2006). Curcumin – Artemisinin combination therapy for malaria. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50, 1859-1860.
BOOK CHAPTERS
1) Padmanaban, G. and Nagaraj, V.A. (2017). Curcumin from turmeric as an adjunct drug? In: Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, Bioactive Natural Products. Edited by Atta-ur-Rahman. Volume 57, 2018, Pages 179-202.
2) Nagaraj, V.A., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G. (2014). Porphyrin Metabolism. Encyclopedia of Malaria. Springer, Edited by Hommel, M. and Kremsner. P.G. 1-11.
3) Padmanaban, G., Nagaraj, V.A. and Rangarajan, P.N. (2013). Unique Features of heme biosynthesis in the malaria parasite. Handbook of Porphyrin Science. With Applications to Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Engineering, Biology and Medicine. World Scientific Publishers, Edited by Kadish, K.M., Smith, K.M., Guilard, R. and Ferreira, G.C. 27, 168-205.
LIST OF PATENTS GRANTED/FILED:
1) Indian Patent Application No. 1612/CHE/2005 (7.11.2005). A combination antimalarial drug therapy with curcumin and artemisinin. Nandakumar, D.N., Nagaraj. V.A., Vathsala, P.G., Rangarajan, P.N. and Padmanaban, G.
2) U.S. Patent No. US 7,776,911 B2 dtd. August 17, 2010. Antimalarial Drug Containing Synergistic Combination of Curcumin and Artemisinin, Padmanaban, G., Bangalore (IN), Rangarajan, P.N., Bangalore, (IN), Vathsala, P. G. Bangalore, (IN), Nagaraj, V.A. Bangalore, (IN) and Nandakumar, D.N. Bangalore, (IN).
3) Nucleotide sequence, A method and kit thereof. Srinivasa R.L., Shwetha, K.U., Nagaraj, V.A. and Raji, M. Indian Patent Application no: 893/CHE/2013.