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Name: LUITEL Himal, PhD

Permanent Address: Sirsekot-7, Syangja, Nepal

Designation: Associate Professor

Institution: Center for Biotechnology, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

Job status: Permanent

Email:  [email protected], [email protected]

Phone: +977-56592405, +977-9855051156

Qualifications: B.V.Sc.& A.H. (Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University), Master of Science in Molecular Biology {Interuniversity Program Molecular Biology (IPMB), Vrije Universitat Brussel (VUB), Katholieke Universitat Leuven (KULeuven) and Universitat Antwerpen (UA), Belgium}, PhD {Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lungs (MBML), Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany}, Post Doctorate (Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary System, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany).

Research Interest

1. Molecular Pathomechanism of pulmonary hypertension in experimental animals, High altitude medicine
2. Poultry disease: Molecular characterization of major poultry pathogens from Nepalese flocks, developing rapid diagnostic tools.
3. Vaccinology
4. Nano technology in livestock and poultry disease diagnosis
5. Wild life genetics and genetic study of infectious disease of wildlife

Ongoing research activities

a.  Translational Research

    Establishment and validation of laboratory animal experimental unit for pulmonary hypertension (In Collaboration with Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

b.  Poultry diseases

1. Developing rapid molecular diagnostic techniques of common pathogenic bacteria of poultry (E. Coli, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens and Mycoplasma)
2. Molecular Diagnostic of Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in Commercial Poultry Birds in Chitwan District, Nepal

c.  Wildlife genetics and Molecular study of infectious diseases of wildlife

1. Molecular sexing of captive vultures from vulture breeding center, Kasara, Chitwan National Park, Nepal (In collaboration with NTNC and BCN)-Completed
2. Prevalence of Elephant endotheliotropic Herpes Virus type 1 in Asymptomatic Asian Elephants of Chitwan District, Nepal
3. Genetic diversity of Red Panda from Nepal Himalaya (In collaboration with Himali Conservation Forum and funded by USAID/WWF/Hariyo Ban Program)
4. Genetic diversity of Swamp Deer population from Shuklaphanta and Bardia National Park. (In collaboration with NTNC and funded by USAID/WWF/Hariyo Ban Program)
5. Triad study of (Ecological, Infections and Genetic) of Gharial in Gharial Breeding Center (GBC) (In collaboration with CNP and funded by USAID/WWF/Hariyo Ban Program)
6. Genetic diversity of Musk Deer population from Nepal Himalaya (In collaboration with NTNC and funded by USAID/WWF/Hariyo Ban Program)

Scientific skills:

In vivo

1. Experience in conducting pre-clinical trials for  evaluation of biologicals and drugs, drug application to small animals (rat & mice) - Oral, Intratracheal, Intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, i.v. & intradermal,
2. Dissection of various organs from rat & mouse
3. Isolation of bone morrow cells & bone marrow transplantation in mice

Molecular Biology

1. Purification of genomic DNA, PCR, cloning, transformation, DNA sequencing, analysis of mutation,
2. Purification of mRNA, RT-PCR, Northern blot
3. Normal and sandwich ELISA
4. SDS-PAGE, Western Blot,
5. Cell culture: Primary-cardiac fibroblast (adult and neonatal) and cardiomyocyte culture, bone marrow cell culture and Cell lines – Vero cells
6. Recombinant DNA technology and production of recombinant protein
7. Bioinformatics

Professional experience

Assistant Professor: Center for Biotechnology, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal (July, 2015 till date)

• Full time permanent faculty of the center
• Strengthening the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratories as following

1. Molecular Unit: Separate unit for plant and animal biotechnology with DNA/RNA isolation, DNA/RNA/Protein quantification (nanodorp) Conventional and Real Time PCR, Agarose gel and gel documentation system, Western Blot
2. Sterilization unit
3. Refrigeration Unit: -80, -20, +4 degree Centrigrade
4. Microbiology Unit: bacterial culture and Identification
5.  Animal cell culture Unit
6. Biochemistry Unit
7. Plant tissue culture Unit: Under installation
8. Virology Unit: under construction
9. Vaccinology Unit: Under construction

10. Lab animal facility: rat and mice

11. Hypoxic chambers for animal experimentations

12. Animal Experimental Unit: 1 place for rat and 2 places for mice (with microscope)- online system (during animal experimentation all vital parameters will be displayed in the computer screen)

13. Histology: Tissue processing, paraffin embedding, sectioning, staining and microscopy-with analytical software (Under Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries)

• Co-operating academic programs planned or run by the center.
• Together with Director, generating ideas, develop links and participate in collaborative research works with the national and international researchers, and can seek grants
• Working in establishing a bilateral relationship between Physiology and Biotechnology programs of the AFU and similar programs of other universities and academic institutions abroad.

