Biodata
Name: Reenu Kumari
Designation: Assistant professor (Botany/Plant Physiology)
Qualification: M.Sc. Botany, M.Phil. Botany, Ph.D. Biotechnology (Life Sciences)
Specialization: Botany, Plant Physiology, Plant pathology, Plant molecular biology, Plant virology
Contact no: 9816585897 E-mail: [email protected]
FELLOWSHIPS
CSIR-JRF (NET) Life Sciences (December 2007) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
ARO-Postdoctoral fellowship (November 2017- September 2020)
Agricultural Research Organization-volcani centre, Israel
Work experience
July 2008- June 2013 CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur Worked as CSIR-JRF/SRF (NET) under the supervision of Dr Vipin Hallan. Then enrolled for Ph.D from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Worked on host pathogen interaction of Cucumber mosaic virus:
Complete genome characterization of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) causing chlorosis in cucumber.
Identified ascorbate oxidase as an important cell wall localized host protein involved in viral cell to cell movement by associating with movement protein of CMV.
Rubisco small subunit found to associate with 2b (suppressor of silencing) and movement protein and virus induced gene silencing of the host protein resulting in virus like symptoms in N. benthamiana.
GAPDH known to be involved in plant immunity found to directly interact with viral proteins.
Heterologous expression of coat protein of citrus psorosis virus in Pichia pastoris
Citrus psorosis virus coat protein was expressed in yeast system in order to generate antiserum against it.
Aug. 2016-March 2017 CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur As Research Associate in the project-BSC0117 “Plant Microbe-Soil interaction (PMSI)”
Project: Role of transcription factors during Cucumber mosaic virus infection.
Differential expression of transcription factors (WRKY21, NTFY) in susceptible and resistant varieties of cucumber against CMV infection.
Nov. 2017-Sept. 2020 Agricultural research organization-Volcani Centre, Israel
As Postdoctoral Research fellow with Dr Amit Gal-on (Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Institute of Plant Protection) Regulation of cucumber RDR1s during CMV infection
We found that Cucumber RDR1a, RDR1b and RDR1c associate with CMV 2b protein as observed in in vitro and in vivo assays. These viral proteins directly associate and co-localize with host RDR1s protein and affecting their function. This study points towards a new mechanism of plant defense in cucumber against virus.
Understanding the CsRDR1s mediated antiviral response and biogenesis of small RNA in cucumber for broad virus resistance We analyzed cucumber RDR1s knockout mutants for their role in small RNA biogenesis during various virus infection in comparison to wild type plant. The obtained knowledge will help to identify the endogenous small RNA important for RDR1s mediated antiviral response.
Genome editing of promoter sequences to modulate downstream gene expression
The transcription factors are very essential for regulation of host RDRs.
The promoter sequences of RDR1s were analyzed and assessed for regulatory elements in susceptible and tolerant cucumber cultivars.
Changes in promoter region sequences can affect binding of various transcription factor and modulate host defense.
Knockout of host eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF4E1) by CRISPR- Cas9 system for development of PVY resistance in tomato
Potyviruses VPg (viral protein genome-linked) interacts with members of eukaryotic initiation factors 4E (eIF4E) gene family and is critical to initiate translation of viral proteins. Using CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA technology, we successfully disrupted the function of tomato sleIF4E1 and sleIF4E2 by introducing small deletions. The knockout mutants were analyzed for PVY resistance.
Technical Expertise
• CRISPR-based genome editing in cucumber and tomato, screening of mutants and generation of homozygous lines
• Development of Arabidopsis transgenic lines and transgene screening
• Gene silencing through VIGS and RNAi vectors
• Cucumber protoplast isolation and use of this single cell system for virus expression and transient protein expression
• Protein-protein interaction study using Yeast two hybrid, Co-immunoprecipitation (Co- IP), Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay and in planta localization of proteins
• DNA-protein interaction using yeast one hybrid approach
• Fluorescent and Confocal microscopy
• Real time PCR quantification
• Heterologous protein expression (in yeast and E. coli) and protein purification
• DNA, RNA isolation, RT-PCR, cloning and sequencing
• Electrophoresis (Agarose, native PAGE, SDS-PAGE), EMSA, Protein overlay assay
• Bioinformatic analysis of sequences, Phylogenetic analysis, Database mining (NCBI, Sol genomics, TAIR, Cucumber Genome Database)
• Southern, Northern, Western and Far-western blotting
• Virus purification and their mechanical inoculation
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
1. Reenu Kumari, Surender Kumar, Lakhmir Singh and Vipin Hallan. (2016). Movement protein of Cucumber mosaic virus associates with apoplastic ascorbate oxidase. PLoS ONE 11(9): e0163320. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163320.
