Amrita School of Biotechnology

Congratulations to our research team at Amrita School of Biotechnology on the publication of their outstanding work in Nature Scientific Reports (Q1, IF: 3.9)!

Paper Title:
Isolation, characterisation and potential applications of a novel bacteriophage targeting beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus saprophyticus

Dr. Muralidharan Vanuopadath (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham) is using "Multi-Omics" to tackle snakebites and infertility. By looking at thousands of proteins and metabolites at once, his team is finding new ways to save lives and help families.

Dr. Indulekha Pillai, (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham) presented her research on cardiac calcification. While the heart lacks natural bone-forming cells, her work proves that cardiac fibroblasts have the "plasticity" to transform into osteogenic progenitors following injury.

Dr. Dipu T. S. is explaining how the misuse of antibiotics has polluted our water and soil with resistant germs. By using "Antimicrobial Stewardship" - his team at Amrita Hospitals is showing how to use medicine more wisely to save lives and protect our future.

The SPARC International Symposium continues with a deep dive into the world of bacteriophages! Dr. Ajith Madhavan from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is currently discussing his research: "Deciphering the hyper-vulnerability of the phage production-host, Escherichia coli ST155."

While most bacteria work hard to resist viruses, this specific strain seems to be an open door. Dr. Madhavan's work is crucial for the field of Phage Therapy - helping us understand how to produce these phages at scale to tackle the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Prof. Richard Strugnell (The University of Melbourne) is discussing why Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of our biggest challenges—and why vaccines are a part of the solution. By adopting a "One Health" approach and using vaccines to reduce infections like typhoid fever, we can stop "wicked" pathogens before they have a chance to evolve into untreatable superbugs.

It’s about protecting everyone, from local communities to global health budgets.

Dr. Jayalekshmi H. (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham ) shared her innovative approach to tackling Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans.

Rather than focusing on killing the pathogens, which often leads to antibiotic resistance, her team is targeting their virulence factors - specifically biofilm formation and pigment production. By using sub-inhibitory concentrations of natural essential oils, we can "attenuate" these threats and allow the human immune system to finish the job.

How do we solve the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis when the antibiotic pipeline is running dry? Dr. Andre Mu (Monash University) presented a compelling case for Microbiome-Driven Approaches.

Dr. Mu’s research moves beyond individual pathogens to look at the entire "microbial ecology" of infectious diseases. By utilizing multi-omics and ecological principles, his lab is developing strategies to engineer microbial communities, potentially leading to live biotherapeutics and personalized probiotics.

Dr. C. V. Srikanth is explaining why your gut health depends on a "harmonious dance" between your body and your bacteria. When the protective mucus barrier breaks, it's like the music stops - leading to inflammation and IBD. Dr. Srikanth's team at Regional Centre for Biotechnology - Faridabad is researching how to restart the dance by targeting specific proteins like RAB7.

Prof. Alexandra Corbett from the The University of Melbourne highlighted the massive potential of MAIT cells. These "innate-like" T cells are incredibly abundant and specialize in patrolling our body's borders - the skin, gut, and lungs.

By learning how to therapeutically target these cells, Prof. Corbett’s team is opening new doors for host-directed therapies that boost our natural ability to clear infections without relying solely on traditional antibiotics.

Dr. Sudheeran Kannoth discussed his work on Autoimmune Atypical Parkinsonism. His research shows that in some cases, what looks like irreversible degeneration is actually an immune-mediated process that requires specific, targeted therapy. By identifying these "atypical" cases early, Dr. Kannoth’s team at Amrita Hospitals is preventing long-term disability and giving patients their lives back.