Profile
Research Interest
Human Disease Models (Genetic & Infectious Models), Cardiac / Lung Organoid Biology, Simulation Studies (Modeling & Immunoinformatics), Stem Cell / CAR-T Cell Translational Therapies.
Selected Publications
- Deciphering the genetic architecture and ethnographic distribution of IRD in three ethnic populations by whole genome sequence analysis. Biswas P, Borooah S, Raghavendra PB, Ferreyra H, Riazuddin SA, Frazer KA, Ayyagari R. PLoS Genet. 2021 Oct 18;17(10):e1009848.
- Detection and validation of novel mutations in MERTK in a simplex case of retinal degeneration using WGS and hiPSC-RPEs model Biswas P, Borooah S, Matsui H, Voronchikhina M, Zhou J, Zawaydeh Q, Raghavendra PB, Ferreyra H, Riazuddin SA, Wahlin K, Frazer KA, Ayyagari R. Hum Mutat. 2021 Feb;42(2):189-199.
- IFT88 mutations identified in individuals with non-syndromic recessive retinal degeneration result in abnormal ciliogenesis. Chekuri A, Guru AA, Biswas P, Branham K, Borooah S, Soto-Hermida A, Hicks M, Khan NW, Matsui H, Alapati A, Raghavendra PB, Roosing S, Sarangapani S, Mathavan S, Telenti A, Heckenlively JR, Riazuddin SA, Frazer KA, Sieving PA, Ayyagari R. Hum Genet. 2018 Jul;137(6-7):447-458.
- A mutation in IFT43 causes non-syndromic recessive retinal degeneration. Biswas P, Duncan JL, Ali M, Matsui H, Naeem MA, Raghavendra PB, Frazer KA, Arts HH, Riazuddin S, Akram J, Hejtmancik JF, Riazuddin SA, Ayyagari R. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Dec 1; 26(23):4741-4751.
- Regulation of macrophage biology by Lithium: A new look at an old drug. Raghavendra PB, Lee E, Parameswaran N. J Neuroimmuno Pharmacology. 2014. Jun;9(3):277-84.
- The role of pyrethroid derivatives in autophagy
and apoptosis crosstalk signaling and potential risk for malignancies. Puvula
J, Maddu N, Gutam N, Parimal A, Raghavendra PB. Oncotarget. 2022 Dec 17;13:1323-1340.
- Unraveling
DPP4 Receptor Interactions with SARS-CoV-2 Variants and MERS-CoV: Insights into
Pulmonary Disorders via Immunoinformatics and Molecular Dynamics. Roy AN, Gupta
AM, Banerjee D, Chakrabarti J, Raghavendra PB. Viruses. 2023 Oct 6;15(10):2056.
- Factors
Affecting Survival in Severe and Very Severe COPD after Admission in ICUs of
Tertiary Care Centers of India (FAST COPD): Study Protocol for a Multicentric
Cohort Study. Sumalatha A, Sindhuja D, Dayana SNS, Greeshma MV,
Raghavendra PB, Mahesh PA. IJ Crit Care Med. 2024 Jun ;28 (6):
552-560.
Uncovering the Role of Tertiary
Lymphoid Organs in the Inflammatory Landscape: A Novel Immunophenotype of
Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
Banerjee D, Paul S, Selvan C, Pai
S, Nandakumar BS, Mukherjee S, Raghavendra PB.
J Cell Mol Med. 2025 Apr ; 29(7): e70479.
Research
Overall research focus of our laboratory is to understand and gain insights for; Why some individuals respond with severe, threatening diseases, whereas others display a quiescent progression, or even remain asymptomatic following stimulus challenge.
Our lab research and clinical work focuses on complex respiratory infections and bronchiectasis, cardiac disorders and research portfolio encompasses immunology, microbiome, mucociliary clearance, human translational experimental medicine in lung disease, including bronchiectasis, COPD, Coronary artery Disease (CAD) and Cardiopulmonary diseases.
In particular, the lab is keenly interested in unraveling cellular/molecular or genetic mechanisms underlying in the healthy and disease aiming for translational approaches.
Two major focus areas that the lab is working on LUNG BIOLOGY & CARDIAC BIOLOGY:
INFECTIOUS - IMMUNE MODULATION IN PULMONARY DISEASES
Emphasis is placed on infectious diseases of the lung, associated tropical infections, thus fostering in understanding the underlying pathologies of chronic lung diseases. Special emphasis is placed on delineating genetic variants or molecular signaling pathways at multiple levels from single cells, to tissues, entire organs in COPD disorder.
We hypothesize the key gene regulators or variants (like NLRP3 variants) in different individuals, suggests the inter-individual differences that determine severe, life-threatening conditions following microbial challenge. We aim to screen and evaluate the unstudied or update our existing knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which pathogens influence inflammsome activation (NLRP3) and regulate immune cells profiles.
