Personal Information

Dr. Jayendra Nath Shukla

Assistant Professor
Department of Biotechnology

M.Sc. Biotechnology, G.B. P.U.A &T, Pantnagar; NET-JRF July 2003) Ph.D. Molecular Genetics), Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad (2009), Postdoctoral Research: The Rockefeller University, NY, USA; University of Kentucky, Lex, USA

jayendrashukla@curaj.ac.in

9871530050

Genetics, Genomics, and Molecular Biology of insects, specifically-

1) Exploration of the molecular pathway of sex-determination and sexual differentiation in insects.

2) Understanding the mechanism of RAN interference in insects.

2) Understanding the mechanism of Plant-insect interaction.

  • B.Sc. “Agricultural sciences” from G. B. Pant University of Ag. & Tech., Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttaranchal, India with 4.13/5 (CGPA) (1997-2001)
  • M.Sc. “Biotechnology” from G. B. Pant University of Ag. & Tech., Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttaranchal, India with 7.92/10 (CGPA) (2001-2003)
  • Ph.D. from Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, India (http://www.cdfd.org.in/)  (2003-2009)

            Topic: “Molecular mechanism of sex determination in silkmoths: A Lepidopteran Model”​

    The research in my lab focuses on three major areas of Insect Molecular Biology-

    1) Understanding the Sex determination mechanism in insects-Sterile insect technology (SIT) deals with the mass release of sterile males of the target insect species to control the population of that particular species in any specific locality. These males compete with the wild male population to mate with the females of that species. The mating with sterile males results into laying of unfertilised eggs which do not hatch. The target pest population eventually declines as a result of continuous release of sterile males in a particular locality. Traditional SIT, used radiations to make sterile males which reduces male fitness. Also, potential problem exists in the initial sex-separation to collect males. Study of genes involved in the process of sex-determination and the mechanism regulating it in insects provides the opportunity to re-design SIT utilising molecular tools besides providing the knowledge about an important fundamental biological process . 

    2) Understanding the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi) in insects- RNA interference based gene silencing is an emerging alternative tool for pest control. However, RNAi efficiency varies significantly among insects of different orders. Varying efficacy of RNAi in insects from different orders pose a major hurdle in using RNAi based gene silencing for their control. Understanding the factors responsible for poor RNAi efficiency in insects will help to make the RNAi methods more robust for insect pest management.

    3) Insect Plant Interaction- Insect/pests release saliva while feeding on plants, which contains effector proteins that modulate plant defence responses. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is one of the world’s destructive polyphagous pests which feeds on multiple crop species. Despite severe economic losses caused by this insect, very limited information is available on the effector proteins produced by it. Our lab is trying to explore the diversity ofS. frugiperda effectors and their molecular actions which suppress plant defence molecules. 

     

