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mitochondrial m cherry. This stable producer 2. Jackson James: Development of a low
cells once transfected with pcDNA3 S protein cost Anosmia screening tool to mass screen
generates, fluorescent peudovirons to infect ACE2 asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers; DST-SERB.
expressing cells. The system has been validated
with VSVG and ready for testing using S protein. 3. R. Radhakrishnan: Development of a point
of care Lateral Flow Diagnostic Platform for
HEK cells were transfected with the detection of viral antigens and antibodies IgG &
following expression vectors to produce IgM of Corona Virus SARS-CoV-2 enabling efficient
recombinant proteins for direct diagnostics use and swift diagnosis and mass screening”; BIRAC -
and also for antibody production NATIONAL BIOPHARMA MISSION.
1. pCEP4-myc-ACE2 GRANTS UNDER REVIEW:
2. pcDNA3.1-SARS2-Spike
3. pcDNA3-SARS-CoV-2-S-RBD-sfGFP Ranjith S Kumar, Ajith RR, Manoj P, E. Sreekumar;
Design and Development of a Highly Sensitive
For generating FRET based assay for S Rapid RT-LAMP Droplet Microfluidic Platform for
protein – ACE2 binding inhibitor screening, both SARS-CoV-2 Detection (Collaborative Project with
the donor and acceptor fluorescent vectors of College of Engineering, Trivandrum); DBT-BIRAC
S protein and ACE2 were designed and created
using Cerulean and Venus as fluorescent partners. E. Sreekumar; Umasankar PK; Hrishikesh Damle.
Screening phytochemical libraries to identify
Studies initiated on establishing target cell host-directed antivirals (HDA) against SARS CoV-
based assays for inhibitors of viral proteases for 2 targeting IFITM family Interferon-stimulated
development of new therapeutics against SARS gene (ISGs) using innovative assays; DBT-BIRAC
Cov2 (Collaboration with Atrimed Pharma Pvt Ltd;
Bangalore)
Studies initiated on status of alpha helical
membrane pores during SARS Cov 2 infection K.R Mahendran. Indo-German joint project
proposal (DBT-DFG) in collaboration with Jacobs
S2 fusion peptides that facilitate viral University Bremen, Germany Title: Decoding viral
membrane fusion synthesized, purified, and membrane fusion and inhibition using novel
biophysical studies being carried out. Liposome- electro-optical assays.
based membrane fusion assays have been
optimized Covid 19 Diagnostic Facility
Molecular modeling of S protein membrane A real role model for the country: RGCB’s
binding and pore formation. Examined different Laboratory Medicine & Molecular Diagnostics
intermediates and conformational states during Facility functions 18-hour shifts on all 7 days.
pore assembly
Over 43,000 nasal swabs analyzed to date
Research Grants by RT PCR for Covid 19 diagnostics
FUNDED GRANTS: Co-developed Covid 19 Diagnostics Suite
1. E. Sreekumar, T.R.Santhosh Kumar, P.K. Clinical Studies
Umasankar, Shijulal Nelson Sathi, Ravi Shankar L;
New Therapeutics against SARS Cov2: Analyzing Epidemiological studies to improve the
small molecule chemical libraries by establishing strategies in surveillance and containment of
targeted cell-based assays for inhibitors of viral Covid-19
entry and viral protease; DBT- BIRAC
Use of SARS Cov-2 Antibody rapid
test for detection of IgG in a subset of patient
