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Membership type: full

Upasana Ray

Country of origin: India Currently in: India, Kolkata General field of specialization: Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology
Academic Background

Degrees

2012 Doctorate Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology
Research and Profession

Current Research Activities

Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

I am a molecular virologist and I am currently involved in studying the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of Dengue virus.

Research Keywords: 
Virology
molecular biology
Vaccine delivery
RNA virus
DNA virus
Self assembly
anti-virals
polyomavirus
flavivirus
Dengue

Publications resulting from Research: 


1. Ray, U. 2016. Virus like nanoparticles: Display matters Proceedings of Indian National Science Academy (Accepted) (Review)
2. Ray, U., Cinque, P., Gerevini, S., Longo, V., Lazzarin, A., Schippling, S., Martin, R., Buck, C.B., and Pastrana, D.V. 2015. JC polyomavirus mutants escape antibody-mediated neutralization. Science Translational Medicine. 7(306):306ra151(PMID:26400912)
3. Ray, U., Roy, C. L., Kumar, A. , Mani, P., Joseph, A. P., Sudha, G., Sarkar, D. P., Srinivasan, N., and Das, S. 2013. Inhibition of the interaction between NS3 protease and HCV IRES with a small peptide: A novel therapeutic strategy. Molecular Therapy (Nature Publishing Group). 21(1):57-67. (PMID:22910295)
4. Ray, U., Ray, P. S. and Das, S. 2012 Ribosome-RNA interaction: A potential target for developing antiviral against hepatitis C virus. Current Science. Vol 102; No. 3. (Review)
5. Ray, U., and Das, S. 2011. Interplay between NS3 protease and human La protein regulates translation-replication switch of Hepatitis C virus. Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group) 1:1. (PMID:22355520)
6. *Mondal, T., *Ray, U., Manna, A. K., Gupta, R., Roy, S., and Das, S. 2008. Structural determinant of human La protein critical for internal initiation of translation of hepatitis C virus RNA. Journal of Virology 82:11927-38. (*joint first authors) (PMCID:18829760) (Cover page article)

Second Author

7. Kumar, A., Manna, A. K., Ray, U., Mullick, R., Basu, G., Das, S. and Roy, S. 2014.Specific sequence of a beta-turn in human La protein may contribute to species specificity of Hepatitis C virus. Journal of Virology 88(8):4319-27 (PMID:24478427)
8. Pastrana, D. V., Ray, U., Magaldi, T. G., Schowalter, R., M., Cuburu, N., and Buck, C. B. 2013. BK polyomavirus genotypes represent distinct serotypes with distinct entry tropism. Journal of Virology 87(18):10105-13 (PMID:23843634)
9. Kumar, A., Ray, U. and Das, S. 2013. Human La protein Interaction with GCAC near the initiator AUG enhances HCV RNA replication by Promoting Linkage Between 5'-and 3'- untranslated regions. Journal of Virology 87(12):6713-26 (PMID:23552417)
10. Manna, A. K., Kumar, A., Ray, U., Das, S., Basu, G. and Roy, S. 2013. A cyclic peptide mimic of an RNA recognition motif of human La protein is a potent inhibitor of hepatitis C virus. Antiviral Research 97(3):223-226. (PMID:23291201)
11. Ravikumar, Y. S., Ray, U., Nandhitha, M., Perween, A., Raja Naika, H., Khanna, N. and Das, S. 2011. Inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication by herbal extract: Phyllanthus amarus as potent natural source. Virus Research 158:89-97. (PMID:21440018)

Patents
1. Treating or Inhibiting JC polyomavirus infection and JC polyomavirus-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Christopher Buck, Upasana Ray, Diana Pastrana (US Application number: 61/919,043)
2. Compositions, method and formulations for peptide based inhibitors of Hepatitis C virus replication. Saumitra Das, Upasana Ray, Debi P. Sarkar, Chaitrali Laha Roy, N. Srinivasan. (Application number: 4033/CHE/2011 A)
3. Small antiviral peptides against Hepatitis C virus. Saumitra Das, Siddhartha Roy, Upasana Ray, Tanmoy Mondal, Asit Kumar Manna, Romi Gupta. (US Application number: 2009/0233868A1)

Book Chapters
1. Upasana Ray, Saumitra Das (2009) Role of Human La protein in Translation and Replication of Hepatitis C Virus. Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis. TATA McGraw-Hill publication.

2. Upasana Ray, Chaitrali Laha Roy, Saumitra Das (2011) Viruses and our fight against them. UGC-sponsored national seminar on microbiology: development and challenges in basic and applied research (organized by department of microbiology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Math in collaboration with Bose Institute, Kolkata)

Research Highlight/ Coverage
1. Therapeutic opportunity knocks (2015): Science (Vol. 349; Issue: 6255; page-1501)
2. Studies propose vaccination for troublemaking virus (2015): Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum
3. Closing “blind spots” in patients’ immune response to lethal brain infection (2015): EurekaAlert
4. Researchers work towards vaccination for PML (2015): MS UN Master Cylinder (Breaking News)
5. Possible JC virus vaccination offers important implications for MS treatment (2015): Multiple Sclerosis News Today
6. Hep C viral switch (2011): Nature India (doi:10.1038/nindia.2011.83)



Current profession

Current professional activities type: 
Research
I am working on studying pathogenesis of Dengue virus and designing virus like particle based vaccine candidates against Dengue infection. I am also interested in developing rapid and cheap diagnostic tools for detection of Dengue infection for poor communities. Additional and exploratory (future side interests): a) Virome of human brain and physiological relevance/ possible role in viral evolution/ human brain functions/ aging. b) High altitude biology, device design to support adverse environmental conditions c) Relating exercise, sleep, recreation and food habits to human brain functions, individual personality, attitude, endurance and success. This area has special connection to betterment of students under study and work pressure and often experience acute depression.

