Expertise
Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases, SARS-COV-2, COVID-19, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus
Bio
Mukesh Kumar is a virologist and immunologist with expertise in the studies of RNA virus/host interactions. Kumar’s major area of research interest is to identify novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers for emerging infectious diseases, which include COVID-19, West Nile virus encephalitis and Zika virus-associated neurological disease. His research involves studying how SARS-CoV-2, causative agent of COVID-19, is transmitted in animals in order to better understand how the virus spreads and how it takes hold in the body. His lab is studying the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the development of lung and kidney malfunctions during SARS-COV-2 infection. The goal is to develop therapeutic strategies to ameliorate SARS-COV-2-associated disease pathology and prevent the disease transmission.