PU alumnus from US delivers talk on immune system

CHANDIGARH: Scientist, professor and Panjab University (PU) alumnus Nilabh Shastri on Monday delivered the 33rd Prof Bawa Kartar Singh Memorial Lecture on "Chemical and Other Bonds" at Prof RC Paul Auditorium in PU's department of chemistry.
Shastri delivered a powerful talk on the theme of understanding the immune system. "How does our immune system know if a virus is lurking inside an infected cell, if a normal cell has turned cancerous or if an organ is transplanted from an unrelated donor?," he asked.He explained that all these abnormal cells are different from our normal self, but the differences are often hidden deep within the cells DNA.
"We are currently studying how these manipulations impact the immune responses towards microbes, cancer and self-tissues. Remarkably, manipulating the intermediate steps can either inhibit or enhance immunogenicity suggesting new approaches to vaccine design," he added.
In his address, Shastri motivated the students and recalled his days as a student in the PU chemistry department. He also interacted with the students, teachers and research scholars.
Prof Bawa Kartar Singh is considered is a pioneer in the field of stereochemistry in India. The first Prof Bawa Kartar Singh Memorial lecture was delivered by Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the father of Indian Nuclear Science.