 Post Doctoral Researcher, Excellence Cluster Cardiopulmonary System, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany (July 2013 to June 2014)

1. Designing and execution of scientific experiments
2. Grant proposal writing
3. Manuscripts and report writing
4. Supervising MD, Vet Med and PhD students in laboratory research work

 PhD researcher, Excellence Cluster Cardiopulmonary System, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany (October 2008 to July 2013)

Graduate student (Master of Science in Molecular Biology), 2006-2008, Vrije University of Brussels, Katholieke University Leuven and University of Antwerpen, Belgium

Faculty, Apr 2005- Sept 2006, Purbanchal University, Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST), Bhaktapur, Nepal

Veterinary officer, Aug, 2004 to Apr 2005, Livestock & Poultry Disease Diagnostic Clinic, Chitwan, Nepal,

Research assistant, Apr, 2002 to Sep, 2004, Food safety project under joint collaboration of Tuft University, School of Veterinary Medicine, NE, USA and Tribhuvan University, Rampur Campus, Nepal.(Work started during final year of veterinary study and continued afterward)

Instructor, Nov 2003 to Apr 2005.Apr, Kantipur College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. (Worked in parallel with research assistant and veterinary officer above).

 Trainings and Graduate Schools

1. Molecular Biology and Medicine of the lungs (MBML) graduate, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 2008-2010. Credits carried over for PhD (2008-2013)
2. International Giessen Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences (GGL) graduate, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 2009-2012. Credits carried over for PhD (2008-2013)
3. Steriology Training (Intensive course on tissue stereology, 29^th Aug to 6^th Sept, 2011) organized by University of Bern, Department of Anatomy, Bern, Switzerland.
4. Federation of European Laboratory Animal Associations (FELASA) Course B: (19-23 Sept, 2011), Charite University, Berlin, Germany.
5. SPSS: (10^th, 19^th , 21^st, 24^th Jan, 2011), organized by GGL, JLU, Giessen, Germany
6. Biostatistics on Biological Science: (13-17^th July, 2009) organized by MBML, JLU, Giessen, Germany.

