During my doctoral degree pursual, I have tried to develop candidate vaccines against intracellular pathogens like M. tuberculosis and L. monocytogenes, exploiting the adjuvant capability of total polar lipids harvested from lower organism (archaebacteria) H. salinarium. My studies on intracellular pathogen bring my curiosity towards the innate mechanisms of hosts against intracellular pathogens, e.g. how they survive inside host, which kind of evasion mechanisms they use for their survival, and many more. In my post doctoral training, I am looking at the virus and host cell interactions, which is helping me to understand about the strategies utilized by viruses for their lifelong survival.

Post Doctoral research Associate @ I am working on herpes viruses and their interaction with host innate immune system, in particular inflammation (currently working on inflammasome). How the herpesviruses keep themselves in the host system for long duration of time avoiding the innate defense mechanisms against them. Better understanding and deciphering of key mechanisms will give clues for drug development. From February 2012 to Present (3 years 11 months)

Doctor of philosophy., Biotechnology (Immunology) @ Aligarh Muslim University From 2006 to 2011 Master's degree, Biotechnology, First @ Aligarh Muslim University From 2003 to 2005 Bachelor of Science (BS), Botany, Zoology and Chemistry, First Division @ Aligarh Muslim University From 2000 to 2003 Dr. Mairaj Ansari is skilled in: Molecular Biology, Western Blotting, Biochemistry, Cell Culture, Protein Expression, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, RT-PCR, DNA, PCR, Protein Chemistry, Biotechnology, Protein Purification, Lifesciences, Microbiology