The Molecular Biology Research Lab (MBR Lab) at Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi was established by the end of year 2013. We at our lab follow an unconventional approach wherein we try to venture into any of the biological problems depending on the facilities and resources. We are always ready to collaborate in order to find solutions to ongoing research questions. Students are provided with the freedom to work in any area of their interest and they are always motivated to take on new challenges. Instead of working in a particular field, each student is free to choose research topics on any of the current issues. However, we as a research lab do face the limitation of funding and resources, but we work on resolving these limitations with collaborations with labs which have expertise in that particular area.
Area of Research
Plant Protection:
The Molecular Biology Research lab investigates antagonistic chemical interactions that operate between insect herbivores and their host plants. Our lab embarked with a research goal of deciphering plant allelochemical deployed against herbivorous insects, how they act, and the evolutionary innovation adapted by insect pests to circumvent plant allelochemical. The previous research projects focused on the defense profile of chickpea against Helicoverpa armigera; Maize defense response to Spodoptera litura; Plant proteases; Examination of S. litura gut integrity and digestive proteases upon maize feeding; Molecular modeling of S. litura chemosensory protein and its interaction to plant defense metabolites; Evaluation of the effectiveness of RNAi-mediated insect pest control; Designed a computational tool- NeuroPIpred: a tool that can predict, design and scan insect neuropeptides. Research outcomes generated are communicated in peer-reviewed research journals such as Scientific report, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Journal of Experimental Botany, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, and Insect Science. Current projects focus on Spodoptera litura-inducible calmodulin-like protein from Glycine max and Gene expression profiling of S. litura detoxification-related genes upon host and non-host feeding. The latest tools and techniques of molecular biology, advanced computational tools, and the concept of integrative science is applied.
Human Health:
This lab started with the most important diseases such as Cancer, Tuberculosis and Rare genetic disorders. Our research in the field of cancer currently focuses on the targeted therapies. Some major publication includes “In-Silico Drug Discovery Approach Targeting receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 for Cancer Treatment” published in Scientific Reports. We have also ventured into the field of Tuberculosis and understanding the molecular biology of its causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. My major contributions in this field include publications like “Expression analysis of genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv under stress condition” and “Structural and functional insights into putative TAG accumulating hydrolase protein (Rv1179c) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv”. We have to file for the patent entitled “Method for Identification of Multidrug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain". Recently we have started screening for potent inhibitors for treatment of rare genetic disease Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). We are using bioinformatics and basic molecular biology techniques to screen the best hit molecules, and with the aim of designing bioinformatics tools and diagnostic kits.