Credentials

• Associate Professor, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (2018-present) 
• Assistant Professor, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (2014-18) 
• Senior Lecturer , School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, UK (2013-2014) 
• Lecturer , School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, UK (2012-2013)
• Post-doctoral Research Associate, School of Biological Sciences; School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK (2008-2012) 
• Ph.D. (Cambridge Nehru Scholar), University of Cambridge, UK, (2004-2008) 
• Member, Microbiology Society, UK
• M.V.Sc. (Virology, IVRI, Mukteswar) 
• Masters Degree Topper, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), 2003 
• ICAR-JRF: All India Rank-1, Veterinary Science Group, 2001 
• B.V.Sc. & A.H. (WBUAFS, Kolkata); Topper, 2001

Honours & Awards

Our research findings highlighted in Newspapers & other Media:

• “Endemic dengue may have helped stem severity of early COVID wave in India: study”. Our research findings on the dengue COVID-19 conundrum, published in Journal of Medical Virology in June, 2024 were covered the National Daily newspaper, The Hindu, on 30th June, 2024.(https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/endemic-dengue-may-have-helped-stem-severity-of-early-covid-wave-in-india-study/article68349009.ece).

• Why there has been dengue surge in the post COVID-19 pandemic era (2022 onwards)? Why dengue serotype 3 is mainly behind this surge globally? Times of India recently covered our observation on the above topic, on 9th October, 2023. Title: Cov antibody ineffective against dengue 3 serotype responsible for 2023 surge. Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cov-antibody-ineffective-against-dengue-3-serotype-responsible-for-2023-surge/articleshow/104269594.cms

• The "Dengue Covid conundrum".......front page coverage of our original observation of an inverse antigenic relation between dengue virus and SARS-CoV-2, published in Times of India on 28th June 2022.(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkata-covid-less-severe-in-dengue-zones-says-study/articleshow/92504582.cms)

• “SARS-CoV-2 infection protects against dengue (Dengue-endemic regions also show partial immunity against COVID-19)”: Research findings highlighted in nature INDIA on 23rd September, 2022.(https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-022-00100-x)

• “Virus or Us: Who will smile the last?? The Tug-of-War continues……”-Special Webinar Series Lecture by Dr Subhajit Biswas: JIGYASA CSIR, YOUTUBE CHANNEL, delivered on 27th July, 2020.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PdwpRV_hrY)

• “Dengue virus tests may sometimes return ‘positive’ for coronavirus, says study”-Our research findings on the dengue COVID-19 conundrum, published in the National Daily newspaper, The Hindu, on 22nd August. 2020.(https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/dengue-virus-tests-may-sometimes-return-positive-for-coronavirus-study/article32416613.ece)

• “Scientists link new virus to kala-azar”-Research findings published in the “NATION” page of the National Daily newspaper, The Hindu, on 28th October, 2017. (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/scientists-link-new-virus-to-kala-azar/article19935693.ece)

• “New light on kala-azar”-Research findings highlighted in nature INDIA (https://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2017.156)

• Citation: Faculty of 1000 Biology: evaluations for Subhajit Biswas et al Arch Virol 2007 Aug 152 (8): Title of paper: Single amino acid substitutions in the HSV-1 helicase protein that confer resistance to the helicase-primase inhibitor, BAY 57-1293 are associated with increased or decreased virus growth characteristics in tissue culture. Archives of Virology, 152, 1489-500. (Evaluated by Prof Donald Coen, Harvard Medical School, USA and selected as “New finding” in Microbiology). (https://facultyopinions.com/prime/1089049)

• “Not first study to link dengue-COVID” said “The Print”. They meticulously covered the chronology of events and covered CSIR-IICB (Subhajit Biswas’ Virus Research Lab)’s pioneering contributions towards unravelling the dengue & COVID-19 conundrum. ( https://theprint.in/health/dengue-antibodies-could-provide-immunity-against-covid-brazil-study-suggests/508333 )

Grants & Supports

1. CSIR (Mission Mode Project, FBR)
2. SERB, Department of Science and Technology, India
3. Department of Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal
4. ICMR

Patents & Publications

RESEARCH ARTICLES: 

On non-cytopathic herpes simplex virus type-1 isolates from Kolkata, India

1. Roy S, Sukla S, De A, Biswas S*. Non-cytopathic herpes simplex virus type-1 isolated from acyclovir-treated patients with recurrent infections. Scientific Reports 2022 Jan 25;12(1):1345. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05188-w. 

