Abhik Saha

Title: Abhik Saha: Innovator in Peptide Antagonists

Introduction

Abhik Saha is a notable inventor based in Kolkata, India. He has made significant contributions to the field of biochemistry, particularly in the development of peptide antagonists. His work focuses on understanding and manipulating chaperone proteins, which play a crucial role in cellular survival.

Latest Patents

Abhik Saha holds a patent for a process to identify peptide antagonists of Hsp16.3, a chaperone protein necessary for survival in the dormant phase. The patent describes the affinity selection of 7-mer and 12-mer random peptide libraries displayed on bacteriophage M13, using recombinant Hsp16.3 as a template. Two peptide phage clones that bind to the Hsp16.3 protein were identified. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the sequences displayed on these phage clones were able to specifically bind and inhibit the chaperone function of Hsp16.3 in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of these peptides on the chaperone activity of alphaB-crystallin, a constituent of the human eye lens and a homologue of Hsp16.3, was found to be substantially less. These peptide inhibitors can be used as lead compounds to develop better therapeutics against latent diseases.

Career Highlights

Abhik Saha is affiliated with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, where he continues to advance his research in peptide antagonists. His innovative approach has garnered attention in the scientific community, contributing to the understanding of chaperone proteins and their potential therapeutic applications.

Collaborations

Abhik has collaborated with notable colleagues such as Sujoy K Das Gupta and Archna Pathak Sharma. Their combined expertise enhances the research efforts in the field of peptide antagonists.

Conclusion

Abhik Saha's work in identifying peptide antagonists of Hsp16.3 represents a significant advancement in biochemistry and therapeutic development. His contributions are paving the way for new treatments targeting latent diseases.