Research and Publications - Institute of Advanced Virology Kerala

Antiviral Screening Assays for Dengue & Chikungunya

Dr. E Sreekumar

Molecular Bioassay Laboratory

Email: esreekumar@iav.res.in

Phone: 9447698943

The Viral Bioassay facility established as a part of DBT-SAHAJ project offers antiviral screening assays for Chikungunya and dengue viruses. The assay is based on the Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) which measures the ability of the natural products, or synthetic molecules to neutralize the target virus. The results will be furnished based on comparison with established positive controls. The features of the antiviral assay include 8-point dilution (10^-2 to 10^-9)of the compound in duplicates, PRNT analysis and IC₅₀ evaluation.

Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Infections

Dr. Mohanan Valiya Veettil

Department of General Virology

Email: mohanveetil@iav.res.in

Phone: 8594097653

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used in various serological and diagnostic techniques for the detection of viral antigens or antibodies against any viral proteins in the patient samples. mAbs are produced by the hybridomas developed by the fusion of antibody producing B cells, obtained from animals that have been immunized with the viral antigens, and myeloma cells of the same strain.

In hybridoma technology, BALB/c mice is immunized with the viral protein of interest and monitored for the production of antibodies at regular intervals. Once the desired antibody titre is achieved, the mice is sacrificed and the splenocytes collected. These splenocytes are then fused with mice myeloma cells and subjected to HAT selection for the development of hybridoma clones, after which these clones are screened for the production of antibodies. The hybridomas which produce antibodies against the desired viral proteins are then selected and further subcloned for obtaining monoclones producing mAbs.

In our study, we produced viral structural proteins with the plasmids coding the corresponding viral gene. These antigens were then used to immunize mice and regularly monitored for the production of IgG antibodies against the antigen by IgG indirect ELISA. After the immunization schedule, the mice with highest antibody concentration was sacrificed and the splenoyctes were fused with myeloma cells for hybridoma production. These hybridomas were then developed into monoclones by subcloning in semisolid media.

Currently we are characterising the antibodies produced by various immunoassays such as Western blot and Immunofluorescence. Along with these studies, we will be characterising the antigen- antibody binding sites by epitope mapping which will provide the clue for designing the neutralising antibodies against the peptides involved in binding and fusion of the virus onto the host membrane.

Prognostic Device for the Early Prediction of Severe Dengue

Dr. Agiesh Kumar Balakrishna Pillai

Department of Clinical Virology.

Email: agiesh.b@iav.res.in

Phone: 8220028031

Dengue virus causes acute febrile fever to life threatening complications like plasma leakage, hemorrhage and organ dysfunction. Early identification of patients at risk for severe dengue remains a critical challenge. As a result, physicians often indiscriminately hospitalize dengue patients with limited triage. Our findings from a pilot study integrating machine learning indicated that selected endothelial-released proteins are differentially expressed in severe dengue compared to non-severe cases, during the early febrile phase reinforcing their potential as prognostic markers. Currently efforts are being taken to translate the findings in the form of a lateral flow device as a point of care device.

In medical field, confirmation of a disease/infection is an important feature performed by screening of clinical sign and detection of specific antigen/antibody that aids in diagnosis of a disease. But, monitoring the dynamics of one or more host biomarkers at different stages of infection could not only assist early prediction of disease outcome (disease severity), but also allow the clinicians/physicians to distinguish the patients who will suddenly turn into severe from those merely suffering from fever at the early phase of infection.

Recently, development of numerous immunosensor devices, particularly diagnostic devices for the confirmation/detection of viral/bacterial/parasite infection are available across the globe. But, a point-of-care miniaturized prognostic device that can quickly and precisely predict disease severity of dengue clinical outcomes is still lacking. Hence, we aim to develop a lateral flow assay to determine and/or detect the concentration of the endothelial released proteins/molecules present in the serum/plasma of the patients infected with dengue virus.

Next-Generation Diagnostic Assays for Acute Viral Infections

Dr. Aswathyraj S.

Department of Virus Diagnostics.

Email: aswathyraj@iav.res.in

Phone: 7204118264

The Department of Virus Diagnostics is committed to developing cost-effective, point-of-care diagnostic devices aimed at the early and accurate detection of acute viral infections. Our focus is on creating innovative assays that are accessible, rapid, and suitable for deployment in decentralised and resource-limited settings.

We are advancing two core diagnostic platforms:

i) Rapid Antigen-Antibody Detection Assays: These assays are designed as lateral flow devices capable of detecting viral infections using a single drop of clinical specimen. They utilise highly specific detection molecules to eliminate cross-reactivity, ensuring accurate and reliable results. The simplicity and portability of the lateral flow format make it ideal for use at the community level, particularly in outbreak-prone areas.
ii) Nucleic Acid Detection via RT-LAMP: Our second platform leverages reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) as an alternative to conventional RT-PCR. RT-LAMP offers several key advantages:
1. Amplification at a constant temperature, eliminating the need for thermal cyclers
2. Rapid turnaround time
3. Comparable sensitivity and specificity to RT-PCR
4. Suitability for high-throughput diagnostics

These nucleic acid assays are integrated into cartridge-based devices that perform the amplification reaction on a simple heat source, such as a hot plate. This configuration enhances portability and minimises the need for specialised equipment or trained personnel.

Both diagnostic platforms are designed to deliver reliable results within 15–30 minutes. They are user-friendly, enabling widespread adoption in community health programs and facilitating early clinical intervention and outbreak management. Validation of these diagnostic assays will be conducted using a combination of in-house control materials and clinically derived patient sera. This next-generation diagnostic platform has strong potential to transform viral disease surveillance, enhance public health response, and support timely clinical decision-making in endemic and resource-constrained regions.

