Dr. Abhijit S. Deshmukh completed his basic education in veterinary sciences (B.V.Sc & M.V.Sc.) from Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, India. He did his PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi, India (2013). Following PhD, he joined as DST/INSPIRE Faculty at National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad, India, and joined as regular faculty at NIAB in early 2017.

During PhD Dr. Deshmukh studied the role and regulation of origin recognition complex 1 (ORC1) protein of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The study identified and elucidated the unique role of ORC1 in regulation of virulence gene expression in addition to its canonical function in DNA replication during intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of the parasite. At NIAB he is working on Toxoplasma gondii, a leading cause of parasitic abortion in livestock. His project focuses on identifying the novel cell cycle regulators and exploring their potential to intervene T. gondii progression given its unique cell cycle and flexible mode of replication. Additionally, a project aiming at studying novel, nanoparticle-based methods of micronutrient delivery systems in livestock to improve animal health and productivity has also been initiated.

1. DST/INSPIRE Faculty award, Dept. of Science & Technology, India, 2013
   
   
2. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Award, Malaria Gordon Research Conference, Lucca, Italy, 2013
   
   
3. Best poster award, Society for Biological Chemist (SBC), Hyderabad, India, 2013
   
   
4. Best oral presentation award, Biosparks, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, 2012
   
   
5. National Eligibility Test & Fellowship: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (8th Rank), India, 2009; Agriculture Scientist Recruitment Board (ASRB-ICAR), India (2008)

1. AS Deshmukh*, Mitra P, Kolagani A, R Rajkumar. 2018. Cdk-related kinase 9 regulates RNA polymerase II mediated transcription in Toxoplasma gondii. BBA-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms. pii: S1874-9399(17)30373-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2018.02.004 (in-press) *Corresponding author
   
   
2. AS Deshmukh*, Mitra P, M Maruthi. 2016. Cdk7 mediates RPB1-driven mRNA synthesis in Toxoplasma gondii. Scientific Reports 6:35288 *corresponding author
   
   
3. AS Deshmukh, M Agarwal, SK Dhar. 2016. Regulation of DNA replication proteins in parasitic protozoans: possible role of CDK like kinases. Current Genetics 62(3):481-6
   
   
4. AS Deshmukh, M Agarwal, P Mehra, A Gupta, N Gupta, C Doerig, SK Dhar. 2015. Regulation of Plasmodium falciparum origin recognition complex subunit 1 (PfORC1) function through phosphorylation mediated by CDK like kinase PK5. Molecular Microbiology 98:17-33
   
   
5. P Mitra*, K Banu*, AS Deshmukh, S Naidu, SK Dhar. 2015. Functional dissection of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigens (1&2) in human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum: possible involvement in DNA replication and DNA damage response. Biochemical Journal 470:115-29 * joint co-first author
   
   
6. AS Deshmukh, S Srivastava, SK Dhar. 2013. Plasmodium falciparum: Epigenetic control of var gene regulation and disease. Subcellular Biochemistry 61:659-82
   
   
7. AS Deshmukh, S Srivastava, S Herrmann, A Gupta, P Mitra, TW Gilberger, SK Dhar. 2012. The role of N-terminus of Plasmodium falciparum ORC1 in telomeric localization and var gene silencing. Nucleic Acids Research 40:5313-31
   
   
8. P Mitra, AS Deshmukh, SK Dhar. 2012. DNA replication during intra-erythrocytic stages of human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Current Science 102:725-40
   
   
9. A Gupta*, P Mehra*, A Deshmukh*, A Dar, P Mitra N Roy, SK Dhar. 2009. Functional dissection of the catalytic carboxyl-terminal domain of origin recognition complex subunit 1 (PfORC1) of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Eukaryotic Cell 8:1341-51 * joint co-first author