Sabyasachi Das

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Assistant Professor

sdas8@emory.edu

Overview

I have been engaged in comparative studies of antigen receptors expressed in B lineage and T lineage lymphocytes. My current research focuses on the evolution of immune system genes and immunity using extant jawless vertebrates (Lamprey and Hagfish) as model organisms. In these organisms, antigen receptors called Variable Lymphocyte Receptors (VLRs) differ from the Immunoglobulin and T-cell receptors found in jawed vertebrates. Additionally, I am developing monoclonal lamprey antibodies for biomedical applications.

Highlights of my research include the discovery and characterization of the first exonic microRNA in specific immunoglobulin lambda light chain genes, the identification of new VLRs, the genomic organization of VLR loci, the sharing of genomic donor cassettes during VLR assemblies in T-like lymphocytes of jawless vertebrates, and the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms behind VLR repertoire development. Recently, I discovered a BAFF-like gene and two BAFF receptor-like genes in lamprey and conducted a comparative genomic and evolutionary analysis. BAFF is considered a master regulator of B cell development and regulation in mammals. I have also participated in the genome annotation projects for lamprey and hagfish.

Academic Appointment

Assistant Professor, Pathology And Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

PhD from Jadavpur University

Research

Publications

Hagfish genome elucidates vertebrate whole-genome duplication events and their evolutionary consequences.
Nat Ecol Evol Volume: 8 Page(s): 519 - 535
03/01/2024 Authors: Yu D; Ren Y; Uesaka M; Beavan AJS; Muffato M; Shen J; Li Y; Sato I; Wan W; Clark JW
Evolution of two distinct variable lymphocyte receptors in lampreys: VLRD and VLRE.
Cell Rep Volume: 42 Page(s): 112933
08/29/2023 Authors: Das S; Boehm T; Holland SJ; Rast JP; Fontenla-Iglesias F; Morimoto R; Valadez JG; Heimroth RD; Hirano M; Cooper MD
Evolution of variable lymphocyte receptor B antibody loci in jawless vertebrates.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 118
12/14/2021 Authors: Das S; Rast JP; Li J; Kadota M; Donald JA; Kuraku S; Hirano M; Cooper MD
Evolutionary Analysis of the Zinc Finger and Homeoboxes Family of Proteins Identifies Multiple Conserved Domains and a Common Early Chordate Ancestor.
Genome Biol Evol Volume: 12 Page(s): 174 - 184
03/01/2020 Authors: Nail AN; Smith JJ; Peterson ML; Spear BT
Ancient BCMA-like Genes Herald B Cell Regulation in Lampreys.
J Immunol Volume: 203 Page(s): 2909 - 2916
12/01/2019 Authors: Das S; Sutoh Y; Cancro MP; Rast JP; Han Q; Bommakanti G; Cooper MD; Hirano M
Avian Binocularity and Adaptation to Nocturnal Environments: Genomic Insights from a Highly Derived Visual Phenotype.
Genome Biol Evol Volume: 11 Page(s): 2244 - 2255
08/01/2019 Authors: Borges R; Fonseca J; Gomes C; Johnson WE; O'Brien SJ; Zhang G; Gilbert MTP; Jarvis ED; Antunes A
Evolutionary modification of the VLR-based adaptive immune system in jawless vertebrates: Functional implications
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Volume: 200
05/01/2018 Authors: Das S; Li J; Hirano M; Rast J; Cooper MD
Evolution of Alternative Adaptive Immune Systems in Vertebrates.
Volume: 36 Page(s): 19 - 42
04/26/2018 Authors: Boehm T; Hirano M; Holland SJ; Das S; Schorpp M; Cooper MD
Characterization of Lamprey BAFF-like Gene: Evolutionary Implications.
J Immunol Volume: 197 Page(s): 2695 - 2703
10/01/2016 Authors: Das S; Sutoh Y; Hirano M; Han Q; Li J; Cooper MD; Herrin BR
Characterization of Lamprey IL-17 Family Members and Their Receptors.
J Immunol Volume: 195 Page(s): 5440 - 5451
12/01/2015 Authors: Han Q; Das S; Hirano M; Holland SJ; McCurley N; Guo P; Rosenberg CS; Boehm T; Cooper MD
Evolution of two prototypic T cell lineages.
Cell Immunol Volume: 296 Page(s): 87 - 94
07/01/2015 Authors: Das S; Li J; Hirano M; Sutoh Y; Herrin BR; Cooper MD
Genomic donor cassette sharing during VLRA and VLRC assembly in jawless vertebrates.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 111 Page(s): 14828 - 14833
10/14/2014 Authors: Das S; Li J; Holland SJ; Iyer LM; Hirano M; Schorpp M; Aravind L; Cooper MD; Boehm T
Evolutionary implications of a third lymphocyte lineage in lampreys.
Nature Volume: 501 Page(s): 435 - 438
09/19/2013 Authors: Hirano M; Guo P; McCurley N; Schorpp M; Das S; Boehm T; Cooper MD
Definition of a third VLR gene in hagfish.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 110 Page(s): 15013 - 15018
09/10/2013 Authors: Li J; Das S; Herrin BR; Hirano M; Cooper MD
Organization of lamprey variable lymphocyte receptor C locus and repertoire development.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 110 Page(s): 6043 - 6048
