N.M.T. Anupama

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Dr. N.M.T. Anupama

BVSc(Peradeniya),PhD (University of Melbourne- Australia)
Senior Lecturer in Immunology and Veterinary Parasitology
Address:

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science,
University of Peradeniya,
Peradeniya,20400

Contact:

Phone:+94 812395717(office)
Email:thilinianupama@vet.pdn.ac.lk
thilinianupama1984@gmail.com

  • Commendable researcher of the year for 2018, 2021 and 2022, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya
  • URC Research Award, University of Peradeniya 2024
  • Dr. Arunasiri Iddamalgoda Award for the Best Mini Oral Presentation (76 th SLVA Scientific Sessions)
  • Dr. and Mrs. A.R. Mohamed Award for Best Paper in Animal Health (75 th SLVA Scientific Sessions)
  • Dr. and Mrs. A.R. Mohamed Award for Best Paper in Animal Health (74 th SLVA Scientific Sessions)
  • Sir Ian Clunies-Ross Scholarship (UoM)
  • Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences research sholarship-Travel (UoM).
  • Dr. Senevirathne Gold Medal for Public Health (UoP).
  • G.E.Kodituwakku Prize for Excellence in Veterinary Surgery (UoP)
  • Gold Medal for Excellence in Veterinary Pathology (UoP)
  • ArunachalamChinniah Gold Medal for Best Performance in BVSc Degree (UoP)
  • S.T.Fernando Memorial Gold Medal for Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (UoP)
  • Astron Scholarship awarded for the best performance in First, Second and Third BVSc Examinations (UoP)

  • Veterinary Immunology
  • Veterinary Parasitology
  • Integrated Veterinary Sciences
  • Research Methodology

  • Molecular and cellular immunology
  • Vaccinology and vaccine development
  • Molecular Parasitology
  • Vector-Borne Diseases


Active research grants:

  • Co-Investigator - GEDENLA: Genetic determinants of dengue fever in Sri Lanka in collaboration with Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin (2017-2019)
  • Co- Investigator - Development and field application of an effective irradiated larval vaccine against Haemonchus contortus in goats using irradiation in collaboration with IAEA, Vienna (2020-2021)
  • Principal Investigator - Development of a molecular based diagnostic tool for the confirmatory diagnosis of haemoparasitic diseases in sheep in Sri Lanka (2019-2021)
  • Principal Investigator – Development of bivalent gamma irradiated vaccine for bovine haemoparasites in Sri Lanka. (2022-2026) – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA- CRP)

Student Name MPhil. / PhD. Title Status
P.G.A.S. Palkumbura MPhil "characterization of the pathophysiolory and Immunological Mechanism of Protection Induced by Irradiated Haemonchus contorlus Laryal Vaccine in Saanen Goats" Completed
W.M.C.Dhananjaya M.Phil. Development of in-vitro merozoite culturesystems for Babesia bigemina and Theliaria orientalis Ongoing
W.M.G.K. Weerasekara M.Phil. Identification of candidate antigens and development of in house IgG ELISA for the diagnosis of bovine haemoparasites Babesia bigemina AND Theileria orientalis Ongoing
H.A.R.W. Kotuwegedara M.Phil. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) Prevention and Control measures under local culture conditions in Liptopenaeus vannamei. Ongoing
K.K.P.R.B.Adhikaram M.Phil. Investigation of Local Transmission Routes of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) in Litopenaeus vannamei Cultured in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka Ongoing