Our study findings will demonstrate unexplored heterogenic prototype study of Indian population to decipher the mechanistic events of NLRP3 mediated pulmonary disease progression. It will also establish methods for the utility of HLMSCs or CART-cell as cell therapeutic intervention to circumvent pulmonary (COPD) disorders.
Spatial and Temporal Genomics – Heart &
Lung
Cells in complex mammalian
tissues, such as the Heart or Lung, are spatially organized and dynamic,
yet almost all genomic tools lack temporal and spatial resolution. Current
approaches for transcriptomic analysis involve the grinding up or dissociating
the tissue, while in situ hybridization (ISH) approaches are often limited to
profiling one transcript at a time. However, mapping the spatial heterogeneity
of complex tissues requires us to bridge the divide between spatial and
molecular resolution. We are developing new tools and are interested in using
these approaches to understand tissue organization with respect to
communication between cells and cellular networks or cellular ultrastructure in
heart-lung development and pathology.
Spatially
Guided – Immuno Therapies / Preventive Targets
Personalized
Immunotherapy works with the right cells at the right place and the right time.
We can unleash immune cell functions, increase cell survival in complex
microenvironments, and expand human immune cells, stem cells or heart - lung organoids exponentially for
therapy. Using spatial data, we aim to propose the therapies or
preventive targets to control the spatial organization, and outcomes, of cells
in tissue.
Highly
multiplexed spatial analysis lays out the molecular composition of tissue,
allowing us to identify single cells by their protein and RNA expression, and
reconstruct the complex microenvironments of Coronary Artery Disease / COPD and
other CPD-Cardiopulmonary diseases.
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APPLICATIONS & INSIGHTS
- Tissue Morphology & Cellular Organization : Visualization and assess of tissue structure and cellular arrangements at higher resolution.
- Molecular Marker Validation : Localize and confirm expression patterns of proteins or other biomarkers within the tissue context.
- Pathology Guidance : Support diagnostic or prognostic research assessments through high quality images.
- Complementary Imaging : Enhance spatial molecular assays with supportive morphological or ultrastructural changes of data images.
|
TRANSLATIONAL APPLICATIONS - MODELING & STEM / CAR-T Cell Therapies
Our distinctive study approaches will lead to address the disease phenotype, functions or progression and disease regulation applications. Multidisciplinary approaches and cutting edge technologies will be employed on Animal Models or Human tissue samples / Patient data, Stem cells / Cardiac or Lung Organoids and Simulation Studies (Modeling & Immunoinformatics) will offer unique opportunities to define new therapeutic targets.
CV
|
Year |
Degree |
University |
|
2010 |
Ph.D. |
Sri Krishnadevaraya University / (CDFD, Hyderabad) |
| 2004 |
M.Sc. |
Sri Krishnadevaraya University |
| 2001 |
B.Sc. |
Sri Krishnadevaraya University |
Professional Appointments
- Senior Research Scientist – Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine MAHE, Deemed to be MANIPAL University, Bangalore. [2017 – 2021].
- Senior Research Scientist – Dept. of Biotechnology School of Biological Sciences, REVA University, Bangalore. [2015 – 2017].
- Research Scientist – Molecular & Cell biology Unit, St. John’s Research Institute, St John’s Academy of Health Sciences (SJNAHS), Bangalore. [2013 – 2015].
- Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dept. of Physiology and Pathology, Center for Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. [2011 – 2013].
- Post-Doctoral Fellow. Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Human Medicine, Robarts Research Institute/UWO, London, Canada. [2010 – 2011].
Professional Memberships
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
- Society of Biological Chemists (India)
- Indian Immunology Society
- Society for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Research Projects
- Title of Grant: Understanding the role of AGE Proteins in inducing inflammatory responses and its regulation. Funding Agency: Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defense (Govt. of INDIA). – Completed
- Title of Grant: Development of Primary Cell Lineages from Blood Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPSCs) For Drug Testing. Funding Agency: KSTA - Govt. of Karnataka – Completed
- Title of Grant: Development of Primary Cell Lineages from Blood Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPSCs) For Drug Testing. Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology (Govt. of INDIA). – Completed
- Title: Immunomodulatory Affects and Functional role of Pathogens in Pulmonary disorders and develop new mitigation strategies using Stem cell and genetically modified T cells. Funding Agency: NIBMG intramural; – Ongoing
- Title: Evaluation of growth factors and stem cell combination, novel formulation synergize to accelerate wound healing in diabetic foot ulcer models. Funding Agency: CDRC Grant 2022 ; – Ongoing
- Title: Understanding the Molecular Mechanism in
Ceramide Induced Pathological Activation of Nek7/Nirp3 Inflammasome. Funding
Agency : DBT-GOI Grant 2024 ; – Ongoing
Awards/Honors
- International Research Fellowship at Medical University of Graz. Graz, Austria.
- FASEB MARC Travel Award for FASEB Conference-Experimental Biology, Boston
- Science Technology & Productization Award Govt. of Karnataka - KSTA Award.
