Welcome To PS Lab
Academic background:
Post Graduation: M.Sc. (Biotechnology) (The M. S. University of Baroda)
Theme for my current research work:
The airway and alveolar epithelium play a significant role in protecting the respiratory tract from pathogens and environmental pollutants while maintaining airflow in the lungs. Any injury or defect in the lungs results in inflammatory lung disorders like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder), asthma, and ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). A primary SARS-CoV-2 disease symptom is severe upper respiratory infections and pneumonia, often culminating in ARDS leading to impaired gas exchange and loss of lung compliance. However, the mechanistic understanding of the cellular mechanism central
to this disease manifestation is unknown. We aim to decipher the candidate SARS-CoV-2 genes that underpin ARDS-like syndrome in a reductionist approach by using Drosophila as a model system. We screened for phenotypes induced by the expression of individual SARS- CoV-2 non-structural and accessory proteins in the Drosophila larval trachea. In particular,
our focus is on those genes causing defects in airway epithelial barriers, underpinning larval hypoxia, and finally, to identify the cellular signaling pathway(s) targeted by the candidate SARS-CoV-2 non-structural and accessory proteins.