One of our major research interests is to characterize transcriptional/post-transcriptional blocks in HIV-1 latency and to quantitate its reactivation kinetics. To this end, we have established a Single-cell Single Molecule multiplex IF and RNA-FISH based Assay (SMIRA). Using SMIRA, we employ latently infected T-cells and myeloid cells to study the kinetics of latency reactivation by latency reversing agents (LRAs). We have successfully identified various viral and host genetic factors responsible for stochastic reactivation of latent provirus.

Another research project in the lab is intended towards developing a novel strategy to detect and study the replication kinetics of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. For this, we used innovative techniques to detect the virus in early stages of infection in cell-line models and further validated our findings within the autopsy samples at the single cell-single molecule level. This study may open novel avenues to study COVID-19 pathophysiology, drug screening and diagnostics. 

Our third research focus is based on atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors wherein, we have reported striking findings on the hitherto unknown cytoplasmic localization of truncated SMARCB1/INI1 in a significant number of tumor cells. Subsequently, our study also showed that the reversal of nuclear export of SMARCB1/INI1 using an FDA approved inhibitor can lead to rapid killing of tumour cells (Pathak et al. 2021, Acta Neuropathologica; PMID: 34003336). It is pertinent to mention here that the depletion of nuclear SMARCB1 protein is a hallmark of ATRT, therefore, these findings have promising implications towards the development of newer therapeutic interventions for ATRT.

Rajiv Pathak, Carolina Eliscovich, Ignacio Mena, Updesh Dixit, Adolfo García-Sastre, Robert H Singer, Ganjam V. Kalpana (2022) Visualization of early RNA replication kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 by using single molecule RNA-FISH. bioRxiv (https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.12.10.517707).

Rajiv Pathak^#, Francesca Zin^#, Christian Thomas, Susanne Bens, Tenzin Gayden, Jason Karamchandani, Roy W. Dudley, Karolina Nemes, Pascal D. Johann, Florian Oyen, Uwe Kordes, Nada Jabado, Reiner Siebert, Werner Paulus, Marcel Kool, Michael C. Frühwald, Steffen Albrecht, Ganjam V. Kalpana^$ and Martin Hasselblatt^$ (2021) Inhibition of nuclear export restores nuclear localization and residual tumor suppressor function of truncated SMARCB1/INI1 protein in a molecular subset of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors. Acta Neuropathologica, 142(2):361-374. (^#equal contribution) (IF- 15.887)

Updesh Dixit, Savita Bhutoria, Xuhong Wu, Liming Qiu, Menachem Spira, Sheeba Mathew, Richard Harris, Lucas J. Adams, Sean Cahill, Rajiv Pathak, P. Rajesh Kumar, Minh Nguyen, Seetharama A. Acharya, Michael Brenowitz, Steven C. Almo, Xiaoqin Zou, Alasdair C. Steven, David Cowburn, Mark Girvin and Ganjam V. Kalpana (2021) INI1/SMARCB1 Rpt1 domain mimics TAR RNA in binding to integrase to facilitate HIV-1 replication. Nature Communications, 12(1):2743-2758. (IF- 17.694)

Diksha Jha, Prasanna Kumar Thiruveedula, Rajiv Pathak, Bipul Kumar, Hemant K. Gautam, Shrish Agnihotri, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Pradeep Kumar (2017) Multifunctional biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibiting excellent antimicrobial potential against multi-drug resistant microbes along with remarkable anticancerous properties. Materials Science and Engineering C 80:659–669. (IF- 8.457)

Ruby Bansal, Rajiv Pathak, Bipul Kumar, Hemant K. Gautam, Pradeep Kumar (2017) Enhanced antimicrobial activity of amphiphilic cationic polymers against a broad range of bacterial strains and skin microbes. Colloid and Polymer Science, 295:1177-1185 (IF- 2.434)

Bipul Kumar^$, Rajiv Pathak^$, P. Bertin Marry, Diksha Jha, Kabir Sardana, Hemant K. Gautam (2016) New insights into acne pathogenesis: exploring the role of acne-associated microbial populations. Dermatologica Sinica, 34(2):67-73 ^$(Co-first author) (IF- 1.107)

Bipul Kumar, Anurag Mathur, Rajiv Pathak, Kabir Sardana, Hemant K. Gautam, Pradeep Kumar (2016) Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of quaternized poly[bis(2-chloroethyl) ether-alt-1,3-bis[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]urea] against targeted pathogenic and multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 31(5) 467–480 (IF- 1.756)

Ruby Bansal^$, Rajiv Pathak^$, Diksha Jha, Pradeep Kumar, Hemant K. Gautam (2015) Enhanced antimicrobial activity of amine-phosphonium (N-P) hybrid polymers against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 64(2):84-89 ^$(Co-first author) (IF- 3.221)

Shrish Agnihotri, Rajiv Pathak, Diksha Jha, Indrajit Roy, Hemant K. Gautam, Ashwani K. Sharma, Pradeep Kumar (2015) Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of aminoglycoside-conjugated silica nanoparticles against clinical and resistant bacteria. New Journal of Chemistry. 39:6746-6755. (Cover page article) (IF- 3.925)

Santosh Yadav, Manohar Mahato, Rajiv Pathak, Diksha Jha, Bipul Kumar, Smriti Rekha Deka, Hemant Kumar Gautam, Ashwani Kumar Sharma (2014) Multifunctional self-assembled cationic peptide nanostructures efficiently carry plasmid DNA in vitro and exhibit antimicrobial activity with minimal toxicity. Journal of Materials Chemistry B. 2(30):4848-4861. (IF- 7.571)

Rajiv Pathak, Pankaj Narang, Muktesh Chandra, Raj Kumar, P.K. Sharma, Hemant K. Gautam (2014) Homology modeling and comparative profiling of superoxide dismutase in extremophiles: Exiguobacterium as a model organism. Indian Journal of Microbiology 54(4):450-458 (IF- 2.461)

Nicolas Beaume^$, Rajiv Pathak^$, Vinod Kumar Yadav, Swathi Kota, Hari S. Misra, Hemant K. Gautam, Shantanu Chowdhury (2013) Genome-wide study predicts promoter-G4 DNA motifs regulate selective functions in bacteria: radioresistance of D. radiodurans involves G4 DNA-mediated regulation. Nucleic Acids Research. 41(1):76-89. ^$(Co-first author) (IF- 19.16)

Aaradhita Baral, Pankaj Kumar, Rajiv Pathak, Shantanu Chowdhury (2013) Emerging trends in G-quadruplex biology- role in epigenetic and evolutionary events. Molecular BioSystems. 9:1568-1575. (IF- 4.212)

Rajiv Pathak, Raj Kumar and Hemant K. Gautam (2013) Cross-species induction and enhancement of antimicrobial properties in response to gamma irradiation in Exiguobacterium sp. HKG 126. Indian Journal of Microbiology53(2):130-136 (IF- 2.461)

Manohar Mahto, Varun Arora, Rajiv Pathak, Hemant K. Gautam, Ashwani Kumar Sharma (2012) Fabrication of nanostructures through molecular self-assembly of small amphiphilic glyco-dehydropeptides. Molecular BioSystems 8:1742-1749. (IF- 4.212)

Anil Kumar Gupta, Rajiv Pathak, Bharat Singh, Hemlata Gautam, Ram Kumar, Raj Kumar, Rajesh Arora and Hemant K. Gautam (2011) Proteomic analysis of global changes in protein expression during exposure of gamma radiation in Bacillus sp. HKG-112 isolated from saline soil. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 21(6):574-581. (IF- 3.277)