Molecular Research Group on Tropical Infectious Diseases

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Dengue is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease in the world with half the population now at risk. There are no specific therapeutics available for Dengue. Prevention consists of vector control measures and a vaccine only recommended for 9-45 year olds with previous dengue exposure and only licensed in 18 countries. Dengue Fever (DF) is a debilitating condition that is not fatal. Severe Dengue is a major cause for hospitalization and death, globally. Since early symptoms of DF are similar to severe Dengue, early prognosis will identify individuals that would benefit from intensive therapy and hospitalization significantly reducing dengue mortality. Our research group is investigating about early markers that can indicate development of severe Dengue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications

Research Communications
  • Hapugaswatta, H., Amarasena, P., Premaratna, R., Seneviratne, K. N., Jayathilaka, N. (2020). Differential expression of microRNA, miR150 and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in peripheral blood cells as early markers of severe forms of Dengue, Journal of Biomedical Science. 27:25, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-020-0620-z
  • Hapugaswatte, H., Perera, S. S., Premaratna, R., Seneviratne, K. N., Jayathilaka, N. Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, Nitric Oxide and Salivary Oxidized LDL as Early Markers of Severe Dengue. bioRxiv 2019, 664151. https://doi.org/10.1101/664151.
  • Krishnananthasivam, S., Jayathilaka, N., Sathkumara, H. D., Corea, E., Natesan, M., De Silva, A. D. Host Gene Expression Analysis in Sri Lankan Melioidosis Patients. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 2017, 11 (6), e0005643. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005643.
  • Hapugaswatta, H., Algama, H., Seneviratne, K. N., Premaratne, R., Jayathilaka, N.* Inducible Nitric Oxide synthase (iNOS) in     peripheral blood cells is an early predictive biomarker of dengue hemorrhagic fever. 74th Annual Scientific Session of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science, 2018
  • Hapugaswatta, H., Seneviratne, K.N., Perera, H.S.S., Premaratna, R., Jayathilaka, N. Expression Changes in Putative Target Genes of Differentially Expressed miRNA as Early Biomarkers for Severe Dengue. International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
  • Hapugaswatta, H., Seneviratne, K. N., Perera, S. H. S., Premaratna, R., Jayathilaka, N.*
  • Differential expression of miRNA in peripheral blood cells from acute dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever patients. Tropical Infectious Diseases, Boston, USA, August 2018
  • Sewwandi, A. L. S., Hapugaswatta, H., Amarasena, P., Premaratne, R., Seneviratne, K. N., Jayathilaka N.* Plasma nitric oxide and salivary oxidized LDL as early predictive
  • biomarkers of progression to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. Tropical Infectious Diseases, Boston, USA, August 2018
  • Hapugaswatta, H., Seneviratne, K.N., Jayathilaka, N. Comparison of methods for miRNA extraction from plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
  • Hapugaswatta, H., Seneviratne, K.N. and Jayathilaka, N. 2016. Use of miR-33a in human plasma as a potential biomarker for severe Dengue infection. In Proceedings of the International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences (IRSPAS 2016), Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. p 27

Patents

  • A method for early prognosis of severe dengue by detecting changes in the expression of EZh2 (Enhancer of zeste homolog 2) and iNOS (inducible Nitric Oxide synthase), in biological fluids (Patent application number 20460)
  • A method for early prognosis of severe dengue by detecting changes in the expression of the micro RNA, miR-150, in biological fluids (Patent application number 20459)
  • A method for early prognosis of severe dengue by detecting changes in the level of oxidized low density lipoprotein in salivary samples (Patent application number 20458)
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