Included in the list of Top 100 in Microbiology-2022, by Scientific Reports (https://www.nature.com/collections/fjecfejgee). 

2. Supplementary information: https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-022-05188-w/MediaObjects/41598_2022_5188_MOESM1_ESM.pdf. (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 4.996.

3. “Drug-resistant herpes viruses that evade immunity”- Research findings highlighted in nature INDIA . https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-022-00018-4

On diagnosis of viral diseases 

1. Sukla, S.; Mondal, P.; Biswas, S*.; Ghosh, S*. A Rapid and Easy-to-Perform Method of Nucleic-Acid Based Dengue Virus Diagnosis Using Fluorescence-Based Molecular Beacons. Biosensors 2021, 11, 479. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios11120479.Electronic Supplementary Information. https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/bios11120479/s1 (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 5.519.

On COVID-19

1. Sarker S, Dutta C, Mallick A, Das S, Das Chowdhury C, De A, Gorai S, Biswas S* (2024). Dengue virus (DV) non-cross-reactive Omicron wave COVID-19 serums enhanced DV3 infectivity in vitro. J Med Microbiol. 73, 001852.  https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001852;  (*corresponding author). Impact factor: 2.4. Full text: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381999634_Dengue_virus_DV_non-cross-reactive_Omicron_wave_COVID-19_serums_enhanced_DV3_infectivity_in_vitro MedRxiv 2023: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.08.23295136v1.full-text

2. Mallick A, Sukla S, De A, Biswas S* (2024). Evidences support that dengue virus can impart broad-spectrum immunity against betacoronaviruses in dengue endemic regions. J Med Virol. 96, e29771. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.29771; Full Text Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/F4GGH338AEBBSMTPITRK?target=10.1002/jmv.29771 (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 6.8 (2023).

3. Dutta D, Ghosh A, Dutta C, Sukla S*, Biswas S* (2023). Cross reactivity of SARS-CoV-2 with other pathogens, especially dengue virus: A historical perspective. J Med Virol. 95: e28557. PMID: 36755367. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.28557 , Wiley link share to full PDF: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/SGRB95EZZEGYCSPWYX2N?target=10.1002/jmv.28557    (*Corresponding author). Impact Factor: 20.69.

Our findings published by India Science Wire  (http://vigyanprasar.gov.in/isw/Researchers-find-cross-reactivity-of-sars-cov-2-with-other-pathogens.html)  and twitted:https://twitter.com/indianscinews/status/1635535524910776320?cxt=HHwWgIC2vZ-5y7ItAAAA

4. Biswas S*, Sukla S. COVID-19 virus infection and transmission are observably less in highly Dengue-endemic countries: is pre-exposure to Dengue virus protective against COVID-19 severity and mortality? will the reverse scenario be true? Clinical & Experimental Investigations. 2020; 1 (2). https://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.CEI.2020.02.05. https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202004.0040/v3 (*Corresponding author).

5. Himadri Nath#, Abinash Mallick#, Subrata Roy, Soumi Sukla, Subhajit Biswas*. Computational modelling supports that dengue virus envelope antibodies can bind to SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding sites: Is pre-exposure to dengue virus protective against COVID-19 severity? Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 2021; 19, Pages 459-466. Impact Factor: 7.271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.037. OSF Preprints. 2020; https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/dutx4 (*Corresponding author).   
POLICY CITATION: COVID-19 Scientific and Public Health Policy Update (02 February 2021), Africa CDC. https://africacdc.org/download/covid-19-scientific-and-public-health-policy-update-02-february-2021/

6. Himadri Nath#, Abinash Mallick#, Subrata Roy, Soumi Sukla, Keya Basu, Abhishek De, Subhajit Biswas*. Dengue antibodies can cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 and vice versa-Antibody detection kits can give false-positive results for both viruses in regions where both COVID-19 and Dengue co-exist. medRxiv 2020.07.03.20145797; doi: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.03.20145797v1.article-metrics (*Corresponding author). 
POLICY CITATION: Our first report (globally) (6th July 2020; medRxiv preprint above) that archived Dengue serum samples from 2017 cross-reacted in COVID-19 lateral flow-based strip tests has been cited in "National Guidelines for Dengue Case Management during COVID-19 pandemic" by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. Please see page number 13 and 31 of the Report. https://ncvbdc.mohfw.gov.in/Doc/National%20Guideline%20for%20Dengue%20case%20management%20during%20COVID-19%20pandemic.pdf

7. Subrata Roy, Himadri Nath, Abinash Mallick, Subhajit Biswas* SARS-CoV-2 has observably higher propensity to accept uracil as nucleotide substitution: Prevalence of amino acid substitutions and their predicted functional implications in circulating SARS-CoV-2 in India up to July, 2020 bioRxiv 2020.10.07.329771; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.07.329771 (*Corresponding author).

