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Manjulatha Sara

Manjulatha Sara

PhD Candidate
Postgraduate Research Student
Postgraduate Research Student School of Optometry and Vision Science

Biography

Manjulatha Sara is a microbiologist and Scientia Higher Degree (PhD) candidate at UNSW, specializing in antimicrobial efficacy against resistance. After earning her graduate degree, she joined L.V. Prasad Eye Research Hospital, gaining diagnostic experience in biochemical, histological, immunological, and microbiological analysis. She completed her master’s in science, India, where she developed expertise in microbial pathogenesis, histological changes, mammalian tissue responses, antimicrobial intracellular mechanisms, drug kinetics in vivo and maintenance of cell lines. As a recipient of the Scientia award for her postdoctoral research at UNSW, she relocated to Australia. Her research focuses on developing novel antimicrobial lenses with peptidomimetics to control microbial keratitis, particularly in contact lens wearers.

Research Title: Development of Biologically Active Biomaterials Against Bacterial Colonisation

Supervisor: Professor Mark Willcox

-ܱǰ:Dr Alex Hui, Dr Edgar Wong and Dr Mohammad Yasir

Research Abstract

My research focuses on developing innovative antimicrobial contact lenses to reduce keratitis by systematically investigating the antimicrobial activity of peptidomimetics against MDR-resistant strains. I assessed resistance to protease and toxicity using erythrocytes and corneal epithelial cell lines. Three distinct attachment strategies—carbodiimide chemistry, 2-methyl, 2-oxazoline deposition, and plasma immersion ion implantation—were employed to covalently immobilize the peptidomimetics. Characterization studies, along with biofilm inhibition and antimicrobial interaction mechanisms, were conducted. The significant outcomes of this study have propelled the research towards in vivo studies, contributing to the development of effective antimicrobial contact lenses for keratitis treatment.
Email

manjulatha.sara@unsw.edu.au

1. Kalra P, Ahir war LK, Mittal R, Ranjith K, Das S, Manjulatha K, Bagga B, Mohamed A, Joseph J, Sharma S. Clinical and histopathological evaluation of a rabbit model for Pythium insidiosum keratitis. Current Eye Res. 2019 Oct 8

2. Bagga B, Joseph J, Garg P, Chandran K, Jaya Bhasker P, Manjulatha K, Sharma S. Efficacy of Topical Miltefosine in Patients with Acanthamoeba Keratitis: A Pilot Study. Ophthalmology. 2019 May;126(5):768-770.

3. Bagga B, Sharma S, Madhuri Guda SJ, Nagpal R, Joseph J, Manjulatha K, Mohamed A, Garg P. Leap forward in the treatment of Pythium insidiosum keratitis. Br J Ophthalmology. 2018 Dec;102(12):1629-1633.

4. Sharma S, Balne PK, Motukupally SR, Das S, Garg P, Sahu SK, Aruna Sri K,Manjulatha K, Mishra DK, Shivaji S. Pythium insidiosum keratitis: clinical profile and role of DNA sequencing and zoospore formation in diagnosis. Cornea. 2015 Apr;34(4):438-42.

5. Manderwad GP, Kodiganti M, Ali MJ. Cardio bacterium hominis-induced acute dacryocystitis and lacrimal abscess. Indian J Ophthalmology. 2014 Apr;62(4):495-7. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.116461.

6. Balne PK, Reddy AK, Kodiganti M, Gorli SR, Garg P. Evaluation of three PCR assays for the detection of fungi in patients with mycotic keratitis. Br J Ophthalmology. 2012 Jun;96(6):911-2.

7. Balne PK, Nalamada S, Kodiganti M, Taneja M. Fungal keratitis caused by Chaetomium atrobrunneum. Cornea. 2012 Jan;31(1):94-5.

8.Polyphenylglyoxamide-Based Amphiphilic Small Molecular Peptidomimetics as Antibacterial Agents with Anti-Biofilm Activity TT Yu, R Kuppusamy, M Yasir, MM Hassan, M Sara, J Ho, MDP Willcox, ...International journal of molecular sciences 22 (14), 7344

9. Published co-authored manuscript: The COVID-19 pandemic at two years: is the end in sight? Willcox et al. Contact Lens Spectrum 2022: 37, March: 34-36, 38-40

10. Published co-authored manuscript: Willcox, Mark DP, et al. "Biofilms and contact lenses: problems and solutions."Microbiology Australia44.2 (2023): 96-99.

11.Sara, Manjulatha, et al. "The activity of antimicrobial peptoids against multidrug-resistant ocular pathogens."Contact Lens and Anterior Eye(2024): 102124.

12.Sara, Manjulatha, et al. "Intrastromal Corneal Ring Implants Associated Bacterial Infections."Current Eye Research(2024): 1-9.

13. Z Hong, TT Yu, M Yasir, M Sara, DSC Black, MDP Willcox, R Kuppusamy, ...Chemistry Select 9 (22), e202400502, Daidzein‐Based Amphiphilic Small Molecular Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics as Novel Antimicrobial Agents with Anti‐Biofilm Activity.

14. M Sara, R Kuppusamy, M Afzal, M Khan, M Yasir, P Kalaiselvan, A Hui, ...Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 62 (8), 400-400,” Synergistic activity of a peptide mimic with quinolones and cephalosporins against Staphylococcus aureus”.
    • Researcher Scholar at School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, UNSW. 2020-current
    • Master of Zoology from The Annamalai University, India. 1998-2000
    • Graduate from Ambedkar University, India. 1993-1996
    • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
    • American Society of Microbiology
    • Australian Society of Microbiology
    • Scientia Scholarship from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, to study towards a PhD. 2020
    • Received International travel grant from Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2021
    • Received travel grant from International Society for Contact Lens Research to attend their conference in Portugal in 2022
    • Lorne infection and Immunity 2021: The Title is “Synergistic activity of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin againststaphylococciand streptococci”
    • ARVO 2021 - The title is “Synergistic activity of a peptide mimic with quinolones and cephalosporins againstStaphylococcus aureus”
    • Australian Society for Microbiology 2021: “Identification and diagnosis ofPythium insidiosumԴڱ𳦳پDzԲ”
    • International Society for Contact Lens and Research. “Development of New antimicrobial contact lenses”. Sept 2022
    • Peptoids Summit “Antimicrobial activity of peptoids against clinical pathogens.” Sept 2022
    • International Cornea Contact Lens Congress. “Production of new antimicrobial contact lenses” Oct 2022
    • Asian Network of Natural & unnatural Materials (ANNUM-10) – “The efficacy of various attachment strategies to produce covalently bound antimicrobial contact lenses” –1stFeb 2023
    • American Society of Microbiology (ASM) – ”The effect of peptoids covalently immobilised on etafilcon A contact lenses against bacteria” 15th-19thJune 2023
    • Australian Society of Microbiology (ASM) – “The ability of covalently bound peptoids to reduce adhesion ofPseudomonas aeruginosato contact lenses” – 3rd-6thJuly 2023
    • International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP) - “Peptoid-bound silicone lens ability to reduce adhesion ofP aeruginosa”– 6-8thSep 2023
    • Australian Society of Microbiology (ASM) – “A Comparative Analysis of the Mechanisms of Action of Short Mimics and N-Substituted Glycine Peptoids Against P. aeruginosa” 1 - 4 July 2024
    • International Corneal and Contact Lense Congress - “Antibacterial efficacy of a peptidomimetic on three different lens surfaces”- 23-25th Aug 2024
    • International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP) - “Peptoid-bound silicone lens ability to reduce adhesion ofP aeruginosa”– 2-4thSep 2024