Neurogenetics

Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai

HOD, Associate Professor

email : anitha@iccons.co.in

Academic Qualification

  • PhD

Professional Record

  • Associate Professor at ICCONS 2014 till now
  • Assistant Professor in Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan (2008 - 2014)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow in Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan (2004-2008)
  • Research Associate in Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum(2003

Awards

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; USA) Early Career Investigator Program (ECIP) travel award to attend XIXth World, Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, held at Washington, DC, USA (September 10-14, 2011)
  • Young Scientist Award (Dr. H.M. Bhatia award) in the field of Population Genetics, for the paper “Molecular Signatures of Ethnic Populations in Kerala”, presented during the 27th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Human Genetics held in Trivandrum, India (February 14-16, 2002)

Area of Interest

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Population Genetics
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Forensic Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Current Activities

  • Extramural research projects
  • Molecular diagnostics
  • Skill development programs, guiding M.Sc. projects
  • Guiding M.Sc. projects

Fellowship

  • Research Associate Fellowship of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (2003-2004)
  • Senior Research Fellowship of CSIR (1999-2002)

Membership

  • Life member of the Association for the Promotion of DNA Fingerprinting and other Technologies (ADNAT)
  • Life member of the Association for the Promotion of DNA Fingerprinting and other Technologies (ADNAT)

OngoingProjects

  • Project title: Genetic characterization and clinical correlates of polymicrogyria syndromes, , Funding agency: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Duration: 2020-2023
  • Project title: Genetic characterization and clinical correlates of polymicrogyria syndromes, , Funding agency: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Duration: 2020-2023
  • Project title: DNA methylation analysis in specific language impairment, Funding agency: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Duration: 2018-2021

Projects Completed

  • Project title: Targeted exon sequencing to identify novel, rare and/or common functional genetic variants in autism: A comprehensive twin-family study of autism in Kerala, Funding agency: Kerala State Council for Science Technology & Environment (KSCSTE), Duration: 2018-2022
  • Project title: Molecular mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism, Funding agency: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology (MEXT), Japan, Duration: 2011-2013
  • Project title: Molecular mechanism of serotoninergic dysfunction in autism, Funding agency: MEXT, Japan, Duration: 2008-2010
  • Project title: Association of SOD2 variants with methamphetamine psychosis in Japanese and Taiwanese populations, Funding agency: MEXT, Japan, Duration: 2005-2007

Organisational Activities

  • Event Organizer of the SERB-funded VRITIKA training and skill internship program at ICCONS, Shoranur (September 01, 2021-October 12, 2021)
  • Co-organized a CME on "Genetics of Rare Disorders" at ICCONS, Shoranur (March 01, 2020). This seminar was cosponsored by NAMS and MCI
  • Organized a National Seminar on "Genetics of Complex Disorders" at ICCONS, Shoranur (January 12-13, 2018). This seminar was cosponsored by ICMR, CSIR and KSCSTE
  • Co-organized a National Seminar on "Emerging Trends in the Diagnosis and Management of Cognitive and Communicative Disorders" at ICCONS, Shoranur (June 04-05, 2016)