8. Biswas S*, Sukla S, Roy S, Nath H, Mallick A. Regarding: Masyeni S, Santoso MS, Widyaningsih PD, Wedha Asmara DG, Nainu F, Harapan H, et al. Serological cross-reaction and co-infection of dengue and COVID-19 in Asia: Experience from Indonesia. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 102:152-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.01.063 (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 12.074.

9. Nath H, Mallick A, Roy S, Sukla S, Basu K, De A, Biswas S*. Archived dengue serum samples produced false-positive results in SARS-CoV-2 lateral flow-based rapid antibody tests. J Med Microbiol. 2021 Jun; 70 (6). doi:10.1099/jmm.0.001369. PMID: 34110279. https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001369 (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 3.196.

10.  Nath H, Mallick A, Roy S, Kayal T, Ranjan S, Sengupta S, Sukla S, Biswas S*. COVID-19 serum can be cross-reactive and neutralizing against Dengue virus (DV) as observed by DV neutralization test (2022). Int J Infect Dis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.013. (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 12.074.

On epidemiology and pathogenesis of flaviviruses like dengue and zika in human and mosquito samples from Eastern India

1. Sukla S#, Ghosh A#, Saha R, De A, Adhya S, Biswas S*(2018). In-depth molecular analysis of a small cohort of human and Aedes mosquito (adults and larvae) samples from Kolkata revealed absence of Zika but high prevalence of dengue virus. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 67, 1109-1119 http://jmm.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000769#tab2) *Corresponding author; #Joint first authors. Impact factor: 3.196.

2. Himadri Nath, Keya Basu, Abhishek De, Subhajit Biswas*. Dengue virus sustains viability of infected cells by counteracting apoptosis-mediated DNA breakage. bioRxiv 2020.06.19.162479; https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.19.162479v1

3. Anisa Ghosh#, Soumi Sukla#, Himadri Nath, Rajdeep Saha, Abhishek De, Subhajit Biswas * (2022). Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) variants from dengue virus clinical samples revealed mutations that influence NS1 production and secretion. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-022-04441-4. Online text-only view under Springer Nature SharedIt Initiative: https://rdcu.be/cK1Ia  *Corresponding author; #Joint first authors. Impact factor: 5.1.

On discovery of virus in kala-azar samples from India

1. Soumi Sukla, Syamal Roy, Shyam Sundar, Subhajit Biswas* (2017). Leptomonas seymouri narna-like virus 1 and not leishmaniaviruses detected in kala-azar samples from India. Archives of Virology, 162, 3827-35. Online text-only view under Springer Nature SharedIt Initiative: http://rdcu.be/v7AB *Corresponding author. Impact factor: 2.68.

2. Sukla S*, Nath H, Kamran M, Ejazi SA, Ali N, Das P, Ravichandiran V, Roy S, Biswas S* (2022). Detection of Leptomonas seymouri narna-like virus in serum samples of visceral leishmaniasis patients and its possible role in disease pathogenesis. Scientific Reports, Aug 24;12(1): 14436. (*Corresponding author). Impact factor: 4.996. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18526-9

On human pandemic norovirus contamination of coastline blue mussels in the UK

1. Subhajit Biswas *, Philippa Jackson, Rebecca Shannon, Katherine Dulwich, Soumi Sukla  and Ronald A Dixon  (2017).  Molecular screening of blue mussels indicated high mid-summer prevalence of human genogroup II Noroviruses, including the pandemic “GII.4 2012” variants in UK coastal waters during 2013. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 49, 279-84. Impact factor: 2.48.                                          https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1517838217303465 *Corresponding author.

