|
List of ongoing research projects in Sahi Lab: |
|
Tissue culture or micro-propagation is a way of rapid in-vitro propagation of plants by taking a small number of cells from a 'parent' plant and growing them in a medium rich in nutrients and plant growth hormones. In our laboratory, we are developing gene expression system in Alfalfa to remove excess phosphorus from contaminated sites. |
|
Fungal infections have recently emerged as a growing threat to human health, especially in persons whose immune systems are compromised in some way. Fungi cause a wide variety of diseases in human such as aspergillosis, blastomycosis, candidasis, coccidiomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, paracoccidiomycosis and ring worm. |
|
Viruses are responsible for life-threatening human diseases such as HIV/AIDS, herpesvirus infections, and viral hepatitis. Development of drugs for emerging viral infections poses distinctive challenges because viruses have the potential to change virulence rapidly. In our laboratory, we are extracting drugs from plants to treat Herpes infection. |
|
Environmental contamination with heavy metals is a serious concern now. Excessive levels of metals such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) can result in crop yield reduction and pose significant hazards to human, animal and ecosystem health. Sesbania drummondii, a perennial shrub which is distributed in southern coastal areas of the United States; is being developed to remediate polluted sites. It has great potential to accumulate high concentrations of toxic metals like Pb, Hg, Cr and Cu. |
|
Recurrent application of animal manure to the soil often results in accumulation of phosphorus (P) in the soil over time. In our laboratory, we are using temperate forages like Lolium multiflorum to remove excess P from manure impacted soil is an attractive strategy for P phytoremediation. Two genotypes of Lolium multiflorum, Gulf and Marshall have been used for determining their P accumulation potential in nutrient medium with different concentration of various P substrates. |
|
Plant Tissue Culture and Genetic Transformation (Funded by USDA) |
|
Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals |
|
Development of an anti-viral drug from a plant. (Funded by KSTC) |
|
An anti-fungal therapeutic compound from Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.). |
|
Bioremediation of Phosphorus contaminated soil using perennial rye grass (Funded by USDA) |
|
Research |
