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राष्ट्रीय पशु जैव प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान
National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology,
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
राष्ट्रीय पशु जैव प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान
National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology,
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
Education:
Prasad did his M.Sc. (2003) from Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, and Ph.D. (2011) from Osaka University, Japan. Then he worked as a postdoctoral fellow (2012-2016) at University of California Davis, U.S.A., under the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Neil Hunter. Later he continued as a post-doctoral research associate (2016-2017) at the same university. He Joined NIAB on 22nd January 2018.
Selected awards, honors and fellowships:
1. Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (DBT, Govt. of India, 2017)
2. Post-doctoral fellowship: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA (2012-2017)
3. Japanese Government Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship (2007-2011)
4. R99 Industrial Fellowship, Japan (2008-2009)
5. JASSO Fellowship, Japan (2008- 2010)
Mammalian oocytes can be very long-lived cells. Consequently, throughout their lifespan, they are highly likely to experience DNA damage. Failure to detect and repair this DNA damage, or trigger cell death to remove damaged oocytes, could cause severe problems that result in embryonic death or congenital disorders. Given the fact that each human cell undergoes ~ 70000 lesions per day. The majority of lesions (75%) are single-strand DNA (ssDNA) breaks, which can arise from oxidative damage during metabolism or base hydrolysis. ssDNA breaks can also be converted to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which although much less frequent, are more dangerous. Despite the importance of DNA damage for reproductive capacity, the molecular mechanisms in oocytes remain poorly characterized. Dr. Prasad’s laboratory is interested in studying the molecular mechanisms of DNA damage and repair pathways which may further pave a way for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for the reproductive problems.
Quality control pathways in oocyte development to extend livestock fertility
Reproductive lifespan in females depends on the size of the resting oocyte pool, or “oocyte reserve.” Interestingly ~80% of the initial pool of oocytes formed during fetal development is eliminated by the time of birth in a process called fetal oocyte attrition. The folliculogenesis in humans starts with 7 million oocytes, by the end only 400 of these reach to preovulatory stage. Less than 1% of oocytes in humans come to the ovulatory stage whereas remaining oocytes are lost during folliculogenesis which is called oocyte atresia. In humans and livestock 90 -95% of oocytes are lost at primordial follicle stage, remaining oocytes undergo apoptosis at the antral follicle stage. Protecting oocytes from apoptosis is likely to enhance fecundity and extend reproductive life span in both humans as well as livestock. However, oocytes rescued from apoptosis are potentially of lower quality. Despite the critical importance of oocyte quality, how quality control is imposed remains poorly characterized. In our lab we are investigating the roles of DNA damage checkpoint in the oocyte atresia.
Molecular mechanisms of meiotic processes, such as homologous recombination and synapses in livestock to increase the fecundity and to prevent birth defects
Meiosis is the specialized cell division process that produces sperm and eggs. Through two consecutive rounds of chromosome segregation, meiosis produces gametes with a haploid chromosome complement. During the first meiotic division, connections between homologous chromosome pairs must be established to ensure accurate segregation. These inter-homolog connections result from crossing over, which follows chromosome pairing and synapsis (connection by a meiosis-specific zipper-like structure called the synaptonemal complex). Chromosome mis-segregation resulting in gamete aneuploidy is remarkably frequent in the female germline and is responsible for a large fraction of the estimated 25% of pregnancies that end in miscarriage. Chromosome mis-segregation, resulting in gamete aneuploidy is remarkably frequent in female mammals. The aneuploidy rate in female cattle is 30% compared to 2% in males. The ~5% of aneuploidy in sows causes significant economic loss due to a reduction in litter size. Gilts, and Equine shows 10.8% and 5.5 % aneuploidy respectively. Despite this large burden, the molecular mechanisms that underlie chromosome mis-segregation during meiosis and aneuploidy in germ cells are not well understood. In our laboratory, we are trying to revel the molecular mechanisms of meiotic recombination using mouse and livestock models to increase the fecundity and prolificacy.
