GENETIC DETERMINANTS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY & PATHOGENESIS

GENETIC DETERMINANTS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY & PATHOGENESIS

This group utilizes genetic, molecular and omics approaches to understand differential susceptibility and pathogenesis due to infectious agents in the human population besides carrying out basic studies on pathogen biology. Currently the focus areas include type III interferon genetics and biology, RNA viruses, Leishmania, M. tuberculosis and sepsis. We are interested to understand the role of type III IFNs (or Lambda IFNs) in human health and disease. We study RNA viruses like HCV, DENV and SARS-CoV-2 to understand molecular determinants of replication with an aim to identify drug targets. We use data-centric and systems biology approaches to understand sepsis. Additionally, we are developing diagnostic and screening tools for neonatal sepsis, and inborn errors of metabolism. We explore host genetic determinants of susceptibility to tuberculosis infection; and we explore functional implications of these determinants using cellular assay systems.