In a paper, just published in Nucleic Acids Research, we use laboratory evolution and genome sequencing  to show that a large duplication of ~40% of the chromosome, centred around the origin or replication and comprising many highly expressed genes, can compensate for the global gene expression imbalance caused by a perturbation of gene silencing operating on horizont

In a paper, just published in DNA Research, we use laboratory evolution and genome sequencing  to show that the benign laboratory workhorse Escherichia coli, when exposed to sub-lethal concentration of an aminoglycoside antibiotic, rapidly develops low-cost mutations that confer resistance to antibiotic.

Over the last few months, our lab has received two research grants from bodies of the Government of India. The first, from the Department of Biotechnology, will allow us to investigate stationary phase physiology of Escherichia coli on a genomic sclae. The seond, from the Department of Science and Technology, is for an investigation of the function of the xenogene silencing system - H-NS - in E. coli.

Vidyanand Sasidharan and co-workers from Dasaradhi Palakodeti's lab at InSTEM, have been working on a project describing the non-coding RNA profile of the regenerating Planerian worm. The results of their work have appeared as an article in the journal RNA. 

The following is the abstract of this paper:

Watch this space for a summary of the outcomes of what was a successful conference!

In a paper, just published in Molecular Biosystems, we report that both DNA sequences and the need for back-up mechanisms for gene silencing in Escherichia coli might be selected for targeting highly transcribable genes.

In a paper, just published in PLoS ONE, we report the presence of a novel prophage (viral DNA that is integrated in the host bacterial chromosome) in the genome of S. aureus from India (sequence type 772). This prophage carries two toxins, both of which are capable of manipulating the host immune system.