Academic

Topic: 
TBD
Speaker: 
Sofiya, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
19 Jun 2024 - 3:00pm
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Coffee/Tea: 
Before the talk
Abstract:

TBD

Topic: 
TBD
Speaker: 
Vidya, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
5 Jun 2024 - 3:00pm
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Coffee/Tea: 
Before the talk
Abstract:

TBD

Topic: 
TBD
Speaker: 
CL Dheeraj, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
29 May 2024 - 3:30pm
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Coffee/Tea: 
Before the talk
Abstract:

TBD

Topic: 
TBD
Speaker: 
Sonali, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
22 May 2024 - 3:30pm
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Coffee/Tea: 
Before the talk
Abstract:

TBD

Topic: 
TBD
Speaker: 
Arpan Samanta, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
8 May 2024 - 3:30pm
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Abstract:

TBD

Topic: 
TBD
Speaker: 
Aarthi R, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
24 Apr 2024 - 3:30pm
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Abstract:

TBD

Topic: 
Colour in the natural world: 3 big unknowns
Speaker: 
Devi Stuart-Fox, Professor, School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
Date & Time: 
27 Mar 2024 - 3:30pm
Event Type: 
Invited Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Coffee/Tea: 
Before the talk
Abstract:

In this talk, I will give a broad-brush overview of three areas in the field of animal coloration in which I think we have much to learn and discover – and the current efforts of my group to tackle a small part of them. The first area is the function and perception of iridescent and shiny colours that change appearance as signallers or receivers move. The second area is the intersection between light and heat – optical properties beyond the limits of human and animal vision and their consequences for thermal control. The third area is new ways to produce colour through pigment-structure interactions. These areas hold great promise for both fundamental biological understanding and bioinspired applications.

Topic: 
The Golden Dilemma: The origin and evolutionary history of the endangered Golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei)
Speaker: 
Ashika Dhimal, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
20 Mar 2024 - 3:00am
Event Type: 
Departmental Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Coffee/Tea: 
Before the talk
Abstract:

The golden langur is one of the most range restricted colobine monkey, confined to the region between Sunkosh and Manas rivers in Bhutan and adjoining Assam (India). It is closely related to the widely distributed capped langur which is distributed from Eastern Bhutan, Northeast India, parts of Northern Bangladesh to Southern China, and Northwestern Myanmar. Golden langur has been divided into two subspecies whereas capped langurs into four. However, the subspecies status of golden langur is still being debated. Previous studies have hypothesized that an isolated population of capped langurs might have speciated into golden langurs due to geographical barriers like rivers and mountains. This would represent a classic case of budding speciation; wherein peripheral isolates of widely distributed species evolve into a distinct lineage. Furthermore, the presence of intermediate forms between golden langurs and capped langurs found in an overlap zone in central Bhutan hints at a possible hybridization between these two species. Alternately, these intermediate forms might represent clinal variation between golden and capped langurs (intergradation). Given this background, for my thesis research, I aim to investigate the origin and evolutionary history of golden langurs vis-a-vis capped langurs by using multiple nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Genetic data will be used to address three specific questions. 1) Does genetic data support splitting of golden langur into two subspecies? 2) Is there genetic evidence for budding speciation? 3) Are the intermediate forms a case of hybridization or does it represent intergradation?

Topic: 
Venomics of medically important yet neglected elapid snakes of India and the antivenomic potential of plant extracts
Speaker: 
Rashmi, IISc, Bangalore
Date & Time: 
15 Mar 2024 - 3:30pm
Event Type: 
Thesis Defense
Venue: 
Online
Coffee/Tea: 
NA
Abstract:

India is considered the world's snakebite capital, where over 58,000 snakebite fatalities are registered annually. Most bites are primarily attributed to four snake species: the spectacled cobra (Naja naja), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Russell's viper (Daboia russelii), and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) that are collectively termed as the 'big four'. Recent research has unravelled a significant variation in snake venom composition and toxicity at inter- and intraspecific levels, resulting in an alarming ineffectiveness of antivenoms - the only available treatment for snakebites. However, the extent of venom variability, which often results from differing ecologies, evolutionary histories, and/or environmental conditions, remains largely uninvestigated in the majority of clinically important snakes. For example, the influence of varying ecology and environment on the venom of the common krait (B. caeruleus), the snake species with a near-pan-India distribution responsible for the second-highest number of snakebite-related deaths in India, has not been investigated to date. To address this knowledge gap, my PhD research focused on assessing the biogeographic venom variation in this species across India. Furthermore, I have evaluated the repercussion of this geographic venom variation on the preclinical efficacy of commercially available Indian antivenoms.

 

Similarly, the extent of intrapopulation venom variation, especially at finer geographic scales, remains poorly understood. I had, therefore, employed an interdisciplinary approach involving venom proteomics, biochemistry, and pharmacology, to assess venom variation in monocled cobra (N. kaouthia) sampled across a small spatial scale (<50 km). Finally, I have evaluated in vitro and in vivo venom binding and neutralisation capabilities of conventional antivenoms in countering toxicities inflicted by various individuals in this population.

 

While conventional antivenoms have saved thousands of lives, they suffer from numerous flaws, such as ineffectiveness against necrotic effects, reduced dose-effectiveness that often leads to many secondary reactions, including fatal anaphylaxis, and unavailability in many primary health centres. Secondary metabolites of plants have been shown to effectively neutralise snakebite pathologies, especially the local effects such as haemorrhage and necrosis. Therefore, I have assessed the antivenomic potential of medicinal plants, such as avaram (Cassia auriculata), utilised in traditional medicine. The neutralising potency of Cassia auriculata flower extracts against medically important snake venoms has been evaluated using in vitro experiments. Finally, I identify the active components in these plant extracts and will explore their potential role in treating snakebites in India.

Topic: 
Marine animal forests: ecological functions and resilience potential
Speaker: 
Dr Lorenzo Bramanti, Researcher, CNRS; LECOB, France
Date & Time: 
16 Feb 2024 - 10:00am
Event Type: 
Invited Seminar
Venue: 
CES Seminar Hall, 3rd Floor, Biological Sciences Building
Abstract:

In terrestrial environments, forests are dominated by plants which structure the landscape, offering habitat to thousands of species. Forests exist also in the ocean, and they are dominated by sessile benthic organisms (such as sponges, corals, bryozoans) which form three-dimensional structures providing architectural complexity and sheltering, feeding, protection for diverse associated biota. These communities are similar to terrestrial forests, with the main difference that they are dominated by animals instead of plants. The term marine animal forest (MAF) has been proposed to define those animals dominated three dimensional communities which are present all over the world, from polar to tropical regions and from shallow to deep. In terrestrial ecosystems, forest are characterized by high associate biodiversity and stable climatic conditions (microclimate). The presence of a microclimate, the role played by forest three dimensionality in supporting biodiversity and have been hypothesized also for MAFs. Nonetheless, their capability to support those ecological functions and therefore to deliver the above cited ecosystem services is still undefined. Even more unknown, because never quantified and demonstrated yet, is the existence of a relationship between forest density and structure and such capability. The seminar will present the current knowledge on the functional ecology of these habitats and their resilience capacity.

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