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Dr. Bhagya Deepachandi

Senior Lecturer

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Profile

Dr. Bhagya Deepachandi is a B.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (special) graduate from Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and has over 10 years of research experience. She completed her Ph.D. in the field of Molecular and Immunoparasitology from Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and then worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo for about 18 months.

During her Ph.D. work, she mainly worked on human leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Findings of her study were published in several international research journals and scientific conferences as mentioned below. She further obtained few national patents from the novel findings of her Ph.D study. During her postdoctoral period, she obtained both research and academic experience. Her postdoctoral research group was able to develop an in-house ELISA based immunoassay for detection of serum antibodies in COVID-19 patients.

Currently, she is working as a Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science, NSBM Green University. Her main research interests focus on the molecular and immunological aspects of human diseases and investigation of natural products as targeted modulators of the human immune system.

Research Interests

  • Molecular and immunological aspects of human diseases
  • Natural products as targeted modulators of the human immune system

Memberships

  • A member of “Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka” (2022-present)
  • A member of “Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists” (2015-present)
  • A life member (2014-present) /council member (Oct’2022-present) / Assistant secretary (June ’2023-present) of “Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka (AISSL)”

Journal Publications

  1. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Soysa, P., Chattergee, M., Siriwardana, Y. (2023). Serological studies on rK39 unresponsive visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic focus of Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 105 (3), 115873, DOI: 1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115873.
  2. Deepachandi, B., Ejazi, S.A., Bhattacharyya, A., Ali, A., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2022). Measuring the sero-prevalence of Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis: a method comparison study. Parasitology International, 92, 102660, DOI: 1016/j.parint.2022.102660.
  3. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Karunaweera, K., Udagedara, C., Warnasuriya, W., Wickremarathne, C., Ranawaka, R.R., Kahawita, I. (2021). First evidence from Sri Lanka for subphenotypic diversity within classical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani. BioMed Research International, Article ID 3537968, DOI: 1155/2021/3537968.
  4. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Ranasinghe, S., Andrahennadi, T.P., Wickramanayake, M.N., Siri, S., Karunaweera, N., Chandrasekharan, V., Chatterjee, M., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). First serological study revealing high humoral response and evidence for antigenic heterogeneity in Leishmania donovani induced CL in Sri Lanka. BioMed Research International, Article ID 5271657, DOI: 1155/2020/5271657.
  5. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Gunathilake, H., Andrahennadi, T.P., Wickramanayake, M.N., Siri, S., Chandrasekharan, V., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). Pre-validation of an ELISA for detection of a new clinical entity: Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Article ID 9289651, DOI: 1155/2020/9289651.
  6. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Andrahennadi, T.P., Karunaweera, N., Wickramarachchi, N., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). Quantification of soluble or insoluble Leishmania parasite proteins in micro-volume applications: a simplification to standard Lowry assay. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Article ID 6129132, DOI: 1155/2020/6129132.
  7. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., Weliange, S. de S., Udagedara, C., Zhou, G., Wickremarathne, C., Warnasuriya, W., Ranawaka, R.R., Kahawita, I., Chandrawansa, P.H., Karunaweera, N.D. (2019). First evidence for two independent and different leishmaniasis transmission foci in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Medicine, Article ID 6475939, DOI: 1155/2019/6475939.
  8. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2019). A highly sensitive modified nested PCR to enhance case detection in leishmaniasis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19, 623, DOI: 1186/s12879-019-4180-3.
  9. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., Gunasekara, C., Warnasooriya, W., Karunaweera, N.D. (2019). Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis: an insight in to atypical clinical variants in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Medicine, Article ID 4538597, DOI: 1155/2019/4538597.
  10. Ejazi, S.A., Ghosh, S., Saha, S., Choudhury, S.T., Bhattacharyya, A., Chatterjee, M., Pandey, K., Das, V.N.R., Das, P., Rahaman, M., Goswami, R.P., Rai, K., Bhattarai, N.R., Deepachandi, B., Sriwardhana, Y., Karunaweera, N., Brito, M.E.F., Gomes, Y.M., Nakazawa, M., Costa, C.H.N., Adem, E., Yeshanew, A., Fikre, H., Hurissa, Z., Diro, E., Moreno, F.J., Ali, N. (2019). A global comparative evaluation of the performance of immunochromatographic dipstick test in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Ethiopia and Spain for the serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Scientific Reports, 9, 9932, DOI: 1038/s41598-019-46283-9.
  11. Siriwardana, Y., Zhou, G., Deepachandi, B., Akarawita, J., Wickremarathne, C., Warnasooriya, W., Udagedara, C., Ranawaka, R.R., Kahawita, I., Ariyawansa, D., Sirimanna, G., Chandrawansa, P.H., Karunaweera, N.D. (2019). Trends in recently emerged Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis, Sri Lanka, for first 13 years. BioMed Research International, Article ID 4093603, DOI: 1155/2019/4093603.
  12. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., Ranasinghe, S., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N. (2018). Evidence for seroprevalence in human localized cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka. BioMed Research International, Article ID 9320367, DOI: 10.1155/2018/9320367