    S. No. Authors Title of Article Journal/Conference Details Journal/Conference Publication Year
    1 Brar GS, Kaur G, Singh S, Shukla JN, Pandher S Identification and validation of stage-specific reference genes for gene expression analysis in Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) Gene Expression Patterns Journal 2022
    2 Choudhary C, Meghwanshi KK, Shukla N, Shukla JN Innate and adaptive resistance to RNAi: a major challenge and hurdle to the development of double stranded RNA-based pesticides 3 Biotech Journal 2021
    3 Mikweed bug genome consortium Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome. Genome Biology Journal 2019
    4 Choudhary C, Sharma S, Meghwanshi KK, Patel S, Mehta P, Shukla N, Ngoc DD, Rajpurohit S, Suravajhala P, Shukla JN Long Non-Coding RNAs in Insects Animals (Basel) Journal 2021
    5 Brar GS, Singh S, Shukla JN, Kumar V, Davies TGE, Kaur G, Pandher S "Doublesex homolog is sex-specifically spliced and governs the sexual differentiation process in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci AsiaII-1" Gene (2023) Jan Volume 850, 146929 Journal 2023
    6 Choudhary, C., Kishore, D., Meghwanshi, K. K., Verma, V., & Shukla, J. N. A sex-specific homologue of waprin is essential for embryonic development in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Insect Molecular Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12965 Journal 2024
    7 Verma, N., Bajiya, M., Yadav, A. K., Chaudhary, C., Meena, D., Shukla, J. N., Swaroop, S., & Pandey, J. Mechanistic insights into the antibiofilm activity of Simvastatin and Lovastatin against Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Pharmaceutics Molecular Pharmaceutics, 22(5). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5c00191 Journal 2025
    8 Meghwanshi, K. K., Choudhary, C., Rohilla, P., Dixit, R., Saxena, V., & Shukla, J. N. Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase 3 regulates the size of sperm reservoir in Anopheles stephensi. Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 300(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-025-02297-9 Journal 2025
    9 Shilpi, S., S. Pandey, V. Verma, and J. N. Shukla Identification of Effector Candidates in Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) via Secretome Prediction and Infestation Assay Journal of Applied Entomology 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70028. Journal 2025
    • Shilpi, S., S. Pandey, V. Verma, and J. N. Shukla. 2025. “Identification of Effector Candidates in Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) via Secretome Prediction and Infestation Assay.” Journal of Applied Entomology 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70028.
    • Meghwanshi, K. K., Choudhary, C., Rohilla, P., Dixit, R., Saxena, V., & Shukla, J. N. (2025). Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase 3 regulates the size of sperm reservoir in Anopheles stephensi. Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 300(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-025-02297-9
    • Verma, N., Bajiya, M., Yadav, A. K., Chaudhary, C., Meena, D., Shukla, J. N., Swaroop, S., & Pandey, J. (2025). Mechanistic insights into the antibiofilm activity of Simvastatin and Lovastatin against Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 22(5). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5c00191
    • Choudhary, C., Kishore, D., Meghwanshi, K. K., Verma, V., & Shukla, J. N. (2024). A sex-specific homologue of waprin is essential for embryonic development in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Insect Molecular Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12965
    • Brar, G. S., Singh, S., Shukla, J. N., Kumar, V., Davies, T., Kaur, G., Pandher, S., & Kaur, R. (2023). Doublesex homolog is sex-specifically spliced and governs the sexual differentiation process in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci AsiaII-1. Gene, 850, 146976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2022.146976
    • Brar, G. S., Kaur, G., Singh, S., Shukla, J. N., & Pandher, S. (2022). Identification and validation of stage-specific reference genes for gene expression analysis in Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Gene Expression Patterns, 43, 119233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gep.2022.119233
    • Choudhary, C., Meghwanshi, K. K., Shukla, N., & Shukla, J. N. (2021). Innate and adaptive resistance to RNAi: A major challenge and hurdle to the development of double-stranded RNA-based pesticides. 3 Biotech, 11(12), 498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-021-03049-3
    • Choudhary, C., Sharma, S., Meghwanshi, K. K., Patel, S., Mehta, P., Shukla, N., Do, D. N., Rajpurohit, S., Suravajhala, P., & Shukla, J. N. (2021). Long Non-Coding RNAs in Insects. Animals, 11(4), 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041118
    • Siva, N., Gupta, S., Gupta, A., Shukla, J. N., Malik, B., & Shukla, N. (2021, March). Genome-editing approaches and applications: A brief review on CRISPR technology and its role in cancer. 3 Biotech, 11(3), 146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-021-02767-3

     