Presentations

  • E-poster presentation at the Board of Genetic Counseling India 6th Annual Conference 2021 held as international webinar (July 02-04, 2021)Whole exome sequencing implicates major histocompatibility class I in polymicrogyria
  • E-poster presentation at the Board of Genetic Counseling India 6th Annual Conference 2021 held as international webinar (July 02-04, 2021),Impaired T-cell receptor signaling in autism spectrum disorders?
  • E-poster presentation at the Board of Genetic Counseling India 6th Annual Conference 2021 held as international webinar (July 02-04, 2021),G protein-coupled receptors in developmental language disorder
  • Abstract published in the proceedings of the 33rd Kerala Science Congress held as webinar (January 25-30, 2021),Photoparoxysmal EEG response in idiopathic generalized epilepsy implicates variation in neurodevelopmental genes
  • Abstract published in the proceedings of the 33rd Kerala Science Congress held as webinar (January 25-30, 2021),Whole exome sequencing identifies multiple novel candidate genes for autism spectrum disorders among twin families in Kerala
  • E-poster presentation at the Young Scientist Conference organized as part of the India International Science Festival held as webinar (December 22-25, 2020), Genetic characterization of photoparoxysmal EEG responses in idiopathic generalized epilepsy implicates neurodevelopmental genes
  • E-poster presentation at the Young Scientist Conference organized as part of the India International Science Festival held as webinar (December 22-25, 2020), Whole exome sequencing in twin families with autism spectrum disorder identifies multiple novel candidate genes
  • E-poster presentation at the Board of Genetic Counseling India 5th Annual Conference 2020 held as international webinar (July 02-04, 2020), Genetic characterization of photoparoxysmal EEG responses in children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy
  • E-poster presentation at the Board of Genetic Counseling India 5th Annual Conference 2020 held as international webinar (July 02-04, 2020), De novo X chromosome mutations in autism spectrum disorders
  • Poster presentation at the CME on "Genetics of Rare Disorders" held at ICCONS, Shoranur, India (March 01, 2020), Autism and cancer share risk genes?
  • Poster presentation at the CME on "Genetics of Rare Disorders" held at ICCONS, Shoranur, India (March 01, 2020), Genome-wide DNA methylation reveals differential methylation of genes involved in brain development and function
  • Oral presentation at the 32nd Kerala Science Congress held at Palakkad, India (January 25-27, 2020), De novo mutations of olfactory receptor genes in autism spectrum disorders
  • Oral presentation at the 32nd Kerala Science Congress held at Palakkad, India (January 25-27, 2020), Impaired WNT signaling in developmental language disorder?
  • Poster presentation at the Young Scientist Conference organized as part of the India International Science Festival held at Kolkata, India (November 05-07, 2019), Differential methylation of WNT signaling modulators in developmental language disorder
  • Poster presentation at the Young Scientist Conference organized as part of the India International Science Festival held at Kolkata, India (November 05-07, 2019), Whole exome sequencing in twin families with autism spectrum disorder reveals de novo mutations in olfactory receptor genes
  • Poster presentation at the XX1st World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics held at Boston, USA (October 17-21, 2013), Zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) and verbal deficits in autism
  • Oral presentation at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Japan Brain Science Society held at Hamamatsu, Japan (September 28-29, 2013), Zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) in autism
  • Oral presentation at the 10th Hamamatsu Symposium on Medical Science organized by Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan (July 26, 2013), Zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) and verbal deficits in autism
  • Oral presentation at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Gene Diagnosis and Therapy held at Hamamatsu, Japan (July 18—20, 2013), Downregulation of the expression of mitochondrial electron transport complex genes in autism brain
  • Oral presentation at Neuro 2013 (36th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society, 56th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Neurochemistry and 23rd Annual Conference of the Japanese Neural Network Society) held at Kyoto, Japan (June 20-23, 2013), Protocadherin alpha (PCDHA) as a novel susceptibility gene for autism
  • Poster presentation at the XXth World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics held at Hamburg, Germany (October 14-18, 2012), Strong genetic evidence of PCDHA as a susceptibility gene for autism
  • Poster presentation at the XIXth World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics held at Washington DC, USA (September 10-16, 2011), Mitochondrial dysfunction in autism
  • Poster presentation at the XVIth World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics held at Osaka, Japan (October 11-15, 2008), Gene and expression analyses reveal elevated expression of syntaxin 1A in high functioning autism
  • Oral presentation at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Neurochemistry held at Fukuoka, Japan (September 28-30, 2005), Altered pericentrin 2 (PCNT2) expression in Bipolar Disorder
  • Oral presentation at the Joint Meeting of the 27th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Biological Psychiatry and the 35th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropsychopharmacology held at Osaka, Japan (July 06-08, 2005), Association of pericentrin 2 (PCNT2) with Bipolar Disorder
  • Oral presentation at the 32nd Annual Meeting of Japan Brain Science Society held at Chiba, Japan (June 03-04, 2005), Association of pericentrin 2 (PCNT2) with Schizophrenia
  • Poster presentation at the 20th International Conference on Schizophrenia Research held at Savannah, USA (April 02-06, 2005) , Haplotypic association of ZNF365 with schizophrenia
  • Oral presentation at the 4th International Symposium on Medical Photonics held at Hamamatsu, Japan (January 25, 2005), Association study and gene expression analysis of pericentrin 2 (PCNT2) in bipolar disorder
  • Oral presentation at the 27th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Human Genetics held at Trivandrum, India (February 14-16, 2002) , Molecular signatures of ethnic populations in Kerala
  • Poster presentation at the 26th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Human Genetics held at Hyderabad, India (February 20-22, 2001), Genetic diversity of ethnic populations in Kerala