DNA Vaccine Platform for Emerging Viruses

Dr. Anismrita Lahon

Department of Viral Vaccines

Email: anismrita@iav.res.in

Phone: 0471- 2710060

In recent years, the global health landscape has witnessed an increased rise in the simultaneous emergence and circulation of multiple viruses, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. As a consequence of this cocirculation, individuals are at increased risk of coinfection, where two different pathogens infect a single host at the same time. This can result in more severe or prolonged disease, altered immune responses, and atypical clinical presentations that complicate diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, coinfection may exacerbate inflammatory responses or interfere with the host’s ability to mount an effective immune defense, thereby increasing morbidity and complicating clinical management. In this context, the development of a bivalent vaccine, capable of eliciting protective immunity against two distinct pathogens, is a rational and urgently needed approach. It would also eliminate the need for multiple separate immunizations, making it more efficient, especially in resource-limited settings where vaccine access and infrastructure are constrained. Our laboratory addresses this need by developing a bivalent DNA vaccine platform aimed at providing simultaneous and robust protection against emerging viruses. We also synthesized and evaluated an in-house liposome formulation to encapsulate the DNA vaccine candidate. However, further extensive in vivo studies are necessary to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the liposome-based nucleic acid vaccine formulation. Overall, this work lays the groundwork for a promising, non-invasive delivery platform for nucleic acid vaccine candidates.

Pathogen Enrichment Method for Accurate Microbiome Sequencing

Dr. P.A. Desingu

Department of Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics & Public Health.

Phone: 9113956646

Email: padesingu@iav.res.in

In metagenomic-based microbiome detection (including bacteria, phages, and viruses), the host genome sequences often constitute the majority of the reads, making it challenging to identify viruses and bacteria. To address this issue, we have developed a novel enrichment method for pathogens (both viruses and bacteria) that aims to reduce the number of host genome reads and increase the detection of pathogen reads. This enhancement enhances the effectiveness of pathogen detection in metagenomic sequencing, thereby increasing service capacity.

Gene-to-Structure Platform for Rapid Antiviral Discovery

Dr. Jithesh Kottur

Department of Antiviral Drug Research.

Email: jitheshkottur@iav.res.in

Phone: 8590269542

The Department of Antiviral Research (DAV) at Institute of Advanced Virology offers an advanced Gene-to-Structure Discovery Platform—a streamlined, end-to-end solution for structural biology collaborations. Designed for biotech startups and pharmaceutical partners, this platform accelerates the structural characterization of viral and host proteins, enabling data-driven drug discovery and mechanistic insights.

DAV’s integrated capabilities include target gene cloning into optimized vectors, recombinant protein expression in bacterial, insect, and mammalian systems, and high-purity protein purification with biochemical validation. Advanced 3D structure determination using X-ray crystallography supports structure-based drug design and molecular docking. Complementing this, real-time binding assays using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) allow for precise measurement of drug–target interactions.

What distinguishes DAV is its domain expertise in resolving complex viral protein structures, paired with a translational focus that bridges basic science and clinical relevance. The platform supports both early-stage target discovery and later-stage lead optimization, offering modular collaboration models tailored for emerging biotech teams. By significantly reducing the timeline from gene to structure, this platform helps accelerate antiviral pipelines—from idea to impact.

With a commitment to scientific excellence and industry alignment, DAV invites strategic partnerships to co-develop next-generation antiviral therapeutics—positioning Kerala as a hub for innovation in infectious disease research

Recombinant Viral Antigens for Diagnostics and Vaccines

Dr. Priya P

Department of Virus Applications.

Email: priyap@iav.res.in

Phone: 8129498687

Recombinant antigen enables generation of highly specific, safe, and scalable antigenic proteins using recombinant DNA technology. It involves the insertion of a gene encoding the antigen of interest into an expression vector, which is then introduced into a suitable host organism (such as E. coli, yeast, insect cells, or mammalian cells). The host machinery translates the gene into protein, which is subsequently harvested, purified, and validated for downstream use. E. coli is the most commonly used host for recombinant protein expression due to its rapid growth and cost-effectiveness, however for therapeutics application, mammalian expression system is preferred due to requirement of proper folding, disulfide bonding, and complex post-translational modifications for functionality. At IAV, we have well established protocols and vectors for bacterial expression system such as E.coli and mammalian expression system such as HEK293 cells. The facility includes dedicated molecular biology suites for gene cloning and vector construction, expression laboratories equipped for bacterial or mammalian cell systems, and protein purification areas with advanced chromatography systems such as ӒKTA pure™ chromatography system.

AI-Driven Model for Forecasting Emerging Viruses Transmission and Strengthening Public Health Preparedness

Dr. Abhinand C S

Department of Virus Genomics, Bioinformatics & Statistics

Email: abhinandcs@iav.res.in

Phone: 9497720878

Viral fever is remains one of the rapidly spreading disease in globally, with India reporting a considerable number of cases annually. Climate change, poor waste management, urbanization and inadequate vector control measures are the most common causes of high incidence. Seasonal precipitation patterns and temperature increase further escalate vectors like mosquito’s density and virus transmission, which remains challenge to the public health authorities. The proposed AI-based computational model will predict emerging virus transmission dynamics, focusing on zoonotic and vector borne viruses. By integrating real world epidemiological and environmental data, the model will employ advanced machine learning algorithms, making it more effective for proactive public health planning.

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