Strategies for enhancing biological activity of novel peptides (brevinin-1 and 2) identified from the skin secretion of an endemic frog.
Department of Science and Technology (SERB)
Research Summary
Bacterial resistance to current antibiotic drugs is a threat to human beings all over the world. There is considerable interest in the development of antimicrobial agents as a novel therapeutic approach to treat infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are regarded as hopeful candidates for the design of novel antibiotics, owing to their unique mechanism that differs from the conventional clinical drugs. Frog skin secretions have proved to be a rich source of peptides with a wide range of pharmacological properties that may have therapeutic relevance as evident from the recent discovery of "Urumin", an antiviral peptide targeting influenza virus, from the skin secretion of an endemic frog species of the Western Ghats, India. The biological activity of frog skin AMPs includes the ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, beneficial immunomodulatory properties involving stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines, chemoattractive and anti-oxidant properties, and selective cytotoxicity for tumor cells.
As a rule, frog skin peptides are species-specific and contain 20-30 peptides. Frog species of Kerala being an untapped source for novel peptides in their skin secretion as approximately 90% of frog species in this area are endemic. The PI's laboratory has obtained many novel peptides from a handful of species which are showing promising action against microbes. Identification and characterization of novel molecules from the untried frog species may provide a valuable source having the potential for further improvement as lead drug molecules. Additionally, scientific investigations to test the efficacy of some of the peptides and associated IPRs could have far-reaching benefits. The gathered information can serve as a database for further investigations.
Research Programs
Provided the checklist of amphibian fauna as a part of the environmental impact assessment study of the proposed Hydroelectric Power Project site
Provided a comprehensive data on the water quality and pollution load of the Kuttanad ecosystem of Kerala
Provided a checklist of amphibians of Kerala with a detailed distribution map
Investigations were made on the amphibian diversity using molecular taxonomical tools
DNA barcoding of Western Ghats's frogs were performed for the first time
A detailed genetic study on the ancient lineage of endemic Indirana frogs of Western Ghats were performed
A database on the mitochondrial DNA of selected mammals in the Kerala Forests were prepared for wildlife forensics application
DNA barcoding of marine mollusks were performed for the first time
Characterization of many novel host defense peptides from the skin secretion of frogs were identified
Current Research Grants
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2022 2019
Previous/ Completed Research Grants
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Antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretion of fungoid frog Hylarana malabarica of Western Ghats, India
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment [KSCSTE] 2012-2018Biodiversity, DNA barcoding and Phylogeny of commercially valuable marine mollusks
Department of Biotechnology [DBT] 2011-2015Development of mtDNA database of selected mammals in the Kerala Forests for wildlife forensics.
Forest Department, Govt. of Kerala 2009-2012Conservation genetics of Indirana frogs of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot (Indo-Finnish Project)
Department of Biotechnology [DBT] 2008-2011DNA barcoding of selected ranid frogs of Western Ghats
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment [KSCSTE] 2007-2010Measurement of Biological Diversity at species level- A molecular Approach
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment [KSCSTE] 2003-2006Measuring and Monitoring Amphibian diversity of Kerala.
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India 1999-2003Assessment of ecological and environmental risks in Kuttanad rice producing area and their abatement through application of biotechnology.
Department of Biotechnology [DBT] 1996-1999Amphibian fauna of Pooyamkutty Hydroelectric Power Project site, Kerala .
FRAWG, Minnesota Zoo [through Zoo Outreach organization, Coimbatore, India] 1994-1995