Invited Talks

  • National Webinar organized by Rathnavel Subramaniam College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore under DBT Star College Scheme (August 16, 2021),Genes-inside-out: A cognitive Neuroscience Approach
  • Webinar “Advances in Life Science Research” organized by Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam (December 18, 2020), Genetics in Medicine
  • Webinar organized by P K Das Institute of Medical Sciences, Vaniyamkulam (December 09, 2020), Personalized Medicine
  • National Seminar on "New Avenues in Biological Research" held at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India (March 19-20, 2018), Pharmacogenomics
  • Prof. P. L. Yesudasan Memorial Lecture organized by The Research and Postgraduate Department of Zoology, St. Thomas' College, Thrissur (February 21, 2018), Molecular Medicine
  • Refresher Course in Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology and Microbiology organized by UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Kannur University at Thalassery campus of Kannur University (February 19, 2018) , Precision Medicine
  • National Workshop on "Computational Neuroscience and Muscular Modeling" held at NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad, India (June 20-22, 2017), Genetic Model Organisms
  • Meeting of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (Valluvanad branch) held at Shoranur, India (November 04, 2016), Genetic Diagnostics
  • National Seminar on "Emerging Trends in the Diagnosis and Management of Cognitive and Communicative Disorders" held at Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences, Shoranur, India (June 04-05, 2016), Genetics of Communication Disorders
  • SELECTBIO International Seminar "Biomarkers India 2016" held at Bengaluru, India (May 26-27, 2016), microRNAs as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Autism
  • National Seminar on "Genetics of Communication Disorders" held at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India (November 20, 2015), Genetics of Communication Disorders
  • Workshop on "Biological Techniques" held at Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam, India (February 03-05, 2015), Principles and Methodologies in Human Genetics and Genomics
  • XVIth World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics held at Osaka, Japan (October 11-15, 2008), Molecular Mechanism of Serotoninergic Dysfunction in Autism

