COVID-19 Research

Investigating the roles of epigenetic mediators in SARS-CoV-2-host interactions

It has been well established in different viral infections that the host epigenetic mediators such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, miRNAs play important roles in the disease pathogenesis through the interplays between these host factors and the viral proteins. In this project, we aimed to elucidate such host-virus interplays in SARS-CoV-2 infections which will eventually help in understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and will guide to identify more effective therapeutic targets.

Publications from this project

• Transcriptome of nasopharyngeal samples from COVID-19 patients and a comparative analysis with other SARS-CoV-2 infection models reveal disparate host responses against SARS-CoV-2. Journal of Translational Medicine.

• SARS-CoV-2 proteins exploit host's genetic and epigenetic mediators for the annexation of key host signaling pathways. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.

• Lung transcriptome of a COVID-19 patient and systems biology predictions suggest impaired surfactant production which may be druggable by surfactant therapy. Scientific Reports.

• Perversely expressed long noncoding RNAs can alter host response and viral proliferation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Future Virology.

• Epigenetic Regulator miRNA Pattern Differences Among SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV-2 World-Wide Isolates Delineated the Mystery Behind the Epic Pathogenicity and Distinct Clinical Characteristics of Pandemic COVID-19. Frontiers in Genetics.

• SARS-CoV-2 mutations altering regulatory properties: deciphering host's and virus's perspectives. Gene Reports.

Functional implications of genetic variations of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 pathogenesis and disease severity

SARS-CoV-2 has acquired many genomic variations throughout the pandemic. Functional implications of most of these variations still remained unexplored. In this project, we aimed to investigate the potential functional implications of these variations in disease pathobiology and its contribution towards the effective spreading of the virus.

Publications from this project

• SARS-CoV-2 mutations altering regulatory properties: deciphering host's and virus's perspectives.

Impacts of COVID-19 in patients with comorbidities

Many clinical studies suggested that patients with comorbidities are more prone to COVID-19 severity. But it is greatly unknown how SARS-CoV-2 makes these patients more vulnerable. In this regard, we aimed to understand the putative mechanism through which the virus is making the patients with different other existing complications more susceptible to infections.

Elucidating the putative links between SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections

There are several reports suggesting the presence of concurrent infections with other pathogens alongside SARS-CoV-2. In this project, we aimed to reveal the interactions between these pathogens with SARS-CoV-2 and their potential implications in overall disease outcomes of COVID-19 patients.