Visiting Scientists at the Gluck Equine Research Center

Dr. K. Natarajaseenivasan

Reader
Division of Medical Microbiology
School of Life Sciences
Bharathidasan University
Tiruchirappalli – 620 024
Tamilnadu, INDIA

Telephone: +914312407082
Fax: +914312407045
natarajaseenivasan@rediffmail.com

As a visiting scientist of Gluck Equine Research Center, he is undergoing his DBT Overseas Associateship Training in Niche Areas of Biotechnology under the supervision of Professor John F. Timoney, Keeneland Chair of Infectious Diseases.  

The duration of his visit is for a year from 15th October, 2008 to 14th October, 2009 and sponsored by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. 

Background/Project

Dr. K. Natarajaseenivasan is Reader and Principal Investigator in the Division of Medical Microbiology at Bharathidasan University.   He obtained a Ph.D. in Leptospirosis from Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University during 1996.  His responsibilities are teaching the post graduate students of microbiology and research.  

His research focuses on the establishment of a continuous surveillance system and the analysis of risk factors for leptospirosis.  Both conventional and recent molecular biological approaches are used in this procedure.

His research trainings are focused in the following aspects.

1. Genomic DNA Library construction for the identification of novel  proteins of Leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis

2. Production of monospecific antiserum to abundant surface protein of L. interrogans for use in rapid assay development

3. Molecular epidemiology for study of the transmission dynamics of  L. interrogans  serovar Pomona type Kennewicki in Kentucky

4. Leptospira proteins reactive with IgA in ocular fluids from cases of Equine Recurrent Uveitis

Publications in Peer-reviewed Journals

1. K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Vijayachari,  S. Sharma,  A.P. Sugunan,  K. Vedhagiri,  J. Selvin and S.C. Sehgal.  flaB PCR based identification for the determination of pathogenic leptospiral isolates.  Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection, 2009 (In Press).

2. K. Vedhagiri, K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Chellapandi, S.G. Prabhakaran, J. Selvin, S. Sharma, P. Vijayachari. Evolutionary implication of outer membrane lipoprotein encoded genes, ompL1, lipL32 and lipL41 of pathogenic Leptospira species.  Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics, 2009 (In Press).

3. J. Selvin, S. Shanmughapriya, R. Gandhimathi, G. Seghal Kiran, T. Rajeetha Raviji, K. Natarajaseenivasan and T.A. Hema. Optimization and Production of Novel Antimicrobial Agents from Sponge Associated Marine Actinomycetes Nocardiopsis dassonvillei MAD08. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2009 (In press).

4. T.A. Hema, R. Gandhimathi, G. Seghal Kiran, Joseph Selvin, Aseer Manilal, S. Sujith, K. Natarajaseenivasan. Optimization of biosurfactant production by sponge associated marine fungi Penicillium pfefferianum MSF5. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, 2009 (In Press).

5. V.G. Kumar, R. Latha, K. Vedhagiri, T. Sathiamoorthi, G. Jayarani, R. Sasikala, J. Selvin, K. Natarajaseenivasan.  Phospholipase C, proteinase and hemolytic activities of Candida spp. isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients.   Journal of Medical Mycology, 2009, 19:  3-10.

6. K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Vijayachari, S. Sharma, A.P. Sugunan, J. Selvin and S.C. Sehgal.  Serodiagnosis of severe leptospirosis:  evaluation of ELISA based on the recombinant OmpL1 or LipL41 antigens of Leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis.  Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology., 2008, 102:  699-708.

7. P. Vijayachari, A.P. Sugunan, S. Sharma, S. Roy, K. Natarajaseenivasan, S.C. Sehgal.  Leptospirosis in the Andaman Islands, India.  Trans. Royal Society of Trop. Med. Hyg., 2008, 102: 117-22.

8. S. Shanmughapriya, J. Krishnaveni, J. Selvin, R. Gandhimathi, M. Arunkumar, T. Thangavelu, G. Seghal Kiran, K. Natarajaseenivasan (2008). Optimization of extracellular thermotolerant alkaline protease produced by marine Roseobacter sp(MMD040). Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 31:427–433.

