Speakers - 2025

Biography

I am Garima Joshi, a Ph.D. scholar at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) and a senior research fellow. My research focuses on combating post-acute COVID-19 complications, particularly pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, through alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation. To advance this work, I have developed a unique SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS mice model, providing new insights into these conditions. With four publications—three research articles and a review—I am committed to advancing scientific knowledge and sharing my findings. I actively engage in scientific conferences, including the IUBMB RNA Virus Meeting (2022) and a Human Microbiome Conference with a next-generation sequencing workshop (2023). These events have enriched my research perspective and facilitated valuable professional connections.

Abstract

Abstract: Our recent study elucidates the protective role of alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) in suppressing thrombosis and inflammation in mice. This effect is mediated through augmentation of prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) activity, leading to inhibition of AKT phosphorylation and HIF1-α stabilization. Recently, we described that dietary αKG supplementation attenuated lung inflammation and improved the mice's survivability against SARS-CoV-2 infection. We further investigated the therapeutic potential of αKG in ameliorating pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in mice. Mice with acute infection developed pulmonary fibrosis, leading to ARDS pathophysiology limiting O₂ levels. We describe that supplementation with 1% αKG till 15 days post-infection (DPI) significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection and decreased inflammation and fibrosis markers like surfactant proteins B and C in the lungs and thus helped to restore the limiting O₂ levels. SARS-CoV-2-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the lung tissues. Notably, αKG supplementation effectively inhibited the EMT and rescued lung fibrosis by suppressing P-AKT and TGF-β, reducing ZEB-1 and vimentin, and rescuing the EMT. Our findings thus underscore the promising therapeutic potential of αKG in treating lung fibrosis in SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS-like conditions.