Dr. Mahadesh Prasad AJ
Current Position: Professor
Qualification: MSc, PhD
Teaching Experience: 8 years
Courses offered: MSc Biochemistry
Current research interests: My current research is mainly focused on
- B- cell development and B-cell malignancies: Understanding the molecular mechanism of B- cell development and B- cell malignancies
and also Understanding the role of Epstein Barr-Virus in B- cell malignancies and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma - System Vaccinology: Currently focused on developing vaccine platform for Kaysanur Forest Disuses (KFD) using YF-17D platform. In addition to Evaluation of immunogenicity and long-term protective efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in south Indian population.
- Cardiovascular diseases: Mainly focused on evaluating the role of Paraoxonase 1 ( PON1) in Cardiovascular diseases.
- Tissue regeneration mechanism: To understand the tissue regeneration patterns using Radiofrequency (RF) and Nano pulse
technology (NP). - Head and Neck cancer: Understanding the mechanism of angiogenesis during tumour growth and metastasis in patients with solid tumors, particularly, head and neck cancers and possible association of nitric oxide is less explored. For many years, debate raged with in the scientific community about whether NO act as tumorigenic or tumoricidal. The activity proposed here would shed light on these unanswered questions.
Doctoral Research: In 2006, I started my research career as a Junior Research Fellow at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Mysore. I worked under the supervision of renowned biochemist Prof. Cletus D'Souza and Prof. Kemparaju K. My task was to investigate the biochemical mechanism of the enzyme Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), which is associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and acts as an anti-atherosclerotic molecule. We introduced a novel purification method for PON1, involving a two-step process utilising affinity chromatography on Cibacron blue sepharose, followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G50. Additionally, we assessed the aryl esterase activity of PON1 by employing phenyl acetate as a substrate in a sample of 288 young individuals from South India, aged between 20 and 39 years, encompassing both sexes. The statistical analysis of this study revealed that there was no correlation between PON1 activity and age, sex, or smoking habits. This suggests that the esterase activity in young adults is already sufficiently altered, and smoking does not have any additional impact on it (WASJ 2010, 9:2). In addition, we examined the
impact of HDL-associated PON1 on widely utilised antibiotics, including Tetracycline, Spectinomycine, Gentamicin, and Penicillin-G. PON1's lactonase activity was confirmed by its cleavage of the beta-lactam ring of Penicillin-G, as demonstrated in the study published in AJBPR 2016, 1:5.Research Experience: (No. of Years): 14 years
Publications:
No. of publications: 20
No. of Papers presented in National/International symposia/conferences:
Achievements/Awards:
Grants:
- Seed money grant from Mahajana Research Foundation, 2023: 200000 INR
- Research Grant from BTL, India Pvt Ltd, 2022, Grant amount: 10,000 USD
- Collaborative small research grant from Karnataka Science and Technology Academy, 2022: Grant amount: 400 USD
- Workshop Grant from Karnataka Science and Technology Academy, 2022: Grant amount: 300 USD
- Conference grant from Company of Biologists, UK-2017: Grant amount: 400 pounds
- Major research grant from Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology (SERB-DST), Govt of India-2015: Grant amount: 50,000 USD
Awards
- Postdoctoral fellowship from DAAD, University of Leipzig, Germany, 2009
- Postdoctoral fellowship from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA, 2010
- Postdoctoral fellowship from University of Linkoping Hospital, Sweden, 2013
- Postdoctoral fellowship from University of Lund, Sweden, 2015
- Postdoctoral fellowship from Catholic University of Leuven, Sweden, 2019
Membership in Professional Bodies:
- Life member of Indian Science Congress Association
- Life Member of Society of Biological Chemist
- Life Member of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
- Life member World Society of Virology
Publications:
- Live-attenuated YF17D-vectored COVID-19 vaccine protects from lethal yellow fever virus infection in mouse and hamster model.
Ji Ma, Michael Bright Yakass, Sander Jansson, Bert Malengier-Devlies, Dominique Van Looveren, Lorena Sanchez Felipe, Thomas Vercruysse, Birgit Weynand, Mahadesh Prasad Arkalagud Javarappa, Osbourne Quaye, Johan Neyts and Kai Dallmeier. ebioMedicine, Sept 2022, IF:11.2 - A Single- dose live-attenuated YF17D-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. Lorena Sanchez Felipe*, Thomas Vercruysse*, Sapna Sharma*, Ji Ma*, Viktor Lemmens*, Dominique Van Looveren*, Mahadesh Prasad Arkalagud Javarappa*, Robbert Boudewijns*,
Johan Neyts and Kai Dallmeier. (Shared first author) Nature, July 2020. IF:69.80 - B Lymphocyte Specification is preceded by extensive epigenetic priming in multipotent progenitors. Tobias Strid, Kazuki Okuyama, Johanna Tingvall-Gustafsson, Jacob Kuruvilla, Christina T. Jensen, Stefan Lang, Mahadesh Prasad, Rajesh Somasundaram, Josefine Åhsberg,
Susana Cristobal, Shamit Soneji, Jonas Ungerbäck and Mikael Sigvardsson. Journal of Immunology, June 2021. IF: 5.4 - EBF1 and PAX5 control pro-Bcell expansion via opposing regulation of Myc gene. Rajesh Somasundaram, Christina T. Jensen, Johanna Tingvall-Gustafsson, Josefine Åhsberg, Kazuki Okuyama, Mahadesh Prasad, James R. Hagman, Xun Wang, Shamit Soneji, Tobias
Strid, Jonas Ungerbäck, Mikael Sigvardsson. Blood, June 2021. IF: 22.1 - PAX is a part of functional transcription factor network targeted in lymphoid leukemia. Kazuki Okuyama, Tobias Strid, Jacob Kuruvilla, Rajesh Somasundaram,Susana Cristobal, Emma Smith, Mahadesh Prasad, Thoas Fioretos, Henrik Lilljebjörn, Shamit Soneji, Stefan
Lang, Jonas Ungerbäck& and Mikael Sigvardsson. PLOS Genetics, July, 2019. IF: 5.1 - Cassia tora prevents Aβ 1-42 aggregation, inhibits acetylcholineesterase activity and protects against Aβ 1-42 induced cell death and oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma cells. Sunil K Ravi, Ramesh BN, Mahadesh Prasad, Manjunath RJ, Bruno Vicent. Pharmacological Reports, Dec 2019. IF: 3.0
- Comparative assessment of redox markers in acute stroke and acute ischemic stroke patients. Mahadesh Prasad AJ*, Madhura BC, Sushrvya, Jyoti Bala Chauhan, Anjali Arun, Punith Kumar. Journal of International Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Feb 2018. IF: 0.99 (*corresponding author).
