Anitha Mamillapalli

Anitha Mamillapalli

she/her

Major area of research is silkworm biology with focus on gene regulation and chromatin biology.

I was always fascinated by science, which motivated me to do my master’s in chemistry with a gold medal. The interphase of chemistry and biology is fascinating, and I pursued my Ph.D. in Human Genetics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi under the guidance of Prof. RNK Bamezai. We have identified the first Bloom Syndrome patient from India and we worked on discovering the candidate gene for Bloom syndrome. We could not identify it but learnt a lot about the disease biology. I moved later for my post-doctoral studies to ICGEB on a collaborative DBT malaria research project between Malaria Research Centre and ICGEB. Moved my area of research and was fortunate to work in the lab of Dr. Rakesh Mishra at CCMB for six years. His guidance and the lab atmosphere was inspiring and motivational. I worked on several small projects like identifying RNA component of nuclear matrix, dynamics of nuclear matrix proteome and Matrix associated regions (MARs). With experience in chemistry, genetics and chromatin biology and in trying to establish my own lab, I moved to GITAM in August 2010.

At GITAM, I started doing both basic and translational research and chose silkworm model organism. I have completed 15 years of my stay at GITAM. I have carried out several projects funded by DBT, UGC and BRNS. At present, two projects sponsored by MOES and DBT are being carried out in the lab. Nine Ph.D. students were awarded degrees under my guidance, and one student is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Several M.Sc. students were guided for their project work. Thirty peer reviewed research papers in reputed international journals were published.

Achievements

Grants

Evaluation of polyamine as potential growth enhancers to increase economic productivity of commercially important marine shrimp species

Evaluation of role of polyamines; spermidine and spermine in enhancement of fecundity and egg production of muga (Antheraea assamensis) and eri (Samia ricini) silkworms

Salivary polyamines as a potential biomarker for Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Analysis of DNA and RNA components of nuclear matrix in Bombyx mori embryos

Study of differential regulation of microRNAs and their effect on high quality silk production of pesticide affected Bombyx mori

Antimalarial activity of Zinziber roseum Rosc

Biochemical and Molecular analysis of Spermidine treated Bombyx mori silkworms

Chromatin opening by satellite DNA-binding drugs in Bombyx mori and Antheraea mylitta and its importance in seribiotechnology

Chromatin opening by satellite DNA-binding drugs in Bombyx mori and Antheraea mylitta and its importance in seribiotechnology

Characterization of nuclear matrix RNA of D. melanogaster.

Education

Ph.D. Status and Regulation of Pyruvate Kinase in Bloom syndrome cells

M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry (Bioinorganic Chemistry)

Postdoctoral training

Research Associate

DST Young Scientist