Research Projects

Nature & type of Research

Department of Biosciences is involved in several areas of research

Hydrobiological studies were conducted on different ecosystems viz. Marine, estuarine freshwater habitats. Major emphasis has been laid on the biodiversity and ecosystem health. Baseline data have been compiled regarding the fluctuations  in water qualities (heavy metals, pesticides and other pollutants) which is detrimental to aquatic biota (phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic fauna and other flora/fauna) (Tharavathy and Krishnamoorthy, Ecol. Environ. & Cons., Vol. 13(4), p 745-750 (2007); Sowmyashree and Tharavathy, Int. J. Pharma Sci. & Res., Vol.4 (5), p 94-99 (2013); Ashwin and Chandrakala Shenoy, Indian Journal of Theoretical and Experimental Biology 2013; Ashwin and Chandrakala Shenoy, International Journal of Recent Scientific Research 2014); Shruthi, M. S. and M. Rajashekhar,  Int. J. Adv. Life  Sci. 7: 1-7(2014); Sushanth, V. R. and M. Rajashekhar, Braz. J. Oceanogr. 62: 279 – 293 (2014).

Microbial Ecology: Microbial ecology emphasises on the biodiversity and activity of a specific group of fungi involved in decomposition of plant detritus in freshwater, mangrove and marine ecosystems. These fungi are important in the energy flow from detritus to higher trophic levels, which determines the aquatic productivity.

Under genotoxicological studies, the impact of various xenobiotics (pollutants, drugs, heavy metals, etc.) on somatic and germinal cells of insects, fishes and mammalian systems have been investigated. Genoprotective effects of certain nutraceuticals and plants extracts have also elucidated. These studies  help to understand the potential of the toxic substances and to develop necessary remedies  (Prem D'Souza, K.K. Vijayalaxmi, Prashantha Naik, Mutation Research,  766, 16-22, (2014);  Prashantha Naik, Hj Din Rozman and Rajeev Bhat, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 36 ( 1), 135-141(2013).

Plant Pathology and Mycology: Study of various plant diseases and their causative factors with remedial approaches using synthetic and natural products. Biochemical and molecular analysis of plants diseases and applications of phytochemicals for fungal pathogens; Chandra M,  Int. J. Basic and Applied Biology. Vol. 2(4): 213-216(2015); Chandra M and N. M. Mahesh,  Acta Biologica Indica. Vol. 2(2):481-483(2013); Chandra M. Life sciences Int. Res. J. Vol. 1(1): 21-24 (2014).

Biomedical Research

Myocardial infarction (MI), liver cirrhosis and Diabetes mellitus (DM) are progressively becoming the commonest cause of death in middle aged population. Few years before, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and DM were the diseases of elderly population, and especially in developed nations. However, recently, death rate due to coronary ischemia and DM has increased enormously in adult populations, even at younger age groups, throughout the globe. Though coronary ischemia and DM are multifactorial, presently, sudden change in life style, increased stress level at working place and at home and wrong dietary habits, in addition to genetic predisposition have increased the incidence of DM and AMI even in younger age groups. Recently attention has been focused towards the medicinal plants and their constituents as potential therapeutic agents in the prevention and management of coronary vascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Studies have shown that combined therapy is better than individual therapy. Phytomedicine, if combined with the preventive model of medical practice, could be among the most cost effective practical ways to shift the focus of modern CVD and DM treatment to prevention.

Recent research has focused on medicinal plants and their constituents as potential therapeutic agents in the prevention and management of coronary vascular disease, Diabetes Mellitus and Hepatic cirrhosis. In this context, studies have been carried out on the preventive roles of certain drugs/food products from medicinal plants on induced diseases such as Diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis and Myocardial infarction. (Chandrakala Shenoy, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2000; Reema and Chandrakala Shenoy, J Food Sci Technol 2014). Studies on toxic effects of alcohol and selenium have also been carried out (Nagarathna and Chandrakala Shenoy, Journal of the Indian society of Toxicology (JIST) 2009; Latha and Chandrakala Shenoy, Indian Journal of clinical Biochemistry 2008).

 The other areas of research and the research findings that contributed to biomedical research are listed below. Research findings from the cited provided the first experimental evidence and therapeutic implications of blocking gut derived serotonin and gave substantial hope for the first oral anabolic therapy option in osteoporosis. (Yadav, Suresh., et al., Nature Medicine 2010). 2. Establishing a bi directional cross talk between a phosphatase and kinase may have potential implications for studying Ras mediated oncogenesis. (Song wang Hou, Suresh.et al., JBC 2012). 3. Elucidation of progesterone actions in controlling primate luteal function may throw light in explaining luteal insufficiency associated infertility. (Suresh et al., Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 2011). 4. Circulating hormone profiles during the normal menstrual cycle of bonnet monkey is established and can be useful for any studies pertaining to reproductive physiology in primates. (Suresh and Medhamurthy., American Journal of Primatology, 2009). 5. Enhancing the drug response through PTPH1 in breast cancer  that emerged through the cited study suggested a novel therapeutic strategy for hormone resistant breast cancer. (Suresh et al., Molecular cancer therapeutics, 2014)

Neuroscience:

One of the thrust areas of research is adolescent depression. Adolescent depression is at the moment being treated adult anti-psychotics that lead to suicidal tendencies. As such the need is there for therapeutic agents for adolescent depression. Our work involves testing of various Ayurveda-based anti-depressants to treat adolescent depression.

Leads suggest that the Wistar Kyoto animal model can be used as a prototypic model for adolescent depression as it shows face, construct and predictive validities to the human condition. This work was carried out under a DBT funded project for two and half years. DBT expects us to continue the work with the testing of various Ayurveda-based anti-depressants. The animal model is also being tested out for ultrasonic vocalizations which constitute non-invasive readouts of pathological states (Rao and Sadananda 2013)

Another thrust area funded by SERB deals with development of social preferences where the bird model is used for study. Social preferences are stabilized in the brain during critical periods of development and persist throughout life.