RESEARCH AT MMM COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES – DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS |
I Bacteriophage as a drug to prevent horizontal gene transfer |
|
Drug resistant gene transfer is one of the major killers. The Russian’s use of bacteriophage during the world war provided us a clue. Consequently we isolated Bacteriophage PMMM1 that selectively kills MDR Enterococci
EMMM1 resistant to heavy metals & penicillin, macrolide, quinilone, & tetracycline classes of antibiotics. Our experiment model on Danio Sp. proposes that this friendly PMMM1 isolated by repeated selection against EMMM1 could help prevent horizontal gene transfer in the GI tract of humans. Phages have also not proved to be antigenic due to their small size. |
II Identification of plant molecules in preventing cardiomyocyte cell death. |
| Plant molecules were isolated by solvent fractionation. Chick cardiomyocytes were cultured in alpha modified MEM and induced apoptosis by 5mM hydrogen peroxide. |
|
| Isolated plant molecules were added to the cell culture and apoptosis escape by the cardiomyocytes was identified by differential staining under fluorescent microscope, release of cytochrome C was quantified by Heme protein release from the mitochondria and caspase activity was identified by metal affinity isolation and proteolytic activity. The identified plant molecules were formulated into a microparticle and invivo studies in chicks proved targeted drug delivery. The formulation involved basic aminoacids, omega 3 fatty acids along with phosphate ions to facilitate targeted drug release. Two of the formulations FVMC and AVMC could save upto 90% of the cardiomyocytes. |
|
III Isolation of mammalian cardiomyocyte Hypoxia associated proteins (HAPs) |
| Sprague Dawley rat cardiomyocytes were cultured under hypoxia conditions and over expressed proteins were isolated by cell lysis, salting out and identified by SDS PAGE. |
|
V Development of Targeted Drug Delivery Vehicles – Erythrocyte mediated Controlled release |
| Once a particular therapy is identified for a particular condition there is a necessity to develop drug delivery vehicles with standardized pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic conditions. We used the red blood cells since they can behave like a shuttle to carry drug all around in the vascular system and release drug on encountering a varying physiological condition such as localized blood pressure or varying molecular environment such as localized cell membrane receptors. Peptide ligands with affinity to phophatidylserine were designed. Phosphatidylserine is a negatively charged molecule generally expressed on the inner cell membrane leaflet and expressed on the outside leaflet during apoptosis. Since we targeted the apoptotic cells we designed peptides with positive charges and hydrophobic amino acids. The binding was both steric and ion based. Extensive pharmacokinetic and dynamic studies proved the shuttle to be a promising drug delivery vehicle. |
|
Paper presentation at the Anna University, Chennai |
|
***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** |
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& |
| ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** |
All units of MMM independently carry out research programmes.AMS students of all discilplines-Life sciences,Para medical sciences,Social and Behavioural medical sciences collaborate with all the units and carry out research studies.
Individuals and institutions interested in collaboration with MMM AMS can contact |
Dean
MMM College of Health Sciences
(MMM Academy of Medical Science)
Block No:11,
Kannadasan Salai,
Mogappair,Chennai- 600037.
Tel: 044 -26565886, 26560837 , Fax : - 044 -2656 0836
Email :- ams@mmm.org.in |
