รองศาสตราจารย์ ดร.ศศิมนัส อุณจักร์

Fax : +662-561-4627

Education Background

• 2007, Ph.D.. (Biochemistry), Mahidol University, Bangkok, THAILAND
• 2004, M.Sc. (Biochemistry), Mahidol University, Bangkok, THAILAND.
• 1999, B.Sc. (Biochemistry), Kasetsart University, Bangkok, THAILAND.

Area of Expertise

• Biochemistry of aquatic animal immunology
• Aquatic animal diseases
• Vaccinology and rationale vaccine design
• Molecular biology of pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture
• Aptamer screening

Research Interests

• Vaccine development for control bacterial diseases in fish
• Advance research on rationale subunit vaccine design
• Delivery systems for vaccines and immunostimulants in aquatic animals
• Molecular adjuvants and applications
• Molecular characterization of pathogens in aquaculture
• Aptamer-based detection system

Research focus

Examples of publications

1. Jitrapakdee S, Unajak S, Sittidilokratna N, Hodgson RA, Cowley JA, Walker PJ, Panyim S, Boonsaeng V. (2003) Identification and analysis of gp116 and gp64 structural glycoproteins of yellow head nidovirus of Penaeus monodon shrimp. J Gen Virol. 2003 Apr; 84 (Pt 4):863-73.
2. Unajak S, Boonsaeng V, Jitrapakdee S. (2006) Isolation and characterization of cDNA encoding Argonaute, a component of RNA silencing in shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 145(2):179-87
3. ** Top 25 Hottest Articles: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology > Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (January to March 2007)
4. Chotwiwatthanakun C, Ngopon J, Unajak S, Jitrapakdee S. (2008) The ribophorin I from Penaeus monodon shrimp: cDNA cloning, expression and phylogenetic analysis. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 150(3):331-7
5. Sittidilokratna N, Chotwiwatthanakun C, Wijegoonawardane PK, Unajak S, Boonnad A, Wangnai W, Cowley JA, Walker PJ. (2009) A virulent isolate of yellow head nidovirus contains a deformed envelope glycoprotein gp116, Virology, 384: 192-200
6. Aoki T, Takano T, Unajak S, Takagi M, Kim YR, Park SB, Kondo H, Hirono I, Saito-Taki T, Hikima JI, Jung TS. (2010) Generation of monoclonal antibodies specific for ORF68 of koi herpesvirus. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 34(3): 209-216
7. ** Top 25 Hottest Articles: Agricultural and Biological Sciences > Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, April to June 2011
8. Busayarat N, Senapin S, Thonganunt M, Phiwsaiya K, Meemetta W, Unajak S, Jitrapakdee S, Lo CF, Phongdara A. (2011) Shrimp laminin receptor binds with capsid proteins of two additional shrimp RNA viruses YHV and IMNV. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 31(1): 66-72
9. Aoki Takashi, Wang Han-Ching, Unajak S., Mudjeekawee Santos, Hedeihiro Kond, Ikuo Hirono (2011) Microarray analyses of shrimp immune responses, Marine Biotechnology, 13: 629–638
10. Unajak S., Meesawat P., Anyamaneeratch K., Anuwareepong D., Srikulnath K. and Choowongkomon K. (2011) Identification of species (meat and blood samples) using nested-PCR analysis of mitochondrial DNA, Afr J Biotechnol, 10 (29): 5670-5676
11. Unajak S, Santos MD, Hikima JI, Jung TS, Kondo H, Hirono I, Aoki T. (2011) Molecular characterization, expression and functional analysis of a nuclear oligomerization domain proteins subfamily C (NLRC) in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Fish Shellfish Immunol. (2): 202-11
12. Unajak S., Meesawat P., Paemanee A., Areechon N., Engkagul A., Kovitvadhi U., Kovitvadhi S., Rungruangsak-Torrissen K., Choowongkomon K.(2012) Characterization of thermostable trypsin and determination of trypsin isozymes from intestine of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). Food chemistry, 134: 1533-1541.
13. Jermsri P., Jiraviriyakul A., Unajak S., Kumphune S., (2012) Effect of Aquilaria crassna crude extract on simulated ischemia induced cardiac cell death. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Science. 3(3) : 604-613
14. Unajak S, Sawatdichaikul O, Songtawee N, Rattanabunyong S, Tassnakajon A, Areechon N, Hirono I, Kondo H, Khunrae P, Rattanarojpong T, Choowongkomon K. (2014) Homology modeling and virtual screening for antagonists of protease from yellow head virus. J Mol Model. 2014 Mar;20(3):2116. doi: 10.1007/s00894-014-2116-9.
15. Watsida Poochai, Kiattawee Choowongkomon, Prapansak Srisapoome, Sasimanas Unajak, Nontawith Areechon (2014) Characterization and expression analysis of the transferrin gene in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its upregulation in response to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. Fish Physiol Biochem DOI 10.1007/s10695-014-9941-8
16. Hidehiro Kondo, Sasiwipa Tinwongger, Porranee Proespraiwong, Rapeepat Mavichak, Sasimanas Unajak, Reiko Nozaki, Ikuo Hirono (2014) Draft Genome Sequences of Six Strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolated from Early Mortality Syndrome/Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease Shrimp in Thailand. Genome Announcements, March/April 2014 Volume 2 Issue 2 e00221-14
17. Sasiwipa Tinwongger, Porranee Proespraiwong, Jumroensri Thawonsuwan, Preeyanan Sriwanayos, Janejit Kongkumnerd, Tidaporn Chaweepack, Rapeepat Mavichak, Sasimanas Unajak, Reiko Nozaki, Hidehiro Kondo, Ikuo Hirono (2014) Development of PCR Diagnosis for Shrimp Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) Strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Fish Pathol 49: 159-164
18. Unajak S, Aroonluke S, Promboon A. (2015) An active recombinant cocoonase from the silkworm Bombyx mori: bleaching, degumming and sericin degrading activities. J Sci Food Agric. 95: 1179–1189

Research Grants

Lab Members

• Kanyanat Settharaksa (M.Sc. (Biochemistry) (Graduated))
• Nutthida Pholmanee (M.Sc. (Biochemistry) (Graduated))
• Asama Kiataramgul (M.Sc. (Biochemistry))
• Chamaiporn Chalongkhwan (M.Sc. (Genetic engineering) )
• Sugunya Maneenin (M.Sc. (Biochemistry))
• Navarat Chaisri (M.Sc. (Genetic engineering) )
• Atittaya Hoihuan (M.Sc. (Biochemistry))