Biju Bhargavan, PhD
Research Interests
The blood brain barrier (BBB) is an interface layer between the blood stream and central nervous system. The major components of BBB consist of microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC) sealed together by tight and adherent junctions proteins, basement membrane, pericytes, and overlying astrocytes end feet. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a spectrum of neurocognitive dysfunction associated with HIV infection. HIV-1 crosses the BBB during primary infection and enters the brain to cause persistent CNS HIV-1 infection that leads to HAND. Certain strains of HIV-1 may have differential mechanisms in inducing BBB inflammation, neurocognitive impairment, and influence viral eradication strategies. It is still unknown what are the roles of HIV-1 viral proteins, adhesion molecules, cytokines and chemokine receptors in the trans-endothelial migration of HIV-1.
Ongoing Projects
My current research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms/signaling/epigenetics associated with HIV-1 infection and BBB dysfunction using various in vitro and humanized mice models, and explore how the viral clade diversity influence this process.
- PhD, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India, 2009
- The Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (ARVO)
- International Society for Neuro Virology (ISNV)
- Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research
- 2004: National Eligibility Test (NET), Lectureship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Govt. of India
- 2004: Junior Research Fellowship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Govt. of India
- 2006: Senior Research Fellowship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Govt. of India
-
Maurya, R., Singh, G., Narayana Murthy, P.S., Mehrotra, S., Singh, D., Biju, B., and Singh, M.M.(2006). Antiosteoporosis activity of Butea species. Patent appl. no. 0522DEL2006, India: CSIR-DBT.
-
Maurya, R., Singh, G., Narayana Murthy, P.S., Mehrotra, S., Singh, D., Biju, B., and Singh, M.M.(2008). Pharmaceutical Composition Containing Butea Isoflavones for the Prevention/Treatment of Bone Disorders and a Process for the Preparation Thereof. Canadian Patent. PCT/IB2007/000468, WO 2007/099432 A3.
-
Maurya, R., Singh, G., Narayana Murthy, P.S., Mehrotra, S., Singh, D., Biju, B., and Singh, M.M.(2009).Pharmaceutical Composition for the Prevention/Treatment of Bone Disorders and a Process for the Preparation Thereof. US patent, CPS and International class: A61K. Application no. 20090221690, Current US class:514/453, Kinda code:A1.
-
Rakesh Maurya, Geetu Singh, Pandruvada Subramanyam Narayana Murthy, Sandhya Mehrotra, Divya Singh, Biju Bargavan and Man Mohan Singh. Pharmaceutical composition containing Butea isoflavones for the prevention/treatment of bone disorders and a process for the preparation thereof. Japanese Application No.: 2008-556868 Date of Filing: 28-Aug-08.