DR.LEKSHMI N.
Ph.D
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
- MSc
- BSc
2024- Till date: Research Scientist, Clinical Development Services Agency (CDSA)
2021-2024: M.K Bhan fellow under the mentorship of Dr Bhabatosh Das
2020-2021: Young Professional II (YP II), ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), Kerala, India
2014-2020: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Kerala, India
2011-2013: Master of Science (Biotechnology), University of Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
2008-2011: Bachelor of Science (Microbiology), PSGCAS under Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, India
Research Interests:
- Alternate therapies to curb antimicrobial resistance and bacterial infections: Anti-biofilm/anti-virulence/antibiotic potentiation strategies
Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem. Indiscriminate and inappropriate use of antimicrobials has put selection pressure on microbial population leading to the emergence of resistant bugs by way of evolution and genetic jugglery. My research focuses on screening novel compounds (natural and synthetic) for the identification of (i) antibiotic potentiators that can re-sensitize multidrug resistant pathogens to existing antibiotics (ii) anti-biofilm compounds that can be used in combination with antibiotics to increase the antibiotic efficiency and (iii) anti-virulence compounds that can reduce the disease severity.
- Genetic engineering of human commensal bacteria to for biotherapeutic development
With the advent and rapid evolution of next-generation sequencing technologies, we have unlocked the intricate genome of the human microbiota, enabling the identification of numerous commensal bacteria with significant health-promoting properties. Among these, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), long recognized for their diverse therapeutic potential as probiotics, have been isolated from various body sites such as the gut and vagina. My research is centered on the genetic manipulation of LABs to develop advanced biotherapeutics capable of stably and constitutively expressing therapeutic peptides derived from both human and microbial sources.
Publication
- Narendrakumar L, Suryaletha K, Reghunathan D, Prasannakumar M, Thomas S. 2017. Insights into the draft genome sequence of a Haitian variant Vibrio cholerae strain isolated from a clinical setting in Kerala, South India. Genome Announcement 5:e00843-17. doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.00843-17. (IF- NA, ASM Journal)
- Lekshmi. N*, Jose D*, Goel A K, Kumar RA, Thomas S. 2017. Development of a novel herbal combination to inhibit biofilm formation in toxigenic Vibrio cholerae. Journal of Food protection. 1933-1940. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-17-091. (IF- 2) (* Equal first author)
- Lekshmi N, Joseph I, Ramamurthy T, Thomas S. 2018. Changing facades of Vibrio cholerae: an enigma in the epidemiology of cholera. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 147: 133-141. DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_280_17.(IF- 4.2)
- Narendrakumar L, Thomas S. 2018. Vibrio cholerae O1 gaining reduced susceptibility to doxycycline, India. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance. 31;12:141-142. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2018.01.009. (IF- 4.6)
- Narendrakumar L, Gupta SS, Johnson JB, Ramamurthy T, Thomas S. 2019. Molecular adaptations and antibiotic resistance in Vibrio cholerae: a communal challenge. Microbial Drug Resistance. 25(7):1012-1022. http://doi.org/10.1089/mdr.2018.0354. (IF- 2.6)
- Narendrakumar L, Theresa M, Krishnankutty Chandrika S, Thomas S. 2019. Tryptanthrin, a potential biofilm inhibitor against toxigenic Vibrio cholerae, modulating the global quorum sensing regulator, LuxO. Biofouling. 35(10):1093-1103 doi: 10.1080/08927014.2019.1696315 . (IF- 2.7)
- Lekshmi Narendrakumar, Sivakumar Krishnankutty Chandrika, Sabu Thomas. 2020 Adaptive resistance evolution of V. cholerae to doxycycline associated with spontaneous mutation. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 56(3): 106097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106097.(IF- 10.8)
- Lekshmi Narendrakumar, Vishnu S. Jaikumar, Sivakumar K. Chandrika and Sabu Thomas. 2020. Epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of Haitian variant V. cholerae circulating in India over a decade (2000-2018). Microbial Pathogenesis. 149: 104538. doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104538 (IF- 3.8)
- Narendrakumar L, Joseph I, Thomas S. 2020. Potential Effectiveness and Adverse Implications of Repurposing Doxycycline in COVID-19 Treatment. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy. 24:1-8. doi. 10.1080/14787210.2021.1865803 (IF- 5.7)
- Lekshmi Narendrakumar, Anusha Gopinathan, Sreekrishnan TP, Anisha Asokan, Anil Kumar, Gireesh Kumar, Sabu Thomas. 2021. The bane of coastal marine environment: A fatal case of Vibrio vulnificus associated cellulitis and septicaemia. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology.39(3): 386-388. (IF- 1.6)
- Narendrakumar L, Sudhagar A, Preena PG, Nithianantham SR, Mohandas SP, Swaminathan TR. 2022. Detection of Mycobacterium marinum and multidrug-resistant bacteria in a chronic progressive disease outbreak among Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) in India. Biologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01118-3 (IF-1.5)
- Lekshmi Narendrakumar*, Medha Chakraborty, Shashi Kumari, Deepjyoti Paul, Bhabatosh Das. 2023. β-Lactam potentiators to re-sensitize resistant pathogens: Discovery, development, clinical use and the way forward. Frontiers in Microbiology. Doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.1092556 (IF. 5.2) (Corresponding author)
Book chapters
- Narendrakumar L, Das B, Paramasivan B, Rasu J, Thomas S. 2018 Quorum Quenching and Biofilm Inhibition: Alternative Imminent Strategies to Control the Disease Cholera. In: Kalia V. (eds) Biotechnological Applications of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors. pp.63-85. Springer, Singapore https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-9026-4_4
- Das B, Paramasivan B, Rasu J, Narendrakumar L, Thomas S. 2018 Strategies Behind Biosensors for Food and Waterborne Pathogens. In: Kalia V. (eds) Quorum Sensing and its Biotechnological Applications. pp.107-141. Springer, Singapore https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0848-8
- Karthika S, Lekshmi N, Akhilandeswarre D, Devika Das J, Aparna Shankar, Sabu Thomas. 2020. Evolving state-of-the-art technologies in Biofilm research: from static to real-time models. In: Sabu Thomas and Divya M Prabhakaran (eds) Emerging Concepts in Bacterial Biofilms: Molecular Mechanisms and Control Strategies. pp 319-369. Cambridge publishing group.UK.
