I am a postdoc in the Olivia Wesula Lwande lab. My research focuses on the virus-mosquito and mosquito-host interactions.
I hold a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati), where my doctoral research focused on the molecular characterization of begomoviruses and disease resistance in mungbean plants. During my Ph.D., I investigated the epidemiology of yellow mosaic disease in mungbean across India, screened for resistant plant varieties, and explored the use of dsRNA sprays to trigger RNA interference (RNAi) as a method of disease control. Additionally, I studied the role of the apoplast and exosomes in the infection process of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV).
Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher in Olivia Wesula Lwande Lab, we characterize virus–vector interactions in Anopheles mosquitoes, with a particular focus on O’nyong-nyong virus (ONNV). My work investigates how viral infections influence mosquito immune responses, replication dynamics, transmission efficiency, and tissue-level interactions. By elucidating these mechanisms, we aim to identify novel molecular and cellular targets for vector-based disease control. This research advances our understanding of mosquito–virus interactions and contributes to the development of innovative strategies to block the transmission of mosquito-borne viral diseases.