Prof. Widuranga Kubukgolla

Chair & Professor of Biochemistry

Department of Biochemistry

Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

B.Sc., (Second Class Upper Division Honors), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Biochemistry, (Distinction), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Organic Chemistry, (Pass), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

M. Phil., University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka

      Title of the M. Phil. Thesis: Antibacterial activity of tea polyphenols and synergism with oxacillin against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Ph.D. (Thesis submitted), University of Colombo/one year component at DUKE-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore

      Title of the Ph.D. thesis: Viral genetics and host immune response which mediate symptomatic and asymptomatic dengue infection

NATIONAL LEVEL AWARDS

• Presidential Award for Research and Publication, National Research Council, 2018
• Merit Award for Scientific Publication, National Research Council, 2014

Travel grants and Symposiums awards

• Travel award to participate IBC
• 2006
• Institutional level awards: conference, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore (1000 USD) -2017 (Competitive award by open application call for any country/applicant)
• 10th anniversary celebrations, post-graduate institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, island-wide poster competition: Second best poster
• Dean’s awards for research publication: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020

RESEARCH AND GRANTS (Over 1 million LKR)

Index: SCIE/PubMed/Scopus

• Inhibition of penicillin binding protein (PBP2a) in methicillin resistsnt staphylococcus aureus by combination of oxacillin and bioactive compound. Mayrika Goel, Rishu Carla, Pirja Ponnan, J A A S jayaweera, W Kumbukgolla Microbial Pathogensis 150; (2021) 104676

• Antibacterial activity of adamantly substituted cyclohexane thiamine derivatives against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis D Kumar, W Kumbukgolla, S Jayaweera, MA Bailey, T Alling, J Ollinger Royal Society of Chemistry -RSC advances 4 (23), 11962-11966 2014 (Contribution: Principle investigator for Sri Lankan component)

• Anti-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity, synergism with oxacillin and molecular docking studies of metronidazole-triazole hybrids B Negi, D Kumar, W Kumbukgolla, S Jayaweera, P Ponnan, R Singh, European journal of medicinal chemistry 115, 426-437 2016 (Contribution: Principle investigator for Sri Lankan component)

• Specific detection of dengue and Zika virus antibodies using envelope proteins with mutations in the conserved fusion loop A Rockstroh, B Moges, L Barzon, A Sinigaglia, G Palù, W Kumbukgolla Emerging microbes & infections 2017 (Nature Publishing group) 6 (1), 1-9 (Contribution: Principle investigator for Sri Lankan component)

• Dengue virus IgM serotyping by ELISA with recombinant mutant envelope proteins A Rockstroh, L Barzon, W Kumbukgolla, HX Su, E Lizarazo, Emerging infectious diseases 25 (1), 112 2018 (Contribution: Principle Investigator for Sri Lankan component)

• Association of Hantavirus Infections and Leptospirosis With the Occurrence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka: A Prospective Study With Patients and Healthy Persons N. P. Sunil-Chandra, J. A. A. S. Jayaweera, W. Kumbukgolla, and M. V. M. L. Jayasundara Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 08 October 2020

• Review on usage of vancomycin in livestock and humans: maintaining its efficacy, prevention of resistance and alternative therapy PNK Wijesekara, WW Kumbukgolla, JAAS Jayaweera, D Rawat Veterinary sciences 4 (1) (Contribution: Principle author of the Sri Lankan component)

• Antibiotic resistance patterns of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from livestock and associated farmers in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka JAAS Jayaweera, WW Kumbukgolla Germs 7 (3), 132 2017 (Contribution: Senior Author)

• The importance of timely introduction of vancomycin therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia and severity of MRSA bacteremia at Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura JA Jayaweera, M Karunarathne, WW Kumbukgolla Int J One Health 3, 7-11

• Prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia at teaching hospital Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka J Jayaweera, M Karunarathne, WW Kumbukgolla, HL Thushari Ceylon Med J 62, 110-1

