Deepak Shukla
Encyclopedia
Deepak Shukla, is an American molecular virologist with expertise in herpesviruses
.
, (Sir Sunderlal Hospital of Banaras Hindu University
). Varanasi
. He studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya
, BHU and then obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry
from BHU. He also obtained a master’s degree in Biochemistry
before joining the University of Illinois at Chicago
for a PhD degree in Microbiology
and Immunology
. In 1996 he was awarded his PhD. He received his postdoctoral training with Dr. Patricia Spear (a member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA) at Northwestern University
in Chicago. In 2001 he joined UIC
, as an assistant professor of virology
. He is jointly employed by the UIC department of Ophthalmology
& Visual Sciences and Microbiology
& Immunology
. Currently he serves as the Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of Ophthalmology. He is also a professor of virology and the director of the Ocular Virology Laboratory of UIC
.
, is a well-known artist from India. His mother, Kala Rani Shukla and father have seven children, Rekha, Pradeep, Dileep, Prakash, Rachana, Anand. Deepak is the youngest of the seven siblings. They all, except Deepak Shukla, live in India.
and retinitis. He has authored over 60 internationally recognized papers on herpesviruses
and several book chapters.
type-1(HSV-1) entry receptor. This receptor called 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate is expressed by all natural target cells for the virus. His work on HSV-1 and its effect on eye diseases (keratitis
, retinitis) was most recently recognized by the Research to Prevent Blindness Inc., which awarded him the prestigious Lew Wasserman Merit Award in 2009. He became a naturalized citizen of the US in 2007. He currently lives in Chicago
, Illinois
serving as the director of the ocular virology laboratory of the University of Illinois at Chicago
. In 2010 he was made the Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of Ophthalmology. He has authored over 61 internationally recognized papers on herpesviruses and how they interact with their human hosts.
Herpesviridae
The Herpesviridae are a large family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are also known as herpesviruses. The family name is derived from the Greek word herpein , referring to the latent, recurring infections typical of this group of viruses...
.
Early life and education
Shukla was born in VaranasiVaranasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, (Sir Sunderlal Hospital of Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
). Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. He studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya, is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource Development ....
, BHU and then obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from BHU. He also obtained a master’s degree in Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
before joining the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
for a PhD degree in Microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
and Immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
. In 1996 he was awarded his PhD. He received his postdoctoral training with Dr. Patricia Spear (a member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA) at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Chicago. In 2001 he joined UIC
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
, as an assistant professor of virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
. He is jointly employed by the UIC department of Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
& Visual Sciences and Microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
& Immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
. Currently he serves as the Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of Ophthalmology. He is also a professor of virology and the director of the Ocular Virology Laboratory of UIC
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
.
Family
Shukla married Arunima Dixit in Chicago in 1992. They have three children: Navika, Shivali and Sajal. Shukla’s father, Ram Chandra ShuklaRam Chandra Shukla
Ram Chandra Shukla is an Indian painter and art critic.-Early life:Shukla was born in a small village called Shukulpura of district Basti, Uttar Pradesh in a farmer's family...
, is a well-known artist from India. His mother, Kala Rani Shukla and father have seven children, Rekha, Pradeep, Dileep, Prakash, Rachana, Anand. Deepak is the youngest of the seven siblings. They all, except Deepak Shukla, live in India.
Shukla’s work & International Awards
Shukla has been directly associated with the discoveries of HSV-1 entry receptors. Besides 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate, he also cloned and characterized the receptors (HVEM, nectin-1 and 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate)for experimental HSV-1 infection in mice. His more recent works include identifaction of a phagocytosis-like pathway for HSV-1 entry into ocular cells and significance of heparan sulfate as a regulator of cell-to-cell fusion. He also discovered viral surfing in herpesviruses. His laboratory was first to implicate Syndecans in HSV-1 entry and cell-to-cell fusion. He has also used his knowledge of HSV-1 entry mechanism to identify new reagents to protect and treat HSV-1 infection in laboratory animals. His work has also focused on genital herpes and ways to control the spread of the disease. Based on his scientific discoveries he has been recognized by various research and merit awards from the American Herpes Foundation (2001), Illinois Society to Prevent Blindness (2004), The Glaucoma Foundation (2007) and Research to Prevent Blindness Inc. He has contributed very strongly to the discovery of HSV-1 entry receptors and establishing a link between the receptors and HSV-1 induced ocular diseases such as keratitisKeratitis
Keratitis is a condition in which the eye's cornea, the front part of the eye, becomes inflamed. The condition is often marked by moderate to intense pain and usually involves impaired eyesight.-Types:...
and retinitis. He has authored over 60 internationally recognized papers on herpesviruses
Herpesviridae
The Herpesviridae are a large family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are also known as herpesviruses. The family name is derived from the Greek word herpein , referring to the latent, recurring infections typical of this group of viruses...
and several book chapters.
Recognition
He was awarded the American Herpes Foundation award for herpesvirus research in 2001 for his discovery of a receptor for herpes simplex virusHerpes simplex virus
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 , also known as Human herpes virus 1 and 2 , are two members of the herpes virus family, Herpesviridae, that infect humans. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are ubiquitous and contagious...
type-1(HSV-1) entry receptor. This receptor called 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate is expressed by all natural target cells for the virus. His work on HSV-1 and its effect on eye diseases (keratitis
Keratitis
Keratitis is a condition in which the eye's cornea, the front part of the eye, becomes inflamed. The condition is often marked by moderate to intense pain and usually involves impaired eyesight.-Types:...
, retinitis) was most recently recognized by the Research to Prevent Blindness Inc., which awarded him the prestigious Lew Wasserman Merit Award in 2009. He became a naturalized citizen of the US in 2007. He currently lives in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
serving as the director of the ocular virology laboratory of the University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 2010 he was made the Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of Ophthalmology. He has authored over 61 internationally recognized papers on herpesviruses and how they interact with their human hosts.