Bioinformatics and Data Management

Ongoing Projects

1 Systems biology and structural bioinformatics approaches for drug repurposing for SARS-CoV-2

• PI: Dr. S. Cherian; Ph.D. student: Mrs Prachi Jagtap
• Funding: ICMR Junior Research Fellowship; Duration: 2020-2025

2 Antiviral activity of repurposed drugs and their derivatives, small molecules and pure natural products against SARS-CoV-2: a multidisciplinary approach

• PI: Dr. S.Cherian; CIs: Dr. P. Abraham, Dr. J. Mullick, Dr. PD Yadav, Dr. K Lole, Dr. G Sapkal, Dr. D Parashar, Dr. K. Alagarasu, Dr. N Mathew, Dr. A Kumar, Dr. V Sreedhar K, Dr. S Thomas.
• Funding: Intramural; Duration: 2021-2024

3 Repurposing of drugs towards anti-Dengue and Chikungunya viruses using the systems biology approach

• PI:Dr. S.Cherian; CIs: Dr. K Alagarasu, Dr. D.Parashar
• Funding:ICMR Extramural; Duration: 2019-2022

4 Structure-based design and evaluation of lead compounds targeting the chikungunya virus

• PI:Dr. S. Cherian; CI: Dr. D. Parashar
• Funding:ICMR Extramural; Duration: 2017-2021

5 Computational drug repurposing approaches for the development of therapeutics against hepatitis E virus

• PIDr. K. Lole, CI: Dr. S. Cherian
• Funding:ICMR Extramural; Duration: 2019-2022

6 Metagenomic analysis of viromes of Aedes mosquitoes in India

• PI:Dr. Sudeep AB, CI: Dr. K. Lole, Dr. S. Cherian
• Funding:ICMR Extramural; Duration: 2019-2022

7 ArVirInd: a database for arboviral proteins from the Indian sub-continent.

• PI:Dr. P Shil ; CI: Dr. K Alagarasu
• Funding:ICMR Extramural; Duration: 2019 - 2022

8 Development of forecasting models for Dengue and Chikungunya in the Pune region.

• PI:Dr. P. Shil
• Funding:MATRICS, SERB, DST, GoI. Duration: 2020 - 2023

9 Bioinformatics characterization of Chandipura virus proteins.

• PI:Dr. P Shil; CI: Dr. AS Tripathy; Ph.D Student: D Pavitrakar
• Funding:Intramural. Duration: 2017 - 2022

• The Bioinformatics and Data Management Group that was initially functioning as a Statistics and IT group was reorganized in 2005 as a specialized discipline. Since then this group conducts research in Bioinformatics applications in Virology. Major areas of research include molecular phylogenetics and evolution. The group has contributed in tracing the evolution of various viruses in India including Influenza, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kyasanur Forest Disease virus, Japanese Encephalitis, etc using advanced Bioinformatics techniques like recombination and reassortent detection, selection pressure, molecular clock and phylogeography studies. The group has also contributed in the characterization of emerging viruses during outbreaks like the Swine flu pandemic of 2009, Avian Influenza outbreaks (2006 - 2008), Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus outbreaks (2010-11) and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Antigen-Antibody interaction studies were initiated in 2009 using Immunoinformatics techniques like epitope analyses, antigenic characterization, 3D structure predictions of antigens and antibodies, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The group, in collaboration with experimental laboratories, has contributed in identification of epitopes on various viruses, designing multi-epitope proteins for diagnostic applications, characterization of monoclonal antibodies, etc. The group has also undertaken major research projects in antiviral research especially in repurposing of drugs for various viruses like chikungunya, dengue, Nipah, SARS-CoV-2, etc.
• The group has two statisticians who provide data analyses support to all researchers in the institute. Softwares for administrative data such as Pay roll system, purchase and inventory system, pensioner’s application softwares have also been indigenously developed. The Information Technology services like the internet and LAN network of the institute is also managed by this group.
• Research is also conducted on mathematical modelling applications to virology by Dr. P Shil especially, disease modelling in collaboration with the Epidemiology Group. A dedicated mathematical modelling facility has being setup in the Pashan Campus for the purpose. Major contributions include transmission dynamics of viral disease outbreaks (Influenza, Dengue, SARS-CoV-2).