 Publications

1. Subedi M, Bhattarai RK, Devkota B, Phuyal S & Luitel H, Antibiotic resistance pattern and virulence genes content in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) from broiler chickens in Chitwan, Nepal, BMC Vet Res. 2018 May 22;14(1):166. doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1453-9.
2. Luitel H, Sydykov A, Schermuly RT, Pressure overload leads to an increased accumulation and activity of mast cells in the right ventricle, Physiological Reports, DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13146
3. Pradhan, K., Sydykov, A., Tian, X., Mamazhakypov, A., Neupane, B., Luitel, H., . . . Kretschmer, A. (2016). Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor sildenafil ameliorate pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease in mice. International journal of cardiology, 216, 85-91.
4. Luitel H, Sydykov, A, Seimetz M et al, Pulmonary Vascular Research in Nepal: Prospective and Challenges, PVRI Chronicle: Volume 2 Issue 1 January - June 2015.
5. Kosanovic, D., Luitel, H., Dahal, B. K., Cornitescu, T., Janssen, W., Danser, A. J., . . . Schiffers, P. (2015). Chymase: a multifunctional player in pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis. European Respiratory Journal, ERJ-00182-02015.
6. Petrovic, A., Seimetz, M., Sydykov, A., Pak, O., Veit, F., Luitel, H., . . . Schermuly, D. K. Cold-induced pulmonary hypertension: a distinctive pathological entity of the pul-monary circulation?, Volume 2 Issue 1 January - June 2015.
7. Janssen, W., Schymura, Y., Novoyatleva, T., Kojonazarov, B., Boehm, M., Wietelmann, A, Luitel H., . . . Tretyn, A. (2015). 5-HT2B receptor antagonists inhibit fibrosis and protect from RV heart failure. BioMed research international, 2015.
8. Kojonazarov B, Luitel H, Sydykov A, Dahal BK, Ghofrani HA, Schermuly RT, PPAR delta activation ameliorates right ventricular function in pressure overload induced RVH model.  Pulm Circ. 2014 Jun;4(2):352.
9. Kojonazarov, B., Novoyatleva, T., Sabiska, Z., Janssen, W., Tian, X., Luitel, H., . . . Grimminger, F. (2014). Inhibition of P38 Mapk Improves Heart Function in Sustained Pressure-overload Induced Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Failure. Circulation, 130(Suppl 2), A15100-A15100.
10. Luitel, H. (2013). Mast Cells in Pressure Overload Induced Right Ventricular Remodeling, American Thoracic Society.
11. Kojonazarov, B., Sydykov, A., Pullamsetti, S. S., Luitel, H., Dahal, B. K., Kosanovic, D., . . . Evans, S. (2013a). Effects of multikinase inhibitors on pressure overload-induced right ventricular remodeling. International journal of cardiology, 167(6), 2630-2637.
12. Kojonazarov, B., Luitel, H., Sydykov, A., Dahal, B. K., Paul-Clark, M. J., Bonvini, S. J., . . . Mitchell, J. A. (2013b). The Effects PPAR / Agonist GW0742 On Right Heart Hypertrophy And Function, American Thoracic Society.
13. Kojonazarov, B., Luitel, H., Sydykov, A., Dahal, B. K., Paul-Clark, M. J., Bonvini, S., . . . Mitchell, J. A. (2013a). The peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor β/δ agonist GW0742 has direct protective effects on right heart hypertrophy. Pulmonary circulation, 3(4), 926-935.
14. Kosanovic D, Kojonazarov B, Luitel H, Schermuly RT et al, Therapeutic efficacy of TBC3711 in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. Respir Res., 2011 June 23;12(1):87.
15. Janssen, W., Schymura, Y., Wietelmann, A., Stasch, J.-P., Luitel, H., Weissmann, N., . . . Seeger, W. (2011b). Improvement of right heart structure and function by BAY 41-8543 in pulmonary artery banded mice. BMC Pharmacology, 11(S1), P79.
16. Kosanovic, D., Kojonazarov, B., Luitel, H., Dahal, B. K., Sydykov, A., Cornitescu, T., . . . Ghofrani, H. A. (2011). Therapeutic efficacy of TBC3711 in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. Respiratory research, 12(1), 87.
17. Luitel, H., Sydykov, A., Kojonazarov, B., Dahal, B. K., Kosanovic, D., Seeger, W., . . . Schermuly, R. (2011). Contribution of progenitor cells in experimental right heart hypertrophy induced by pulmonary artery ligation. Pneumologie, 65(S 01), P175.
18. Krompiec, D., Janssen, W., Pullamsetti, S. S., Schymura, Y., Luitel, H., Ghofrani, H., . . . Seeger, W. (2011). Terguride attenuates myocardial remodelling and diastolic dysfunction in the pressure overloaded right heart. Pneumologie, 65(S 01), P307.
19. Schymura, Y., Janssen, W., Luitel, H., Stasch, J., Weißmann, N., Ghofrani, H.-A., . . . Schermuly, R. (2011). Effects of BAY 41–8543 in an Animal Model of Right HeartHypertrophy. Pneumologie, 65(S 02), S134-S134
20. Janssen W, Schymura Y, Wietelmann A, Johannes-Peter Stasch, Luitel H, Schermuly RT et al, Improvement of right heart structure and function by BAY 41-8543 in pulmonary artery banded mice, BMC Pharmacology 01/2011; 11:1-2. DOI:10.1186/1471-2210-11-S1-P79
21. Luitel Het al., Contribution of progenitor cells in experimental right heart hypertrophy induced by pulmonary artery ligation. American Thoracic Society (ATS), May 1, 2011, A4980-A4980.
22. Kojonazarov, B., Kosanovic, D., Pullamsetti, S. S., Sydykov, A., Luitel, H., Tian, X., . . . Barnard, R. (2010). Reversal Of Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension By The Multi-kinase Inhibitor Sunitinib, American Thoracic Society.
23. Amirjanians, V., Egemnazarov, B., Sydykov, A., Kojonazarov, B., Luitel, H., Weissmann, N., . . . Ghofrani, H. (2010). Inhalative application of soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulator BAY 41–8543 for treatement of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pneumologie, 64(S 03), P419.
24. Amirjanians, V, Egemnazarov, B., Sydykov, A., Kojonazarov, B., Luitel, H., Weissmann, N., . . . Ghofrani, H. (2010). Inhalative application of soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulator BAY 41–8543 for treatement of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pneumologie, 64(S 03), P419.
25. Luitel H, et al., Right ventricular remodeling in response to pressure overload, Pneumologie, 2010; 64 - P336, DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1251352
26. Luitel H, Milk fever in four different buffaloes, The Blue Cross, Vol 6, 2005.
27. Luitel H, An effective brooding of chicks, The Blue Cross, Vol 6, 2003

Books:

Laboratory Manual for Livestock production and management published by Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST), Purbanchal University, Bhaktapur, Nepal. (2005).

Student supervision

1. Mr. Paras Shah (PhD Scholar):
2. Mr. Hemanta Yadav (PhD Scholar):
3. Mr. Amir Sadaula (Masters in Veterinary Biotechnology): PI
4. Ms. Manita Subedi (Masters in Veterinary Biotechnology): PI
5. Ms. Sarita Phuyal (Masters in Veterinary Biotechnology): PI
6. Mr. Rishi Ram Sapkota (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
7. Mr. Bhakta Neure (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
8. Mr. Santosh Thapa (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
9. Mr. Vishan Gajmer (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
10. Mr. Tulasi Pandey (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
11. Mr. Rishav Guragain (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
12. MS. Sabina Mishra (Masters in Veterinary Microbiology): Co-PI
13. Mr. Subash Thapa) Masters in Agriculture Biotechnology): Co-PI

Honours

References