The MMBL group at IISER Bhopal is actively involved in both basic and applied research in bacteriophages. In particular, we are studying the process of phage infection of mycobacteria and the downstream activities that occur inside the cell post-infection. Several proteins that are involved in transcription of phage late genes and the release of mature phage particles are of specific interest in addressing questions related to their regulation and future application in phage-based therapy for tuberculosis infection. Additionally, we are also looking into the bacterial perspective, in terms of tolerance development, resistance to phage infection and evolution of such phenotype. We have developed a combinatorial approach to understand the phage-host system that utilizes both basic and advanced research tools available in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Microbiology to address specific questions such as the process of phage infection, phage gene transcription, virion release, bacterial cell injury and recovery, cell death and cell survival strategies. We employ spectroscopic methods, including circular dichroism, steady state and time resolved fluorescence coupled with 2D proteomics and mass spectrometric approaches, as well as biophysical and modern microscopic imaging to gain novel insight into the unique interaction that has evolved between mycobacteriophage and its host.
