Selvarangan Ponnazhagan

Title: Selvarangan Ponnazhagan: Innovator in Gene Therapy

Introduction

Selvarangan Ponnazhagan is a notable inventor based in Birmingham, AL (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of gene therapy, particularly through his research on adeno-associated viruses (AAV). With a total of 2 patents, his work has implications for enhancing transgene expression in infected cells.

Latest Patents

Ponnazhagan's latest patents include groundbreaking research on the role of tyrosine phosphorylation of a cellular protein in AAV-mediated transgene expression. This invention identifies a protein known as the D-sequence-binding protein (D-BP), which is phosphorylated at tyrosine residues. The research demonstrates that D-BP inhibits AAV-mediated transgene expression by blocking the leading strand viral DNA synthesis. Furthermore, it reveals that D-BP is phosphorylated by EGF-R protein tyrosine kinase. The patent also discloses methods for increasing transcription and promoting replication of transgenes by utilizing this information. Another significant patent involves a recombinant adenovirus vector that comprises two inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), each containing a D-sequence with specific native nucleotides and potential deletions or substitutions.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Ponnazhagan has worked at various research institutions, contributing to advancements in gene therapy and viral vector technology. His innovative approaches have garnered attention in the scientific community.

Collaborations

Ponnazhagan has collaborated with esteemed colleagues such as Arun Srivastava and Xu-Shan Wang, further enhancing the impact of his research through teamwork and shared expertise.

Conclusion

Selvarangan Ponnazhagan's contributions to gene therapy and his innovative patents highlight his role as a significant inventor in the field. His research continues to pave the way for advancements in transgene expression and viral vector technology.