Dr. Vikram Saini

Primary Affiliation:

Additional Professor,
Department of Biotechnology,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Ansari Nagar,
New Delhi-110029

Secondary Affiliation:

Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory (BSL-3),
Centralized Core Research Facility (CCRF),
All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029
Link to CCRF

Email ID: vikram@aiims.edu

Phone(O): +91-11-26594994

Google Scholar Link :- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zE4kGlwAAAAJ&hl=en

Personal Web-Page: http://vikramjind.wixsite.com/vikramsaini

Lab Website: Dr. Vikram Saini

Research Interests:
Metabolism and bioenergetics of Infectious diseases, Redox Biology, Mycobacterial infections including HIV-TB co-infections, Nutrition and Virulence, Genomics and pathogenomics, Gaseous signaling and environmental risk factors for infections, Drug discovery and mechanisms of drug resistance.

Select Publications: (*Corresponding Author)

1. Arya K, Negi S, Kumar A, Thakur K, Mehra S, Kumar A, Kumar R, Mehta S, Kataria R* and Saini V* (2025). Selective and sensitive detection of Nitric Oxide in aqueous and biological settings using a novel fluorescent Cobalt-MOF. Journal of Material Chemistry C2025, 13, 11128-11143. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC04984E.


2. *Saini V, Kalra P, Sharma M, Rai C, Saini Vikas, Gautam K, Bhattacharya S, Mani S, Saini K, Kumar S (2021). A cold chain independent specimen collection and transport medium improves diagnostic sensitivity, and minimizes biosafety challenges Covid19 molecular diagnosis. Microbiology Spectrum. 9, e01108-21 (2021) Doi: 10.1128/Spectrum.01108-21 ^$Patent filed. Research Highlight in Nature India: Microbial transport medium improves COVID-19 diagnostic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-022-00003-x
   PMID: 34878310


3. Kumar P, Saini K, *Saini V, *Mitchell T (2021). Oxalate Suppresses macrophage immunometabolism and anti-bacterial response to uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) infection. Frontiers in Immunology. Vol 12, Article 694865. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.694865.
   PMID: 34745086


4. Saini, V, Chinta, K.C., Reddy, V.P. et al. Hydrogen sulfide stimulates Mycobacterium tuberculosis respiration, growth and pathogenesis. Nature Communications.(2020) doi:10.1038/s41467-019-14132-y
   This noxious gas aggravates TB
   PMID: 31992699


5. Chinta K, Rahman A, Saini V, Glasgow J, Reddy VP et al. (2019) Microanatomic distribution of myeloid Heme Oxygenase-1 protects against free radical-mediated immunopathology in human tuberculosis. Cell Reports, 25 (7), 1938-1952. e5. (Cover page article).
   PMID: 30428359


6. Gupta P, Kaur N, Saini V, Bala M, Sherawat S, Gupta S, Dua A, Kumar V, Dutt V, Injeti Elisha, Mittal A. (2019) Cinnamaldehyde regulates H₂O ₂‐induced skeletal muscle atrophy by ameliorating the proteolytic and antioxidant defense systems. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 234 (5), 6194-6208.
   PMID: 30317570


7. Patel M, Yarlagadda V, Adedoyin O, Saini V, Oreoluwa D, Holmes R, Mitchell T. (2018) Oxalate induces mitochondrial dysfunction and disrupts redox homeostasis in a human monocyte derived cell line. Redox Biology. Vol. 15, 207-215.
   PMID: 29272854


8. Dutt V, Saini V, Gupta P, Kaur N, Bala M, Gujar R, Grewal A, Gupta S, Dua A, Mittal A (2018). S-allyl cysteine inhibits TNF alpha induced skeletal muscle wasting through suppressing proteolysis and expression of inflammatory molecules. Biochim Biophys Acta. (Gen Subjects); Vol. 1862 (4): 895-906.
   PMID: 29288771


9. Saini V,Cumming BM, Guidry L, Lamprecht D, Adamson JH, Reddy VP, Chinta KC, Mazorodze J, Glasgow JN, Richard-Greenblatt M, Gomez-Velasco A, Bach H, Av-Gay Y, Eoh H, Rhee K, Steyn AJC (2016). Ergothioneine maintains redox and bioenergetichomeostasis essential for drug susceptibility and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cell Reports. Vol.14, 1-14.
   PMID: 26774486
   


10. Saini V, Raghuvanshi S, Ahmed N, Khurana JP, Hasnain SE, Tyagi Akhilesh K, Tyagi Anil K (2012). Massive gene acquisitions in Mycobacterium indicus pranii provide a perspective on mycobacterial evolution.Nucleic Acids Res. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks793.Vol. 40 (21) 10832-10850.
    PMID: 22965120
    
    This is the first new bacterial species completely sequenced in India. Selected as a breakthrough article by NAR editorial board representing the top 5% of studies in terms of originality, significance and scientific excellence.
    
    Commentary at Nature: 'Mosaic genome' holds clue to TB, leprosy vaccines
    http://www.nature.com/nindia/2012/120921/full/nindia.2012.137.html


11. Saini V, Farhana A, Glasgow JN, Steyn AJC (2012). Iron sulfur cluster proteins and microbial regulation: Implications for understanding tuberculosis.
    Current Opinion in Chemical Biology. Vol. 16 (1-2), 45-53.
    PMID: 22483328
    
    

I would be happy to discuss and sponsor self-motivated, hard-working and bright candidates applying for Post-doctoral fellowships/scientist positions for various funding agencies like DBT/DST and ICMR. Interested candidates should contact by email along with a 1-page write-up, CV and 3 references.