Conference (Full Paper) Publications

  1. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Siridewa, K., Weliange, S. de. S., Siriwardana, Y. (2021). Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka: analysis of epidemiological profiles. 6th International conference for women in science without borders, Embu, Kenya.
  2. Deepachandi, B., Siridewa, K., Ejazi, S., Bhattacharyya, A., Ali, N., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2021). Sero-prevalence of leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka: a method comparison study. 6th International conference for women in science without borders, Embu, Kenya.
  3. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Siridewa, K., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2021). A sensitive tool for molecular detection of Leishmania parasites, 6th International conference for women in science without borders, Embu, Kenya.

Conference (Abstract) Publications

  1. Pathirana, S.L., Deepachandi, B., Gunasekara, P., Premawansa, G., Namalie, D., Fernando, N., Perera, I.C., Nanayakkara, S., Kumarasinghe, D., Gangani, P.D., Thambyarajah, J., Perera, T., Siriwardana, S., Manilgama, S., Sumathipala, S., Muthugala, R., Rajapakse, S., Dassanayake, D., De Silva, R., Premawansa, S., Nitsche, A., Handunnetti, S. (2023). Detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies in COVID-19 patients and naïve recipients of different COVID-19 vaccines in Sri Lanka, Annual Scientific Sessions, Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, OP24 (Awarded as the best oral presenter).
  2. Samarakone, A.S.C., Deepachandi, B., Ejazi, S.A., Bhattacharyya, A., Ali, N., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2022). Serodiagnosis of Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis: a method comparison study. Colombo Medical Congress, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, PP05.
  3. Siriwardana, Y., Thalayarathna, L., Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Rathnayaka, T. S., Soysa, P. (2022). Improved in-house ELISA for serodiagnosis of Leishmania donovani induced cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Colombo Medical Congress, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, OP08.
  4. Gamage, A.M., Rathnayaka, T., Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Andrahennadi, T. P., Witharana, C., Siriwardana, Y. (2022). Usefulness of different fractions of cell lysate of Leishmania in serodiagnosis of leishmaniasis; a preliminary study. Colombo Medical Congress, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, OP09.
  5. Pathirana, S.L., Gunasekara, P., Deepachandi, B., Janage, S.N., De Silva, R., Dassanayake, D., Fernando, N., Weerasena, J., Handunnetti, S. (2022). In-house development of a rapid antigen test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections. 3rd International Conference of Frontiers in Molecular Life Sciences (ICFMLS), Univesity of Colombo, Sri Lanka. PP01.
  6. Pathirana, S.L., Gunasekara, P., Premawansa, G., Namalie, D., Fernando, N., Perera, I.C., Nanayakkara, S., Kumarasinghe, D., Gangani, P.D., Thambyarajah, J., Deepachandi, B., Perera, T., Siriwardana, S., Manilgama, S., Sumathipala, S., Muthugala, R., Rajapakse, S., Dassanayake, D., De Silva, R., Handunnetti, S., Premawansa, S., Nitsche, A. (2022). Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in Sri Lankan patients: a preliminary study using an in-house ELISA. 3 rd International Conference of Frontiers in Molecular Life Sciences (ICFMLS), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. OP03 (Awarded as the best oral presenter).
  7. Deepachandi, B., Siridewa, K., Weerasinghe, S., Andrahennadi, T.P., Karunaweera, N., Wickramarachchi, N., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2021). A novel methodology for quantifying micro-volumes of parasite antigens for immunological applications. Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, 9th Biennial Scientific Sessions. OP01.
  8. Deepachandi, B., Siridewa, K., Weerasinghe, S., Andrahennadi, T.P., Wickramanayake, M.N., Karunaweera, N., Chandrasekharan, V., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2021). Establishment of an immunological assay for detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, 9th Biennial Scientific Sessions. PP03 (Awarded as the best poster presenter).
  9. Deepachandi, B., Siridewa, K., Weerasinghe, S., Gunathilake, H., Karunaweera, N., Udagedara, C., Warnasuriya, W., Wickremarathne, C., Ranawaka, R.R., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). First report on clinical diversity within classical cutaneous leishmaniasis: parasite or host related?. Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. OP09.
  10. Deepachandi, B., Gange, Y.R., Weerasinghe, C.S., Gunathilake, H., Andrahennadi, T.P., Wickramarachchi, N., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). A novel and accurate tool for quantification of proteins in micro-volume applications. Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. PP07.
  11. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Karunaweera, N., Karunanayaka, P., Gooneratna, L., Ratnatilaka, A., Senanayake, S., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). Visceral leishmaniasis: an emerging health threat in Sri Lanka. Colombo Medical Congress, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. PP58.
