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Immunology Depertment

Infrastructure and work done at IMBD

Facilities

• Laboratories: BMMRC has a well-established laboratory including facilities for Immunology work viz., Cell-culture lab for antigen-specific T cell assays, Flow cytometry, ELISA and basic molecular techniques such as PCR & RT-PCR. There are six deep-freezers (-80 C), two -20C freezers and one cryo-freezer with liquid nitrogen as a back-up. PBMCs separation and cryo-freezing are done routinely. We also use an in-house assay to detect Latent TB infection.

• Iravatham’s Laboratory is an affiliated mycobacteriology laboratory accredited by NABL, where liquid/solid cultures, Gene Expert and LPA are performed. Part of IPAQT, the lab is enrolled in EQA for biochemistry, immunoassay & microbiology and for mycobacterial/TB diagnostics by smear microscopy, culture, differentiation, NAAT and drug-sensitivity. The score for all the tests was 100% in the year 2018.

• Hospital: Mahavir Hospital of which BMMRC is a part is a 220-bedded hospital with OP Clinics, in-patient facilities backed by acute and intensive care units.

• Tuberculosis Units: The hospital houses a Free TB Clinic, including two DNCs as part of RNTCP. In addition, we have access to at least 10 more DMCs covering about 15 to 20 lakhs population.

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Head – IMBD Key Personnel

Dr. Vijaya L Valluri Scientist & Head, Immunology & Molecular Biology Division, obtained her Ph.D. in 1981. Her research experience of 40 years involves immunology and genetics of mycobacterial diseases. Recipient of a project under the ‘Scheme for Young Scientists’ and fellowships for National Biotechnology Associate & Overseas Biotechnology Associate sponsored by GoI. Her contributions to science include demonstration of in vitro correlates of immune protection to study the efficacy of BCG vaccination in children and the potential use of the most immunogenic protein of BCG vaccine, Ag85A. She was one of the first investigators to report that the effect of BCG vaccine wanes after 5-7 years. Later, along with her team, she demonstrated deficiencies in immune responses that render individuals, especially house-hold contacts with latent TB progressing to active TB infection. She received several projects funded by the GoI – DBT, ICMR, DST and also by the NIH. In collaboration with Dr. Vankayalapati R, she studied the role of NK cells, monocytes and T regulatory cells in conferring protection to tuberculosis. Having mentored and guided several researchers including 14 Ph.D. scholars and post-graduate research students, she has more than 100 publications. At present, she is the Co-chair, Executive Committee, RePORT (Regional Prospective Observational Research on Tuberculosis) India Consortium under Indo-US TB Vaccine Action Programme. Other posts include Expert member: Vaccine Committee, Indian TB Research Consortium, Indian Council for Medical Research.

Core Team

Team Member 1
Team Member 2
Team Member 3
Dr. Kamakshi Prudhula Devalraju

Ph.D in Biotechnology

Dr. Kamakshi Prudhula Devalraju has a Ph.D in Biotechnology. She was successful in obtaining an USD 50000 independent grant from CRDF/NIH and also travel fellowship from NIH - NIAID (2016). Actively involved in preparation of the Common protocol project, she is also the Co-chair for RePORT India Phase II Common protocol. She recently published seven first author papers on Immunology of Tuberculosis and co-infection with HIV in peer-reviewed journals such as JCI Insight, BioMed Central Infectious Diseases, Cytokine & Tuberculosis. She also has other co-author publications in European Journal of Immunology, Journal of Infectious diseases, PLOS One, PLOS Pathogens etc (cumulative impact factor of 40). She has 10 years of experience in immunology of TB and HIV.

Role in RePORT India Phase II Common Protocol:

Recruited as Research Co-ordinator, lead person in standardisation of lab protocols, training of laboratory & field staff, monitored recruitment of study subjects in phase I. She served as Protocol co-chair, involved in finalising protocol version, she was also the study coordinator involved in protocol implementation, SOP drafting, member of PBMC and operational working group in common protocol.

Dr. Neela Venkata Sanjeev Kumar

Ph.D in Biochemistry

Dr. Neela Venkata Sanjeev Kumar has a Ph.D in Biochemistry. He was awarded an independent grant from RSHTM (UK) to work on the role of Vitamin-D and associated immune responses in mycobacterial diseases. Also, he received a 3 year project from ICMR as Principal Investigator to identify immune defects leading to TB in HIV+ individuals.

