Earth

During Ph.D. tenure, gained experience in developing catalytic nucleic acids (ribozymes and DNAzymes) and antisense based strategies to knock down expression of viral genes of high virulence in humans, e.g., vif of HIV-I; X gene of Hepatitis B virus; IRES of HCV. Also, synergistic effect of co-pathogenesis among HIV and HBV were successfully studied. Several other gene expressions including that of Influenza were also controlled via catalytic nucleic acids and antisense. Moreover, the effect of difference in genetic makeup of various subtypes of HIV-I, namely B and C were studied in terms virulence and infectivity, finding later more virulent. With experience gained during Ph.D. and post doctoral, I would like to study human diseases, such as diabetes and Cardiovascular diseases for more genetic variations. These diseases are known to have variations among patients due to mutations in several genes, thus making current drug regimes inefficient for treatment.More feasible approach therefore, could be to develop strategies based on targeted delivery of drug to the site of action.