Hi, I’m
Dixitkumar Tandel
Hyderabad
Summary
Enthusiastic Molecular virology and Immunology researcher with six years of work experience and extensive knowledge of core subject matter. Meticulous and detail-oriented with excellent observational, problem-solving abilities, organizational and communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and take research field ahead.
Overview
6
years of professional experience
Work History
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
PhD Student
01.2020 - Current
Job overview
- Elucidated SARS-CoV-2 Delta mediated suppression of innate immunity: published as first author in Microbiology Spectrum (2022).
- Published seven peer-reviewed articles and multiple preprints in process.
- Developed expertise in handling BSL-2 and BSL-3 viruses (SARS-CoV-2, JEV, DENV, HCV, VSV).
- Applied advanced techniques: Confocal & TEM imaging, RNA-IP, Polysome profiling, RNA-seq analysis.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to study host–pathogen interactions.
Mentorship – Supervised and trained four trainees, including MSc dissertation students, a year-long project trainee, and a summer intern, in molecular virology research and laboratory techniques.
Education
CSIR-Centre For Cellular And Molecular Biology
PhD from Molecular Virology
10.2025
University Overview
Thesis title – “Investigating Host Response to SARS-CoV-2 Variants”
Veer Narmad South Gujarat UniversityNavsari, India
Master of Science from Microbiology
04-2019
University Overview
- Graduation with Distinction, Semester-3 and 4, 2019
- Dissertation title: Cloning of eGFP gene into vector pGRG36 and genomic integration into host with the help of Tn7 transposon
- Award: Gujarat State Eligibility Test, 2018
Veer Narmad South Gujarat UniversityNavsari, India
Bachelor of Science from Microbiology
03-2017
University Overview
- Graduation with First class 2017
Skills
- Virology & Immunology: BSL-2/3 virus handling, virus isolation/culturing, neutralization assays, plaque/foci-forming assays, antibody efficacy testing
- Cell Culture: Primary cells, immortalized cell lines, drug/inhibitor screening, viral infection assays
- Molecular Biology: Cloning, RNA-IP, Protein-IP, polysome profiling, IVT assays, mass spectrometry, transcriptomics
- Imaging & Data Analysis: Confocal & TEM microscopy, RNA-seq analysis
- Verbal and written communication
- Project coordination
Languages
English (Fluent), Hindi, Gujarati
Conferences
- Keystone Symposium on Positive Strand RNA Viruses, Ireland (2024) – Delivered Short talk & poster presentation.
- 7th Annual Molecular Virology Meeting, IISC Bangalore, India (2023) – Poster presentation.
- IUBMB Meeting on Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of RNA Viruses, RCB India (2022) – Poster presentation.
- 88th Annual Meeting of SBCI, BARC Mumbai, India (2019) – Poster presentation.
Research Interests
Host–virus interactions: innate immune signaling, immune evasion by RNA viruses, viral evolution, emerging/re-emerging infections, and translational antiviral approaches.
Awards & Fellowships
SERB International Travel Grant (2024) – Keystone RNA Viruses Meeting, Killarney, Ireland
CCMB Science Foundation International Travel Fellowship (2024)
CSIR-JRF (2020) & SRF (2022) – Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
ICMR-JRF (2020) – Indian Council of Medical Research
GSET - Gujarat State Eligibility Test for Assistant Professor (2019) – MSU, Baroda
Publications
Peer-reviewed Articles
- 1. Tandel, D., Sah, V., Singh, N.K., et al. SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant potently suppresses innate immune response and evades interferon-activated antiviral responses in human colon epithelial cells. Microbiology Spectrum, 10(5): e01604-22 (2022).
- 2. Haripriya, P., Tandel, D., Siddiqui, A.H., Harshan, K.H. Metformin suppresses SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture. Virus Research, 323:199010 (2023).
- 3. Gupta, D., Ahmed, F., Tandel, D., et al. Equine immunoglobulin fragment F(ab’)2 neutralizes multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. Clinical Immunology, 237:108981 (2022).
- 4. Gupta, D., Haripriya, P., Sah, V., Tandel, D., et al. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by β-propiolactone causes aggregation of viral particles and loss of antigenic potential. Virus Research, 305:198555 (2021).
- 5. Moharir, S.C., Thota, S.C., Goel, A., Tandel, D., et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the air in Indian hospitals and households. Journal of Aerosol Science, 164:106002 (2022).
- 6. Augustine, G., Sisila, V., Indhu, M., Gupta, D., Tandel, D., et al. Redirecting the JAK-STAT signal blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication. Journal of Medical Virology, 95(7): e28965 (2023).
- 7. Saha, R., Majhi, B., Palit, S., Waghela, N., Tandel, D., et al. DNA to RNA tuning of a pyrrolidine-derived quinoxaline scaffold inhibits HCV IRES-mediated translation. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (2025).
Preprints
- 1. Ganguli, S., Gupta, D., Ramaswamy, R., Tandel, D., et al. Musashi1 interacts with viral RNA and restricts SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv (2024).
- 2. Sah, V., Potharaju, P.S., Nair, K.S., Tandel, D., et al. MAVS orchestrates IFN-independent antiviral immunity via mitochondrial integrity. bioRxiv (2025).
- 3. Tandel, D., Gupta, D., Sah, V., Harshan, K.H. N440K variant of SARS-CoV-2 has higher infectious fitness. bioRxiv (2021).
- 4. Haripriya, P., Gupta, D., Suresh, A.P., Tandel, D., et al. Suppression of global protein translation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv (2021).
Timeline
PhD Student
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
01.2020 - Current
CSIR-Centre For Cellular And Molecular Biology
PhD from Molecular Virology
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University
Master of Science from Microbiology
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University
Bachelor of Science from Microbiology