Smita Nair, Ph.D Email & Phone Number

Bloomington, In , Us

Leading a team of cellular virologists pursuing drug discovery studies, evaluating the efficacy of small molecule drugs against viral infections. Developed and optimized high-throughput multi-analyte HBV biomarker assay system to streamline molecule selection and evaluation. Establish and contribute to strategic workflow. Partner with collaborators and external vendors for epigenomics and transcriptomics studies to support Biomarker strategy. Coordinate with the Chemistry team to support SAR development and Lead-molecule optimization. Designed, developed and optimized reporter-based assays for mechanism-of-action studies of drugs to support target discovery and validation.

Bloomington, In , Us

Performed cell-based infection assays to evaluate the antiviral biological effects of small molecule for SAR development. Performed infections and assayed for suppression of viral DNA and RNA by Real-time PCR, and secreted antigens by ELISAs. Evaluated biological activity of small molecules in virus expressing stable cell lines. Performed dose-dependent studies to calculate the EC50 of compounds. Data recording, analysis, interpretations, and presentations. Streamlined RNA assays for better evaluation of compounds. Optimized infection and drug treatment in various cell lines and designed and optimized ELISA assays. Developed and optimized transfection-based reporter assays for MOA studies. Performed confocal microscopy experiments for MOA studies. Maintained and propagated virus expressing stable cell lines for virus production and purification for use in infection assays.

Bloomington, Indiana, Us

Designed and performed cell-based and molecular biology experiments to identify APOBEC3 mediated G to A mutations in Hepatitis B viral genome (J. Virol, 2018, Apr 27; 92(10)). Designed and performed cell-based assay to quantify antiviral activity and cellular toxicity of anti-HBV drugs in virus producing hepatic cell lines.. Developed and standardized use of fluorescently tagged antiviral small molecules to label and track HBV in cells and understand the mechanism of inhibition by antiviral molecules (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2018;140(45)). Standardized HBV infection system in HBV receptor expressing cell lines. Developed cell-based fluorescence assays to monitor intracellular export and import of HBV capsids in HBV infected cells and transiently transfected cells (mBio 2021, 12:e03514-20). Trained in Transmission Electron Microscopy. Standardized methodology for sample preparation of HBV producing cells and visualize ultrastructure of drug treated virus particles using Transmission Electron Microscopy. Supervised and trained lab personnel in BSL2 facility.

London, Gb

Project: Cellular entry of Bluetongue virus, a non-enveloped segmented dsRNA virus. Screened for putative Bluetongue virus (BTV) receptors on host and vector cell and identified putative binding sites on viral surface proteins, involved in cell entry. Used reverse genetics system to generate viruses mutated for entry and impaired infection. Propagated and purified mutant virus for infections in mammalian and insect cell lines.Performed virus quantification assays (plaque assays, TCID50, qPCR), virus growth kinetics, receptor binding assay. Generated neutralizing antibodies against BTV.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Project: Restriction of Murine Leukemia Virus and Human Immuno deficiency Virus by cellular restriction factor APOBEC3. (J. Virol 2014. 88(7):3850-60). Developed and standardized protocol for over-expression and purification of mouse APOBEC3 deaminase from Sf9 insect cells. Developed biochemical and cell-based assays for testing mAPOBEC3 deamination activity, virus encapsidation and anti-viral properties. (Bio-protocol 2014, 4(20): e1266). Generated an extensive library of mAPOBEC3 mutants to understand its antiviral properties against MLV and HIV. Collaborated with structural biology lab to generate homology model of mAPOBEC3 deaminase to gain structural insights into its biochemical and biological properties.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Molecular Virology

Master’S Degree, Biochemistry

Bachelor’S Degree, Biochemistry