Hena Firdaus

Assistant Professor,
Department of Life Sciences,
Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi

Contact : +91-9771816501
E-mail : hena.firdaus@cuj.ac.in

1. MSc, Biochemistry (Aligarh Muslim University)
2. PhD (Molecular Reproduction Development and Genetics
3. Department, Indian Institute of Science)

Currently our research group at Central University of Jharkhand is utilizing Drosophila as model organism to assess toxicity of environmental pollutants as well as deciphering roles of genes involved in muscle development by utilizing vast resources of available genetic toolbox.

Project (Completed/ Ongoing)

1. Co-PI, DBT-BUILDER (BT/PR9028/INF/22/193/2013) to the Centre for Life Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand (Duration 2014-2019)

Research publications

1. Firdaus H., Mohan J., Naz S., Arathi P., Ramesh S.R. and Nongthomba U. (2015) A cis-regulatory mutation in Troponin-I of Drosophila reveals the importance of proper stoichiometry of structural proteins during muscle assembly. Genetics, 200(1)149–165. DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.175604
2. Mohan J., Firdaus H., Nongthomba U and Ramesh S.R. (2015) Beadex, the LIM Only protein in Drosophila is required for Indirect Flight Muscle function. IJSRP (ISSN 2250-3153) 5, Issue 8
3. Dubey M., Singh R., Nanda K. P. and Firdaus H. (2018) Behavioural assessment of muscle development by downregulating different types of integrins in Drosophila melanogaster. Research & Reviews:Journal of Life Sciences. 8(2):1-9p.
4. Nanda K.P., Kumari C., Dubey M., Firdaus H.*.  (2019) Chronic lead (Pb) exposure results in diminished hemocyte count and increased susceptibility to bacterial infection in Drosophila melanogaster. Chemosphere, 236, 124349. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124349
5. Dubey M., Ain U., Firdaus H.* (2020) An insight on Drosophila myogenesis and its assessment techniques. Mol Biol Rep, DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-06006-0
6. Kumari R., Nanda K.P., Firdaus H., Dey S. (2020) COVID 19: A Critical Review on Viral Biochemistry, Environmental Transmission, Therapeutics and Safety Measures. Eur J. Biol Biotech. DOI:10.24018/ejbio.2020.1.6.125

Book Chapter

1. Dubey M., Nanda K.P., Firdaus H. (2020) Cryodissection and tissue preparation of Drosophila thorax for indirect flight muscle imaging. In: fundamental approaches to screen abnormalities in Drosophila. Monalisa M (Ed.), Springer, NY 65-76. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9756-5_6
2. Dubey M., Firdaus H. (2018) Role of extracellular matrix proteins in development of myotendinous junction of indirect flight muscles (IFM) in Drosophila melanogaster. 27-35p. Haque R., Srivastava A. and Kumar N. (Eds.), Publishers: Shree Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi. ISBN:978-81-8329-862

1. Firdaus H. (2021) Genetics on the Fly: Deciphering the role of structural protein in flight muscle development and function. Invited talk through zoom meeting NeuroFemIndia 9th-13th April 2021 organized by BiasWatch India.
2. Firdaus H. et al. (2020) Cadmium exposure leads to decreased hemocyte count in larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. Presented online via Google meet at 4th World Clean Environment Summit, 22nd-24th Dec 2020, organized by Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College and Scientific and Environmental Research Institute (SERI), Kolkata
3. Firdaus H. et al. (2019) Exposure to low levels of cadmium results in behavioural defects in Drosophila melanogaster. Presented at 3rd World Clean Environment Summit, 19th -21st Aug 2019, at St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi.
4. Firdaus H. et al. (2018) Lead toxicity leads to decrease in larval hemocyte count and ability to ward off infection in Drosophila melanogaster. International conference on Environmental Challenges and Sustainability (ICECS-2018) held on31st -2nd Oct 2018 at Central University of Jharkhand.
5. Firdaus H. et al. (2018) Lead (Pb) ingestion leads to decrease in immunity related phenoloxidase enzyme activity in Drosophila melanogaster. International conference on Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology (ICAEA-2018) held on 22nd-24th Feb 2018 at St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi.
6. Firdaus H. et al. (2017) Assessment of lead induced immunotoxicity. Presented at National seminar on Environmental Pollution, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change: Issues and Challenges, 8th -9th Sep 2017, Nistarini College, Purulia, West Bengal.
7. Firdaus H. et al. (2017) Ingestion of heavy metals lead to immunosuppression in Drosophila melanogaster. Presented at National seminar on Environmental and Biotechnological Prospects and Issues in (NSEB-2017), 23rd -24th June 2017, Science Block, Ranchi Women’s College, Ranchi.
8. Firdaus H. et al., (2017) Assessment of Pb toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Presented at 3rd International conference on Environment and Ecology (ICEE-2017), 27th -29th March 2017, St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi.
9. Firdaus H. et al. (2016) Assessment of toxic heavy metals in Drosophila melanogaster health and immunity. Presented at XL All India Cell Biology Conference 17th -19th Nov 2016, Jiwaji University, Gwalior.
10. Firdaus H. et al. (2016) fliH, a novel cis-regulatory mutation in troponin I coding gene leads to indirect flight muscle hypercontraction in Drosophila. Presented at 2nd Biennial Indian Drosophila Research Conference InDRC, 20th -23rd Dec 2016, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
11. Firdaus H. et al. (2016) Role of LIM domain protein in Indirect flight muscle development of Drosophila melanogaster. Presented at 1st International Conference on Human Implications of Biotechnology (ICHIB-2016), 12th -14th Feb 2016, Central University of South Bihar, Patna, Bihar.
12. Firdaus H. et al. (2013). “fliH, a novel cis-regulatory mutation in Drosophila wupA gene leads to indirect flight muscle hypercontraction” presented at 5th Indian Youth Science Congress, 6th -9th Dec, 2013, Santiniketan, Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal

1. Coordinator, Teachers training “Workshop in Life Science” 21st to 25th Jan 2019, sponsored by Department of Biotechnology (BDT), Department of Life Science, Central University of Jharkhand, India
2. Member organizing committee, National seminar on challenges and opportunities in Life Science held on April 20th, 2018, Department of Life Science, Central University of Jharkhand, India
3. Member organization committee, International symposium on Advances in Cancer research: Drug Discovery to Delivery, 19th Nov, 2013, Department of Life Science, Central University of Jharkhand, India