• Synthesis and antibacterial/antitubercular activity evaluation of symmetrical trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diamine derivatives N Kumar, E Kapoor, R Singh, S Kidwai, W Kumbukgolla, S Bhagat, Indian journal of Chemistry A NISCAIR-CSIR, India (Contribution: Principle Investigator for Sri Lankan Component)

• HbS/D-Punjab Disease: Report of 3 Cases from Sri Lanka KH Thalagahage, JAAS Jayaweera, W Kumbukgolla, N Perera,  Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion 34 (2), 350-352; 2017

• Detection of alkaptonuria in a 1-week-old infant KNH Thalagahage, JAAS Jayaweera, WW Kumbukgolla, I Senavirathne British Medical journal (BMJ)Case Reports 2015, bcr2014208505

• The relationship between the exposure to healthcare settings and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among medical students JAAS Jayaweera, S Pilapitiya, W Kumbukgolla Germs 10 (1), 34 2020 (Contribution: Senior author)

• Detection of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol high levels in monks practicing Samatha and Vipassana meditation W Kumbukgolla, JAAS Jayaweera, P Perera, S Hale European Journal of Integrative Medicine 28, 47-51 2019 (Contribution: First author)

• Assessment of the outcome of Ayurvedic treatments for vertebral fracture with motor dysfunction A Attanayake, J Jayaweera, WW Kubukgolla, U De Silva Ayu 39 (1), 16 2018

• Potential of medicinal plants to treat dengue, International Journal of one health 2019

D Neelawala, S Rajapakse, WW Kumbukgolla (Contribution: Senior author)

Abstract publications for Research symposiums

International Symposiums:  

• Liyanage, K.L.D.T.D., Neelawala, N.G.D.A.K., Kumbukgolla, W.W. (2019) “prevalence of diabetes mellitus among urban population based on income”, 3rd Cambridge Oxford Sunway Biomedical Symposium, Malaysia, 26-27 March.

• Asymptomatic bacteuria in ckdu patients anuradhapura sri lanka; J A A S jayaweera W W Kumbukgolla International union of microbiological societies (IUMS) research symposium singapore, singapore 2017

• Neelawala, N.G.D.A.K., Liyanage, K.L.D.T.D., Kumbukgolla, W.W. (2019) “Attitude of the general public on work readiness of doctors”, Monash Malaysia Medical Education Conference 2019 Fostering Work Readiness Among Medical Graduates, 25-26 January.

• Effect of global warming in spreading dengue infection; Kumbukgolla W W symposium on education and global studies (IconEGS) university of hygo, osaka, japan 2018

• Silver nano compounds in bee honey base against wound infections; Senanayake W S M K J, Kumbukgolla W W, Jayaweera J A A S, Kannangara Y, Somarathne K, Rathnayake R M M J  118th sessions Japanese surgical society, Tokyo, japan.

• Analysis of fluoride concentration in a cascade tank system in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka; Kumbukgolla W W SIBC-9 National University of Singapore (NUS) /NTU, Singapore, 2018

• Bacterial microbiome of herbal drugs (review), Kumbukgolla W W; polish academy of sciences, Warsaw Poland 2017

• Neelawala, N.G.D.A.K., Pathirana T.P., Kumbukgolla W.W. (2019) “Awareness on dengue infection among medical students in Sri Lanka”, Monash Malaysia Medical Education Conference 2019 Fostering Work Readiness Among Medical Graduates, 25-26 January.

• Liyanage, K.L.D.T.D., Hansanee, K.P.N., Kumbukgolla, W, W. (2019) “Medical students’ awareness and work readiness about young diabetes in Sri Lanka”, Monash Malaysia Medical Education Conference 2019 Fostering Work Readiness Among Medical Graduates, 25-26 January.