  • Senevirathna K, Mahakapuge TAN, Jayawardana NU, Rajapakse J, Gamage CU, Seneviratne B, Perera U, Kanmodi KK, Jayasinghe R. Serum mRNA levels of cytokeratin-19 and vascular endothelial growth factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders using RT-PCR. BMC Oral Health. 2024 Sep 11;24(1):1062. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024- 04834-1. PMID: 39261828; PMCID: PMC11391664.
  • Senevirathna K, Mahakapuge TAN, Ileperuma P, Jayawardana NU, Jayarathne L, Weerasekara R, Gamage CU, Senevirathna B, Perera U, Jayasinghe R, Kanmodi KK. Correlation between serum heavy metals and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders. Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 16;14(1):19029. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70057-7. PMID: 39152184; PMCID: PMC11329781.
  • Palkumbura, P.G.A.S.; Mahakapuge, T.A.N.; Wijesundera, R.R.M.K.K.; Wijewardana, V.; Kangethe, R.T.; Rajapakse, R.P.V.J. Mucosal Immunity of Major Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Small Ruminants Can Be Harnessed to Develop New Prevention Strategies. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 1409. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031409.
  • Ranaraja DMAE, Mahakapuge TAN, Thilakarathne DS, Dharmasuriya JYC, Rajapakse RPVJ. Hepatic trematode Platynosomum sp. (Dicrocoeliidae) from a domestic cat in Colombo, Sri Lanka: Case report and molecular identification. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2022 Sep;34:100762. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100762. Epub 2022 Jul 20. PMID: 36041797.
  • Hoornweg, T. E., Perera, V. P., Karunarathne, R. N. S., Schaftenaar, W., Mahakapuge, T. A. N., Kalupahana, A. W., Rutten, V. P. M. G., & de Haan, C. A. M. (2022). Young elephants in a large herd maintain high levels of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus- specific antibodies and do not succumb to fatal haemorrhagic disease. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 69, e3379–e3385. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14644.
  • Ranasinghe, K. N. K., A. D. Premarathna, T. A. N. Mahakapuge, K. K. Wijesundera, A. T. Ambagaspitiya, A. P. Jayasooriya, S. A. M. Kularatne, and R. P. V. J. Rajapakse. "In vivo anticancer effects of Momordica charantia seed fat on hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model." Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 12, no. 3 (2021): 435-442.
  • Weerasekara, Lakshani, Kumudu Wijesooriya, Kithsiri Ranawana, Thilini Anupama, and Jayantha Rajapakse. "Gastrointestinal parasites of endemic and endangered free-ranging purple-faced leaf monkey (Semnopithecus vetulus) in Sri Lanka: effect of host group size and habitat type." Primates 62, no. 4 (2021): 629-635.
  • Edirimanne ERKV, Ekanayake WMPD, Anupama NMT. Primary cardiac lymphoma with concurrent pericardial microfilariasis in a german shepherd dog- a case study. Wayamba journal of Animal Science, 1485-1498 (2012).
  • Mahakapuge TAN, Every AL, Scheerlinck JP. Exploring local immune responses to vaccines using efferent lymphatic cannulation. Expert Review of Vaccines, 14(4), 579-588 (2015).
  • Mahakapuge TAN, Scheerlinck JP, Alvarez Rojas CA, Every AL, Hagen J. Assessment of reference genes for reliable analysis of gene transcription by RT-qPCR in ovine leukocytes. Veterinary Imuunology and Immunopathology171, 1-6 (2016)
  • Athapattu TPJ, Muthugala AD, Rajapaksha D, Liyanage KLDTD, Weththewa WKSM, Mahakapuge TAN, Dangolla A, Prematilake PC, Rajapakse RPVJ. Anoplocephala spp. infection in a captive asian elephant in Sri Lanka. Gajah 49, 27-30 (2019) .
  • Washington EA, Mahakapuge TAN, Scheerlinck JP, Kimpton WG. Lymphatic system. In eLS John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: Chichester. DOI:10.1002/9780470015902.a0000523.pub.
  • Buddhini Ketipearachchi, Chathushka Dhananjaya, Dulari Thilakarathne, Sampath Madusanka, R.P.V.J. Rajapakse, Mahakapuge TAN. Prevalence of tick borne hemoparasites of cattle in selected wet zone and dry zone farms in Sri Lanka through molecular detection. Abstract Publication and Oral Presentation. 75 th SLVA Annual Scientific Sessions. 15 th September 2023.
  • Dammika Perera, Keshan Jayawardana, Vidura Gajanayaka, Uthpala Amarasena, B.K.Ketapearachchi, Mahakapuge TAN. Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale in Goat in Sri Lanka; A Case Study. Abstract Publication and Oral Presentation. 75 th SLVA Annual Scientific Sessions. 15 th September 2023.