04/09/2013 Authors: Das S; Hirano M; Aghaallaei N; Bajoghli B; Boehm T; Cooper MD
Sequencing of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) genome provides insights into vertebrate evolution.
Nat Genet Volume: 45 Page(s): 415 - 421e2
04/01/2013 Authors: Smith JJ; Kuraku S; Holt C; Sauka-Spengler T; Jiang N; Campbell MS; Yandell MD; Manousaki T; Meyer A; Bloom OE
Immune related genes underpin the evolution of adaptive immunity in jawless vertebrates.
Curr Genomics Volume: 13 Page(s): 86 - 94
04/01/2012 Authors: McCurley N; Hirano M; Das S; Cooper MD
Evolutionary genomics of immunoglobulin-encoding Loci in vertebrates.
Curr Genomics Volume: 13 Page(s): 95 - 102
04/01/2012 Authors: Das S; Hirano M; Tako R; McCallister C; Nikolaidis N
Comparative genomics and genome evolution.
Curr Genomics Volume: 13 Page(s): 85
04/01/2012 Authors: Das S; Hirano M
Evolution of a lymphocyte-based adaptive immune system
Volume: 135 Page(s): 30 - 30
12/01/2011 Authors: Cooper MD; Das S; Guo P; Hirano M; Herrin B; Li J; Nakahara H; McCurley N; Sadlonova A; Yu C
The evolution of adaptive immunity in vertebrates.
Adv Immunol Volume: 109 Page(s): 125 - 157
01/01/2011 Authors: Hirano M; Das S; Guo P; Cooper MD
Comparative genomics and evolution of immunoglobulin-encoding loci in tetrapods.
Adv Immunol Volume: 111 Page(s): 143 - 178
01/01/2011 Authors: Das S; Hirano M; McCallister C; Tako R; Nikolaidis N
Comparative genomics and evolution of the alpha-defensin multigene family in primates.
Mol Biol Evol Volume: 27 Page(s): 2333 - 2343
10/01/2010 Authors: Das S; Nikolaidis N; Goto H; McCallister C; Li J; Hirano M; Cooper MD
MicroRNA 125b inhibition of B cell differentiation in germinal centers.
Int Immunol Volume: 22 Page(s): 583 - 592
07/01/2010 Authors: Gururajan M; Haga CL; Das S; Leu C-M; Hodson D; Josson S; Turner M; Cooper MD
Distinct, ecotype-specific genome and proteome signatures in the marine cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus.
BMC Genomics Volume: 11 Page(s): 103
02/10/2010 Authors: Paul S; Dutta A; Bag SK; Das S; Dutta C
Analysis of the immunoglobulin light chain genes in zebra finch: evolutionary implications.
Mol Biol Evol Volume: 27 Page(s): 113 - 120
01/01/2010 Authors: Das S; Mohamedy U; Hirano M; Nei M; Nikolaidis N
Genomic organization and evolution of immunoglobulin kappa gene enhancers and kappa deleting element in mammals.
Mol Immunol Volume: 46 Page(s): 3171 - 3177
09/01/2009 Authors: Das S; Nikolaidis N; Nei M
Evolutionary origin and genomic organization of micro-RNA genes in immunoglobulin lambda variable region gene family.
Mol Biol Evol Volume: 26 Page(s): 1179 - 1189
05/01/2009 Authors: Das S
Evolutionary redefinition of immunoglobulin light chain isotypes in tetrapods using molecular markers.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 105 Page(s): 16647 - 16652
10/28/2008 Authors: Das S; Nikolaidis N; Klein J; Nei M
Molecular signature of hypersaline adaptation: insights from genome and proteome composition of halophilic prokaryotes.
Genome Biol Volume: 9 Page(s): R70
04/09/2008 Authors: Paul S; Bag SK; Das S; Harvill ET; Dutta C
Evolutionary dynamics of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes in vertebrates.
Immunogenetics Volume: 60 Page(s): 47 - 55
01/01/2008 Authors: Das S; Nozawa M; Klein J; Nei M
Analysis of Nanoarchaeum equitans genome and proteome composition: indications for hyperthermophilic and parasitic adaptation.
BMC Genomics Volume: 7 Page(s): 186
07/25/2006 Authors: Das S; Paul S; Bag SK; Dutta C
Synonymous codon usage in adenoviruses: influence of mutation, selection and protein hydropathy.
Virus Res Volume: 117 Page(s): 227 - 236
05/01/2006 Authors: Das S; Paul S; Dutta C
Evolutionary constraints on codon and amino acid usage in two strains of human pathogenic actinobacteria Tropheryma whipplei.
J Mol Evol Volume: 62 Page(s): 645 - 658
05/01/2006 Authors: Das S; Paul S; Dutta C
Comparative analyses of codon and amino acid usage in symbiotic island and core genome in nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum.
J Biomol Struct Dyn Volume: 23 Page(s): 221 - 232
10/01/2005 Authors: Das S; Pan A; Paul S; Dutta C
Compositional variation in bacterial genes and proteins with potential expression level.
FEBS Lett Volume: 579 Page(s): 5205 - 5210
09/26/2005 Authors: Das S; Ghosh S; Pan A; Dutta C
Codon and amino acid usage in two major human pathogens of genus Bartonella--optimization between replicational-transcriptional selection, translational control and cost minimization.
DNA Res Volume: 12 Page(s): 91 - 102
01/01/2005 Authors: Das S; Paul S; Chatterjee S; Dutta C

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