    • Gurusamy, D., Mogilicherla, K., Shukla, J. N., & Palli, S. R. (2020, August). Lipids help double-stranded RNA in endosomal escape and improve RNA interference in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 104(4), e21678. https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.21678
    • Panfilio, K. A., Angelini, D. R., Jentzsch, I. M. V., Benoit, J. B., Erezyilmaz, D., … Shukla, J. N., et al. (2019). Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome. Genome Biology, 20, 64. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-019-1660-0
    • Singh, I. K., Singh, S., Mogilicherla, K., Shukla, J. N., & Palli, S. R. (2017). Comparative analysis of double-stranded RNA degradation and processing in insects. Scientific Reports, 7, 17034. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17134-2
    • Yoon, J. S., Shukla, J. N., Gong, Z. J., Mogilicherla, K., & Palli, S. R. (2016). RNA interference in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata: Identification of key contributors. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 78, 78–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.09.002
    • Shukla, J. N., Kalsi, M., Sethi, A., Narva, K. E., Fishilevich, E., Singh, S., Mogilicherla, K., & Palli, S. R. (2016). Reduced stability and intracellular transport of dsRNA contribute to poor RNAi response in lepidopteran insects. RNA Biology, 13(7), 656–669. https://doi.org/10.1080/15476286.2016.1191728
    • Benoit, J. B., Adelman, Z. N., Reinhardt, K., Dolan, A., Poelchau, M., Jennings, E. C., … Shukla, J. N., et al. (2016). Unique features of a global human ectoparasite identified through sequencing of the bed bug genome. Nature Communications, 7, 10165. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10165
    • Shukla, J. N., & Palli, S. R. (2014). Production of all female progeny: Evidence for the presence of the male sex determination factor on the Y chromosome. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(10), 1653–1655. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.100438
    • Nagaraju, J., Gopinath, G., Vandana, & Shukla, J. N. (2014). Lepidopteran sex determination: A cascade of surprises. Sexual Development, 8(1–3), 104–112. https://doi.org/10.1159/000362874

     

    • Shukla, J. N., & Palli, S. R. (2013). Tribolium castaneum Transformer-2 regulates sex determination and development in both males and females. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(12), 1125–1132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.08.010
    • Shukla, J. N., & Palli, S. R. (2012). Doublesex target genes in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Scientific Reports, 2, 948. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00948
    • Shukla, J. N., & Palli, S. R. (2012). Sex determination in beetles: Production of all male progeny by parental RNAi knockdown of transformer. Scientific Reports, 2, 602. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00602
    • Shukla, J. N., Jadhav, S., & Nagaraju, J. (2010). Novel female-specific splice form of dsx in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Genetica, 139(1), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-010-9479-3
    • Shukla, J. N., & Nagaraju, J. (2010). Doublesex: A conserved downstream gene controlled by diverse upstream regulators. Journal of Genetics, 89(3), 341–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-010-0075-2
    • Shukla, J. N., & Nagaraju, J. (2010). Two female-specific DSX proteins are encoded by the sex-specific transcripts of dsx, and are required for female sexual differentiation in two wild silkmoth species, Antheraea assama and Antheraea mylitta (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 40(9), 672–682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2010.06.008

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sl No.

    Title of the Project

    Role (PI, Co-PI)

    Sanctioning agency

    Start Date

    End date

    Status

    Sanctioned amount (INR)

    1

    Unraveling Spodoptera frugiperda effector proteins and their mode of action in suppressing plant immune responses

    PI

    ANRF, SERB (CRG)

    19 March 2024

    18 March 2027

    Ongoing

    53,28,263/-

    2

    Understanding the molecular mechanism of sex determination in yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

    PI

    DBT, (Ramalingaswami)

    1 August 2017

    1 August 2022

    Completed

    32,50,000/-

    3

    Identification and characterisation of genes involved in the sex determination pathway of Callosobruchus maculatus.

    PI

    UGC-BSR

    15 December 2017

    31 March 2020 

    Completed

    10,00,000/-

    4

    Identification of sex-determining signal(s) and sexual differentiation factors in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

    PI

    DST, SERB (EMR)

    16 August 2018

    15 August 2021

    Completed

    49,85,600/-

    5

    Identifying the role of Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) in activating host innate immune response for development of new intervention strategy to combat Tuberculosis

    Co-PI

    DBT

    (Biocare)

