Dr. Ramasare Prasad Professor MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & PROTEOMICS LABORATORY DEPARTMENT OF BIOSCIENCES & BIOENGINEERING INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROORKEE ROORKEE – 247 667 (INDIA BIOGRAPHY Prof Ramasare Prasad completed his graduation in chemistry (Hons) from B.H.U, Varanasi and doctorate in molecular biology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, 1993. During year 1994 he join Prof Wilmont, Parasite Molecular Biology Unit, at University of Georgia, Athens, Atlanta, USA, as Post Doctoral Fellow. He joined as Faculty in department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, since 1997 (Assistant Professor and Associate Professor) and Professor since 2012 onwards and also had been Head of department from January 2012 to Feb 2015. Presently he is the professor and leader of the of Molecular biology and Proteomics unit, and has published 75 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. He has nearly 30 years of research and teaching experience, had executed several sponsored projects from DST, DBT, CSIR, UGC etc, supervised 26 PhD and presenting supervising 7 PhD students. Broad Areas of Specialization: Molecular Biology & Proteomics; Biochemistry Infectious diseases Major Research Interests: Genomics & proteomics of infectious fungi; Molecular Diagnostics and therapeutics; Molecular biology of abiotic stress Major Research Activities: Genomics & proteomics of infectious fungi: Background Infection due to pathogenic fungi is one of the major health problem presently and the problem become more severe mainly due to two reasons: The first Sudden Alarming Increase in the infection caused by various Opportunistic Infections (Infection caused by those fungi which usually do not cause infections in normal individuals but in Immuno-compromised host e.g. AIDS and organ transplant patients etc). Secondly, the Development of resistance by pathogens fung to antimicrobial agents (Drug-resistance and Multi Drug-resistance). Predominant among them been the infections caused by Candida species, Cryptococcus etc. Candida and Cryptococcus both are dimorphic fungi and exist as yeast and hyphal forms. Besides, they also form biofilm on medical implants and other devices and in body tissue which protecting them from drug action and making the treatment more difficult. Therefore, to develop specific molecular diagnostics, identification of drug targets, and management of infections it is desirable to understand the molecular basis of multidrug resistance and biofilm formation by these infectious fungi. Keeping in mind the above fact our group main research emphasis is on: (1) Molecular Biology & Proteomics of Infectious fungal diseases: study on genomics & proteomics of yeast and biofilm forms of pathogenic fungi (mainly Candida sps and Cryptococcus) using 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry, identification of candidates genes involved in pathogenesis & biofilm formation, functional validation candidates genes using RNAi, miRNA, anti-biofilm drug discovery, identification of immunodominat antigens for diagnostic and vaccine development. (2) Biologically active Plant Products: Isolation, purification and characterization of therapeutic proteins and other molecules having antimicrobial (antibacterial & antifungal activities), anti-oxidative and immuno-modulatory activities from plants, Biologically active components coated nano-particles development, evaluation of biological activities and toxicological effects of active biomolecules using standard in vitro and cell based in vitro & in vivo assays.