On superior probiotics identified from bacteria of marine origin

1. Palashpriya Das, Suman Khowala, Subhajit Biswas *(2016). In vitro probiotic characterization of Lactobacillus casei isolated from marine samples. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 73, 383-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2016.06.029 *Corresponding author. Impact factor: 4.952.

On occult hepatitis B virus prevalence and mechanisms of escape of immune-detection

1. Das P #, Supekar R #, Chatterjee R, Roy S, Ghosh A, Biswas S*. Hepatitis B virus detected in paper currencies in a densely populated city of India: A plausible source of horizontal transmission? World J Hepatol 2020; 12(10): 775-791. * Corresponding author. # Joint first authors.Impact factor: 3.26.  https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-5182/full/v12/i10/775.htm

2. De A, Roy S, Sukla S, Ansari A & Biswas S* (2017). Occult hepatitis B virus infections (often with human herpesvirus 7 co-infection) detected in Pityriasis rosea patients: A pilot study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 62, 598-605. *Corresponding author https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5724307/. Impact factor: 1.49.

3. Biswas S, Candotti D¶  & Allain J-P (2013). Specific amino acid substitutions in the S protein prevent its excretion in vitro and may contribute to occult hepatitis B virus infection. Journal of Virology, 87, 7882-92. Impact Factor: 6.549 ¶ equal contribution.

4. Candotti D, Lin CK, Belkhiri D, Sakuldamrongpanich T, Biswas S, Lin S, Teo D, Ayob Y & Allain J-P (2012). Occult Hepatitis B infection in asymptomatic blood donors from South East Asia: molecular characterization and potential mechanisms of occurrence. Gut-British Medical Journal, 61, 1744-53. Impact Factor: 23.059.

On understanding of rotavirus RNA packaging

1. Biswas S, Li W, Manktelow E, Lever J, Lukavsky PJ, Desselberger U & Lever AM (2014). Physicochemical analysis of rotavirus segment 11 supports a 'modified panhandle' structure and not the predicted alternative tRNA-like structure. Archives of Virology, 159, 235-48. Impact Factor: 2.68.

On herpes simplex virus helicase-primase as a novel target for antiviral chemotherapy

1. Biswas S, Sukla S, Goldner T, Field HJ, Kropeit D, Paulsen D, Welbers A, Ruebsamen-Schaeff H, Zimmermann H & Birkmann A (2014). Pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics of the helicase-primase inhibitor pritelivir following treatment of wild-type or pritelivir-resistant virus infection in a murine HSV-1 infection model.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 58, 3843-52. Impact Factor: 5.938.

2. Sukla S, Biswas S¶, Birkmann A, Lischka P, Ruebsamen-Schaeff  H, Zimmermann H & Field HJ (2010). Effects of therapy using a helicase-primase inhibitor (HPI) in mice infected with deliberate mixtures of wild-type HSV-1 and an HPI-resistant UL5 mutant. Antiviral Research, 87, 67-73. Impact Factor: 10.1  ¶ Joint first author.

3. Sukla S, Biswas S, Birkmann A, Lischka P, Zimmermann H & Field HJ (2010). Mis-match primer-based PCR reveals that helicase-primase inhibitor resistance mutations pre-exist in herpes simplex virus type 1 clinical isolates and are not induced during incubation with the inhibitor. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 65, 1347-52. Impact Factor: 5.758.

4. Biswas S * , Núñez Miguel R, Sukla S & Field HJ (2009).  A mutation in helicase motif IV of herpes simplex virus type 1 UL5 that results in reduced growth in vitro and lower virulence in a murine infection model is related to the predicted helicase structure. Journal of General Virology, 90, 1937-42. Impact Factor: 5.14. *Corresponding author

5. Biswas S, Tiley LS, Zimmermann H, Birkmann A & Field, HJ (2008). Mutations close to functional motif IV in HSV-1 UL5 helicase that confer resistance to HSV helicase-primase inhibitors, variously affect virus growth rate and pathogenicity. Antiviral Research, 80, 81-5. Impact Factor: 10.1.

6. Biswas S, Kleymann G, Swift M, Tiley LS, Lyall J, Aguirre-Hernández J & Field HJ (2008). A single drug-resistance mutation in HSV-1 UL52 primase points to a difference between two helicase-primase inhibitors in their mode of interaction with the antiviral target. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 61, 1044-7. Impact Factor: 5.758.

