About Profile

Area of Interest

Medical Entomology, Vector Control, Metabolic Insecticide Resistance and Insecticide Resistance Management, Deep Learning Modeling

Research Experience

I have worked as a Consultant (Non-Medical) at Clinical Studies and Trial Unit and also as the member of the INTENT team at ICMR Headquarters, where I assisted in coordination and implementation of several national-level public health research projects, including: 1) Risk factors for COVID associated Mucormycosis in India: A case control investigation; 2) Reinfection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) among healthcare workers in India; 3) Correlation of COVID-19 infection with occupation- An observational study across India and 4) DHR I-PEM (Integrated Palliative, Elderly & Mental Health) Community-Based Screening. I have also worked as a Programme Coordinator (JE/AES) at National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) Formerly, Directorate of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (Dte. of NVBDCP), MoHFW. I have also assisted in coordinating following projects 1) Efficacy evaluation of PermaNet 3.0 with variable deltamethrin-resistant malaria vectors in India, 2) Bio-efficacy studies on Interceptor® and 3) Phase I: Evaluation of chlorfenapyr (pyrrole Insecticide) against mosquito vectors.

Research Interest

My research interests on exploring bacterial resources as sources of bio-insecticidal agents, attractants, and resistance-disrupting compounds against mosquitoes, accelerated through in silico screening and pathway-mapping tools to support sustainable and targeted vector control strategies

Awards & Acheivements

Professional Experience

• Consultant (Non-Medical), Clinical Studies and Trial Unit, Division of Development Research, ICMR Headquarter, 2020-2023
• Programme Coordinator JE/AES (Japanese Encephalitis/ Acute Encephalitis Syndrome), National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) Formerly, Directorate of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (Dte. of NVBDCP), DGHS, MoHFW, 22 Sham Nath Marg, Delhi 2017-2020
• Coordinating with States, ministries for monitoring and evaluation, surveillance and information for decision-making, promoting preparedness and ensuring rapid response at all levels for National Programme for prevention and control of JE/AES in the country
• Nominated for monitoring and supervising MDA for filariasis control programme
• Nominated as member of Central Team for AES outbreak, 2019 at Muzzafarpur, Bihar.
• Nominated as Nodal officer for the State of Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Andhra and Telangana for drafting PIPs & ROP for NVBDCP - NPCC
• Project Manager (Technical) of the project entitled “To evaluate the efficacy of PermaNet 3.0 long-lasting insecticidal nets in areas with variable deltamethrin-resistant malaria vectors in India”, ICMR-NIMR, Delhi, 2015-2016
• Project Assistant, in the various projects at ICMR-NIMR, Delhi (2006-2010):
• Monitoring of insecticide resistance in India
• Bio-efficacy studies on Interceptor®, Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) impregnated with alpha-cypermethrin
• Phase I: Evaluation of chlorfenapyr (pyrrole Insecticide) against susceptible and resistant strains of mosquito species.
• JRF, CSIR-Institute for Genomics & Integrative Biology, Delhi – 2000-2003

