My current postdoctoral research work is multi-faceted and involves understanding the mechanism of various human diseases, including HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and SMARCB1 associated atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors. My first project is based on single-cell single-molecule approach to understand mechanisms underlying latency and persistence of HIV-1 and specific detection and replication kinetics of SARS-CoV-2. During my postdoctoral work, we reported a striking finding on the hitherto unknown cytoplasmic localization of truncated SMARCB1/INI1 in a significant number of tumour cells. It is pertinent to mention here that the depletion of nuclear SMARCB1 protein is a hallmark of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), therefore, these findings are not only of biological interest, but also have promising implications towards the development of newer therapeutic interventions for ATRT. On the other hand, my doctoral research work at CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (Delhi, India) mainly revolved around understanding the role of potential G-quadruplex forming sequences in microbial genomes. In addition, I have also worked on the screening and characterization of G-quadruplex specific small molecules and synthetic polymers as an antimicrobial agent against several multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Taken together, my academic training and extensive research experience of more than 12 years in different geographical locations (India and USA), have provided me with an excellent background in multiple biological disciplines including molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and viral genetics.

Peer-reviewed Publications: 20

Total Citations: 525

h-index: 12; i10 index: 13

Representative Publications:

Pathak R^#, Zin F^#, Thomas C, Bens S, Gayden T, Karamchandani J, Dudley RW, Nemes K, Johann PD, Oyen F, Kordes U, Jabado N, Siebert R, Paulus W, Kool M, Frühwald MC, Albrecht S, Kalpana GV, Hasselblatt M (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)

Beaume N^#, Pathak R^#, Yadav VK, Kota S, Misra HS, Gautam HK, Chowdhury S (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. (^#equal contribution)

Dixit U, Bhutoria S, Wu X, Qiu L, Spira M, Mathew S, Harris R, Adams LJ, Cahill S, Pathak R, Kumar PR, Nguyen M, Acharya SA, Brenowitz M, Almo SC, Zou X, Steven AC, Cowburn D, Girvin M, Kalpana GV (2021) INI1/SMARCB1 Rpt1 domain mimics TAR RNA in binding to integrase to facilitate HIV-1 replication. Nature Communications, 12(1):2743-2758.

Jha D, Thiruveedula PK, Pathak R, Kumar B, Gautam HK, Agnihotri S, Sharma AK, Kumar P (2017) Multifunctional biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibiting excellent antimicrobial potential against multi-drug resistant microbes along with remarkable anti cancerous properties. Materials Science and Engineering C 80:659-669.

Bansal R^#, Pathak R^#, Jha D, Kumar P, Gautam HK (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 (^#equal contribution)

Agnihotri S, Pathak R, Jha D, Roy I, Gautam HK, Sharma AK, Kumar P (2015) Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of aminoglycoside-conjugated silica nanoparticles against clinical and resistant bacteria. New Journal of Chemistry. 39:6746-6755.

Yadav S, Mahato M, Pathak R, Jha D, Kumar B, Deka SR, Gautam HK, Sharma AK (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.

Pathak R, Narang P, Chandra M, Kumar R, Sharma PK, Gautam HK (2014) Homology modeling and comparative profiling of superoxide dismutase in extremophiles: Exiguobacterium as a model organism. Indian Journal of Microbiology 54(4):450-458

Baral A, Kumar P, Pathak R, Chowdhury S (2013) Emerging trends in G-quadruplex biology- role in epigenetic and evolutionary events. Molecular BioSystems. 9:1568-1575.

Pathak R, Kumar R, Gautam HK (2013) Cross-species induction and enhancement of antimicrobial properties in response to gamma irradiation in Exiguobacterium sp. HKG 126. Indian Journal of Microbiology 53(2):130-136

Mahto M, Arora V, Pathak R, Gautam HK, Sharma AK (2012) Fabrication of nanostructures through molecular self-assembly of small amphiphilic glyco-dehydropeptides. Molecular BioSystems 8:1742-1749.