  12. Deepachandi, B., Andrahennadi, T.P., Weerasnghe, S., Karunaweera, N., Senanayake, S., Chatterjee, M., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). A novel serological tool for diagnosis of human leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Colombo Medical Congress, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. PP23.
  13. Deepachandi, B., Siridewa, K., Dayananda, S., Gange, Y., Weerasinghe, S., Akarawita, J., Gunasekara, C., Wickremarathne, C., Warnasuriya, W., Ranawaka, R.R., Udagedara, C., Sirimanna, G., Chandrawansa, P.H., Ariyawansa, D., Kahawita, I., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2020). Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka revisited: analyses reveal novel epidemiological findings. Colombo Medical Congress, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. OP26.
  14. Deepachandi, B., Gange, Y., Dayananda, S., Weerasinghe, S., Senanayake, S., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2019). A novel PCR assay to enhance case detection of human leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. OPA01.
  15. Deepachandi, B., Dayananda, S., Gange, Y., Andrahennadi, T., Weerasinghe, S., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2019). A highly sensitive modified nested PCR to enhance case detection of human leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. 132nd Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka Medical Association. OP3.
  16. Deepachandi, B., Ejazi, S.A., Ali, N., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2018). Serological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka, Workshop on “Molecular Biology of Leishmania”. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy. PP.
  17. Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Silva, N.H., Senanayake, S., Samaranayake, T.N., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2017). Need for continued awareness raising on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka: A Case Series. Faculty Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. PP 01.
  18. Silva, N.H., Kariyawasam, K.K.G.D.U.L., Deepachandi, B., Warnasooriya, V., Siriwardana, Y., Karunaweera, N. (2016). Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka with poor response to sodium stibogluconate: case report. Meetings and courses on Molecular Biology of Leishmaniasis, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotehnology, Trieste, Italy. Pg. 31.
  19. Deepachandi, B., Kariyawasam, K.K.G.D.U.L., Weerasinghe, S., Siriwardana, Y., Karunaweera, N. (2016). Use of clinical markers in assessing the healing lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Faculty Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. OP10.
  20. Deepachandi, B., Kariyawasam, K.K.G.D.U.L., Weerasinghe, S., Gunasekara, C., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2016). A case report of cutaneous leishmaniasis affecting the nasal process. Faculty Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. PP05.
  21. Deepachandi, B., Ali, N., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2015). A study on seroprevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka using a locally developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Faculty Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. OP6 (Awarded as the best oral presenter).
  22. Deepachandi, B., Kariyawasam, K.K.G.D.U.L., Weerasinghe, S., Soysa, P., Siriwardana, Y., Karunaweera, N. (2015). Clinico-epidemiological pattern of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Faculty Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. PP01.
  23. Kotalawala, H.S., Kariyawasam, K.K.G.D.U.L., Deepachandi, B., Weerasinghe, S., Siriwardana, Y., Karunaweera, N. (2015). Laboratory diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis: are second line investigations really necessary?. 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka Medical Association. PP70.
  24. Deepachandi, B., Kariyawasam, K.K.G.D.U.L., Weerasinghe, S., Ali, N., Soysa, P., Karunaweera, N., Siriwardana, Y. (2015). A serological study on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka reveals antigen heterogeneity. 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka Medical Association. PP109.

Newsletters

  1. Deepachandi, B. Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody levels induced by natural infection or vaccination using an in-house serological tool. Bio News: Updates on the latest research, Quarterly e-newsletter of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka, Volume 2, Issue 4, October 2022.

National patents

  1. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., et al. A tool for quantification of proteins. National patent LK/P/20443. Patent granted. 2019.
  2. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., et al. A tool for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. National patent LK/P/20262. Patent granted. 2018.
  3. Siriwardana, Y., Deepachandi, B., et al. A tool for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. National patent LK/P/1/19697. Patent granted. 2018

Ongoing Research

  1. Molecular and immunological aspects of human leishmaniasis, Hansen’s disease (leprosy) and leptospirosis in Sri Lanka
  2. Immunomodulatory effect of herbal drugs against infectious diseases
  3. Anti-Inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic and anti-bacterial effect of natural products