• Association of hanta virus infection and leptospirois with the occurance of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu)among patients in high prevalaent and low prevalent areas of North Central province Sri Lanka N P Sunil-chandra J A A S Jayaweera W Kumbukgolla M V M L Jayasundara 11^th international conference on hanta viruses Leuven Belgium 1-4 september 2019

National/International Symposiums in Sri Lanka:

• Ananalysis of viral loads in asmptomatic mothers and children W W Kumbukgolla S Gunasena A Weerasingha University of Colombo Symposium 2018 

• Zonal differences of antioxidant activity of termenalia chebula international symposium of aurveda; A M H S Attanayaka W W Kumbukgolla Bandaranayaka Memorial Research Institute, Colombo 2018

• Isolation of Dengue Virus from Symptomatic Dengue Patients and Asymptomatic Individuals Wikum W kumbukgolla, S Gunasena, A Weerasingha1, Preethi V Randeniya, K Ikuta T korosu  HETC symposium 2014

• Evaluation of turmeric as a surface disinfectant J A A S Jayaweera W W Kumbukgolla University of Sri Jayawardhanapura Research Sessions, April 2016

• Evaluation of antibacterial effect of sri lankan cinnamon J A A S jayaweera W W kumbukgolla A M H S Attanayaka (IIM research symposium 2016)

• Antibacterial activity of tea polyphenols against some clinically important pathogens W W Kumbukgolla A A K Karunathilaka V Thevanesam N S Kumar B M R Bandara international symposium on natural products (Asia, Africa, South America)  and their applications in health and agriculture 3-8 October 2011

• Swine flue research: a scientometric study of global perspective R Balasubramuni J A A S Jayaweera A S Siriwardana W W Kumbukgolla 12 th Annual Research Symposium University of Kelaniya (2011)

• Antibacterial activity of oxacillin against methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) pre-incubated with tea catechins W W Kumbukgolla, V Thevanesam, N S Kumar and B M R Bandara. Peradeniya University Research Sessions 2007 (nov 30),  presented by W W Kumbukgolla

• Screening for antibiotic activity of tea catechins against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci A A K arunathilake, W W Kumbukgolla, V Thevanesam, N S Kumar and B M R Bandara. Peradeniya university research sessions 2007 (nov 30)

• Antibacterial activity of tea extracts/compounds(tri2023) against methicillin resistant   staphylococcus aureus W W Kumbukgolla, V Thevanesam, N S Kumar E W M A Ekanayaka and B M R Bandara poster session abstracts 10^th anniversary celebrations of the PGIS, 2006, p15 presented by W W kumbukgolla

• Antibacterial susceptibility testing of catechin fraction of tea flush (cultivar tri2025) against methicillin resistant staphyolococcus aureus (mrsa) W. W. Kumbukgolla, b. m. r. bandara, n. s. kumar, e. w. m. a. ekanayake and v. thevanesam. peradeniya university research sessions 2006 (nov 30), p184 presented by W W kumbukgolla

• Comparison of fluoride and cadmium levels in drinking water before and after water treatment Tharaka D Liyanage Amila R Warushawithana Indika S Aluthgedara Wikum W Kumbukgolla RIRC (Rajarata University Research Symposium) 2019

Positions hold related to research and publication:

• Reviewer: RSC Advances; Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, 2017
• Reviewer: RSC food function; Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, 2018
• Session Chair: International symposium on education, Hygo University, Japan, 2018
• Visiting Research Scholar: Research Institute of Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan
• Visiting PhD Candidate: DUKE-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore

Lecturer (probationary): 2007-2012

Department of Biochemistry Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Senior Lecturer: 2012- To date

Head of the Department/ Biochemistry: 2017-2020

Extracurricular activities

• Founding secretary to the Medical Teachers Union (2013/2014)
• Executive committee member, Rajarata University Teachers Union (2009/20210)
• Executive committee member, Sri Lanka Society for Allergy and Immunology (2015/2016)