  • KLN Ananda, DSG De Silva, DMPM Dhanapala, P Chandraratne, JAS Lakmal, TA Gunawardena, AW Kalupahana, RMNPK Ranathunga, JM Asoka, RRMKK Wijesundera, Mahakapuge TAN, SSS de S Jagoda. First report on Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) infection in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured in Sri Lanka. Abstract publication and oral presentation. NARA Scientific Sessions 2022, October 2022.
  • SKAS Fernando and Mahakapuge TAN. A Preliminary study on the presence of Trypanosoma spp. and Babesiosoma spp. in Mozambique Tilapia captured from Daduru Oya Reservoir. Abstract publication and oral presentation. NARA Scientific Sessions 2022, October 2022.
  • WRH Mendis, V Wijewardana, RPVJ Rajapakse, TAN Mahakapuge. Optimization of in vitro proliferation Assay for Haemonchus contortus antigen sensitized lymphocytes in goats. Abstract publication and oral presentation. iPURSE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, November 2021.
  • EGCN Premathilaka, TAN Mahakapuge, SAM Kularatne, KJK Karunathilake, DMAE Ranaraja and RPVJ Rajapakse. Increasing prevalence of Rickettsia conorii Infections in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Abstract publication and poster presentation. iPURSE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, November 2021.
  • AM Jayaweera, WASM Premaratne, AGS Dilinika, RPVJ Rajapkse and TAN Mahakapuge. Molecular detection of Haemoparasites in sheep in Horrakelley Farm, Sri Lanka. Abstract Publication and presentation. iPURSE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, November 2021.
  • DS Thilakarathne, AU Abeykoon, TAN Mahakapuge, SAM Kularathne, RPVJ Rajapakse. Molecular detection of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia species from seropositive human blood samples. Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology Conference September 2021.
  • Mendis WRH, Rajapakse RPVJ and Mahakapuge TAN. Storage temperature and shelf life evaluation of Haemonchus contortus attenuated larval vaccine produced by gamma irradiation. Abstract publication and oral presentation, International Research Conference 2020 in Sri Lanka Technological Campus, November 2019.
  • APDT Ranathunga, WKS Ishanthika, TAN Mahakapuge, RPVJ Rajapakse, RP Illeperuma, MP Paranagama. A traditional Sri Lankan polyherbal mouth freshner induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human oral keratinocytes immortalized with HPV16 (IHOK). Abstract publication and oral presentation, 6th International Conference on Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Traditionla Medicine 2018, December 2018 .
  • MHTD Jayathilake, TAN Mahakapuge, KAS Nadeeshani, IPGHU Dissanayake, DMS Munasinghe. Identification of two novel cell types in bovine epididymis. Abstract publication and oral presentation, iPURSE, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, November 2017.
  • Mahakapuge TAN, Nahar M, Every AL, Scheerlinck JP. Harnessing locally induced immunity to evaluate immune memory resilience. Abstract publication and oral presentation, FVAS symposium (Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Symposium) The University of Melbourne, Australia, December 2016.
  • Mahakapuge TAN, Nahar M, Every AL, Scheerlinck JP. Inducing and analyzing immune memory resilience. Abstract publication and oral presentation, IVIS (International Veterinary Immunology Symposium) Gold Coast, Australia, August 2016.
  • Mahakapuge TAN, Nahar M, Every AL, Scheerlinck JP. Immune Memory Resilience; novel method for assessing adjuvant efficacy. Abstract publication and oral presentation, EVIW (European Veterinary Immunology Workshop) September Vienna, Austria, 2015.
  • Mahakapuge TAN, Every AL, Scheerlinck, JP. Sheep pre femoral efferent lymphatic cannulation model in evaluating immune memory resilience. Abstract publication post graduate symposium, Veterinary and agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne 2014.
  • Medhavini B, Mahakapuge TAN, Satharasinghe DA, Jayasooriya LJPAP, Prathapasinghe GA. Evaluation of the Mosquito Larvicidal activity and Impact on a Non-Targeted Aquatic Species;Brine Shrimp by a Novel Larvicidal Compound, International Symposium 2012, General Sir John KotelawalaDefence University, page38.