Workshop and Conference Attended

2014 Wisconsin, United States DNA tumor virus meeting
2014 Colorado, United States American Society for Virology (ASV) meeting
2013 Birmingham, United Kingdom DNA tumor virus meeting
2013 National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States HIV/AIDS and cancer virology fall Think-Tank meeting
2012 National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States HIV/AIDS and cancer virology fall Think-Tank meeting
2011 Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore, Karnataka, India Indo-Singapore meeting
2011 Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore, Karnataka, India 2nd Virology meeting
2010 University of Pune, India RNA 2010
2010 New Delhi, India ICGEB-IUBMB workshop ‘Human RNA Viruses’
2010 Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore, Karnataka, India 79th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists
2009 Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore, Karnataka, India IISc centenary symposium on biology and pathogenesis of viruses: Molecular insights
2009 Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore, Karnataka, India IISc Centenary Symposium on ‘Mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis’
2008 San Antonio, Texas 15th international symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and related viruses
2008 Chennai, India 77th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists
2012 Montreal, Canada DNA Tumor virus meeting

Presentation given

2014
Neurovirulent JC polyomavirus mutants escape antibody mediated neutralization
Wisconsin, United States
Event: DNA tumor virus meeting
2014
JC polyomavirus antibody-escape mutants in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Colorado, United States
Event: American Society for Virology (ASV) meeting
2013
Antibody-Mediated neutralization of neurovirulent JC polyomaviruses
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Event: DNA tumor virus meeting
2013
Antibody-Mediated immunity against JC polyomaviruses causing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Event: HIV/AIDS and cancer virology fall Think-Tank meeting
2012
Antibody-Mediated neutralization of neurovirulent JC polyomaviruses
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Event: HIV/AIDS and cancer virology fall Think-Tank meeting
2011
The translation replication switch in HCV
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Event: Indo-Singapore meeting
2011
Targeting NS3 protease-HCV RNA interaction: A novel antiviral target
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Event: 2nd Virology meeting
2010
Translation Replication switch of Hepatitis C Virus RNA
University of Pune, India
Event: RNA 2010
2010
Determinant within NS3 protease critical for RNA binding to mediate the switch from translation to replication of Hepatitis C Viral RNA
New Delhi, India
Event: ICGEB-IUBMB workshop ‘Human RNA Viruses’
2010
Interplay between NS3 protease and human La protein regulates translation to replication in hepatitis C virus
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Event: 79th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists (Theme: Regulation of biochemical and cellular processes in diverse systems)
2009
The interplay between NS3 protease and human La protein: Switch of translation to replication
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Event: IISc centenary symposium on biology and pathogenesis of viruses: Molecular insights
2009
HCV NS3 protease interacts with HCV 5’UTR: Implications on multifunctional activities
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Event: IISc Centenary Symposium on ‘Mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis’
2008
Specific interaction of the protease domain of the NS3 protein with the HCV 5’UTR: possible implications
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Event: 15th international symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and related viruses
2008
The protease domain of Hepatitis C virus NS3 protein interacts with the 5’UTR: Implications on multifunctional activity
Chennai, India
Event: 77th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists (Theme: impact of basic and translational research on medicine, agriculture and industry)
2015
Virus-Host Interaction: Disease and Remedy
Indian Statistical Institute
Event: Guest lecture
2015
Virus-Host Interaction
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics
Event: Guest lecture
Prizes, Grants and Awards

Other Awards

Nov 2015
Ramanujan Fellowship award
This award is given by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) to post-doctoral fellows from all over the world to take up scientific positions in India. I was awarded this fellowship to carry out independent research on Dengue virus pathogenesis and to design virus like particle based vaccine for Dengue infection.
Jul 2015
INSA medal for young scientists
This award was given by the Indian National Science Academy as a recognition for my work done in India
Sep 2014
Federal Technology Transfer Award
The award was given by the 'Center for Cancer Research', National Institutes of Health for deisigning virus like particle based vaccine for JC polyomavirus based Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) and for proposing a neutralization assay based screening strategy for PML at-risk individuals.
Sep 2013
Fellows Award for Research Excellence
This award was given by National Institutes of Health for a part of my research work as a contribution of a post-doctoral fellow
Apr 2012
Visiting Fellowship
This is a fellowship for persuing post-doctoral fellowship at National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Feb 2010
Travel Award
This award was given for the International Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)-IUBMB workshop on ‘Human RNA Viruses’ held in New Delhi, India
May 2009
Best poster award
The best poster award was presented at the IISc Centenary Symposium on Biology and Pathogenesis of viruses: Molecular Insights at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Sep 2010
CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship
Given by the 'Council of Scientific and Industrial Research', India
Dec 2006
CSIR-Junior Research Fellowship
Given by the 'Council of Scientific and Industrial Research', India

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