Shreesha Sadashiva Rao is a postdoctoral researcher at the Haugland’s group at the Department of Biological Sciences (BIO-UiB), under the umbrella of “Shaping European Research Leaders for Marine Sustainability Programme(SEAS-UiB)”. His research interests include molecular fish immunology and vaccination. 

Research questions:

1. Demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of non-linear defence deployed during host pathogen interactions.

2. Hybrid warfare methods of the pathogen during infections.

3. Bacterial fawn responses during infection: mode of biofilm interactions!

The current project on Lumpfish Immunology and Transcriptomics  is one of the 37 projects funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie (innovation programme) towards Marine Sustainability. It aims to obtain crucial genomic information’s from the emerging/persistent Lumpfish and related pathogens through molecular and clinical studies to help the EU fight the pathogen and serve to the aquaculture industry.

The overall goal of this project is to better understand the intricate host-pathogen interactions during infection and apply these discoveries to relevant clinical questions of immunology. To accomplish this, the research group explore multidimensional transcriptomic studies in relation to infection and immunology. By working closely with the collaborators,  the research group aim to develop novel and realistic approaches against infections through prophylaxis or/and preventions.

Shreesha Sadashiva Rao is a dedicated Postdoctoral Fellow at SEAS (Shaping European Research Leaders for Marine Sustainability), specializing in marine sustainability and veterinary medicine. With a strong passion for the field, Shreesha is actively involved in exploring and addressing critical issues related to marine sustainability.

In the role of Postdoctoral Fellow, Shreesha's current research primarily focuses on aquatic diseases and fish vaccines. The objective is to contribute to the advancement of marine sustainability through innovative research and the development of effective solutions. Prior to joining SEAS, Shreesha gained valuable experience as a Researcher, specializing in aquatic vaccines and therapeutics across both temperate and tropical regions. These experiences have further solidified Shreesha's commitment to making a positive impact in the realm of marine sustainability.

Shreesha successfully completed a PhD in veterinary medicine in 2021 from the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) in Taiwan. The doctoral studies centered around studying the genetic characteristics, cell-surface properties, and vaccine efficacy of gram-positive bacteria in cultured fish. This educational journey allowed Shreesha to develop expertise in disease diagnosis and vaccine development, resulting in three recognitions from prestigious institutes.

With a strong foundation in research and a deep understanding of the complexities within marine sustainability and veterinary medicine, Shreesha Sadashiva Rao's work stands at the forefront of advancing knowledge and fostering positive change in these fields.

Course development and teaching 

Engaging in course development and teaching has proven to be an incredibly rewarding experience for Shreesha thrroughout the carrier. Despite Shreesha 's limited experience as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for undergraduate students and a mentor for master's students, Shreesha found immense fulfillment in guiding and inspiring the next generation of scholars. As a TA Shreesha had the privilege of providing support to students, assisting professors in the development of course materials, facilitating classroom discussions, and offering valuable guidance to students.

Witnessing the growth and comprehension of complex concepts among students has provided him with a strong sense of accomplishment and has reinforced his passion for teaching. Additionally, serving as a mentor to master's students has been equally gratifying, as he has been able to guide these students through their research projects, provide constructive feedback, and assist in the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Collaborating in course development has allowed him to contribute to the creation of innovative and inclusive learning environments. Overall, his experiences in teaching have fostered a deep appreciation for the transformative power of education and mentorship, further motivating him to continuously enhance his teaching skills and make a positive impact on students' educational journeys.

Teaching experience : MOL222, MOL231,MOL300.

2024

• Sadashiva Rao, Shreesha; Haugland, Gyri Teien (2024). How Do Lumpfish Protect Themselves Against Viruses?. (external link)
• Sadashiva Rao, Shreesha; Lunde, Harald Sæbø; Dolan, David William Peter et al. (2024). Corrigendum: Transcriptome-wide analyses of early immune responses in lumpfish leukocytes upon stimulation with poly(I:C). (external link)
• Sadashiva Rao, Shreesha; Skinnemoen, Linda; Kästel Sandal Fond, Amanda et al. (2024). Analyses of the Mx family members in lumpfish: Molecular characterization, phylogeny, and gene expression analyses. (external link)

2023

• Sadashiva Rao, Shreesha; Nelson, Patrick Alexander; Lunde, Harald Sæbø et al. (2023). Evolutionary, comparative, and functional analyses of STATs and regulation of the JAK-STAT pathway in lumpfish upon bacterial and poly(I:C) exposure. (external link)
• Sadashiva Rao, Shreesha; Lunde, Harald Sæbø; Dolan, David William Peter et al. (2023). Transcriptome-wide analyses of early immune responses in lumpfish leukocytes upon stimulation with poly(I:C). (external link)

2022

• Sadashiva Rao, Shreesha; Lunde, Harald Sæbø; Fond, Amanda Kästel Sandal et al. (2022). Transcriptome-wide mapping of immune responses in lumpfish leukocytes upon in vitro Poly I:C exposure. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-6576-0495

ResearchGate

Google Scholar 

Haugland’s group has expertise on functional analyses of fish immune cells, host-pathogen interactions, transcriptome-wide analyses of signalling pathways, as well as genomics and comparative/evolutionary studies. The research group is part of the fish immunology group that focus on immunology and vaccinology. The research group is also connected to the molecular biology unit at BIO, UiB, and collaborate with Computational Biology Unit (CBU), UiB.