9. G. Seghal Kiran, S. Shanmughapriya, J. Jayalakshmi, Joseph Selvin, R. Gandhimathi, S. Sivaramakrishnan, M. Arunkumar, T. Thangavelu, K. Natarajaseenivasan (2008). Optimization of extracellular psychrophilic alkaline lipase produced by marine Pseudomonas sp. (MSI057).  Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 31:483–492.

10. S. Shanmughapriya, Aseer Manilal, S. Sujith, Joseph Selvin, G. Seghal Kiran, K. Natarajaseenivasan (2008). Antimicrobial activity of seaweeds extracts against multiresistant pathogens.  Annals of Microbiology, 58 (3): 169-175.

11. R. Gandhimathi, M. Arunkumar, Joseph Selvin, T. Thangavelu, S. Sivaramakrishnan, G. Seghal Kiran, S. Shanmugha Priya, and K. Natarajaseenivasan (2008). Antimicrobial potential of sponge associated marine actinomycetes. Journal of Medical Mycology, 18: 16-22.

12. R. Subashkumar, G. Vivekanandhan, Suresh S.S. Raja, K. Natarajaseenivasan, T. Thayumanavan and P. Lakshmanaperumalsamy. Typing of Aeromonas hydrophila  of fish and human diarrhoeal origin by outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharides. Indian Journal of Microbiology , 2007, 47:46-50.

13. S. Sharma, Paluru Vijayachari, Attayoor P. Sugunan, K. Natarajaseenivasan, Manoj V. Murhekar and Subhash C. Sehgal.  Seroprevalence of Leptospriosis among Jarwas-a Hunter-gatherer Primitive Negrito Tribe of Andaman and Nicrobar Islands, India.  Research Journal of Microbiology,  2006, 1:  95-100

14. S. Sharma, Paluru Vijayachari, Attayoor P. Sugunan, K. Natarajaseenivasan and Subhash C. Sehgal.  Seroprevalence of Leptospriosis among high-risk population of Andaman Islands, India.  American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,  2006, 74:  278-83

15. K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Vijayachari, S. Sharma, A.P. Sugunan and S.C. Sehgal. Phenotypic and genotypic conservation of OmpL1 and LipL41 among leptospiral isolates of Andaman Islands. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 2005, 122:  343-347.

16. D. Biswas, S. Roy, P. Vijayachari, A.P. Sugunan, K. Natarajaseenivasan and S.C. Sehgal.  Comparison of immunoreactive proteins of commonly circulating serogroups of Leptospira in Andaman Islands, India.  Indian Journal of Medical Research, 2005, 121: 151-158.

17. K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Vijayachari, S. Sharma, S. Roy, A.P. Sugunan, D. Biswas and S.C. Sehgal.  Phylogenetic relatedness among leptospiral strains belonging to same serovar recovered from patients with different clinical syndromes.  Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 2005, 5: 185-91.  

18. A.P. Sugunan, K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Vijayachari and S.C. Sehgal.  Percutaneous Exposure Resulting in Laboratory Acquired Leptospirosis – A Case Report.  Journal of  Medical Microbiology, 2004, 53: 1259-6253.

19. Natarajaseenivasan,  N.  Prabhu, K.  Selvanayaki,  S.S.S.  Raja and S.  Ratnam.  Human Leptospirosis in Erode, South India:  Serology, Isolation and Characterization of the isolates by Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting.  Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2004, 57:  193-197.

20. K. Natarajaseenivasan, P. Vijayachari, A.P. Sugunan, S. Sharma and S.C. Sehgal.  Leptospiral proteins expressed during Acute and Convalescent phases of human Leptospirosis.  Indian Journal of Medical Research, 2004, 120: 151-159.

21. P. Vijayachari, R.A. Hartskeerl, S. Sharma, K. Natarajaseenivasan, S. Roy, W.J. Terpstra and S.C. Sehgal.  A unique strain of leptospira isolated from a patient with pulmonary haemorrhages in Andaman islands: a proposal of serovar Portblairi of serogroup Sehgali.  Epidemiology and Infection, 2004, 132: 663-673. 

