The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) has launched the first School-based Journal Club of CUK on September 24, 2026 at 3.30 pm. Faculty, students, and non-teaching staff from the entire School, comprising of five Departments, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB), Genomic Sciences (GS), Plant Science (PS), Zoology, and the recently initiated Microbiology course, assembled for the SBS-JC inauguration at Sabarmati Hall. The student crowd included of the FY-UG Biology students, and MSc and PhD students from the five departments. The Dean, School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Sudha Kappalli, welcomed the gathering and conveyed that the SBS-JC is a common platform for academic interactions among all SBS departments to learn about the ongoing research in different areas of biological sciences. Dr. Jasmine M Shah, SBS-JC coordinator and Associate Professor, Dept. of PS, conveyed that the SBS-JC will be conducting monthly presentations of research papers from reputed Journals by the PhD students of SBS.
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Siddu P. Algur delivered the welcome address and inaugurated the SBS-JC. He appreciated this initiative, as it would provide a training ground for the PhD scholars to present, and for the UG/PG students to ask questions. He congratulated the SBS faculty for this academically vibrant initiative and explained the concept of peer learning as an effective way of learning. He also encouraged the students to continue the discussions even after the presentations have completed.
Prof. V.B. Sameer Kumar, Registrar (i/c) and faculty of GS, and HODs of various SBS departments, including Prof. Dr. M. Nagarajan (GS), Prof. Govinda Rao Duddukuri (BCMB), and Dr. Palatty Allesh Sinu (Zoology) conveyed their felicitations. Prof. Rajendra Pilankatta introduced the 1st presenter of the SBS-JC, his PhD student Ms. Aswathi K.S. of BCMB. Prof. K. Arunkumar (Coordinator of the FY-UG program, and Head, Dept. of PS) conveyed the vote of thanks.
Ms. Aswathi K.S. presented the article titled ‘A volatile from the skin microbiota of flavivirus-infected hosts promotes mosquito attractiveness’ from the Journal ‘Cell’. This study aimed to understand how viruses manipulate host scent to aid their own transmission. This study discovered that mosquitoes preferentially target Dengue and Zika-infected mice over healthy ones. After the presentation, the student audience raised many interesting questions.
The concise summary of the talk was presented by Ms. Aswathy Prakash, PhD student, BCMB. A memento and certificate of appreciation was presented to Ms. Aswathi K.S. by Prof. Govinda Rao Duddukuri, Head BCMB, in presence of the other SBS faculty. Ms. Bhagya T, the student coordinator of SBS-JC delivered the vote of thanks, and the programme was concluded with the National Anthem at 5.30pm.