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Saguna Verma, PhD

Title
Faculty RankAssociate Professor
InstitutionUniversity of Hawaii
DepartmentTropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology
AddressJohn A. Burns School of Medicine
University of Hawaii at Manoa
651 Ilalo Street
Honolulu HI 96813
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    Short biography
    As a biochemist and molecular biologist by training, Dr. Verma obtained a Ph.D in Life Sciences from India (University of Indore). During her post doctoral training as a Project Scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India worldwide known for applied and translational immunology research, she trained herself as an immunologist. She is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology at the Medical School of the University of Hawaii.

    Research interests
    Dr. Verma's research interest is to study various host cell-signaling pathways associated with infection with viral pathogens to ultimately design therapeutic interventions and/or adjunct therapies to improve disease pathology. Focus of her ongoing projects is to understand immunological events contributing to the pathogenesis of flaviviruses (dengue and West Nile virus), such as virus-CNS entry, induction of inflammation and neuronal death. Using in vitro and in vivo mouse models and human primary immune cells, her group has recently started characterizing novel innate immune responses to virus pathogens and vaccine candidates such as Ebola virus glycoprotein.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    R21AI129465     (VERMA, SAGUNA)Nov 8, 2016 - Oct 31, 2020
    NIH
    Under attack: Modulation of the blood-testes barrier by Zika virus
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R21AI140248     (VERMA, SAGUNA)May 18, 2018 - Apr 30, 2021
    NIH
    Human 3D testicular organoids as a model to dissect cell-type specific tropism and immune response to Zika virus
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Giannakopoulos S, Strange DP, Jiyarom B, Abdelaal O, Bradshaw AW, Nerurkar VR, Ward MA, Bakse J, Yap J, Vanapruks S, Boisvert WA, Tallquist MD, Shikuma C, Sadri-Ardekani H, Clapp P, Murphy SV, Verma S. In vitro evidence against productive SARS-CoV-2 infection of human testicular cells: Bystander effects of infection mediate testicular injury. PLoS Pathog. 2023 05; 19(5):e1011409. PMID: 37200377.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    2. Jiyarom B, Giannakopoulos S, Strange DP, Panova N, Gale M, Verma S. RIG-I and MDA5 are modulated by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP6) and are essential for restricting Zika virus infection in human Sertoli cells. Front Microbiol. 2022; 13:1062499. PMID: 36713156.
      Citations:    
    3. Giannakopoulos S, Strange DP, Jiyarom B, Abdelaal O, Bradshaw AW, Nerurkar VR, Ward MA, Bakse J, Yap J, Vanapruks S, Boisvert W, Tallquist MD, Shikuma C, Sadri-Ardekani H, Clapp P, Murphy S, Verma S. In vitro evidence against productive SARS-CoV-2 infection of human testicular cells: Bystander effects of infection mediate testicular injury. bioRxiv. 2022 Sep 22. PMID: 36172118.
      Citations:    
    4. Strange DP, Jiyarom B, Sadri-Ardekani H, Cazares LH, Kenny TA, Ward MD, Verma S. Paracrine IFN Response Limits ZIKV Infection in Human Sertoli Cells. Front Microbiol. 2021; 12:667146. PMID: 34079533.
      Citations:    
    5. Kaur G, Wright K, Verma S, Haynes A, Dufour JM. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Testicular Immune Regulation: A Delicate Balance Between Immune Function and Immune Privilege. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021; 1288:21-47. PMID: 34453730.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    6. Verma S, Saksena S, Sadri-Ardekani H. ACE2 receptor expression in testes: implications in coronavirus disease 2019 pathogenesis?. Biol Reprod. 2020 08 21; 103(3):449-451. PMID: 32427288.
      Citations: 56     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    7. Strange DP, Jiyarom B, Pourhabibi Zarandi N, Xie X, Baker C, Sadri-Ardekani H, Shi PY, Verma S. Axl Promotes Zika Virus Entry and Modulates the Antiviral State of Human Sertoli Cells. mBio. 2019 07 16; 10(4). PMID: 31311882.
      Citations: 47     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    8. Kumar M, Roe K, Orillo B, Muruve DA, Nerurkar VR, Gale M, Verma S. Correction for Kumar et al., "Inflammasome Adaptor Protein Apoptosis-Associated Speck-Like Protein Containing CARD (ASC) Is Critical for the Immune Response and Survival in West Nile Virus Encephalitis". J Virol. 2018 08 01; 92(15). PMID: 30018145.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    
    9. Strange DP, Green R, Siemann DN, Gale M, Verma S. Immunoprofiles of human Sertoli cells infected with Zika virus reveals unique insights into host-pathogen crosstalk. Sci Rep. 2018 06 07; 8(1):8702. PMID: 29880853.
      Citations: 22     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    10. Strange DP, Zarandi NP, Trivedi G, Atala A, Bishop CE, Sadri-Ardekani H, Verma S. Human testicular organoid system as a novel tool to study Zika virus pathogenesis. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2018 05 09; 7(1):82. PMID: 29739931.
      Citations: 33     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    11. Siemann DN, Strange DP, Maharaj PN, Shi PY, Verma S. Zika Virus Infects Human Sertoli Cells and Modulates the Integrity of the In Vitro Blood-Testis Barrier Model. J Virol. 2017 11 15; 91(22). PMID: 28878076.
      Citations: 71     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    12. Lai CY, Strange DP, Wong TAS, Lehrer AT, Verma S. Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Induces an Innate Immune Response In vivo via TLR4. Front Microbiol. 2017; 8:1571. PMID: 28861075.
