Dr. Baldev Raj Gulati

Research Interests

Dr Gulati has 25 years of experience on diverse veterinary viruses in the area of immunology and biotechnology, including, rotavirus, herpesvirus, adenoviruses, Japanese encephalitis virus, equine influenza, avian pneumovirus. He has successfully completed 12 competitive research projects funded by DBT, DST, ICAR, Pfizer, etc.

Dr Gulati has contributed significantly in unraveling mechanisms and incidence of neuropathogenic and latent equine herpesvirus infections in horses, the extent of Japanese encephalitis incidence in horse and pig population in India. He isolated and sequenced first Japanese encephalitis virus from a horse foal exhibiting neurological signs in India. The whole genome sequencing of equine JEV isolate gene indicated that the equine JEV isolate belonged to genotype III, responsible for major human outbreaks in India.

Dr Gulati has been working on epidemiology of rotavirus associated diarrhea in animals & has characterized diversity in rotavirus strains isolated from diarrhoeic calves, sheep, goat and foals in India. He has reported the circulation of unusual rotavirus genotypes (G10, P6[1], G1, G3, G6) in diarrheic calves and foals in India. He has also characterized adenoviruses from equines, bovines and poultry for development of vectors for vaccine delivery in animals and humans.

Dr Gulati contributed in isolation and characterization of equine mesenchymal stem cells from amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood and developed methodology for their tenogenic differentiation.

Recent research papers in last five years:

2. Kumar N, Malik YPS, Kumar S, Dhama K, Gulati BR, Minakshi and Singh RK. 2017. Indian Patent Application entitled “Peptide-recombinant based Antigen Capture Immunoassay for Detection of Rotavirus Group A Infection in Animals”. Application Ref No. 201611021466, E-2/989/2017/Del. June 2017.
2. Kumar N, Malik YPS, Kumar S, Dhama K, Gulati BR, Minakshi and Singh RK. 2017. Indian Patent Application entitled “Peptide-recombinant based Antigen Capture Immunoassay for Detection of Rotavirus Group A Infection in Animals”. Application Ref No. 201611021466, E-2/989/2017/Del. June 2017.
3. Baruah A, Hazarika RA, Barman NN, Islam S and Gulati BR. 2018. Mosquito density and pig sero-positivity as a correlate of Japanese encephalitis in human population in Assam, India. J Vectorborne Dis. Accepted.
4. Grace MR, Dhanze H, Pantwane P, Sivakumar M, Gulati BR and Kumar A. 2018. Latex agglutination test for rapid on-site serodiagnosis of Japanese encephalitis in pigs using recombinant NS1 antigen. J Vectorborne Dis. Accepted.
5. Rani S, Singh Y, Gulati BR and Khurana SK. 2017. Occurrence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli in buffalo meat. J. Exp. Biol. Agri Sci. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18006/2017.5(2).208.214
6. Gulati BR, Anagha G, Riyesh T and Khurana SK. 2016. Emergence of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy: A brief review. J. Exp. Biol. Agri Sci. DOI: 10.18006/2016.4(Spl-4-EHIDZ).S132.S138
7. Khurana SK, Dhama K, Minakshi P, Gulati BR, Malik YPS and Karthik K. 2016. Leptospirosis in horses: Special reference to equine recurrent uveitis. J. Exp. Biol. Agri Sci. DOI: 10.18006/2016.4(Spl-4-EHIDZ).S123.S131
8. Anagha G, Gulati BR, Riyesh T and Virmani N. 2016. Genetic characterization of equine herpesvirus 1 isolates from abortion outbreaks in India. Arch. Virol. doi:10.1007/s00705-016-3097-z
9. Kumar N, Malik YS, Kumar S, Sharma K, Sircar S, Saurabh S, Gulati BR, Singh N, Singh AK, Joshi VG, Banyai K and Dhama K. 2016. Peptide Recombinant VP6 Protein Based Enzyme Immunoassay for the Detection of Group A Rotaviruses in Multiple Host Species. PLoS ONE 11 (7): e0159027. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159027
10. Mohanty N, Gulati BR, Kumar R, Gera S, Kumar P and Yadav PS. 2016. Phenotypic and functional ccharacteristics of mesenchymal stem cells derived from equine umbilical cord blood. Cytotechnology 68:795-807.
11. Gulati BR, Kumar R, Mohanty N, Gera S, Kumar P and Yadav PS. 2016. Comparative evaluation of equine mesenchymal stem cells derived from amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 86 (5): 539-544.
12. Khurana SK, Singha H, Malik P, Gulati BR and Singh RK. 2015. Molecular characterization of clinical isolates of Rhodococcus equi with PCR assay based on virulence plasmid marker. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 85: 1063-1066.
13. Pavulraj S, Bera BC, Joshi A, Anand T, Virmani M, Vaid RK, Shanmugasundaram K, Gulati BR, Rajukumar K, Singh R, Misri J, Singh RK, Tripathi BN, Virmani N. 2015. Pathology of Equine Influenza virus (H3N8) in Murine Model. PLoS One. 10(11):e0143094. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143094.
14. Gulati BR, Sharma H, Riyesh T, Khurana SK and Kapoor S. 2015. Viral and Host Strategies for Regulation of Latency and Reactivation in Equid Herpesviruses. Asian Journal of Animal & Veterinary Sciences DOI: 10.3923/ajava.2015. DOI: 10.1007/s10616-014-9831-z
15. Ghosh K, Kumar R, Singh J, Gahlawat SK, Kumar D, Selokar N, Yadav SP, Gulati BR and Yadav PS. 2015. Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) term amniotic membrane-derived cells exhibit mesenchymal stem cells characteristics in vitro. In Vitro Cellular & Development Biology – Animal 51 (9):915-921. DOI 10.1007/s11626-015-9920-0.
16. Gulati BR, Gupta AK and Kadian SK. 2014. West Nile virus infection among animals and humans in India. Adv Anim Vet Sci 2 (4S): 17-23.
17. Gulati BR, Kumar R, Mohanty N, Kumar P, Anand T and Yadav PS. 2014. Therapeutic Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Equine Medicine: Current Concepts and Future Perspectives. Vet Res International 2 (3): 51-67.
18. Sharma S, Asrani RK, Singh G, Gulati BR, Patil PK and Gupta VK. 2014. Outbreak of hydropericardium syndrome associated with ascites and liver rupture in caged broilers. Vet Res International 2: 33-45.
19. Mohanty N, Gulati BR, Kumar R, Gera S, Kumar P, Somasundaram RK, Kumar S. 2014. Immunophenotypic characterization and tenogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from equine umbilical cord blood. In Vitro Cellular & Development Biology – Animal 50:538-548 DOI 10.1007/s11626-013-9729-7.
20. Gulati BR, Kumar R, Mohanty N, Kumar P, Somasundaram RK and Yadav PS. 2013. Bone morphogenetic protein-12 induces tenogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from equine amniotic fluid. Cells Tissues Organs 198(5):377-389 DOI 10.1159/000358231.
21. Malik YS, Sharma K, Vaid N, Batra M, Minakshi, Prasad G, Gulati BR and Bhilegaonkar KN. 2013. Designing and validation of new primers for efficient genotyping of animal G3 rotaviruses. Veterinarski Arhiv 83: 611-622.
22. Kumar P, Gulati BR, Deep A, Gahlot PK, Kumar R, Mohanty N, Anand T and Yadav PS. 2013 Gross Anatomy, Histomorphology and Histochemistry of Equine Umbilical Cord. Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 25:65-68.
23. Mohanty N, Gulati BR, Gera S,Kumar S, Kumar R, Kumar P and Yadav PS. 2013. Hematological and biochemical profile of equine umbilical cord blood and comparison with peripheral blood of mare and newborn foal. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 83:1165-1168.
24. Bera BC, Virmani N, Shanmugasundaram, Vaid RK, Singh BK, Gulati BR, Anand T, Barua S, Malik P and Singh RK. 2013. Genetic Analysis of the Neuraminidase (NA) Gene of Equine Influenza Virus (H3N8) from Epizootic of 2008-2009 in India. Indian Journal of Virology 24: 256-264 DOI 10.1007/s13337-013-0137-0
25. Gupta A, Kadian SK and Gulati BR. 2013. Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against West Nile Virus. Veterinary Practitioner. 14 (2): 275-278.