- Human serum Paraoxonase (PON1) activity down regulates with age. Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Jyoti Bala Chauhan, Kavyashree BM, Vijith Kumar, Anjali Arun, Komal Kumar J, Gruru Prasada Rao. Asian Journal of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Research, Sep 2016. SJIF:
2.5 (*corresponding author). - Bioactivity of diterpenes from ethyl acetate extract of kingiodendron pinnatum Rox. Hams. Komal Kumar J, AG Devi Prasad, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Chethana Mane. Pharmacognosy Research, Feb 2016. IF: 1.2
- Ebf1 heterozygosity result in increased DNA damage in pro B cells and their synergistic transformation by PAX5 haploinsufficinecy. Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Jonas Ungerbäck, Josefine Åhsberg, Rajesh Somasundaram, Tobias Strid, Malin Larsson, Robert Månsson, Ayla
De Paepe, Henrik Lilljebjörn, Thoas Fioretos, Jim Hagman and Mikael Sigvardsson. Blood, June, 2015. IF:22.1 - Transcription factor networks in B-cell differentiation link development to acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Rajesh Somasundaram, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Jonas Ungerbäck, and Mikael Sigvardsson. Blood, July 2015. IF:22.1
- Dissecting the contribution of EBNA3C domains important for EBV- Induced B- cell growth and proliferation. Hem C Jha*, Sanket Kumar Shukl* Jie Lu, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Shuvmoy Banerjee and Erle S Robertson. Oncotarget, Aug 2015. IF: 3.7
- Effect of antibiotics on Paraoxonase 1(PON1): β- lactamase like activity of Paraoxonase 1(PON1). Sowmya P Kuruvatti, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Elizabeth A Frank, Cletus JM D’Souza. Asian Journal of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Research, Jul 2015. SJIF: 2.5
- EBV essential antigen EBNA3C attenuates H2AX expression. Mahadesh Prasad AJ*, Hem C Jha*, Abhik Saha, Shuvmoy banarjee, Jie Lu, Erle Robertson. Journal of Virology, Apr 2014* Equal First author. IF: 4.85
- Decreased level of serum Paraoxonase activity in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Monika Krueger and Maxie Krueger. Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, June 2014.
- H2AX Phosphorylation is important for LANA-Mediated Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus episome persistence. Hem C Jha, Santhosh SK, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Jie Lu, Qiliang Cai, Jie Lu, Abhik Saha, Erle Robertson. Journal of Virology, May 2013. IF: 4.85
- E2F1 mediated apoptosis induced by the DNA damage response is blocked by EBV nuclear antigen 3C in lymphoblastoid cells. Abhik Saha, Jie Lu, Lise Morizur, Hem C Jha, Santhosh SK, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Erle Robertson. PLOS Pathogen, Mar 2012. IF: 6.8
- Lack of correlation of Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity with smoking in south Indian papulation. Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Kemparaju K, Elizabeth A Frank, Pracilla Jaichander, Cletus JM D’Souza. World applied science journal, Mar 2010.
- Purification of human serum paraoxonase: A simple and rapid method. Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Kemparaju K, Elizabeth A Frank, Cletus JM D’Souza. African Journal of Biochemistry Research, Jan 2009.
- First report on fusarium oxysporum casuing fusarium on Tuja orientalis in India. Vinay B Ragavendra, Mahadesh Prasad AJ, Govindappa, ST Girish, S Lokesh. Australasian Journal of Plant Physiology, Mar 2007.
Manuscript under submission/ in press:
- A chimeric yellow fever-Zika Virus vaccine and thermostable plasmid launched version
thereof protects macaques against ZIKA virus challenge. Mahadesh Prasad Arkalagud
Javarappa et al, Nature Medicine- ready to submit - Tittle: The association of Cysteine to Thiomersal attenuates its apoptosis mediated
cytotoxicity in Zebrafish
Journal: Chemosphere
Status: Under revision with minor comments
IF: 8.9 - Title: β-Cyclodextrin encapsulation provides a superior anti-neoplasmic effect than
Paclitaxel alone
Journal : JBC
Status: Under review
IF: 5.4 - Title: Stem cells for Dementia: A hope for Alzheimer’s disease therapy
Journal: Ageing and Diseases
Status: Invited review
IF: 9.96 - Title: Emerging roles of Quantum Dots and Nanotechnology in Food and Nutraceuticals:
Insights into Molecular advancements and Regulatory Aspects
Journal: Springer
Status: Book Chapter
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