Faculty Detail

Dr Somnath S. Pai

Asst. Professor (Grade - II)

Amity Institute Of Virology & Immunology

Teaching Interests
Microbiology Molecular Biology Immunology Virology
Qualifications
Graduation : B.Sc(Zoology, Botany, Chemistry)-1993,Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

Post Graduation : M.Sc(Life Science)-1995,Pondicherry University

Post Graduation : P.G. Diploma(Plantation Management)-1997,Kothari Agricultural Management Centre

Doctorate : Ph.D.(Virology & Immunology)-2007,Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi
Experience
01 Feb 2012 - Present
Asst. Professor (Grade - II),
Amity Institute Of Virology & Immunology

01 Oct 2008 - 31 Dec 2010
Post Doctoral Fellow,
Università Degli Studi di Pavia,
-Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, Pavia, 27100, Italy

01 Apr 2005 - 18 Sep 2008
Research Associate,
Cochin University of Science and Technology,
National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, CUSAT, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, 682016, Kerala

12 Nov 2001 - 11 Nov 2004
Senior Research Fellow,
Cochin University of Science and Technology,
National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, CUSAT, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, 682016, Kerala

12 Jun 2000 - 11 Nov 2001
Senior Research Fellow,
Cochin University of Science and Technology,
-School of Environmental Studies, CUSAT, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, 682016, Kerala.

01 Jan 1999 - 30 Jun 2001
Instructor & Prog Coordinator,
Triumphant Institute of Management Education,
-
Current Courses Taught
Comprehensive Molecular Biology

General Microbiology

Good lab practices and Instrumentation

Research Techniques in Biosciences and Biotechnology
Research Interests
Diversity of vibrios in coastal marine ecosystems Antibiotic resistance in the environment Bacteriophages in marine environment Chronic viral infections: Epidemiology & Host factors
Publications
Enhanced B cell differentiation and reduced proliferative capacity in chronic hepatitis C and chronic hepatitis B virus infections. ,
Elsevier

Reducing Vibrio load in Artemia nauplii using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy: A promising strategy to reduce antibiotic application in shrimp larviculture ,
Blackwell

Effects of two anaesthetics on water quality during simulated transport of a tropical ornamental fish, the Indian tiger barb Puntius filamentosus. ,
Taylor & Francis

Penaeus monodon larvae can be protected from Vibrio harveyi infection by pre-emptive treatment of a rearing system with antagonistic or non-antagonistic bacterial probiotics. ,
Blackwell

Comparative efficacy of MS-222 and benzocaine as a anaesthetics under simulated transport conditions of a tropical ornamental fish Puntius filamentosus (Valenciennes) ,
Blackwell

Alkali insoluble glucan extracted from Acremonium dyospyri is a more potent immunostimulant in Indian white shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus than alkali soluble glucan ,
Blackwell

A survey of potential carriers and reservoirs of White Spot Syndrome Virus in Penaeus monodon culture systems of Kerala ,
Springer

Development and demonstration of 'Shrimpvac-I' for the management of white spot syndrome virus and vibrios in shrimp grow-out system ,
Springer

A brackishwater isolate of Pseudomonas PS-102, a potential antagonistic bacterium against pathogenic vibrios in penaeid and non-penaeid rearing systems ,
Elsevier

Isolation of a pathogenic strain of Vibrio alginolyticus from necrotic larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) ,
Blackwell

A marine Micrococcus MCCB104 antagonistic to vibrios isolated from prawn larval rearing systems ,
Inter-Research

Fenneropenaeus indicus is protected from white spot disease by oral administration of inactivated white spot syndrome virus ,
Inter-Research

Fisheries and Aquaculture: Strategic Outlook for Asia ,
Cochin University of Science and Technology

Aquaculture Medicine ,
Cochin University of Science and Technology

Nucleic acid based diagnostics for shrimp diseases ,
Cochin University of Science and Technology

