Dr. Swatikumari is an Assistant Professor and a part-time PhD researcher working on the molecular and clinical aspects of Parvovirus B19 (B19V) and adenovirus. Her research focuses on the epidemiology, serological status, and molecular characterization of these pathogens in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, paediatric patients, and immunocompromised individuals. She employs advanced molecular techniques, including real-time PCR and whole-genome sequencing, to detect circulating viral strains and investigate their clinical correlations in patients with blood dyscrasias and haemato-oncological disorders.
Her article on B19V in blood donors was first published in Scientific Reports (Nature) and later featured in the Times of India, raising national awareness on transfusion safety among healthcare professionals and the public. She is also engaged in research on adenovirus infections in immunocompromised paediatric patients, with emphasis on viral load, genotypic variations, and their impact on disease severity and diagnostic accuracy.
Her broader research interests includes transfusion safety, molecular virology, and biomedical waste management, with a strong focus on integrating molecular diagnostics into clinical practice to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
Dr. Swatikumari`s project, titled “Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Parvovirus B19 and Adenovirus Infection in Immunocompromised Individuals and Antibody Response to Parvovirus B19,” focused on understanding the dual impact of these viruses in vulnerable populations. Her research aimed to analyze the clinical presentation, molecular characteristics, and immune responses—particularly the antibody dynamics—to Parvovirus B19 in immunocompromised patients, including those undergoing hemato-oncological treatments. Using advanced molecular techniques such as real-time PCR and whole-genome sequencing, she investigated circulating strains and viral loads of both B19V and adenovirus, correlating these findings with disease severity and patient outcomes. This work sought to improve diagnostic approaches and guide therapeutic strategies, with the goal of enhancing the management of viral infections in immunocompromised individuals.
IAMM-lifetime member