Main
Agneesh Barua
I use diverse forms of data to uncover the genetic basis of phenotypic traits. Currently, I am working on combining developmental biology and evolutionary genetics to indentify important processes driving phenotypic variation in teleost fishes.
Education
PhD
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Okinawa, Japan
2022 - 2017
- The Evolutionary Genetics of Venoms: How Nature Created the Perfect Chemical Weapon.
Msc Genetics
University of Calcutta
Kolkata, India
2015 - 2013
- Thesis: Role of P16/CDKN2A in Glioma: A Molecular Study.
BSc(H) Zoology
University of Delhi
New Delhi, India
2013 - 2010
- Special research topic: Antifungal activity of Phyto-extracts of Piper longum, Aloe vera, and Withania somnifera against human fungal opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans.
Research Experience
HFSP Long-Term Fellow
University of Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
present - 2022
- Project- Using life-history transitions to uncover the genetic basis of complex traits.
Rotation Student
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Okinawa, Japan
2017 - 2016
- Bio/Micro/Nano fuidcs Unit, Prof Amy Shen.
- Oncology-Cell signalling Unit, Prof. Tadashi Yamamoto.
- Project- Developing a microfluidic model to study cancer metastasis.
Research Intern
Ecology and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Okinawa, Japan
2016 - 2016
- Project- Characterising the evolutionary forces behind rapid evolution of snake venom genes.
Project Fellow
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS)
Bangalore, India
2015 - 2015
- Project-Using 2-D-Glucose (2-DG) as an adjuvant to supplement treatment by Temozolomide, in high grade glioma.
Project Assistant
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS)
Bangalore, India
2015 - 2014
- Project- Molecular genetics of the role of P16/CDKN2A in Glioma
Innovation Project Fellow
Delhi University and Jawarharlal Nehru University
New Delhi, India
2013 - 2012
- Project- Antifungal activity of Phyto-extracts of Piper longum, Aloe vera, and Withania somnifera against human fungal opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans.
Publications
The genetic basis for adaptation in giant sea anemones to their symbiosis with anemonefish and Symbiodiniaceae
Agneesh Barua (corr auth) , Rio Kashimoto, Konstantin Khalturin, Noriyuki Satoh, Vincent Laudet
N/A
2022
- bioRxiv
- https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.09.25.509434v1.full.pdf
- We found that giant sea anemones hosting anemone fish have a distinct gene expression pattern in their tentacles, which likely originated as a result a tripartite relationship between sea anemone, anemone fish, and algal symbionts.
Co-option of the same ancestral gene family gave rise to mammalian and reptilian toxins
Agneesh Barua (corr auth) , Ivan Koludarov, Alexander Mikheyev
N/A
2021
- BMC Biology
- https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-021-01191-1
- We show that one the most abundant proteins in saliva and venom are homologous and derived from a single ancestral gene.
An ancient, conserved gene regulatory network led to the rise of oral venom systems
Agneesh Barua (corr auth) & Alexander Mikheyev
N/A
2021
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2021311118
- The first study of its kind to reveal the conserved genetic framework behind oral venom evolution.
Toxin expression in snake venom evolves rapidly with constant shifts in evolutionary rates
Agneesh Barua (corr auth) & Alexander Mikheyev
N/A
2020
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B
- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2020.0613
- Tests whether snake venom evolution had a role in species diversification in venomous snakes.
Many options, few solutions: Over 60 my snakes converged on a few optimal venom formulations
Agneesh Barua (corr auth) & Alexander Mikheyev
N/A
2019
- Molecular Biology and Evolution
- https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/36/9/1964/5492084
- First truly quantitative and comparative approach to understand the evolution of the snake venom phenotype.
Population genomic analysis of a pitviper reveals microevolutionary forces underlying venom chemistry
SD Aird, J Arora, A Barua, L Qiu, K Terada, AS Mikheyev
N/A
2017
- Genome Biology and Evolution
- https://academic.oup.com/gbe/article/9/10/2640/4259791
- This paper shows that both drift and selection contribute to venom evolution in snakes, but their relative magnitudes are different.
Antifungal activity of phyto-extracts of Piper longum, Aloe vera, and Withania somnifera against human fungal opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans
H Kaur, RR Goyal, A Bhattacharya, R Gupta, A Barua, … T Prasad
N/A
2015
- DU Journal of Undergraduate Research and Innovation
- http://journals.du.ac.in/ugresearch/pdf/J9.pdf
- Publication from the Delhi University Innovation Project Scheme
Awards
Peter Gruss doctoral dissertation excellence award
OIST
N/A
2023
- The Peter Gruss Dissertation Award is given to students with excellent theses based on their scientific, academic, and public impact. The award is named after Prof Peter Gruss, the former president of OIST and the Max Plank Society. The award includes a cash prize donated by Prof Gruss.
Birnstiel Award (Honourable mention)
Birnstiel Foundation - IMP Austria
N/A
2023
- Received an honourable mention for the International Birstiel Award. This is a significant achievement given that my research is not directly related to molecular pathology or biomedical science. https://www.imp.ac.at/news/article/international-birnstiel-award-2023
HFSP Long-Term Postdoctoral fellowship
Human Fronteir Science Programme (HFSP)
N/A
2022
- ~$250,000 for 3-years to carry out self-designed research project.