Aquaculture drug regulations in the Indian context ,
Cochin University of Science and Technology

Broad host range siphoviridae-like vibriophages isolated from the sediment of Vembanad estuary ,
Asia-Pacific Society of Marine Biotechnology

Segregation and characterization of a putative probiotic antagonistic to Vibrios in shrimp larval rearing system ,
Asia-Pacific Society of Marine Biotechnology

Evaluation of environmental factors influencing the outbreak of whitespot syndrome in latent Penaeus monodon ,
Conference on Microbiology of Tropical Seas

Biological control of prawn pathogenic vibrios by an antagonistic Pseudomonas PS – 2 isolate ,
World Aquaculture

Evaluation of antibiotic sensitivity of Vibrio harveyi associated with the larval rearing systems of Penaeus monodon hatcheries in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala (India)

Recirculation system for organic shrimp and prawn seed production ,
Organic Aquaculture and Sea Farming Global Technical and Trade Conference and Exhibition

Isolation and characterization of broad spectrum bacteriophages lytic to Vibrio harveyi from shrimp farms of Kerala, India ,
Wiley

Distribution of multiple antibiotic resistant Vibrio spp across Palk Bay ,
Elsevier

Fluorescence detection of the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio harveyi in solutions and animal cells using semiconductor quantum dots. ,
Royal Society of Chemistry

In silico analysis of natural compounds targeting structural and nonstructural proteins of chikungunya virus. ,
F1000

In vivo evaluation of Withania somnifera based Indian traditional formulation (Amukkara Choornam), against chikungunya virus induced morbidity and arthralgia ,
SAGE

Standardization of in vitro assays to evaluate the activity of polyherbal siddha formulations against Chikungunya virus infection ,
Springer
Affiliations
American Society for Microbiology Since 20 Jun 2012

Indian Immunological Society Since 01 Jun 2012
Conferences attended
EMBO Meeting
Organized By :EMBO

Influenza
Organized By :Universita degli Studi di Pavia

Liver Meeting
Organized By :European Association for the Study of the Liver

Environmental Microbiology & Microbial Ecology
Organized By :School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi

Pollution Prevention Paradigm
Organized By :Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety and Management

Scientific Writing and Publishing
Organized By :American Society for Microbiology

Immune Mechanisms in Host Pathogen Interactions: Emerging Trends
Organized By :Amity Institute of Virology & Immunology

Workshop on Flow cytometry and Q-PCR: Principles and clinical applications
Organized By :Amity Institute of Virology & Immunology

"Influenza: An Omnipresent Global Health Threat”
Organized By :Amity Institute of Virology & Immunology

Molecular and Immunological Assays for Influenza
Organized By :Amity Institute of Virology & Immunology

Biotechnology Innovations and Opportunities Summit
Organized By :Sharda University

Asia-Pacific Congress of Virology, VIROCON2013
Organized By :Amity Institute of Virology & Immunology

National Conference on Molecular Virology
Organized By :Jamia Milia Islamia

OSICON-15
Organized By :Ocean Society of India, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

Hands-on Training on Cell Culture Techniques and Cytotoxicity Assays
Organized By :AIVI

Hands-on Training on Cell Culture Techniques and Cytotoxicity Assays
Organized By :AIVI
Short Description
Immunology and virology are interdisciplinary sciences that cut across disciplines. Therefore, to understand and establish their fundamentals in students, one must impart a strong base in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology and microbiology. Students of a class are seldom homogeneous and therefore my efforts are to effectively reach out to students across abilities in the class. It is my firm belief that students with speedy grasping capabilities must be challenged to strive for higher achievements whereas those who find it difficult to keep up with the syllabi, be given more time and attention to attain bare minimum standards. In the last few years this approach has yielded excellent results given the response of the students who have passed out from the department. My continuing endeavour would be to help students become competitive and strive for high standards of excellence not just in academics but in every sphere of life, so as to realize their dreams and attain their

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