Technologies developed/ patented :

Dr Gulati has contributed in development of refined vaccines for equine herpes virus and equine influenza virus infections in horses and avian pneumovirus vaccine for turkeys. An inactivated EHV1 vaccine developed for preventing abortion storms in mares was recently released by Hon Minister of Agriculture, Sh Radha Mohan Singh Ji on 18 Feb 2015. An updated equine influenza virus vaccine was released by Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, DG ICAR on 22 August 2016. A monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA kit developed for detection of EHV1 infection was released for commercial use by the honorable DG, ICAR on 20 August 2008. Dr Gulati has also contributed in development of state-of-the-art BSL-III facility for handling of high risk animal pathogens. This facility was inaugurated by Dr S Ayyappan, Former DG ICAR on March 9, 2013.

Awards/ Fellowships:

Dr Gulati has one US Patent on Avian pneumovirs diagnostic and filed one Indian patent on rotavirus diagnostic. He has to his credit 215 research publications, including 73 research articles in high impact journals, 82 papers presented in international and national conferences, 6 books and 45 book chapters. Five of his papers have been awarded Best Presentation Awards in various Conferences. Dr Gulati is the Chief Editor of journal ‘Veterinary Immunology and Biotechnology and is in the editorial board and reviewer for several international journals and project reviewer for DST, DBT and SERB. He has also been awarded ISVIB Mid Career Scientist Award in recognition to the research work on Japanese Encephalitis in 2009. He was awarded Fellow of Prestigious National Academy of Veterinary Sciences, India (2015), Fellow of Indian Virological Society (2016) and Fellow of Indian Society for Veterinary Immunology and Biotechnology (2017).

Membership

1. Founder Member, International Academy of Biosciences (IAB), UK, 10 July 2016
2. Life Member, Society for Biosafety
3. Life member, Indian Immunological Society (IIS).
4. Life member, Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI).
5. Life member, Indian Virological Society (IVS).
6. Life member, Indian Association of Veterinary Microbiologists, Immunologists and Specialists in Infectious Diseases (IAVMI).
7. Life member, Indian Society for Veterinary Immunology and Biotechnology (ISVIB).

Ongoing Research Projects