22. K. Natarajaseenivasan, S.S.S.  Raja,  S.  Ratnam and N.R.  Rajendran.  Evaluation of the cross reacting leptospiral serovars by MAT, ELISA and MSAT in rabbit hyper immune sera.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences.  2003; 73:  957-959.

23. K. Natarajaseenivasan,  M.  Boopalan, K.  Selvanayaki,  S.R.  Suresh and S.  Ratnam.  Leptospirosis among Rice Mill Workers of Salem, South India.  Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases.  2002; 55: 170-173.

24. K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  Relative Superiority of IgM+IgG combined conjugate plate ELISA for detection of anti leptospiral antibodies among different occupational groups. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 2001; 71: 42-44.

25. K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  Recent leptospira   isolates from Tamilnadu.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences.  2000; 70: 551-555.

26. B.C.Biswal, B.C.Kar,S.Ratnam, L.Sureshbabu and K.  Natarajaseenivasan. Evidence of Antibodies to Leptospira among Farm cattle and Farm workers in Orissa State. Indian Veterinary Journal.  2000; 77: 622-623.

27. K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  Isolation of  Leptospira javanica  from sheep.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 1999; 69: 759-761.                                                  

28. S. Ratnam and K. Natarajaseenivasan.  Possible hospital transmission of leptospiral Infection.  Journal of Communicable Diseases.  1998; 30: 54-56.

29. K. Natarajaseenivasan and  S. Ratnam. Seroprevalence of  Leptospiral infection in an Agricultural based village in Tamilnadu.  Cheiron.  1997; 26: 5-6.

30. K. Natarajaseenivasan   and   S. Ratnam. A probable   virulence  factor of javanica isolates.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences.  1997; 68: 139-140.

31. S. Ratnam, L. Sureshbabu and K. Natarajaseenivasan.  Dynamism of MAT and type Specific IgM and IgG ELISA titres in leptospirosis cases.  Biomedicine.  1997; 17: 21-24.

32. K. Natarajaseenivasan  and  S. Ratnam.    Prevalence of   Leptospirosis in a cattle farm.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 1997; 67: 860-861.

33. K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  Experimental  leptospirosis in laboratory mice and  rats.  Journal of Communicable Diseases.  1997; 29: 291-293.

34. K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  A comparison of MAT and ELISA among clinically suspected Leptospirosis cases.  Biomedicine.  1996; 16: 29-31.

35. L. Sureshbabu, S. Ratnam, K. Natarajaseenivasan, P.S. Helen Manual, Sunithi Solomon and V.D. Padmanaban.  Standardization of Dipstick ELISA in Leptospiral antigen detection.  Cheiron.  1996; 25: 93-98.

36. K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  An investigation of Leptospirosis in a laboratory animal house.  Journal of Communicable Diseases.  1996; 28: 153-157.

37. S. Ratnam and K. Natarajaseenivasan.  Leptospiral illness in calves.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 1996; 66: 32-33.

38. K. Natarajaseenivasan, S. Ratnam, P. Ramadass and P.S. Helen Manual.  Persistence of dinger’s rings by Leptospira interrogans serovar australis in semi solid EMJH medium.  Indian Veterinary Journal.  1996; 73: 571-572.

39. R. Shivakumar, S. Ratnam, L.Suresh Babu and K.Natarajaseenivasan.  Leptospiral antibodies in patients with recurrent ophthalmic involvement.  Indian Journal of Medical Research.  1996; 103: 66-68.

40. R. Vanaja, S. Ratnam, L. Suresh Babu, K. Natarajaseenivasan and Vimala Jepegnanam.  Biochemical changes in Experimental and Clinical Leptospirosis. Biomedicine.  1995; 15: 45-48.

41. B. Suresh, V.A. Murthi, L. Suresh Babu, K. Natarajaseenivasan and S. Ratnam.  Frog as carrier of leptospires.  Indian Journal of Animal Sciences.  1994; 64: 736-738.

42. L. Suresh Babu, K. Natarajaseenivasan, M.A. Muthusethupathy, S. Shiva Kumar, M. Jayakumar, P.S. Helen Manual, Sunithi Solomon, B. Suresh and S. Ratnam.  Survival of leptospires in different pH.  Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology.  1994; 12: 44-45.