Plasmodium Biology & Epigenetics Laboratory

Our research interest is focused on Infection Biology; we aim to investigate the host-pathogen interactions by exploring the various Epigenetic signals of pathogen and host. Obligate intracellular pathogens utilize the host factors for their growth and to establish chronic infections. Thus, it is essential to understand the molecular regulators of pathogens and the host cells involved in these processes. Further, it will be exploited to design better treatment strategies against infectious diseases. Using various Biochemical and Cell biology tools and genetic knockout strategies, we aim to study these processes in two important human pathogens: Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma spp. Our lab was the first to report tRNA-specific methyltransferase from P. falciparum (BBA-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 2017) and the first to report on m6A RNA methyl-specific reader protein in any protozoan parasite (Epigenetics & Chromatin, 2020; mBio, 2021). Further, we have identified a novel epigenetic mechanism that controls the exported family surface proteins and virulence mechanisms in the malaria parasite that mediate the development of a severe form of cerebral malaria in humans (J Biol Chem, 2021); (J Mol Biol, 2022); (BBA Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 2021); (ChemBioChem, 2018).