7. Biswas S, Smith C & Field HJ (2007). Detection of HSV-1 variants highly resistant to the helicase-primase inhibitor BAY 57-1293 at high frequency in two of ten recent clinical isolates of HSV-1. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 60, 274-79. Impact Factor: 5.758.

8. Biswas S, Jennens L & Field HJ (2007). Single amino acid substitutions in the HSV-1 helicase protein that confer resistance to the helicase-primase inhibitor, BAY 57-1293 are associated with increased or decreased virus growth characteristics in tissue culture. Archives of Virology, 152, 1489-500. Impact Factor: 2.68 ¶Citation: Faculty of 1000 Biology/Faculty Opinions: evaluations for S Biswas et al Arch Virol 2007. (https://facultyopinions.com/prime/1089049): Evaluated by Prof Donald Coen, Harvard Medical School, USA and selected as “New finding” in Microbiology.

9. Biswas S, Swift M & Field HJ (2007). High frequency of spontaneous helicase primase inhibitor (BAY 57-1293) drug resistant variants in certain laboratory isolates of HSV-1. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 18,13-23. Impact factor: 2.89.

10. Biswas S, Jennens L & Field HJ (2007). The helicase primase inhibitor, BAY 57-1293 shows potent therapeutic antiviral activity superior to famciclovir in BALB/c mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1. Antiviral Research, 75, 30-5. Impact Factor: 10.1.

REVIEWS

1. Biswas S, Sukla S & Field HJ (2014). Helicase-primase inhibitors for HSV: looking back to the future of non-nucleoside inhibitors for treating herpesvirus infections. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 6, 45-55. Impact Factor: 4.8.

2. Field HJ & Biswas S (2011). Antiviral drug resistance and helicase-primase inhibitors of herpes simplex virus. Drug Resistance Update, 14, 45-51. Impact Factor: 22.22.

3. Biswas S & Field HJ (2008). Pointer: Herpes simplex virus helicase-primase inhibitors: recent findings from the study of drug-resistance mutations. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 19, 1-6. Impact factor: 2.89.

4. Field HJ, Biswas S & Mohammad IT (2006).  Herpesvirus latency and therapy-From a veterinary perspective (Mini-review). Antiviral Research, 71, 127-33. Impact Factor: 10.1.

BOOK CHAPTER

Biswas S & Field HJ (2011). Helicase-primase inhibitors-a new approach to combat herpes simplex  virus and varicella zoster virus. Antiviral Drug Strategies (Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA), Chapter 6, 129-46.

On molecular epidemiology of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in India

1. Mohapatra JK, Sanyal A, Hemadri D, Tosh C, Biswas S, Knowles NJ, Rasool TJ, Bandyopadhyay SK & Pattnaik B (2008). Comparative genomics of serotype Asia 1 foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates from India sampled over the last two decades. Virus Research, 136, 16-29. Impact Factor: 6.286.

2. Biswas S, Sanyal A, Hemadri D, Tosh C, Mohapatra JK, Kumar RM & Bandyopadhyay SK (2006). Sequence analysis of the non-structural 3A and 3C protein-coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype Asia1 field isolates from an endemic country. Veterinary Microbiology, 116, 187-93. Impact Factor: 3.246.

3. Biswas S, Sanyal A, Hemadri D, Tosh C, Mohapatra JK, Kumar RM & Bandyopadhyay SK (2005). Genetic comparison of large fragment of the 5'untranslated region among foot-and-mouth disease viruses with special reference to serotype Asia1. Archives of Virology, 150, 2217-39. Impact Factor: 2.68.

4. Sanyal A, Mohapatra JK, Kumar RM, Biswas S, Hemadri D, Tosh C, Sabarinath GP, Gupta SK, Mittal M, Giridharan P & Bandyopadhyay S (2004). Complete nucleotide sequence analysis of a vaccine strain (IND 491/97) and a field-isolate of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype Asia 1 with an insertion in VP1 protein. Acta Virologica, 48, 159-66. Impact Factor: 1.82.

5. Biswas S, Sanyal A, Hemadri D, Tosh C, Gupta SK, Mittal M, Mohapatra JK, Sabarinath GP, Kumar RM & Bandyopadhyay SK (2004). Sequence analysis of VPg protein of Asia1 field isolates of foot-and-mouth disease virus in India. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 3, 522-26.

Link to publications in Pubmed