Publications

• 1. Shete A, Deshpande S, Sawant J, Warthe N, Thakar M, Madkaikar M, Pradhan V, Rao P, Rohatgi S, Mukherjee A, Anand T, Satija A, Velamuri PS, et al. Higher proinflammatory responses possibly contributing to suppressed cytotoxicity in patients with COVID-19 associated mucormycosis. Immunobiology. 2023;228(3):152384. doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152384
• Satija A, Anand T, Mukherjee A, Velamuri PS, Singh KJ, et al. Satellite Epidemic of Covid-19 Associated Mucormycosis in India: A Multi-Site Observational Study. Mycopathologia. 2023;188(5):745-753. doi:10.1007/s11046-023-00770-w
• Anand T, Mukherjee A, Satija A, Velamuri PS, et al. A case control investigation of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis in India. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22(1):856. Published 2022 Nov 16. doi:10.1186/s12879-022-07844-y
• Raghavendra K, Rahi M, Verma V, Velamuri PS, et al. Insecticide resistance status of malaria vectors in the malaria endemic states of India: implications and way forward for malaria elimination. Heliyon. 2022;8(12):e11902. Published 2022 Nov 26. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11902
• Verma V, Agrawal OP, Velamuri PS, Raghavendra K. A laboratory simulation study on suppression of resistance genes by differential exposures to an insecticide in Anopheles stephensi Liston population. J Vector Borne Dis. 2018;55(3):184-188. doi:10.4103/0972-9062.249126
• Raghavendra K, Velamuri PS. Spinosad: A biorational mosquito larvicide for vector control. Indian J Med Res. 2018;147(1):4-6. doi:10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1644_16
• Prasad KM, Raghavendra K, Verma V, Velamuri PS, Pande V. Esterases are responsible for malathion resistance in Anopheles stephensi: A proof using biochemical and insecticide inhibition studies. J Vector Borne Dis. 2017;54(3):226-232. doi:10.4103/0972-9062.217613
• Raghavendra K, Velamuri PS, Verma V, et al. Temporo-spatial distribution of insecticide-resistance in Indian malaria vectors in the last quarter-century: Need for regular resistance monitoring and management. J Vector Borne Dis. 2017;54(2):111-130.
• Elamathi N, Raghavendra K, Velamuri PS, et al. Detoxification enzymes in mosquitoes and their role in insecticide resistance mechanism – A brief Review. National Journal of Life Science (NJLS) Special Issue. 13 (3): 2016: 138-141
• Uragayala S, Verma V, Natarajan E, Velamuri PS, Kamaraju R. Adulticidal & larvicidal efficacy of three neonicotinoids against insecticide susceptible & resistant mosquito strains. Indian J Med Res. 2015;142 Suppl(Suppl 1):S64-S70. doi:10.4103/0971-5916.176624
• Verma V, Elamathi N, Velamuri PS, Sreehari U, Agrawal OP, Raghavendra K. Chlorfenapyr: irritant effect compared to other insecticides and its intrinsic toxicity in multiple-insecticide-susceptible and -resistant Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae). J Vector Borne Dis. 2015;52(1):99-103.
• Elamathi N, Verma V, Poonam SV, Uragayala S, Kamaraju R. Neonicotinoids in vector control: In silico approach. Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2014; 04 (39), 25-29
• Elamathi N, Barik TK, Verma V, Velamuri PS, et al. Standardization of a bottle assay--an indigenous method for laboratory and field monitoring of insecticide resistance and comparison with WHO adult susceptibility test [published correction appears in Parasitol Res. 2014 Oct;113(10):3913]. Parasitol Res. 2014;113(10):3859-3866. doi:10.1007/s00436-014-4054-y
• Raghavendra K, Barik TK, Reddy BP, Sharma P, Dash AP. Malaria vector control: from past to future. Parasitol Res. 2011;108(4):757-779. doi:10.1007/s00436-010-2232-0
• Raghavendra K, Barik TK, Sharma P, et al. Chlorfenapyr: a new insecticide with novel mode of action can control pyrethroid resistant malaria vectors. Malar J. 2011;10:16. Published 2011 Jan 25. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-10-16
• Raghavendra K, Sharma P, Dash AP. Biological control of mosquito populations through frogs: opportunities & constrains. Indian J Med Res. 2008;128(1):22-25.
• Poonam S, Paily KP, Balaraman K. Oviposition attractancy of bacterial culture filtrates: response of Culex quinquefasciatus. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2002;97(3):359-362. doi:10.1590/s0074-02762002000300015

Google Search Link

• Kumar R, Tiku DK, Sharma P, inventors; Council of Scientific, Industrial Research CSIR, assignee. Bacterial strain MTCC 5098 and a method of reducing total dissolved solids (TDS) from pulp and paper wastewater effluents using the said strain. United States patent US 6,846,666. 2005 Jan 25.
• Kumar R, Tiku DK, Sharma P, inventors; Council of Scientific, Industrial Research CSIR, assignee. Bacterial strain MTCC 5098 and a method of reducing total dissolved solids (TDS) from pulp and paper wastewater effluents using the said strain. United States patent US 6,846,666. 2005 Jan 25.
• ð Kumar R, Tiku DK, Sharma P, Kumar A, Chaturvedi R, inventors; Council of Scientific, Industrial Research CSIR, assignee. Biological process for reducing chemical and biochemical oxygen demand of pulp and paper industrial effluent. United States patent US 7,267,772. 2007 Sep 11

Book Chapters

• Yadav RS, Raghavendra K, Velamuri PS, Verma V, Uragayala S. Insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and management strategies in India. In: Vector biology and control, an update for malaria elimination initiative in India. The National Academy of Sciences, New Delhi. 2020:129-48.
  http://nasi.nic.in/BCIL%20Vector%20Biology%20PDF_%2014th%20Aug%202020.pdf

Others

Contributions:

• Indian Council of Medical Research. Common protocol for uniform evaluation of public health pesticides for use in vector control. 3rd Ed. New Delhi: ICMR-NCVBDC-NCDC-CIB&RC; 2023.
  https://www.icmr.gov.in/icmrobject/custom_data/pdf/downloadable-books/Common_Protocol_Book_ICMR.pdf
• Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). Operational Manual for Integrated Vector Management in India. NVBDCP; 2016.
  https://ncvbdc.mohfw.gov.in/WriteReadData/l892s/IVM%2010_March_2016.pdf

Projects

Staff