- Paul M, Mohan V, Narendrakumar L, Joseph I, Thomas S. 2020. Status Quo of Omics Technologies in Analyzing the Genetic Mediators of Antimicrobial Resistance at Sub-MIC Concentrations. In: Thomas S. (ed) Antimicrobial Resistance: Global Challenges and Future Interventions. Springer, Singapore. pp 207-230. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-3658-8_10
- Lekshmi Narendrakumar, Animesh Ray. 2022. Respiratrory tract microbiome and pneumonia. In: Bhabatosh Das and Vijai Singh (eds). Human microbiome in Health and Disease: Part B, Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science. Elsevier. Pp 98-124, ISBN: 9780323912105
- Narendrakumar L, Geetha Preena P, Swaminathan T.R. 2023. Antimicrobial Resistance in Ornamental Fisheries: Causes and Preventive Measures. In: Mothadaka, M.P., Vaiyapuri, M., Rao Badireddy, M., Nagarajrao Ravishankar, C., Bhatia, R., Jena, J. (eds) Handbook on Antimicrobial Resistance. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9723-4_9-1
- Vashist, A., Verma, J., Narendrakumar, L., Das, B. 2023. Molecular Insights into Genomic Islands and Evolution of Vibrio cholerae. In: Mani, I., Singh, V., Alzahrani, K.J., Chu, DT. (eds) Microbial Genomic Islands in Adaptation and Pathogenicity. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9342-8_14
- Deepjyoti Paul, Ashish Kumar Agrahari, Pratichi Singh and Lekshmi Narendrakumar*. 2024. Microbial surfactants in water remediation. In: Divya Bajpai Tripathy and Anjali Gupta (eds). Microbial Surfactants. IOP Publishing. India. https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-5989-4
Books edited
- Associate Editor, Emerging Concepts in Bacterial Biofilms: Molecular Mechanisms and Control Strategies, In: Sabu Thomas and Divya M Prabhakaran (eds), ISBN: 978-1-5275-4261-7. Cambridge Publishing Group.UK. pp.381
- Associate Editor, Antimicrobial Resistance: Global Challenges and Future Interventions, In: Thomas S. (ed), ISBN: 978-981-15-3658-8. Springer Nature. Singapore. pp.230
- Assistant Editor, Human Microbiome- Clinical implications and therapeutic interventions, In: Thomas S. (ed). Springer Nature. Singapore. pp.264
1. Bhabatosh Das, Lekshmi.N, Meenal Chawla, Deepjyoti Paul: Title: Genetically engineered bacterial reporter strain and a method for preparing the same thereof. Patent application no. 202411035814. Year: 2024. Indian patent
2. Bhabatosh Das, Deepjyoti Paul, Lekshmi.N: Title: A novel genetic tool for engineering the genome of gram-negative bacteria and a method of preparing the same thereof. Patent application no. 202411056506. Year: 2024. Indian patent
2021-2024: Study of the dynamics of mobile genetic elements in ESKAPE pathogens associated with neonatal sepsis and screening of antibiotic resistance breakers for re-sensitization of MDR pathogens
- Best oral presentation at 8th Global Conference on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries (GAF8)- Interventions for control of AMR: Harnessing one health knowledge, Cochin, Kerala, India, November 21-22, 2022.
- Best poster award (Day 2) at 16th Asian Conference on Diarroeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD-2022), Kolkata, India, November 11-13th, 2022.
- Travel grant to attend 16th Asian Conference on Diarroeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD-2022), Kolkata, India, November 11-13th, 2022.
- Received MK BHAN Young Researcher Fellowship (2020-2021)
- First Prize for Poster presentation at the Amrita BIOCREST 2021-International Symposium on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Man Vs Microbes Race of the Century organized by Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri, Kerala, India, February 24-26th, 2021.
- DST-ITS Travel grant received from DST-SERB to attend 8th Biennial International Conference on the Biology of Vibrios (ICBV) organised by McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, November 17th-20th,2019
- Second Prize for Poster presentation at the International Conference on Antibiotic Stewardship and Infectious Diseases organized by Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO), India and Imperial College of London, held at Crown Plaza, Kochi, Kerala, October 27th-28th, 2018.
- Wellcome trust travel award to attend Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Course, Working with pathogen Genomes, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Nov- 12th-17th, 2017
- American Society of Microbiology Travel grant to attend 2nd International Conference on Infectious Diseases and Nanomedicine (ICIDN-2015), Kathmandu, Nepal. December 15-18th, 2015.
Invited Talk
1. Lekshmi Narendrakumar. Antibiotic potentiation as an effective strategy to revive obsolete drugs. National Symposium on Biotechnology for Sustainable Development 2023. Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology. April 12th, 2023.
- LEKSHMIN[AT]THSTI[DOT]RES[DOT]IN