The research in our lab is broadly directed at understanding the immune pathogenic mechanisms of vector-borne diseases caused by dengue and the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The immunopathogenic mechanisms that drive disease progression are ill-understood. Among the immune cells, neutrophils are the body's first line of defense against infection and display plasticity, with the ability to adapt themselves in different inflammatory scenarios. Our recent studies showed that viral infection significantly impacts neutrophil biogenesis and phenotypes (J Leukocyte Biology, 2023a, b). However, there is a lack of in-depth knowledge of the phenotypic heterogeneity of immune cells that arise due to viral infection. Also, how these phenotypic changes are related to cell fate decisions in imparting adverse disease outcomes is unclear. In our lab, we use the JEV and dengue virus as prototype models to study the impact of neutrophil phenotypes on infection and immunity.

We are also interested in developing suitable models (small animal model, cell line, 3D organoid model) to study host-pathogen interaction at the interface of identifying immune modulators and antivirals.

Our lab is also interested in using extracellular vesicles to understand disease biology and novel interventions in viral infection.

• Surender Rawat
  M.Sc.: Microbial Biotechnology - Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, 2015
  Fellowship award: DBT
  Date of Joining: 15.01.2019
  Title of Ph.D. project: Understanding the role of neutrophils in dengue pathogenesis.
  

  Summary: Our lab has previously observed that neutrophil-associated genes are highly upregulated in severe dengue patients compared to mild symptoms. My research focuses on understanding neutrophils' role in the pathogenesis of dengue virus infection. I am trying to understand how the dengue virus modulates the functions of neutrophils that can increase inflammatory responses.

  Hobby: Badminton and cricket.


• Sharda Kumari
  M.Sc.: Biotechnology, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (2018)
  Fellowship award: UGC
  Date of Joining: 15.07.2019
  Title of PhD project: Characterization of circulating extracellular vesicles and their immunopathogenic role in dengue virus infection.
  

  Summary: We are focusing on the characterization of the exosomes in terms of their protein and cytokine content and their role in immune cell (CD4+ T cells) modulation. Our work suggests that surface proteins in EVs mediate immunomodulatory roles on CD4+ T cells.

  Hobby: Reading books, Teaching and Dancing


• Rohit Soni
  M.Sc.: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) (2021).
  Fellowship award: CSIR
  Date of joining: 27.09.2021
  Title of the PhD project: Understanding the Role of Neutrophils and Their Participation in Shaping Peripheral Immune Response in Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection.
  

  Summary:Neutrophils, the first immune cells to respond to viral infection, can also modulate the adaptive immune response. Therefore, understanding neutrophil effector activities in disease pathology and immunity against infection are the major focus of my project.

  Hobby: Motorbike riding/ Content creator


• Sakshi Nimesh
  Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus (2020).
  Fellowship award: CSIR
  Date of joining: 05.09.2022
  Title of research project: Assessing the efficacy of engineered extracellular vesicles targeting NLRP3 inflammasome in the neuroinflammatory disease model.
  

  Summary: Neuroinflammation has emerged as a key factor contributing to neurological diseases and virus infections. NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation is one of the major contributors to neuroinflammation and neuronal death. This project focuses on engineering extracellular vesicles with overexpression of cytosolic and membrane-bound proteins, which can target the potent inducers of NLRP3 inflammasome formation and may help control neuroinflammation

  Hobby:Listening to music


• Prasanjit Jena
  M.Sc.: North Orissa University (NOU) (2021).
  Fellowship award: DBT
  Date of Joining: 05.09.2022
  Title of the Research Project: Elucidate the role of NLRC5 in Japanese encephalitis-mediated inflammation and immune response.
  

  Summary: NLRC5 triggers inflammation and immune modulation in the central nervous system. Japanese Encephalitis virus causes inflammation in the brain. Therefore, studying the role of NLRC5 will provide mechanistic insights into JEV-induced inflammation and immune cell modulation in the brain.

  Hobby:Binge-watching, Browsing, Adventurer


• Kusuma B
  Int.PhD in Biotechnology – Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) (2023)
  Fellowship award: DBT
  Date of Joining: 11.08.2023
  Title of the research project: Understanding Thymic Atrophy in Modality of Dengue Virus Infection.
  

  Summary: The balanced immune response determines the course of disease outcome. Various pathogens target the thymus and induce premature thymic atrophy in humans. Dengue virus infection induces thymic atrophy, conferring insufficient protection against the pathogen. I am working towards recognizing the mechanism involved in Thymic atrophy and addressing the clinical need to boost thymic function by reversing thymic involution in the modality of dengue.

  Hobby:Dance, Drawing, Writing, Reading novel.

