Brief Introduction of Department

Department of Virology and Immunology is a relatively young department in the timeline of Haffkine Institute. It is primarily engaged in understanding the epidemiology, patho-physiology and the host immune response towards various viruses and diseases caused by them.  Department of Virology and Immunology is a National Influenza Centre recognized by the World Health Organization. The Department has been a part of an ICMR-WHO National Influenza Surveillance Project for Human Influenza. Currently, it is a network laboratory under the NCDC-IDSP Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance. A separate Biosafety-3 facility has been set up with the Department of Virology under the NCDC-World Bank-MoHSW project for pandemic-preparedness for Avian Influenza. The Department is affiliated to the University of Mumbai & MUHS, Nasik, for M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees and currently has 8 Ph.D. students and 2 M.Sc. students carrying out research. The Department also undertakes several training programs at an undergraduate and post-graduate student level. These include the Annual Biotechnology Training Program, Annual Course in Medical Virology (VIROVITALS) and Hands-on Training in Techniques in Virology and Immunology. It comprises of four major divisions, viz. Basic Virology, Molecular Virology, Immunology and Proteomics. Neurovirology, Retrovirology, Vector-borne Virology and Respiratory Virology are some interesting and highly active facets of the Department. Research is undertaken on understanding the virus-host relationship and its implication on public health. Studies related to anti-viral efficacy analyses of novel chemical entities (NCEs) of both synthetic as well as natural origin are undertaken at the Department. These evaluations have both for academic as well as commercial outcomes. The testing includes diagnosis of viral infections by classical culture methods to novel PCR techniques.
Under Immunology, the Department is engaged in identifying the immune response to various viral and non-viral entities, by means of genomic or proteomic analysis. Here, differential expression of immune parameter genes; (e.g. Cytokines, chemokines, growth factors); as well as proteins in various infections, is studied. The Department is also setting up in-vitro models for evaluating inflammation, immune-modulation and specific toxicity.

In the years to come, the Department of Virology plans at having three major sections under its umbrella, viz. Conventional Research Unit (CRU), Molecular Systems Unit (MSU) and Diagnostics Unit (DU) catering in both Virology as well as Immunology. Under MSU, we aim at using novel methods like NGS/WGS, Flow Cytometry and Microarrays to answer our queries on pathogenesis and host response. This unit would be the Applied Research arm of the Department. The CRU would undertake gold standard methods like viral propagation and isolation, enzyme assays and basic Immunology. This unit would be the training-in-research and contractual service provider front of the Department. Most importantly, the DU would be providing with super specialized testing facilities, e.g., Immune disorders, untypable infections, unusual matrices, etc. that would require a research bend for interpretation.