Title: Genomic and proteomic approaches to understand host-pathogen interactions

Authors: N.S.A. Krushna, C. Shiny, R.B. Narayanan

Addresses: Immunotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai-25, India. ' Immunotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai-25, India. ' Immunotechnology Laboratory, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai-25, India

Abstract: Genomic and proteomic approaches using in silico predictions, help in functional interpretation of the sequence information contained in biological organisms. These studies provide valuable insights into the structure and function of a protein under consideration. But certain studies which focus on host-pathogen interaction can be completed only when a protein is characterised with an aim to understand its role in disease pathogenesis using appropriate in vitro studies. In this regard, in the last several years, our lab has been instrumental in identification and characterisation of proteins from human filarial parasite. These studies were primarily carried out to assess their role in host pathogenesis and immune modulation using in silico and wet lab studies. The current review, thus provides a bird|s eye view on the benefits, a scientific community can reap with respect to the wealth information, if genomic and proteomic studies go hand in hand with wet lab experimentation and in silico predictions.

Keywords: genomics; proteomics; informatics; in silico predictions; in vitro; filariaisis; immune modulation; pathogenesis; host-parasite interactions; proteins; human filarial parasite; disease pathogenesis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEI.2009.022643

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, 2009 Vol.1 No.3, pp.318 - 329

Published online: 22 Jan 2009 *

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