Faculty & Staff
Dr. Sowmya N
Ph.D.
Research Associate
Languages
English, Hindi, Kannada
- Overview
- Projects
- Publications
- Other Contributions
I am engaged in investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying aging through the identification and targeting of key aging-associated biomarkers using clinically derived human samples. In parallel, I am involved in developing liquid biopsy–based approaches for non-invasive cancer detection, with a focus on analyzing cell-free DNA and cancer-specific glycosylation patterns to enable sensitive and clinically applicable diagnostic strategies.
Qualification/ Education
- PhD. in Department of Microbiology, (2017), Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru.
Title: “Development of molecular and immune assay-based systems for the detection of major enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus”
- M.Sc. Microbiology (2009), Maharani’s Science College for Women, Mysuru
- B.Sc. Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology (2007), Maharani’s Science College for Women, Mysuru
Experience
Research Associate, St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI), Bengaluru (April 2024 – September 2024)
As a Research Associate at St. John’s Research Institute, I am engaged in the standardization and optimization of molecular assays for the detection of aging-associated biomarkers using clinically relevant samples. In parallel, I am involved in the development of liquid biopsy–based diagnostic assays for cancer detection, with a specific focus on targeting cancer-specific glycosylation patterns.
Research Associate (DBT-RA), Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru (June 2017 – June 2019)
During my tenure at NIMHANS, I was engaged in the identification and characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from diverse clinical sources. My work involved protein extraction from resistant bacterial strains and the investigation of resistance-associated peptides using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In addition to laboratory research, I guided postgraduate project students in their dissertation work and actively participated in NABH-related quality and accreditation activities, contributing to laboratory standardization and compliance.
Doctoral Research, Department of Microbiology, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru (September 2011 – August 2017)
My doctoral research focused on the molecular and immunological characterization of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus. I designed and validated a multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of toxin and virulence genes, which was subsequently translated into a user-friendly kit format. I also developed immunoassays for the detection of enterotoxins C (SEC) and G (SEG) and established an RT-PCR–based method for the differentiation of SEC subtypes. Alongside my research, I mentored project students in their dissertation work, gaining experience in scientific supervision and training.
Areas of interest
Although my academic training is in Microbiology, I have developed a strong interest in cancer research through translational laboratory experience. During my PhD, I gained extensive expertise in developing molecular- and immunoassay–based approaches for pathogen detection. As part of my laboratory work, I had the opportunity to work on liquid biopsy–based strategies for cancer detection, specifically targeting cell-free DNA, which sparked a strong interest in non-invasive cancer diagnostics. This subsequently led me to explore cancer-specific glycosylation patterns as potential biomarkers. I am currently involved in identifying these glycosylation signatures, developing capture molecules to target them, and designing simple, sensitive assays for cancer detection. In this work, I actively apply and adapt assay development principles and technical skills acquired during my PhD to the development of robust, non-invasive cancer detection platforms.
Field of Expertise
Molecular diagnostics (PCR/qPCR) and immunoassays (ELISA), Liquid biopsy–based cancer detection
Fellowship & Membership
Department of Biotechnology-Research Associate (DBT-RA) fellowship (June 2017-June 2019)
Research Associate, St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI), Bengaluru (April 2024 – September 2024)
As a Research Associate at St. John’s Research Institute, I am engaged in the standardization and optimization of molecular assays for the detection of aging-associated biomarkers using clinically relevant samples. In parallel, I am involved in the development of liquid biopsy–based diagnostic assays for cancer detection, with a specific focus on targeting cancer-specific glycosylation patterns.
Research Associate (DBT-RA), Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru (June 2017 – June 2019)
During my tenure at NIMHANS, I was engaged in the identification and characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from diverse clinical sources. My work involved protein extraction from resistant bacterial strains and the investigation of resistance-associated peptides using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In addition to laboratory research, I guided postgraduate project students in their dissertation work and actively participated in NABH-related quality and accreditation activities, contributing to laboratory standardization and compliance.
Doctoral Research, Department of Microbiology, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru (September 2011 – August 2017)
My doctoral research focused on the molecular and immunological characterization of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus. I designed and validated a multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of toxin and virulence genes, which was subsequently translated into a user-friendly kit format. I also developed immunoassays for the detection of enterotoxins C (SEC) and G (SEG) and established an RT-PCR–based method for the differentiation of SEC subtypes. Alongside my research, I mentored project students in their dissertation work, gaining experience in scientific supervision and training.
