Research Projects

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, is a neglected tropical disease endemic to the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. The disease is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), which belongs to the Flaviviridae family and is transmitted by the bite of the tick, Haemaphysalis spinigera. The disease occurs annually, affecting around 400-500 individuals and causing a fatality rate of 2-10 percent. Despite being reported in 1957, research on the virus is limited due to its classification as a Risk level 3 pathogen. The disease requires dedicated infrastructure and skilled professionals, limiting research and development. To address these issues, a proposal is proposed to develop a stable cell line that expresses replicon of KFDV nonstructural proteins through Reverse-Genetics. Single Round Infectious Particles (SRIP)/Virus-like Particles from the same cell line will be used to perform acute studies, tissue tropism, immune evasion, and detailed aspects of pathogenesis. Slight modifications may also provide a vaccine with a better immune response compared to existing ones. This approach will open new horizons within the Indian scientific community, allowing genetically modified viruses to be used in BSL2 conditions without the risk of spreading or causing fatal infections during scientific studies.