Dilip Shrestha

Cells exhibit adaptive and compensatory mechanisms. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of physiological processes requires recognition of the significance of its parts at multiple levels. This necessitates observing and determining the characteristic features of molecules while it is still functioning. In the current scenario, there is a wealth of data generated by transcriptomics or proteomics or other –omics technologies, however, their interrelationships in the biological context is difficult to comprehend as they come from isolated non-related environment. My current interest thus stems from the idea of watching while performing. The inspiration is drawn from the long-standing immunological secrets that keeps the components of the immune system in balance and eventually determines healthy from diseased states. The immune system is somehow able to operate the functional machineries in a co-ordinated manner that is efficient at recognition, processing and clearance of foreign bodies. The principal component of immunological responses is the proteins dedicated to presenting diverse groups of antigens, such as peptides, lipids, drug-like small molecules etc. How the family of antigen-presenting molecules (APMs) such as MHC, MHC related proteins (CD1, MR1) and Butyrophilin work in concert or communicate with other cellular molecules is intriguing? Therefore, my research focuses on understanding the breadth of communication dynamics of APMs in a living system using super-resolution microscopy, flow cytometry and the associated fluorescence techniques, including single molecule approaches.