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Manjulatha Sara

Manjulatha Sara

PhD Candidate
Postgraduate Research Student
Postgraduate Research Student School of Optometry and Vision Science

Biography

Manjulatha Sara is a microbiologist and Scientia Higher Degree (PhD) candidate at 国产精品, specializing in antimicrobial efficacy against resistance. After earning her graduate degree, she joined L.V. Prasad Eye Research Hospital, gaining diagnostic experience in biochemical, histological, immunological, and microbiological analysis. She completed her master鈥檚 in science, India, where she developed expertise in microbial pathogenesis, histological changes, mammalian tissue responses, antimicrobial intracellular mechanisms, drug kinetics in vivo and maintenance of cell lines. As a recipient of the Scientia award for her postdoctoral research at 国产精品, she relocated to Australia. Her research focuses on developing novel antimicrobial lenses with peptidomimetics to control microbial keratitis, particularly in contact lens wearers.

Research Title: Development of Biologically Active Biomaterials Against Bacterial Colonisation听

Supervisor: Professor Mark Willcox

颁辞-蝉耻辫别谤惫颈蝉辞谤蝉:听Dr Alex Hui, Dr Edgar Wong and Dr Mohammad Yasir

Research Abstract

My research focuses on developing innovative antimicrobial contact lenses to reduce keratitis by systematically investigating the antimicrobial activity of peptidomimetics against MDR-resistant strains. I assessed resistance to protease and toxicity using erythrocytes and corneal epithelial cell lines. Three distinct attachment strategies鈥攃arbodiimide chemistry, 2-methyl, 2-oxazoline deposition, and plasma immersion ion implantation鈥攚ere employed to covalently immobilize the peptidomimetics. Characterization studies, along with biofilm inhibition and antimicrobial interaction mechanisms, were conducted. The significant outcomes of this study have propelled the research towards in vivo studies, contributing to the development of effective antimicrobial contact lenses for keratitis treatment.

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Email

manjulatha.sara@unsw.edu.au

1. Kalra P, Ahir war LK, Mittal R, Ranjith K, Das S, Manjulatha K, Bagga B, Mohamed A, Joseph J, Sharma S. Clinical and histopathological evaluation of a rabbit model for Pythium insidiosum keratitis. Current Eye Res. 2019 Oct 8

2. Bagga B, Joseph J, Garg P, Chandran K, Jaya Bhasker P, Manjulatha K, Sharma S. Efficacy of Topical Miltefosine in Patients with Acanthamoeba Keratitis: A Pilot Study. Ophthalmology. 2019 May;126(5):768-770.

3. Bagga B, Sharma S, Madhuri Guda SJ, Nagpal R, Joseph J, Manjulatha K, Mohamed A, Garg P. Leap forward in the treatment of Pythium insidiosum keratitis. Br J Ophthalmology. 2018 Dec;102(12):1629-1633.

4. Sharma S, Balne PK, Motukupally SR, Das S, Garg P, Sahu SK, Aruna Sri K,听Manjulatha K, Mishra DK, Shivaji S. Pythium insidiosum keratitis: clinical profile and role of DNA sequencing and zoospore formation in diagnosis. Cornea. 2015 Apr;34(4):438-42.

5. Manderwad GP, Kodiganti M, Ali MJ. Cardio bacterium hominis-induced acute dacryocystitis and lacrimal abscess. Indian J Ophthalmology. 2014 Apr;62(4):495-7. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.116461.

6. Balne PK, Reddy AK, Kodiganti M, Gorli SR, Garg P. Evaluation of three PCR assays for the detection of fungi in patients with mycotic keratitis. Br J Ophthalmology. 2012 Jun;96(6):911-2.

7. Balne PK, Nalamada S, Kodiganti M, Taneja M. Fungal keratitis caused by Chaetomium atrobrunneum. Cornea. 2012 Jan;31(1):94-5.