Invited/Special Lectures:
- Third International Indo-Australian Conference of Biotechnology on Vaccines for Cancer, Infectious Diseases Life Style and Degenerative Diseases 6-8th March 2006, at Ramoji Film city Hyderabad, India.
- Infection and Immunity Research Forum Conference - 25-27th April 2011 hosted at University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
- FOCIS Conference, Washington, USA- 23-25th March 2011 SLP-2 deficiency in T cells is associated with decrease respiratory complex 1 activity and impaired TCR dependent responses.
- 7th Congress of the International federation of shock societies and 35th Annual conference on Shock June 9-13, 2012 Eden Roc Renaissance resort - Miami beach, Florida, USA.
- FASEB Conference-Experimental Biology, Boston- 20-23rd January 2013 - Novel signaling role of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-5 in human colon cancer.
- Immunology Conference Zurich, Switzerland. 13-14th Sept 2019 - Immunomodulatory affects and functional role of pathogens in pulmonary - respiratory disorders and develop new mitigation strategies using genetically modified T cells and antibiofilm peptides.
Conference / Training Program Organized:
Organizing Secretary: National Conference with the theme as, ‘Infection & Immunity: A Global Challenge for Disease Control’ on 28th - November, 2018.
Publications
- Identification of genetic determinants responsible for retinal degeneration in families of Mexican descent. Villanueva A, Biswas P, Kishaba K, Suk J, Tadimeti K, Raghavendra PB, Nadeau K, Lamontagne B, Busque L, Geoffroy S, Mongrain I, Asselin G, Provost S, Dubé MP, Nudleman E, Ayyagari R. Ophthalmic Genet. 2017 Jan-Feb;39(1):73-79.
- Exploring the binding affinity of novel syringic acid analogues and critical determinants of selectivity as potent proteasome inhibitors. Srinivasulu Cheemanapalli, CM Anuradha, P Madhusudhana, M Mahesh, Chitta Suresh Kumar Raghavendra PB. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry. 2016.16(11):1496-1510.
- Review of Lithium Effects on Immune Cells. Narendra M, Raghavendra PB. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology. 2015. Apr; 37(2):111-25.
- G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase-5 Mediates Inflammation but does not regulate cellular Infiltration or bacterial load in a Polymicrobial Sepsis Model in Mice. Packiriswamy N, Lee T, Raghavendra PB, Durairaj H, Wang H, Parameswaran N. J Innate Immunity. 2013 Mar 12; 5(4):401-13.
- Advanced Glycation end products (AGEs) induce apoptosis via a novel pathway: involvement of Ca2+ mediated by interleukin-8 protein. Mahali S, Raviprakash N, Raghavendra PB, Manna SK.
J Biol.Chem. 2011 Oct 7; 286(40):34903-13.
- Novel derivative of benzofuran induces cell death mostly by G2/M cell cycle arrest through p53-dependent pathway but partially by inhibition of NF-kappaB. Manna SK, Bose JS, Gangan V, Raviprakash N, Navaneetha T, Raghavendra PB, Babajan B, Kumar CS, Jain SK. J Biol.Chem. 2010 Jul 16; 285(29):22318-27.
- Inhibiting TRAF2-mediated activation of NF-kB facilitates induction of AP-1. Manna SK, Babajan B, Raghavendra PB*, Raviprakash N, Sureshkumar C. J Biol. Chem. 2010 Apr 9; 285(15):11617-27.
- Novel role of thiadiazolidine derivatives in inducing cell death through Myc-Max, Akt, FKHR, and FasL pathway. Raghavendra PB, Pathak N, Manna SK Biochem. Pharmacol. 2009 Sep 1; 78(5):495-503.
- Oleandrin induces apoptosis in human, but not in murine cells: dephosphorylation of Akt, expression of FasL, and alteration of membrane fluidity. Raghavendra PB, Sreenivasan Y, Manna SK. Mol. Immunol. 2007 Mar; 44(9):2292-302.
PATENT
- MNPL-NPA-IPO-036 No #: 201941010037 - A Microbial Culture Medium Composition for Isolating and Culturing Microorganisms - RAGHAVENDRA PB.
BOOK Chapters / BOOK:
- Biotechnological Approaches for Sustainable Development, Astral International – Raghavendra PB [Int. ISBN: 9789351302520] – 2015.
- Advances in Cell and Molecular Diagnostics - 1st Edition - Raghavendra PB and Pullaih T. Elsevier Publishers USA, Academic Press [ISBN: 9780128136799] – 2018.
- Camptothecin and impacts- 1st Edition - Raghavendra PB and Pullaiah T. Elsevier Publishers USA, Academic Press [ISBN: 9780128136799] – 2020.
Lab members
PhD Students:
Ms. Deboshmita Banerjee
Project Associate:
Ms. Rishita Biswas
Project Assistant:
Ms. Tapashya Roy
Project Trainees:
Mr. Divyank Varshney
Mr. Arpan Narayan Roy
Ms. Bhagyashree Pradhan
Mr. Kamal Lochan Sarma
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