Research Projects

Enteric fever, caused by Salmonella enterica species Typhi and Paratyphi A, B, and C, affects nearly 25 million people globally, disproportionately affecting preschool and school-aged children. In India, enteric fever is a leading differential diagnosis for febrile cases of unknown origin. The treatment of enteric fever contributes to antibiotic resistance (AMR), increasing mortality and morbidity. In India, ciprofloxacin resistance is 7% in S. typhi and 1.22% in Paratyphi A. The proportion of MDR ranges from 7-17%, with Nalidixic acid (82%) and floroquinolone (63%) reported in STy-resitance isolates. Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella infections worsen disease severity, increase antibiotic treatment costs, and necessitate hospitalization, resulting in economic losses. This proposal aims to generate monoclonal antibodies against Salmonella typhi (STy), potentiating the protection and/or elimination of bacteria. Immunotherapy for bacterial infection is being experimented with, but STy infection is associated with independent cell-free existence and multiplication, making it an opportunity for targeting bacteria through antibodies. The goal is to generate monoclonal antibodies against Salmonella invasion proteins (Sips), characterized by their robustness and physicochemical characteristics. The effectiveness of these isolated monoclonal antibodies will be evaluated in in vitro culture infection models and animal models, and proof of principle will be established for potential therapeutics against Salmonella typhi for its management.