8.听Polyphenylglyoxamide-Based Amphiphilic Small Molecular Peptidomimetics as Antibacterial Agents with Anti-Biofilm Activity TT Yu, R Kuppusamy, M Yasir, MM Hassan, M Sara, J Ho, MDP Willcox, ...International journal of molecular sciences 22 (14), 7344

9. Published co-authored manuscript: The COVID-19 pandemic at two years: is the end in sight? Willcox et al. Contact Lens Spectrum 2022: 37, March: 34-36, 38-40

10. Published co-authored manuscript: Willcox, Mark DP, et al. "Biofilms and contact lenses: problems and solutions."听Microbiology Australia听44.2 (2023): 96-99.

11.听Sara, Manjulatha, et al. "The activity of antimicrobial peptoids against multidrug-resistant ocular pathogens."听Contact Lens and Anterior Eye听(2024): 102124.

12.听Sara, Manjulatha, et al. "Intrastromal Corneal Ring Implants Associated Bacterial Infections."听Current Eye Research听(2024): 1-9.

13. Z Hong, TT Yu, M Yasir, M Sara, DSC Black, MDP Willcox, R Kuppusamy, ...Chemistry Select 9 (22), e202400502, Daidzein鈥怋ased Amphiphilic Small Molecular Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics as Novel Antimicrobial Agents with Anti鈥怋iofilm Activity.

14. M Sara, R Kuppusamy, M Afzal, M Khan, M Yasir, P Kalaiselvan, A Hui, ...Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 62 (8), 400-400,鈥 Synergistic activity of a peptide mimic with quinolones and cephalosporins against Staphylococcus aureus鈥.
    • Researcher Scholar at School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, 国产精品. 2020-current
    • Master of Zoology听 from The Annamalai University, India. 1998-2000
    • Graduate from Ambedkar University, India. 1993-1996
    • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
    • American Society of Microbiology
    • Australian Society of Microbiology
    • Scientia Scholarship from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, to study towards a PhD.听 2020
    • Received International travel grant from Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2021
    • Received travel grant from International Society for Contact Lens Research to attend their conference in Portugal in 2022
    • Lorne infection and Immunity 2021:听 The Title is 鈥淪ynergistic activity of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin against听staphylococci听and streptococci鈥
    • ARVO 2021 - The title is 鈥淪ynergistic activity of a peptide mimic with quinolones and cephalosporins against听Staphylococcus aureus鈥
    • Australian Society for Microbiology 2021: 鈥淚dentification and diagnosis of听Pythium insidiosum听颈苍蹿别肠迟颈辞苍蝉鈥
    • International Society for Contact Lens and Research. 鈥淒evelopment of New antimicrobial contact lenses鈥. Sept 2022
    • Peptoids Summit 鈥淎ntimicrobial activity of peptoids against clinical pathogens.鈥 Sept 2022
    • International Cornea Contact Lens Congress. 鈥淧roduction of new antimicrobial contact lenses鈥 Oct 2022
    • Asian Network of Natural & unnatural Materials (ANNUM-10) 鈥 鈥淭he efficacy of various attachment strategies to produce covalently bound antimicrobial contact lenses鈥 鈥撎1st听Feb 2023
    • American Society of Microbiology (ASM)听 鈥 鈥澨齌he effect of peptoids covalently immobilised on etafilcon A contact lenses against bacteria鈥 15th听-19th听June 2023
    • Australian Society of Microbiology (ASM) 鈥 鈥淭he ability of covalently bound peptoids to reduce adhesion of听Pseudomonas aeruginosa听to contact lenses鈥 鈥 3rd-6th听July 2023
    • International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP) - 鈥淧eptoid-bound silicone lens ability to reduce adhesion of听P aeruginosa鈥澨鈥 6-8th听Sep 2023
    • Australian Society of Microbiology (ASM) 鈥 鈥淎 Comparative Analysis of the Mechanisms of Action of Short Mimics and N-Substituted Glycine Peptoids Against P. aeruginosa鈥 1 - 4 July 2024
    • International Corneal and Contact Lense Congress - 鈥淎ntibacterial efficacy of a peptidomimetic on three different lens surfaces鈥- 23-25th Aug 2024
    • International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP) - 鈥淧eptoid-bound silicone lens ability to reduce adhesion of听P aeruginosa鈥澨鈥 2-4th听Sep 2024