EMBO Long-Term fellowship
European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBO)
N/A
2022
- Received an excellent classification and reccomendation for funding (declined)
Graduate Student Excellence Award
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE)
N/A
2022
- The SMBE Graduate Student Excellence award is the highest honour given to graduate students working in the field of molecular evolution. SMBE is the largest academic organisation for molecular evolution. https://www.smbe.org/smbe/AWARDS/SMBEGraduateStudentExcellenceAwards.aspx
Society membership
The American Society of Microbiology
N/A
2014 - 2013
- Won a society membership by placing 1st in an inter-department Power-Point presentation contest.
Best Essay
The Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray Memorial Science Forum. Calcutta University.
N/A
2013
- Awarded 1st prize for best essay on entitled: Science and Society.
Innovation Project Fellow
Delhi University and Jawarharlal Nehru University
N/A
2012
- Awarded a 12 month fellowship that covered stipend.
Academic Talks
Julius-von-Sachs seminar, University of Wüzburg
How nature created the perfect chemical weapon
Wüzburg, Germany
2023
Gordon Conference on Venom Evolution , Function, and Biomedical Applications
How nature created the perfect chemical weapon
Vermont, USA
2022
Graduate Student Excellence Symposia (SMBE everywhere)
How nature created the perfect chemical weapon
Online
2022
Song Lab, Texas A&M University
How nature created the perfect chemical weapon
Texas, USA
2022
AsiaEvo conference (Online)
How nature created the perfect chemical weapon
Tokyo, Japan
2021
Oxford Venoms and Toxins Conference (Online)
Toxin expression in snake venom evolves rapidly with constant shifts in evolutionary rates
Oxford, England
2020
European Society for Evolutionary Biolgy
Many options, few solutions: Over 60 my snakes converged on a few optimal venom formulations
Turku, Finalnd
2019
Gordon Conference on Venom Evolution , Function, and Biomedical Applications
Many options, few solutions: Over 60 my snakes converged on a few optimal venom formulations
Vermont, USA
2018
OIST internal seminar series
Many options, few solutions: Over 60 my snakes converged on a few optimal venom formulations
Okinawa, Japan
2018
Selected Press
El veneno de las serpientes y la saliva de los mamíferos comparte un origen común
National Geographic
N/A
2022
- Latest press on my BMC Biology paper.
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com.es/naturaleza/veneno-serpientes-y-saliva-mamiferos-comparte-origen-comun_17711
Recommended article
Faculty Opinions
N/A
2021
- Experts in evolution and comparative genetics described my idea as a “novel and elegant alternative approach.”
- https://facultyopinions.com/prime/739835180?utm_medium=email&utm_source=prime_follow_faculty#eval793584962
Could humans ever be venomous?
Live Science (US)
N/A
2021
- Experts in the field described my study as- “A real landmark in the field.”
- https://www.livescience.com/could-humans-be-venomous.html
Venom glands evolved from salivary glands
The Print (India)
N/A
2021
- The Print is the most followed outlet for science news in India.
- https://theprint.in/science/scientists-find-first-direct-evidence-that-venom-glands-evolved-from-salivary-glands/631760/
Could humans be venomous?
Fun Kids Science Weekly
N/A
2021
- Interview in childrens radio show in the UK.
- https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/could-humans-be-venomous/id1247425397?i=1000522727073
Snake venom evolved in fits and spurts
PNAS Front Matter
N/A
2020
- Contains commentry from experts in the field. Paper described as “a rich source of hypotheses for future studies.”
- http://blog.pnas.org/2020/05/snake-venom-evolved-in-fits-and-spurts/
Venom and the mystery of evolution
Asahi Shimbun (Japan)
N/A
2020
- Special feature highlighting my journey as a PhD student who uses venom to solve the mysteris of evolution.
- Asahi Shimbun is the second largest circulating newspaper in the world.
- https://globe.asahi.com/article/13581404
Teaching
How to write papers that stick
OIST
Okinawa, Japan
2023
- Invited lecture on writing scientific papes and grants.
Mini-course on Phylogentic Comparative Methods
OIST
Okinawa, Japan
2020
- Gave a lecture on the importance and utility of phylogenetic comparative methods.
- Graduate level class.
Ryukyu University Invited Lecture
Ryukyu University
Okinawa, Japan
2020
- Was invited for a special lecture to 1st year undergrad students.
- Lecture was on the origin of life in the ocean.
- Undergraduate level class
Mini-course on quantitative genetics
OIST
Okinawa, Japan
2019 - 2017
- TA and lectured on the Animal Model in quantitative genetics, and mixed models.
- Graduate level class.
OIST Science Challenge
OIST
Okinawa, Japan
2019
- Gave a lecture on Phylogenetics and how gene trees can teach us about about the history of animals.
- Undergraduate level class.
Term course on Introduction to Molecular Biology
OIST
Okinawa, Japan
2018 - 2017
- TA and lectured on a course introducing key concepts in molecular biology meant for non-biologists.
- Undergraduate level class.
Professional Development
Academic Officer
OIST Student Council 2020
N/A
2021 - 2020
- Was elected academic officer of the OIST student assembly.
- Worked closely with different departments within the administration including Graduate School, Presidents Office, and Board of Governors/Councilors.
- Worked with graduate school to formulize Student’s Code of Conduct and Academic Course Streams.
Organizer/Committee member
TEDxOIST
N/A
2018 - 2017
- Organized the first TEDx event at my university in 2017 and 2018.
Conservation efforts
Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance
West Bengal, India
2011
- Was involved in conservation of the severly threatened Bengal fishing cat.
- Collected field samples, set up camera traps, and produced documentary of fishing can conservation
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utk9UJYJ3kM
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGTF-w88BPw