Publications

Article
  • Indiradevi K P, Suhara E M, Poovathinal S A, Anitha A, Jasmin E A. Effect of smartphone distractions on cognitive performance in adolescents: An Electroencephalography Approach. Basic Clin Neurosci (Accepted).
  • Suhail TA, Indiradevi KP, Suhara EM, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A. Electroencephalography-based detection of cognitive state during learning tasks: An extensive approach. Cogn Brain Behav An Interdiscip J (Accepted)
  • Anitha A, Poovathinal S A, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Iype M, Anoop U, Sumitha P S, Parakkal R, Vasu MM. MECP2 mutations in the Rett syndrome patients from south India. Neurol India (Accepted).
  • Anitha A, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Parakkal R, Sumitha PS, Vasu MM (2021) Vitamins and cognition: A nutrigenomics perspective. Curr Nutr Food Sci 17:348-362.
  • Mandamkulathil D, Anitha A, Poovathinal SA, Chengappa SK, Chandrasekar A, Murthy ASN, Srividhya D, Tirumalaraj S, Pengaluru PR (2019) Lack of association of OXTR variants with autism spectrum disorders in a south Indian population. J Indian Assoc Child Adolesc Ment Health 15: 102-123.
  • Mandamkulathil D, Anitha A, Poovathinal SA, Chengappa SK, Chandrasekar A, Murthy ASN, Srividhya D, Tirumalaraj S, Pengaluru PR (2019) Association of AVPR1A gene microsatellites with autism spectrum disorder in south Indian population. Int J Sci Res Biol Sci 6: 203-207
  • Anitha A†, Poovathinal SA, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Mahesh MV, Ranjitha M (2019) Cross-sectional study reveals a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy school children in central Kerala, India. Int J Contemp Pediatr 6: 867-871
  • Viswambharan V, Vasu MM, Thanseem I, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A (2019) Thyroid abnormalities among Down syndrome children from Kerala, India. Int J Contemp Pediatr 6: 904-905
  • Poovathinal SA, Anitha A, Thomas R, Kaniamattam M, Melempatt N, Anilkumar A, Meena M (2018) Global prevalence of autism: A mini review. SF J Autism 2:1
  • Thanseem I, Vijitha V, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A (2017) Is telomere length a biomarker of neurological disorders? Biomark Med 11: 799-810
  • Poovathinal SA, Anitha A, Puliyappatta P, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I (2017) In Silico target identification of nootropic bioactive compounds from Ayurvedic herbs. Int J Ayurveda Pharma Res 5: 14-19
  • Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A (2017) miRNAs as biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders. Biomark Med 11:151-167
  • Vasu MM, Anitha A, Takahashi T, Thanseem I, Iwata K, Asakawa T, Suzuki K (2016) Fluoxetine increases the expression of miR-572 and miR-663a in human neuroblastoma cell lines. PLoS ONE 11: e0164425.
  • Poovathinal SA, Anitha A, Thomas R, Kaniamattam M, Melempatt N, Anilkumar A, Meena M (2016) Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a semi-urban community in south India. Annals Epidemiol 26:663-665.
  • Poovathinal S, Anitha A, Jayachandran N, Thanseem I (2015) Cognitive deficits and behavioral disorders in children: A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to management. Annals Behav Sci 1:6
  • Wakuda T, Iwata K, Iwata Y, Anitha A, Takahashi T, et al (2015) Perinatal asphyxia alters Neuregulin-1 and COMT gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex in rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 56:149-154.
  • Anitha A, Thanseem I, Nakamura K, Vasu MM, et al (2014) Zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) and verbal deficits in autism. J Psychiatry Neurosci 39:294-303
  • Vasu MM, Anitha A, Thanseem I, Suzuki K, Yamada K, et al (2014) Serum microRNA profiles in children with autism. Mol Autism 5:40
  • Anitha A, Nakamura K, Thanseem I, Matsuzaki H, Miyachi T, et al (2013) Downregulation of the expression of mitochondrial electron transport complex genes in autism brains. Brain Pathol 23:294-302
  • Anitha A, Thanseem I, Nakamura K, Yamada K, Iwayama, Y, et al (2013) Protocadherin- (PCDHA) as a novel susceptibility gene for autism. J Psychiatry Neurosci 38:192-198
  • Thanseem I, Anitha A, Nakamura K, Suda S, Iwata K, et al (2012) Elevated transcription factor Sp1 in autism brains alters the expression of autism candidate genes. Biol Psychiatry 71:410-418
  • Anitha A, Nakamura K, Thanseem I, Yamada K, Iwayama Y, et al (2012) Brain-region specific altered expression and association of mitochondria-related genes in autism. Mol Autism 3(1):12
  • Iwata K, Izumo N, Matsuzaki H, Manabe T, Ishibashi Y, Ichitani Y, Yamada K, Thanseem I, Anitha A, et al (2012) Vldlr overexpression causes hyperactivity in rats. Mol Autism 3(1):11
  • Tsuchiya KJ, Tsutsumi H, Matsumoto K, Takei N, Narumiya M, Honda M, Thanseem I, Anitha A, Suzuki K, et al (2012) Seasonal variations of neuromotor development by 14 months of age: Hamamatsu birth cohort for mothers and children (HBC Study). PLoS ONE 7(12):e52057
  • Thanseem I, Nakamura K, Anitha A, Suda S, Yamada K, et al (2011) Association of transcription factor gene LMX1B with autism. PLoS ONE 6(8):e23738
  • Nakamura K, Iwata Y, Anitha A, Miyachi T, Toyota T, et al (2011) Replication study of Japanese cohorts supports the role of STX1A in autism susceptibility. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 35:454-458.