      Citations:    
    13. Nelson J, Roe K, Orillo B, Shi PY, Verma S. Combined treatment of adenosine nucleoside inhibitor NITD008 and histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat represents an immunotherapy strategy to ameliorate West Nile virus infection. Antiviral Res. 2015 Oct; 122:39-45. PMID: 26225754.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Roe K, Gibot S, Verma S. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1): a new player in antiviral immunity? Front Microbiol. 2014; 5:627. PMID: 25505454.
      Citations:    
    15. Roe K, Orillo B, Verma S. West Nile virus-induced cell adhesion molecules on human brain microvascular endothelial cells regulate leukocyte adhesion and modulate permeability of the in vitro blood-brain barrier model. PLoS One. 2014; 9(7):e102598. PMID: 25036379.
      Citations: 38     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    16. Kumar M, Roe K, Nerurkar PV, Orillo B, Thompson KS, Verma S, Nerurkar VR. Reduced immune cell infiltration and increased pro-inflammatory mediators in the brain of Type 2 diabetic mouse model infected with West Nile virus. J Neuroinflammation. 2014 Apr 21; 11:80. PMID: 24750819.
      Citations: 39     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. Kumar M, Roe K, Orillo B, Muruve DA, Nerurkar VR, Gale M, Verma S. Inflammasome adaptor protein Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) is critical for the immune response and survival in west Nile virus encephalitis. J Virol. 2013 Apr; 87(7):3655-67. PMID: 23302887.
      Citations: 65     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Kumar M, Roe K, Nerurkar PV, Namekar M, Orillo B, Verma S, Nerurkar VR. Impaired virus clearance, compromised immune response and increased mortality in type 2 diabetic mice infected with West Nile virus. PLoS One. 2012; 7(8):e44682. PMID: 22953001.
      Citations: 33     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    19. Roe K, Kumar M, Lum S, Orillo B, Nerurkar VR, Verma S. West Nile virus-induced disruption of the blood-brain barrier in mice is characterized by the degradation of the junctional complex proteins and increase in multiple matrix metalloproteinases. J Gen Virol. 2012 Jun; 93(Pt 6):1193-1203. PMID: 22398316.
      Citations: 92     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. Verma S, Hoffmann FW, Kumar M, Huang Z, Roe K, Nguyen-Wu E, Hashimoto AS, Hoffmann PR. Selenoprotein K knockout mice exhibit deficient calcium flux in immune cells and impaired immune responses. J Immunol. 2011 Feb 15; 186(4):2127-37. PMID: 21220695.
      Citations: 98     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    21. Verma S, Kumar M, Nerurkar VR. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor blocks the production of West Nile virus-induced neuroinflammatory markers in astrocytes. J Gen Virol. 2011 Mar; 92(Pt 3):507-15. PMID: 21106803.
      Citations: 20     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    22. Kumar M, Verma S, Nerurkar VR. Pro-inflammatory cytokines derived from West Nile virus (WNV)-infected SK-N-SH cells mediate neuroinflammatory markers and neuronal death. J Neuroinflammation. 2010 Oct 31; 7:73. PMID: 21034511.
      Citations: 76     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    23. Verma S, Kumar M, Gurjav U, Lum S, Nerurkar VR. Reversal of West Nile virus-induced blood-brain barrier disruption and tight junction proteins degradation by matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor. Virology. 2010 Feb 05; 397(1):130-8. PMID: 19922973.
      Citations: 77     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    24. Verma S, Lo Y, Chapagain M, Lum S, Kumar M, Gurjav U, Luo H, Nakatsuka A, Nerurkar VR. West Nile virus infection modulates human brain microvascular endothelial cells tight junction proteins and cell adhesion molecules: Transmigration across the in vitro blood-brain barrier. Virology. 2009 Mar 15; 385(2):425-33. PMID: 19135695.
      Citations: 134     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Verma S, Molina Y, Lo YY, Cropp B, Nakano C, Yanagihara R, Nerurkar VR. In vitro effects of selenium deficiency on West Nile virus replication and cytopathogenicity. Virol J. 2008 May 31; 5:66. PMID: 18513435.
      Citations: 23     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    26. Co JK, Verma S, Gurjav U, Sumibcay L, Nerurkar VR. Interferon- alpha and - beta restrict polyomavirus JC replication in primary human fetal glial cells: implications for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy therapy. J Infect Dis. 2007 Sep 01; 196(5):712-8. PMID: 17674314.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    27. Chapagain ML, Verma S, Mercier F, Yanagihara R, Nerurkar VR. Polyomavirus JC infects human brain microvascular endothelial cells independent of serotonin receptor 2A. Virology. 2007 Jul 20; 364(1):55-63. PMID: 17399760.
      Citations: 38     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    28. Chapagain ML, Nguyen T, Bui T, Verma S, Nerurkar VR. Comparison of real-time PCR and hemagglutination assay for quantitation of human polyomavirus JC. Virol J. 2006 Jan 09; 3:3. PMID: 16398941.
      Citations: 14     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    29. Verma S, Ziegler K, Ananthula P, Co JK, Frisque RJ, Yanagihara R, Nerurkar VR. JC virus induces altered patterns of cellular gene expression: interferon-inducible genes as major transcriptional targets. Virology. 2006 Feb 20; 345(2):457-67. PMID: 16297951.
      Citations: 28     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    30. Verma S, Mohapatra B, Jagadish N, Selvi R, Roy P, Rana R, Lakshmi K, Suri A. Molecular cloning, expression of testicular transcript abundant in germ cells and immunobiological effects of the recombinant protein. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2004 Aug; 52(2):164-73. PMID: 15274658.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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