Causes and treatment strategies of ovarian disorders in livestock
India has the world’s largest livestock reserves estimated at ~512 million. Out of these ~25% of animals suffering from reproductive disorders. Especially in females, ovarian cysts are one of the major concerns for the dairy industry and farmers. Because of the ovarian cysts every year farmers losing 10% of their economy. It is evident that these ovarian cysts affect the production and reproduction to varying degrees of severity, including extended calving to conception interval, decreased pregnancy rate at first insemination, and an increased number of inseminations per conception, that can result in huge economic loss to the dairy industry and farmer. Furthermore, they may also result in a reduction in the lifetime milking record of the animal and an increased number of involuntary culls. The incidence of this disease is probably even higher because 60% of the cows that develop ovarian cysts before the first postpartum ovulation re-establish ovarian cycles spontaneously, therefore, the cystic ovarian disease is a serious cause of reproductive failure in dairy cattle. Although the ovarian cysts cause clinically huge burden, little information is available on the mechanisms driving its development. One of the reasons for that, ovarian cysts are complex to study and very hard to replicate the cysts in the model animals. Recently few animal models were developed in rodents, primates, and ewes but the mechanisms were not understood. In our laboratory, we are trying to study the exact molecular mechanisms of ovarian cysts in animals using mouse and goat models.
Current Lab Members:
PhD Students
Rohit Beniwal
Current Research Interest: The reproductive lifespan of a female is determined by the number of reserve follicles and rate at which this reserve depleted. The primary focus of my research is to elucidate the pathways which leads to depletion of the follicular reserve and by any means can we reduce the rate of depletion so that we can increase the reproductive lifespan of females.
Surarapu Lava Kumar
Current Research Interest: The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes is very critical during gametogenesis. My research aims to unrevealing the molecular mechanisms of homologous recombination to increase the fecundity and prolificacy using mouse and livestock models.
Aradhana Mohanty
Current Research Interest: Infertility has become an inevitable part of the whole animal kingdom be it animals or humans. Follicular atresia is being addressed as a major player for this condition. My work is based on the therapeutic rescue of the atretic follicles at the molecular level and to establish a road map for a prolonged fertility.
Anjali Kumari
Current Research Interest: Reproductive ageing in females is defined by a progressive decline in follicle number and oocyte quality, resulting in the loss of fertility and ovarian function, and eventually, reproductive senescence. My research aims to understand the molecular processes regulating oocyte quality and death.
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Dr Ajay Kumar Singh
Current Research Interest: I am working on DNA damage response and shelf-life of in-vitro cultured germinal vesicle stage oocytes.
Dr Bhawna Kushawaha
Current Research Interest: Biotechnology is the field of the future that is beneficial to the individual as well as society. With an intent and passionate biotechnologist, the focus of my research is to understand (a) development of large animal model that mimic the complex disease of human like polycystic ovarian diseases to study the root cause and their possible treatment with herbal medicinal plant extract, (b) development of nanoparticles based targeted drug delivery method in particular reference to reproductive organs, (c) to study fundamental aspects of nuclear pores and their regulation in oocyte maturation.
1. Role of Investigator: PI
Title of the Project: Unravelling molecular mechanisms of the homologous recombination and germ cell maintenance to prevent the birth defects, extend human and livestock fertility
Funding Agency: DBT
Period/Duration: 2018-2023
2. Role of investigator: PI
Title of the Project: Development of large animal models and Polyherbal medicines to treat ovarian cysts in livestock
Funding Agency: DST
Period/Duration: 2019-2022
3. Role of investigator: PI
Title of the Project: An attempt to enhance the shelf life of an oocyte to increase the fertilization time window
Funding Agency: DBT
Period/Duration: 2020-2023
4. Role of investigator: PI
Title of the Project: Identification and phenotypic analysis of novel targets of guardian of germ cells (TAp63) to combat the premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
Funding Agency: ICMR
Period/Duration: 2020-2023
National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
Survey No. 37, Opp. Journalist Colony
Extended Q City Road, Near Gowlidoddy
Gachibowli, Hyderabad
Telangana – 500032
Email: prasad[at]niab[dot]org[dot]in
Tel: +91-(0)40-2312-0156
A key feature of my lab is to provide a dynamic and supportive environment for students, and post-doctoral scientists. If you would like to join us as a student, postdoctoral scientist, please contact me with 1-2 page cover along with CV.
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