Stalinraja Maruthamuthu, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Surgery
School of Medicine

I am a postdoctoral Scholar working with Dr.Rajalingam Raja, who is the director of Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory (ITL) at UCSF. My contributions have been recognized with the ASHI (The American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics) scholar award for the year 2022.

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Additionally, I have taken on the role of guest editor for the journal "Cells" Special Issue titled "The Molecular Mechanism of Vascular Remodeling." During my PhD, my research focused on studying the diversity of NK cell receptors within the Southern Indian population. My findings highlighted the protective role of the NK cell receptor KIR in HIV disease progression.

Currently, my work at UCSF delves into unraveling the functions of NK cell receptors KIR and FcR in kidney transplantation and their implications in SARS-CoV-2. Our research initiatives involve NK cell-based immune assays, aimed at identifying potential biomarkers for kidney transplant rejection. Moreover, I am actively involved in a desensitization study targeting plasma cells to decrease HLA antibodies, facilitating kidney transplantation for highly sensitized waitlist candidates. Within this clinical trial, I utilize multicolor flow cytometry to analyze B cell subpopulations, seeking to comprehend the therapeutic impact of plasma cell depletion.

Main theme of my research is to study the influence of host immunogenetic factors against infectious diseases and transplanted organs through molecular and cellular biological approaches.

Awards

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  • Guest Editor, MDPI journal Special Issue "The Molecular Mechanism of Vascular Remodeling", 2022
  • ASHI Scholar Award, The American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2022
  • Meritorious Fellow, Madurai Kamaraj University, 2012-2016
  • Genomics Fellow, Madurai Kamaraj University, 2010-2012
  • TN- Govt. Students (M.Sc., Project) Fellowship, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, 2006

Education & Training

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  • PhD Immunology Madurai Kamaraj University 2016
  • Trainee Recombinant arbovirus protein characterization Bhat biotech Ltd 2008
  • Master's Biotechnology Manonmaniam Sundaranar University 2007

Interests

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  • Host-Pathogen interactions
  • Immunophenotyping
  • infectious diseases
  • Immunogenetics
  • Transplant Immunology

Websites

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Publications (13)

Top publication keywords:
Histocompatibility TestingGenotypeOligonucleotidesRheumatic Heart DiseaseHLA-B AntigensReceptors, KIR3DL1Streptococcal InfectionsIndiaBone MarrowHIV-1Receptors, KIRDisease ResistanceHLA AntigensKiller Cells, NaturalPlasma Cells

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  • A DECREASE IN KIR-HLA GENE COMBINATIONS THAT INVOLVE IN NK CELL MATURATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19
    A DECREASE IN KIR-HLA GENE COMBINATIONS THAT INVOLVE IN NK CELL MATURATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 2021 S. Maruthamuthu, J. Soto, N. Lee, D. Kong, R. Rajalingam,
  • Concurrent typing of over 4000 samples by long-range PCR amplicon-based NGS and rSSO revealed the need to verify NGS typing for HLA allelic dropouts.
    Human immunology 2021 Kong D, Lee N, Dela Cruz ID, Dames C, Maruthamuthu S, Golden T, Rajalingam R
  • Inhibitory natural killer cell receptor KIR3DL1 with its ligand Bw4 constraints HIV-1 disease among South Indians.
    AIDS (London, England) 2018 Maruthamuthu S, Rajalingam R, Pandian K, Madasamy S, Manoharan M, Pitchai L, Murugesan A, Mariakuttikan J
  • P124 Centromeric BB KIR genotypes that are lacking KIR2DL3 are associated with HIV seropositive individuals of long term non progressor to AIDS
    P124 Centromeric BB KIR genotypes that are lacking KIR2DL3 are associated with HIV seropositive individuals of long term non progressor to AIDS 2017 Stalinraja, Maruthamuthu; Suresh, Madasamy; Mythreyee, Manoharan; Rajalingam, Raja; Jayalakshmi, Mariakuttikan;
  • Predominance of B haplotype associated KIR genes in Tamil Speaking Dravidians.
    Human immunology 2015 Maruthamuthu S, Mariakuttikan J
  • Protective role of Mannose binding Lectin (MBL2) promoter haplotypes on TB infection in South Indian HIV-1 patients
    Protective role of Mannose binding Lectin (MBL2) promoter haplotypes on TB infection in South Indian HIV-1 patients 2014 Pandian, K., Maruthamuthu, S., Madasamy, S., Mariakuttikan, J
  • Homozygous KIR2DL3 confers susceptibility to tuberculosis infection in HIV seropositive individuals
    Homozygous KIR2DL3 confers susceptibility to tuberculosis infection in HIV seropositive individuals 2014 Maruthamuthu, Stalinraja; Madasamy, Suresh; Mariakuttikan, Jayalakshmi;
  • Protective effect of KIR3DS1 in asymptomatic HIV-1 seroconverters towards AIDS
    Protective effect of KIR3DS1 in asymptomatic HIV-1 seroconverters towards AIDS 2012 Stalinraja, M; Kalyanaraman, N; Leishman, P; Suresh, M; Jayalakshmi, M;