    January, 2019

    January, 2022

    Completed

    55,00,000/-

    Attended

    • “Identification of effector proteins of Spodoptera frugiperda through diet-specific transcriptome analysis” in the 12th International Conference on Emerging Issues in Agricultural, Food Technology, Biological & Applied Sciences for Global Development (EIAFTBASGD-2025): organized by Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology Udaipur, Rajasthan, India held from 15th to 17th November 2025.
    • “Screening for plastic degrading pathway genes in the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)” in the INBIX-ADNAT 2024 international scientific conference titled: “Integrating Archaeogenetics, Forensics & Multi-omics for Human Health Breakthrough” organized by Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, held from 28th to 30th November 2024 (Invited Talk)
    • “In Silico Secretome Prediction and Expression Analysis of Potential Effector Candidates of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)” in the National Conference “Indian Conference on Bioinformatics 2023 - Inbix'23 THEME : Application of Bioinformatics in Healthcare” organised by SCHOOL OF BIO SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai, November 24-26, 2023. (Invited Talk)

    • Delivered an invited talk on "Harnessing the potential of Genome Biology of insect/pests for their targeted management: A non-conventional approach." at Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University (SRMU), Lucknow on 15 Februray 2023.

    • Resource person in the Workshop on "Basics of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology Techniques by Department of Biotechnology" by IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur, 26-29 January, 2020.

    • “Sex-determining genes; a potential tool for managing insect/pest population” in the “National conference on Omics for Food, Health and Environment” organised by Department of Biotechnology, DDU, Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur from February 14-15, 2020. (Invited Talk)

    • “Harnessing the potential of Sex-determination mechanism as a component of Integrated Pest Management” in the “National conference on Climate Change: The Impact on Biodiversity and Global Health Security” organised by Department of Botany, Rajasthan University, Jaipur from December 20-22th 2019. (Invited Talk)

    • “Dissection of sex determination pathway of Tribolium castanium using parental RNAi” in the “National conference on Insect-Plant Biology in 21st century” organised by Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi from November 4-5th 2019. (Invited Talk)

    • “Sex Determination mechanism: A potential insect control strategy” in the sympo- sium entitled “Curbing whitefly-plant virus pandemics - the departure from pesticides to genomics solutions” under Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) at PAU on December 4-5, 2017. (Invited Talk)

    • The Entomological Society of America (ESA) held at Minneapolis, MN, USA, Nov. 15-18 "RNAi in coleopteran and lepidopteran cell lines" 

    • Sixth international workshop on Transgenesis and Genomics of Invertebrate Organisms held at Shanghai, China May 21-25, 2013 “Sex determination in beetles: production of all male progeny by parental RNA interference-aided knockdown of transformer

    • Presented in the RNAi Symposium (“RNAi: The power, the promise and the frus- tration”) of ESA 2012 held at Knoxville, TN November 11-14, 2012. “Parental RNAi for the production of male only progenies” (Invited Talk)

    • International Symposium on “Insect Genetics and Genomics” held at Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, India. January 9-11, 2006.  “A candidate for the primary sex determination signal in the silkworm, Bombyx mori”

    • The Eighth International Workshop on “Molecular Biology and Genetics of the Lepi- doptera” held at Orthodox Academy of Crete. Kolympari, Crete, Greece. August 23-29, 2009.  “Two functional Doublesex proteins are produced in the female silkmoths, and are essential for sexual differentiation.”

     

     

     

    Poster Presentations:

    • “Systems Biology: Global Regulation of Gene Expression” held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) NY. March 27-30, 2008. “Isolation and Characterization of sex-specific transcripts of Doublesex gene from wild silkmoth,Antheraea assama”

    • EMBO workshop entitled “Upstream and Downstream of Hox Genes” held at CCMB, Hyderabad, India. December 14-17, 2005.

    • “Impact of New Biology on Justice Delivery System: Issues Relating to DNA Finger- printing, Intellectual Property Rights and Ethical, Legal, Social Implications”. Held at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, India. October 3-5, 2003.​

    Organized

    1) Imparted the cascading training under the Rashtriya Karmayogi – Large Scale Jan Seva Programme (RK-LSJSP),  to the employees at the Central University of Rajasthan in different batches from 09/09/2025 to 19/09/2025

    2) Conducted a ten-day online Faculty Development Program (FDP) on Teaching, Learning and Assessment, 23rd Nov to 3rd December, 2020 at Central University of Rajasthan.

    3) Organised five day workshop on LOCF and CBCS system of UGC at Central University of Rajasthan from 11-15 October 2019 at Central University of Rajasthan.