FACULTY PROFILE
NAME: Dr. Preetham Elumalai
DESIGNATION: Assistant Professor (Biochemistry)
DEPARTMENT: School of Aquatic Food Products and Technology
QUALIFICATION: M.Sc., Ph.D (University of Regensburg, Germany)
PHONE NO: +91 9443277157
Email: preetham@kufos.ac.in, epreeth@gmail.com
RESEARCH TOPICS
Fish Biochemistry and Fish immunology, Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Nanotechnology, Lectins
in innate immune defense, Pathogenesis of aquatic diseases, Bioprospecting, Neutraceuticals for health
and diseases, Tissue engineering, Neuroscience, etc.,
RESEARCH THEMES:
My present research interests concern on the bioassay-guided identification and synthesis of novel marine
compounds that are potential candidates for human theraupeutics. The disease targets include cancer,
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, type-2 diabetes,
inflammation and microbial diseases. Product discovery work includes on the application of
biotechnology for recovery of value added products from underutilized aquatic resources and biomass,
biofuels and neutraceuticals from marine microalgae.
My research is focused on the innate immune defense: clone, sequence and characterize genes involved in
the fish innate immune system as these genes (or anti-microbial peptides) may have potential for
application in genetic improvement in fishes. We study the interplay between the molecules termed,
Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) on microorganisms and the effect of this synergy in
activating Lectins which in turn activate phagocytosis and inflammation. Other works include, vaccine
development of fish using bacteria and viruses, development of challenge models in aquatic species,
immunological studies of species new to aquaculture.
Currently , I apply proteomics and functional genomics for the analysis of pathomechanisms of different
aquatic diseases and explore the possibility to complement the protein data with further analysis on the
molecular level in systems biology approaches. Other research area enthrusts on the application of
nanotechnology for the regulation of nutrient uptake in fish using nutrigenomic approaches.
EDUCATION
Ph.D in Natural Science (Biochemistry & Immunology), (2011) from Department of Immunology and
Faculty of Biology, University of Regensburg, Germany
M.Sc in Biochemistry, (1998), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life
Sciences, Sri Sankara college of Science, University of Madras, Tamilnadu, India
B.Sc in Biochemistry, (1996),Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life
Sciences, Sri Sankara college of Science, University of Madras, Tamilnadu, India
CONSULTANCY AND SPONSORED PROJECTS
Characterization of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms involved in Fish Lectins and its Potential Role in
Innate Immune Defense and Therapeutics, SERB – Early Career Grant, 50Lakh since 2015 – 2018.
Role of mangroves in modulating disease resistance potential in fishes – KUFOS aided project – 5 Lakh
since 2016 – 2017.
An multi-omics approach to identify genetic factors determining the heritability of twins in world
populations, Research Cooperation with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tuebingen, Germany, Since
2015.
Consultant – Arbee aquatic proteins private limited (leading company Production, processing and
preservation of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, oils and fats), Since 2015.
Ficolin and its microbial association in urinary tract infection in both experimental and human subjects,
One year grant funded by BayerischeForschungsstiftung, Germany for 5000 Euro on Jan 2010.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
• PhD fellowship with the prestigious Bayerische Forschungsstiftung (November 2008 – October 2011 at
Regensburg University, Germany.
•Travel Grant, International Congress of Immunology, Berlin, Germany. 2009.
• Research Assistant Fellowship, German Science Foundation (DFG). 2007 – 2008.
• Placed college 3rd rank in the highly competitive Madras University biochemistry programme.
•Qualified National Eligibility Test for Lectureship (NET-ICAR-CSIR) in 1998 and 2003. (Eligiblity for
lectureship approved by University of Madras).
PUBLICATIONS (Most Recent publications)
1. Jesu Arockiaraj, Mukesh K Chaurasia, Faizal N, Gayathri R chandran, Valanarasu, Aziz Arshad,
Preetham Elumalai Molecular importance of prawn large heat shock proteins 60, 70 and 90" has
been accepted for publication in Fish and Shellfish Immunology
2. Jesu Arockiaraj, Preetham Elumalai,et al., A comparative view of prawn heat shock proteins by
bioinformatics and gene expression studies. Submitted - Cell Stress and Chaperones.