  • Suda S, Iwata K, Shimmura C, Kameno Y, Anitha A, et al (2011) Decreased expression of axon-guidance receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex in autism. Mol Autism 2(1):14
  • Munesue T, Yokoyama S, Nakamura K, Anitha A, Yamada K, et al (2010) Two genetic variants in CD38 in subjects with autism spectrum disorder and controls. Neurosci Res 67:181-191
  • Suzuki K, Iwata Y, Matsuzaki H, Anitha A, Suda S, et al (2010) Reduced expression of apolipoprotein E receptor type 2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with major depressive disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 34:1007-1010.
  • Iwata Y, Yamada K, Iwayama Y, Anitha A, Thanseem I, et al (2010) Failure to confirm genetic association of the FXYD6 gene with schizophrenia: The Japanese population and meta analysis. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 153B:1221-1227.
  • Thanseem I, Nakamura K, Miyachi T, Toyota T, Yamada S, Tsujii M, Tsuchiya KJ, Anitha A, et al (2010) Further evidence for the role of MET in autism susceptibility. Neurosci Res 68:137-141.
  • Anitha A, Nakamura K, Yamada K, Iwayama Y, Toyota T, et al (2009) Association studies and gene expression analyses of the DISC1-interacting molecules pericentrin 2 (PCNT2) and DISC1-binding zinc finger protein (DBZ), with schizophrenia and with bipolar disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 150B:967-976.
  • Nakamura K, Sekine Y, Takei N, Iwata Y, Suzuki K, Anitha A, Inada T, Harano M, et al (2009) An association study of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene polymorphism in methamphetamine psychosis. Neurosci Lett 455:120-123.
  • Anitha A, Nakamura K, Yamada K, Iwayama Y, Toyota T, et al (2008) Gene expression and association analyses of reveal enhanced expression of pericentrin 2 (PCNT2) in bipolar disorder. Biol Psychiatry 63:678-685
  • Anitha A, Nakamura K, Yamada K, Suda S, Thanseem I, et al (2008) Genetic analyses of roundabout (ROBO) axon guidance receptors in autism. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 147B:1019-1027
  • Nakamura K, Anitha A, Yamada K, Tsujii M, Iwayama Y, et al (2008) Genetic and expression analyses reveal elevated expression of syntaxin 1A (STX1A) in autism. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 11:1073-1084
  • Ezaki N, Nakamura K, Sekine Y, Thanseem I, Anitha A, et al (2008) Short allele of 5-HTTLPR as a risk factor for the development of psychosis in Japanese methamphetamine abusers. Ann NY Acad Sci 1139: 49-56.
  • Nishimura K, Nakamura K, Anitha A, Yamada K, Tsujii M, et al (2007) Genetic analyses of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene in autism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 356:200-206.
  • Toyoda T, Nakamura K, Yamada K, Thanseem I, Anitha A, et al (2007) SNP analyses of growth factor genes EGF, TGF-beta1 and HGF reveals haplotypic association of EGF with autism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 360:715-720
  • Nakamura K, Chen C, Sekine Y, Iwata Y, Anitha A, Loh el W, Takei N, et al (2006) Association analysis of SOD2 variants with methamphetamine psychosis in Japanese and Taiwanese populations. Hum Genet 120:243-252
  • Nakamura K, Yamada K, Iwayama Y, Toyota T, Furukawa A, Takimoto T, Terayama H, Iwahashi K, Takei N, Minabe Y, Sekine Y, Suzuki K, Iwata Y, Anitha A, Nakamoto Y, et al (2006) Evidence that variation in the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) gene influences susceptibility to panic disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 141B:222-226.
  • Anitha A, Bhattacharya R N, Radhakrishnan V V, Banerjee M (2004) Molecular signatures of cell cycle transcripts in the pathogenesis of glial tumors. J Carcinog 3:11
  • Anitha A, Banerjee M (2003) Arylamine N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism in the ethnic populations of south India. Int J Mol Med 11:125-131.
  • Anitha A, Banerjee M (2002) Evaluation of the usefulness of (CA)n dinucleotide microsatellite markers in paternity analysis. Probl Forensic Sci XLIX:74-83.
  • Anitha A, Selvam GS, Sheeja K (1997) Restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in two populations of Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards. Indian J Exp Biol 35:948-951

Publications

Book
  • Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM (2020) Centromere and telomere dynamics in humans. In D. A. Forero and G. P. Patrinos (Ed.), Genome Plasticity in Health and Disease. pp. 157-180. United States: Elsevier (Academic Press).
  • Anitha A (2020) Handbook of Genetic Diagnostics
  • Vasu MM, Sumitha PS, Rahna P, Thanseem I, Anitha A (2019) microRNAs in autism spectrum disorders. In Current Pharamaceutical Design Volume 25 (41), pp. 4368-78. Unites Arab Emirates: Bentham Science Publishers
  • Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Viswambharan V, Poovathinal SA (2019) Telomeres in neurological disorders. In G. S. Makowski (Ed.), Advances in Clinical Chemistry Volume 90, pp. 81-132. United States: Elsevier (Academic Press).
  • Anitha A, Thanseem I (2015) microRNA and autism. In G. Santulli (Ed.), microRNA: Medical Evidence. pp. 71-83. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing

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