2. Surender Kumar, Reenu Kumari and Vipin Hallan. (2017). Sequence independent amplification with genome multiplexing to establish genome of multipartite RNA viruses: Cucumber mosaic virus as a case study. Journal of Phytopathology. DOI:
10.1111/jph.12569.
3. Surender Kumar, BL Subbarao, Reenu Kumari and Vipin Hallan. (2017) Molecular characterization of a novel cryptic virus infecting pigeonpea. PLoS ONE 12(8):
e0181829.
4. Poonam Chaudhary, Reenu Kumari, Balwinder Singh, Vipin Hallan and Avinash Kaur Nagpal. (2018). First report of potato virus M, potato virus Y and cucumber mosaic virus infection in Solanum nigrum in India. Journal of Plant Pathology.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-018-0194-8
5. Reenu Kumari, Pooja Bhardwaj, Lakhmir Singh, A. A. Zaidi and Vipin Hallan.
(2013). Biological and molecular characterization of Cucumber mosaic virus subgroup II isolate causing severe mosaic in cucumber. Indian Journal of Virology (now known as Virus Disease) 24: 27-34.
6. Shivangi Sharma*, Reenu Kumari*, Surender Kumar, Nageswar Singh and Vipin Hallan. (2016). Characterization of Cucumber mosaic virus isolates from Valeriana jatamansi, a medicinal herb in India. Journal of Plant Pathology 98. DOI:
10.4454/JPP.V98I1.066 (*Authors contributed equally).
7. Anand Sagar and Reenu Kumari. (2009). Fungal associates of Centella asiatica and Ocimum sanctum. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 3: 243-248.
MANUSCRIPT IN PROCESS
1. Reenu Kumari, Surender Kumar, Usha Kumari Rattan, Rituraj Purohit, Lakhmir Singh and Vipin Hallan. Rubisco small subunit of cucumber interacts with Cucumber mosaic virus movement and suppressor proteins. Microbial pathogenesis (Under revision).
2. Reenu Kumari, Surender Kumar, Diana Leibman, Bekele Abebie, Yulia Shnaider, Amit Gal-On. Cucumber RDR1s and cucumber mosaic virus suppressor protein 2b association directs host defense in cucumber plants. (Under preparation)
3. Surender Kumar, Bekele Abebie, Reenu Kumari, Michael Kravchik, Yulia Shnaider, Meital Cohen, Diana Leibman, Victor Gaba, Amit Gal-On. Knockout of host eukaryotic initiation factor factors by CRISPR-Cas9 system for development of PVY resistance in Tomato. (Under preparation)
CONFERENCES/POSTER PRESENTATIONS
1. Reenu Kumari, Pooja Bhardwaj, Lakhmir Singh, A. A. Zaidi and Vipin Hallan.
Genome characterization of Cucumber mosaic virus infecting cucumber and elucidating its movement. “XX National Conference on Managing Emerging and Re- emerging Plant, Animal, Human and Aquatic viral Diseases: One Health Perspective Virocon 2011”at National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar on Dec 29-31, 2011.
2. Reenu Kumari, Lakhmir Singh and Vipin Hallan. Movement protein and 2b protein of Cucumber mosaic virus associate with small subunit of rubisco to facilitate movement. “National Conference on Emerging Trends in Host-Microbe interactions”
at DAV university, Jalandhar on April 17-18, 2015. Got first prize for the best poster.
3. Reenu Kumari and Vipin Hallan. Movement protein of Cucumber mosaic virus associates with Glyceraldehyde 3-phospahte dehydrogenase. International Conference: Virocon 2016 “Global Perspectives in Virus Disease Management” at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru on Dec 8-10, 2016.
4. Punam jyoti, Monika bharti, Reenu Kumari and Vipin Hallan. Role of transcription factor Y during CMV infection in Arabidopsis thaliana. International Conference:
Virocon 2016 “Global Perspectives in Virus Disease Management” at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru on Dec 8-10, 2016.
5. Usha kumari Rattan, Monika Bharti, Surender Kumar, Reenu Kumari and Vipin Hallan. Interaction of 2b protein of Cucumber mosaic virus with HB27 transcription factor. International Conference: Virocon 2016 “Global Perspectives in Virus Disease Management” at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru on Dec 8-10, 2016.
WORKSHOPS:
1. National workshop on The Art and Science of Scholarly Communication: Writing Best Research Papers” at DAV university, Jalandhar on March 14, 2015.
2. GIAN workshop on “Post-transcriptional Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes” at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar on Feb 20-25, 2017.
