At present our laboratory is working on two interconnected topics of “improving drug permeation” and “enhancing drug efficacy” in mycobacterium towards a long term goal of shortening treatment time for tuberculosis (TB). Research on these projects are primarily focused on identifying key outer membrane proteins and porins that are essential for nutrient and antibiotic uptake. Understanding the molecular properties of the channels will provide clues which will enable understanding the factors which facilitate permeation of drugs across the incredibly hydrophobic mycomembrane.  We  employ proteomic and chemical genomic tools to identify the outer membrane proteins.

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In another project we are trying to understand the nature, quantum and sequence of adaptive events leading to antibiotic tolerance in mycobacteria, which is an important goal for TB researchers while developing resistant proof therapeutics. We perform quantitative proteomics and metabolomics in response to antibiotics and look for  a commonality in mechanism of drug action and bacterial response.

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Finding from our past (2012) work: 50-year-old antibiotic could be another answer to TB

A half-a-century old antibiotic may re-emerge as a new medicine against tuberculosis that kills millions every year in India and other parts of the world. DECCANHERALD.COM