Although my academic training is in Microbiology, I have developed a strong interest in cancer research through translational laboratory experience. During my PhD, I gained extensive expertise in developing molecular- and immunoassay–based approaches for pathogen detection. As part of my laboratory work, I had the opportunity to work on liquid biopsy–based strategies for cancer detection, specifically targeting cell-free DNA, which sparked a strong interest in non-invasive cancer diagnostics. This subsequently led me to explore cancer-specific glycosylation patterns as potential biomarkers. I am currently involved in identifying these glycosylation signatures, developing capture molecules to target them, and designing simple, sensitive assays for cancer detection. In this work, I actively apply and adapt assay development principles and technical skills acquired during my PhD to the development of robust, non-invasive cancer detection platforms.
No groups and associations specified.
No project details available.
Meningitis in a Hospitalized Trauma Patient Due to Elizabethkingia meningoseptica: An Emerging Nosocomial Pathogen
Sowmya Nagaraj Raju Ravikumar, Archana Agrawal Chakrakodi N Varun Mallabhaskar Rao Genome-wide unique insertion sequences among five Brucella species and demonstration of differential identification of Brucella by multiplex PCR assay
Soumya Paul, Bhavani Venkataswamachari Peddayelachagiri, Madhurjya Gogoi, Sowmya Nagaraj, Shylaja Ramlal, Balakrishna Konduru & Harsh V. Batra Global Proteome Profiling Reveals Drug-Resistant Traits in Elizabethkingia meningoseptica: An Opportunistic Nosocomial Pathogen
Archana Agrawal , Raju Ravikumar , Chakrakodi N Varun , Manish Kumar , Oishi Chatterjee , Jayshree Advani , Lathika Gopalakrishna, Sowmya Nagaraj , Varshasnata Mohanty , Arun H Patil , Bhuvaragavan Sreeramulu , Aubid Malik , Sneha M Pinto , Thottethodi Subrahmanya Keshava Prasad A novel tandem repeat cloning technique for creation of multiple short peptide repeats to differentiate closely related antigens
Sowmya Nagaraj , Prakash Narayana Reddy , Shylaja Ramlal , Soumya Paul , Bhavani Peddayelachagiri , D. Manmohan Parida Recombinant outer membrane protein 25c from Brucella abortus induces Th1 and Th2 mediated protection against Brucella abortus infection in mouse model
Soumya Paul , Bhavani V. Peddayelachagiri , Sowmya Nagaraj , Joseph J. Kingston , Harsh V. Batra Protective and therapeutic efficacy study of divalent fusion protein rL7/L12-Omp25 against B. abortus 544 in presence of IFNγ
Soumya Paul, Bhavani V. Peddayelachagiri, Sowmya Nagaraj, Balakrishna Konduru & Harsh V. Batra Thermostabilization of indigenous multiplex polymerase chain reaction reagents for detection of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus
Sowmya Nagaraj; Shylaja Ramlal; Joseph Kingston; Harsh Vardhan Batra Prevalence and Identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Near-Neighbor Species in the Malabar Coastal Region of India
Bhavani V. Peddayelachagiri,Soumya Paul,Sowmya Nagaraj,Madhurjya Gogoi,Murali H. Sripathy ,Harsh V. Batra Development of IgY based sandwich ELISA for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin G (SEG), an egc toxin
Sowmya Nagaraj , Shylaja Ramlal , Joseph Kingston , Harsh Vardhan Batra Differentiation of entC1 from entC2/entC3 with a single primer pair using simple and rapid SYBR Green-based RT-PCR melt curve analysis
Sowmya Nagaraj, Shylaja Ramlal, Bhavani Peddayelachagiri Venkataswamachari, Soumya Paul, Joseph Kingston & Harsh Vardhan Batra Use of biotin-labeled IgY overcomes protein A interference in immunoassays involving Staphylococcus aureus antigens
Prakash Narayana Reddy, Sowmya Nagaraj, Murali H. Sripathy & Harsh Vardhan Batra Development and evaluation of IgY ImmunoCapture PCR ELISA for detection of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A devoid of protein A interference
Prakash Reddy, Shylaja Ramlal , Murali Harishchandra Sripathy , Harsh Vardhan Batra Development and evaluation of a novel combinatorial selective enrichment and multiplex PCR technique for molecular detection of major virulence-associated genes of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in food samples
S. Nagaraj , S. Ramlal , M.H. Sripathy , H.V. Batra No Others Contributions details available.