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Dr. W.W.P. Rodrigo
Senior Research Scientist Biotechnology Unit |
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Qualifications |
BSc (Hons) – Natural Science (2nd Upper) (The Open University of Sri Lanka,2004) MSc – Biotechnology (Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, 2006) PhD – Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (University of Colombo, 2014) |
Contacts |
Tel: +94 11 237 9800 Ext 496; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Specialized Fields |
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology |
Interest Areas |
• Genetic engineering of transgenic plants • Recombinant protein/enzymes production • Sub-cellular localization studies with Green Fluorescence Protein fusion constructs • Tissue localization studies with Immuno-histochemical staining • Bioinformatics • DNA barcoding |
Publications
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Publications • R.S. Dassanayake, W.W.P. Rodrigo, E.H. Karunanayake, O.V.D.S.J. Weerasena and N.V. Chandrasekharan 2009. A putative nuclear growth factor-like globular nematode specific protein. Bioinformation 3(9): 370-374. • W.W.P. Rodrigo, R.S. Dassanayake, E.H. Karunanayake and O.V.D.S.J. Weerasena 2013. Heterologous expression of uncharacterized parasitic nematode-specific growth factor-like protein of Setaria digitata in Pichia pastoris expression systems. Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 30(2): 181-192. • W.W.P. Rodrigo, R.S. Dassanayake, E.H. Karunanayake, Y.I.N.S. Gunawardene and O.V.D.S.J. Weerasena 2014 Heterologous expression, chaperone mediated solubilization and purification of parasitic nematode-specific growth factor-like protein of Setaria digitata. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 7(2): 85-92. • W.W.P. Rodrigo, R.S. Dassanayake, O.V.D.S.J. Weerasena and Y.I.N.S. Gunawardene 2014. Novel parasitic nematode-specific protein of bovine filarial parasite Setaria digitata displays conserved gene structure and ubiquitous expression. Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 31(3): 514-524. • W.W.P. Rodrigo, R.S. Dassanayake and D. Voronin 2014. Novel parasitic nematode-specific protein of Setaria digitata largely localized in muscle, reproductive system and developing embryos. Experimental parasitology, 141, 12-20. • T. Wijerathna, N. Gunathilaka, K. Gunawardana and W. Rodrigo 2017. Review Article, Potential Challenges of Controlling Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka at a Disease Outbreak, BioMed Research International, Article ID 6931497, 9 pages. • S. Selvaraj, N. Gunesekera, A.M.M.H. Athapaththu, P.A.D.H. N. Gunathilaka, H.H.K. Achala and W.W.P. Rodrigo 2016. Production of L-(+)-Lactic Acid for the Health-care Industry using Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus delbrueckii with cassava as the raw meterial. Proceedings of the 5th YSF Symposium of Young Scientist Forum, Sri Lanka, 96-98. • S.M. Wickramasinghe Arachchi, M.M.E. Munasinghe, S.T. Sabaragamukorale, S.S. Abeygunaratne, W.W.P. Rodrigo, D.P.D.C. De Silva, K.S.L. Dalpatadu, S.G. Senaratne and P.A.D.H.N. Gunathilaka 2015. Role of microorganisms against hydrocarbon contamination; Bioremediation. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Research Symposium of UvaWellassa University Sri Lanka, 4-6.
Communications
• W.N.T. Fonseka and W.W.P. Rodrigo* 2019. Detection of Endosperm Specific Gene Expression in Ferritin Rich Transgenic Rice Seeds. Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, International Research Conference 2019 (IRCUWU 2019), 296. • Y.M.S.M. Yapa, W.W.P. Rodrigo*, A.L. Ranawake, C.K. Hemachandra, J.J. Wewalwela, T.N. Kapuruge and W.R.K. Fonseka 2019. Developing a Microbial Consortium that Could Effectively Degrade the Petroleum Hydrocarbons. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (ISAE 2019), 12. • G. Lakshika, W.W.P. Rodrigo*, W.T.G.S.L. Withana and T.N. Kapuruge 2018. Development of a duplex PCR assay for the detection of adulterations in chicken and turkey meat products. Vingnanam International Research Conference – 2018 (VIRC 2018), Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 22. • R.A.L. Rupasinghe, W.T.G.S.L. Withana, W.W.P. Rodrigo and A.M.M.H. Athapaththu 2018. A reliable tool for detection of species adulteration in canned tuna products. Vingnanam International Research Conference – 2018 (VIRC 2018), Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 27. • F.H.C. Silva, T.N. Kapuruge, A.M.M.H. Athapaththu, W.W.P. Rodrigo and W.A.J.S. Perera 2018. Detection of Salmonella spp. in meat products using a commercially available kit based real time PCR method. Vingnanam International Research Conference – 2018 (VIRC 2018), Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 28. • T.T.D. Manilgama, C.K. Hemachandra, J.J. Wewalwela, T.N. Kapuruge, W.W.P. Rodrigo* and W.R.K. Fonseka 2018. Isolation and identification of novel bacteria that could potentially capable of degrading crude oil from heavily contaminated sites in Sri Lanka. Vingnanam International Research Conference – 2018 (VIRC 2018), Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 36. (Best Abstract in Track C) • R.D.B. Lavensan, N.P.S.K. Niroshana, H.H.K. Achala, W.W.P. Rodrigo, W.T.G.S.L. Withana, A.A.M.A.S. Attanayake, J.K.R.R. Samaresekera and A.M.M.H. Athapaththu 2018. Plant DNA barcoding for rbcL gene of eight endemic plant species of Dipterocarpaceae family. Proceedings of the 38th Annual Sessions of The Institute of Biology Sri Lanka, 62. • A.C.T. Wijerathna, P.A.D.H.N. Gunathilaka, N.K. Gunawardena and W.W.P. Rodrigo 2018. Demographic and socio-economic characterization of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in four selected medical officer of health (MOH) areas in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, International Conference on Health Sciences 2018, 89-90. • A.C.T. Wijerathna, P.A.D.H.N. Gunathilaka, N.K. Gunawardena and W.W.P. Rodrigo 2018. Assessing the level of awareness on cutaneous leishmaniasis infection among people living in Polpithigama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 5th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches 2018, 42. • T. Wijerathna, N. Gunathilaka, K. Gunawardena and W. Rodrigo 2018. Breeding sites of Phlebotomine sand flies in cutaneous leishmaniasis disease endemic areas of the Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 3rd International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 28. • P.G.T.S. Wickramatunga, Y.I.N.S. Gunewardana, W.W.P. Rodrigo and R.S. Dassanayake 2018. Recombinant expression of S. digitata ARV1 protein in bacterial expression system for validation of anti-filarial drug target. Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Annual Research Symposium 2018, 211. • M.A.S.H. Mirihana, C.K. Hemachandra, J.J. Wewalwela, T.N. Kapuruge, W.W.P. Rodrigo and W.R.K. Fonseka 2018. Isolation and identification of potential crude oil utilizing bacterial species from chronically contaminated sites with petroleum hydrocarbons located in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Annual Research Symposium 2018, 265. • W.W.P. Rodrigo, R.M. Dharmadasa and G.P. Keeragalaarachchi 2018. Phytochemical, physicochemical, toxicological, morphological and genetic variations of two Piper longum L. populations grown in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 74th Annual Sessions – 2018 of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 13. (206/B)
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Major Projects Undertaken |
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