• Ms. Bharti Kumari
  Title of thesis: Role of microRNAs in Japanese Encephalitis Virus Pathogenesis
  University: Jawaharlal Nehru University
  Year of award: 14th March 2019

• Ms. Aarti Tripathi
  Current Affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
  Title of thesis: Exploring the Role of Interferon Regulatory Factor 8 (IRF-8) in mounting an innate immune response against Japanese Encephalitis virus
  University: Jawaharlal Nehru University
  Year of award: 18th November 2021

• Ms. Jaya Saini
  Title of thesis: Role of lncRNA NEAT1 in the regulation of inflammatory response during Dengue Infection
  University: RCB, Faridabad
  Year of award: 19th May 2023

• Received fellowship from ‘Viral Hepatitis Research Foundation of Japan’ in 2005 & 2011

1. Kumari S, Bandyopadhyay B, Singh A, Aggarwal S, Yadav AK, Vikram NK, Guchhait P, Banerjee A. Extracellular vesicles recovered from plasma of severe dengue patients induce CD4+ T cell suppression through PD-L1/PD-1 interaction. mBio. 2023 Nov 20:e0182323. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01823-23. PMID: 37982662
2. Rawat S, Kumar S, Duggal S, Banerjee A. Phenotypic alteration by dengue virus serotype-2 delays neutrophil apoptosis and stimulates the release of prosurvival secretome with immunomodulatory functions. J Leukoc Biol. 2023 Oct 27:qiad133. doi: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad133. PMID: 37890093
3. Duggal S, Rawat S, Siddqui G, Vishwakarma P, Samal S, Banerjee A, Vrati S. Dengue Virus Infection In Mice Induces Bone Marrow Myeloid Cell Differentiation And Generates Ly6glow Immature Neutrophils With Modulated Functions. J Leukoc Biol. 2023 Aug 30:qiad099. doi: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad099. PMID: 37648666
4. Saini J, Thapa U, Bandyopadhyay B, Vrati S, Banerjee A. Knockdown of NEAT1 restricts dengue virus replication by augmenting interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 via the RIG-I pathway. J Gen Virol. 2023 Jan;104(1). doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001823. PMID: 36748518
5. Soni N, Tripathi A, Mukherjee S, Gupta S, Mohanty S, Basu A, Banerjee A. Bone marrow-derived extracellular vesicles modulate the abundance of infiltrating immune cells in the brain and exert an antiviral effect against the Japanese Encephalitis virus. FASEB BioAdvances, 2022. doi: 10.1096/fba.2022-00071
6. Barnwal A, Basu B, Tripathi A, Soni N, Mishra D, Banerjee A, Kumar R, Vrati S, Bhattacharyya J.SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Activated Dendritic Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Induce Antiviral Immunity in Mice. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2022 Dec 12;8(12):5338-5348. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01094. PMID: 36445062
7. Gupta S, Krishnakumar V, Soni N, Rao EP, Banerjee A, Mohanty S. Comparative proteomic profiling of Small Extracellular vesicles derived from iPSCs and tissue specific mesenchymal stem cells. Exp Cell Res. 2022 Nov 15;420(2):113354. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113354.PMID: 36126717
8. Sarkar L, Oko L, Gupta S, Bubak AN, Das B, Gupta P, Safiriyu AA, Singhal C, Neogi U, Bloom D, Banerjee A, Mahalingam R, Cohrs RJ, Koval M, Shindler KS, Pal D, Nagel M, Sarma JD. Azadirachta indica A. Juss bark extract and its Nimbin isomers restrict β-coronaviral infection and replication. Virology. 2022 Apr;569:13-28. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2022.01.002.
9. Soni N, Gupta S, Rawat S, Krishnakumar V, Mohanty S, Banerjee A. MicroRNA-Enriched Exosomes from Different Sources of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Can Differentially Modulate Functions of Immune Cells and Neurogenesis. Biomedicines 2021, 10(1) DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010069
10. Gupta S; Vishal P; Sharma H; Soni N; Rao EP; Dalela M; Yadav A; Nautiyal N; Kumar A; Nayak B; Banerjee A; Dinda AK; Mohanty S. Comparative Evaluation of Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Tissue Specific Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Extracellular Vesicles for the Amelioration of CCl4 Induced Chronic Liver Injury. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2021 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s12015-021-10313-9.
11. Sharma KB, Chhabra S, Aggarwal S, Tripathi A, Banerjee A, Yadav AK, Vrati S, Kalia M. Proteomic landscape of Japanese encephalitis virus-infected fibroblasts. J Gen Virol. 2021 Sep;102(9). doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001657. PMID: 34546869.
12. Tripathi A, Banerjee A. Vrati S. Development and Characterization of a Robust Animal Model of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in Adolescent C57BL/6 Mice. Dis Model Mech. 2021 Oct 1;14(10):dmm049176. doi: 10.1242/dmm.049176.
13. Tripathi A, Shing B, Addya S, Surjit M, Kumar P, Vrati S, Banerjee A. Lack of Interferon 1 Regulatory Factor 8 Restricted IFN-gamma Response and Augmented Japanese Encephalitis Virus Replication in the Mouse Brain. J Virol. 2021 Oct 13;95(21):e0040621. doi:10.1128/JVI.00406-21.
14. Rawat S, Vrati S, Banerjee A. Neutrophils at the crossroads of acute viral infections and severity. Mol Aspects Med. 2021. Oct;81:100996. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.100996 PMID: 34284874
15. Banerjee A, Tripathi A, Duggal S, Banerjee A, Vrati S. Dengue virus infection impedes megakaryopoiesis in MEG-01 cells where the virus envelope protein interacts with the transcription factor TAL-1. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 11;10(1):19587. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76350-5.