He has experience in Molecular, proteomic and Immunology techniques (T-cell assays using Mycobacterial antigens). He has published manuscripts on role of vitamin D and its polymorphisms in leprosy (Human Immunology), developed Ag85A based T-Cell assay as treatment correlate for leprosy (International Immunology, Impact factor 5.1) and also contributed significantly in studying immunogenetic aspects of TB, HIV-TB and leprosy which led to articles published in peer reviewed journals (Cumulative Impact factor of 30).

He has 10 years’ experience in Immunology of TB and Leprosy. He has received CSIR-SRF fellowship (for pursuing Ph.D), national (ICMR) and International travel grants (RSTMH, UK) to attend conferences.

Other Important Roles:

Recruited as Scientist C, he was given charge for implementing the Phase II of the Protocol. He served as a data manager and also lead person in website management team in CP.

Ms. Uma Rani

MBA

Ms. Uma Rani helps in administration & HR activities and also expertise in data entry under ICMR funding project. She supports data management of RePORT and its allied projects.

Dr. Sindu Joshi

MBBS, DNB Internal Medicine

Dr. Sindu Joshi is presently the PI for the Vaccine trial sponsored by ITRC/ICMR. She is heading the Medicine Department at Mahavir Hospital and has served as PI for several clinical trials.

Dr. Mohammad Ansari

MD – TB & Respiratory Diseases

Dr. Mohammad Ansari heads the Pulmonology Department at Mahavir Hospital. He has been part of RePORT India consortium and is presently the PI for the HI-Con Rif trial conducted by ICMR and Co-I for parent protocol.

Dr. Chitra Chandrasekhar

Ph.D in Immunogenetics

Dr. Chitra Chandrasekhar worked on TB transmission studies by identifying and mapping TB hot-spots using GPS integration. She is a co-investigator in an ongoing GIS project funded by DHR/ICMR focusing on TB transmission.

Role in Parent / Common Protocol:

Involved in biosafety (microbiology) management of the laboratory level. She is Director of Iravathams Clinical Laboratory, Hyderabad — an NABL accredited laboratory and referral lab for Mahavir Hospital Research for RePORT Phase II and sponsored trials.

Core Research Team
Clinical Team
Laboratory & Diagnostics

Management/Support

The management of Mahavir Hospital & Research Centre has been supporting research on TB for more than 30 years. Proposed by Late Dr. KJR Murthy, ‘Mahavir Model for PPM-DOTS’ was not only successful, but gained international fame for its innovation and cost-effectiveness. This was later adopted for implementation in the RNTCP. BMMRC established a Public-Private Mix – DOTS programme in 1995. All the 110 private practitioners in the area were encouraged to refer symptomatic patients to the hospital for sputum examination and DOTS.

The study in the first 6 years was supported by the Department for International Development and sponsored by WHO, Geneva. In 2004, BMMRC was chosen by the Indian government to carry out the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Project of Urban DOTS in Hyderabad. The project has been operational since February 1st, 2005.

Furthermore, BMMRC is part of the Centre of Excellence for Tuberculosis, supported by DBT titled, “Multidisciplinary approaches aimed at interventions against Mycobacterium tuberculosis”. Late Dr. KJR Murthy was instrumental in establishing these programs, and was honored by former President William J Clinton of the USA, who visited Mahavir Hospital on World TB Day in 2000.

BMMRC is part of the ITRC. Most of the research that goes on in the institute is related to tuberculosis. The management is keen on developing this centre as a centre of excellence for tuberculosis.

IMBD – List of Equipment

  • 1. Dedicated Cell culture lab — 1
  • 2. Flow cytometer — 2
  • 3. Freezer -150 — 1
  • 4. Freezers -80 — 4
  • 5. Freezer -20 — 1
  • 6. Refrigerator — 6
  • 7. Gel documentation unit — 1
  • 8. RT-PCR — 1
  • 9. Weighing balance — 1
  • 10. ELISA washer — 2
  • 11. Microplate reader — 1
  • 12. Automated Cell counter — 1
  • 13. Nanodrop — 1
  • 14. Refrigerated centrifuge — 2
  • 15. Centrifuge REMI — 3
  • 16. Microscopes — 2
  • 17. CO₂ Incubator — 2
  • 18. Incubator 37°C — 1
  • 19. Hot air oven — 1
  • 20. Biosafety cabinets Class II — 3
  • 21. Magnetic stirrer cum hot top — 1
  • 22. Plate shaker — 1
  • 23. Microwave oven — 1
  • 24. Vacuum pump — 1
  • 25. Data Management system server — 1
  • 26. MGIT 960 SYSTEM — 1

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