3. Mohamed Saiyad Musthafa, Mohamed Madhani Abdul Jalal, Abdul Rahman Jawahar Ali,
Meenatchi Sundaram Arun Kumar , Kuppuswamy Umaa Rani, Krishnan Vasanth, Jesu Arockiaraj,
Preetham Elumalai, Chellam Balasundaram, Ramasamy Harikrishnan. Protective efficacy of
Azomite enriched diet in Oreochromis mossambicus against Aeromonas hydrophila. Accepted –
Aquaculture – Sep. 2015. (NAAS rating: Score-7.83; S.No-197; Jrn ID- A197; ISSN-0044-8486)
4. Rajasekar Aruliah, Parthipan Punniyakotti, Preetham Elumalai, Characterization of biosurfactant
produced bacterium Bacillus subtilis A1 and its role on biodegradation of crude oil. Submitted Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
5. Dorothea Weber-Steffens, Katja Hunold, Johanna K¨urschner, Sonia Giraldez Martinez,
Preetham Elumalai, Dominic Schmidt, Analia Trevani, Valeria L. Runza, Jens C. Jensenius &
Daniela N. M¨annel. [2013] Immature mouse myeloid cells are characterized by high expression
and production of ficolin-B. Mol. Immunol. 56:488–96. (NAAS rating: Score-9; S.No-1644; Jrn
ID- M058; ISSN-0161-5890)
6. Thamizh Selvam N., Venkatakrishnan V., Damodar Kumar S. & Preetham Elumalai. [2012]
Antioxi- dant and tumor cell suppression potential of Premna serratifolia Linn. leaf. Toxicology
International. 1:31–34. . (NAAS rating: Score-4.56; S.No-2098; Jrn ID- T058; ISSN-0971-6580)
BOOK CHAPTER
Sreeja Lakshmi and Preetham Elumalai., University of Regensburg, Germany.“ Dietary Polypheno
Polyphenols and Brain health” in "Food and Brain health", M. Essa, M. A. Memon, and M.Akbar.
(Eds.). Nova Science Publishers. Inc, New York, 2014, pp. 123-132.
Preetham Elumalai and Sreeja Lakshmi, Institute of Biochemistry, Kerala University of Fisheries
and Ocean Studies, Cochin, Kerala. “Role of Quercetin benefits in neurodegeneration” in “The
Benefits of Natural Products for Neurodegenerative Diseases”. M.Essa, M.Akbar and G. Guillemin
(Eds.). Springer, USA. 2015, in press.
PARTICIPATION IN SEMINAR/WORKSHOPS
Seminar Lectin biology and the role of ficolins. International symposium conducted by the
Institute for Pathology, Regensburg University, Germany. Apr 2011.
Workshop on “Nutrigenomic approaches in fish nutrition research” held at CIFE, Mumbai from
8th to 18th December, 2015.
Workshop on “Marine ecosystems and climate in India” Indo-mareclim held at cochin, 30th to
31st July, 2015.
Seminar The 16th European Congress of Immunology. Leipzig, Germany. Sep 2011.
Workshop Conducted a hands-on session on AKTA HPLC at GE Health Care, Munich,
Germany. Oct 2010.
Workshop Conducted a hands-on session on Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy at the
International Workshop. Regensburg, Germany. Mar 2010.
Seminar 5th International Meeting on Biomolecules under Pressure in Regensburg, Germany.
Aug 2009.
Workshop on Animal handling at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences &
Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Oct 2007.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL BODIES
• Life time member of the European Immunological Society, Germany
• Life time member of International Complement Society, Europe
• Life-time member of the Society of Biological Sciences, India
POSITIONS HELD
2015 – present: Assistant Professor in Biochemistry, School Of Aquatic Products, Kerala University of
Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kerala, India.
2012 – 2014: Assistant professor (Guest faculty) at KNC college, affliated to Madras university, Thellar,
Tamilnadu.
2011 – 2012: Postdoc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Of Wurzburg, Germany
2008 – 2011: PhD “Biochemical characterization of mouse ficolin-B” under the guidance of Prof. Daniela
N. Mannel at the Institute for Immunology, Regensburg University, Germany.
2007 – 2008: Research Assistant “Brain vasopressin is an important regulator of maternal behavior in
mice” in the Molecular Neurobiology Group of Prof. Dr. Inga Neumann, Regensburg, Germany.
2004 – 2007: Tutor at Technolab, Institute for Research and Techonology, Tamil Nadu, India.
2000 – 2004: Lecturer at Adhiparasakthi College of Science, affiliated to University of Madras,
Tamilnadu, India.
1998 – 2000: Lecturer at King Nandivarman College of Science, affiliated to University of Madras,
Tamilnadu, India.
Future Research:
Future research should use the emerging technologies such as next-generation sequencing, Microarrays
and transcriptomics to help understand how animals react or respond to changes around them, whether
those are environmental or pathogen induced.