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Probiotics is another group of bacteria within our gut that, when present in sufficient quantities, can exert health benefits by preventing or reducing the severity of enteric pathogen infection. The bacteria-epithelial crosstalk between probiotic bacteria and gut epithelium suggests a specific mechanism by which probiotic bacteria can prevent infection by a wide variety of enteric pathogens. We are identifying nutrients that enhance colonization by probiotic bacteria that could potentially benefit the millions of children affected by pathogen-induced diarrhea in developing countries.
When premature infants are born, their aseptic guts are rapidly colonized by microbes from the environment. If their gut is not sufficiently mature, the rapid microbial colonization leads to inappropriate excessive inflammation. Without control of the innate immune response that comes with maturity, the tissue develops an inflammatory disease called necrotizing enterocolitis. The lack of suitable model system limits our ability to study the etiology of this inflammatory disease of the premature infant gut.
We have developed a number of human and animal models during the past five years to study bacterial epithelial crosstalk that is vital for the well-being of all mammals. Using various cellular, molecular, genetic and proteomic approaches, mechanisms of bacteria-epithelial communication are investigated to identify unique interactions between the host intestinal mucosa and bacteria, including mutualistic symbionts, pathogens and probiotics.
Dr. Nanthakumar's Advisees/Trainees:
1998 Corrie Klopcic Resident, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 1998 - 2001
Robert Fusunyan Assistant Professor, Floating Hospital, Boston MA 1998 - 2002
Ding-Wei Dai Fellow, University of Novo Scotia, Canada 1999 Nassar Mouideen Pediatric Cardiology Fellow, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada MD 2000 Allison Frank Resident, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 2001 Kristin Spellmayer Resident, Indiana University Medical School. IN 2002 Cheryl Young MD/PhD Student, Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, GA 2002 - 2004
Jae-Sung Ko Assistant Professor, Seoul National University, South Korea 2002 - To date
Di Meng Research Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 2003 Meredith Hass Research Associate, Indiana University Medical School. IN 2003 Neha Chaudry Undergraduate Student, University of Chicago, Chicago IL 2003 Luke Scheidler Research Associate, Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu HI 2004 Sudeep Prajapati Senior, DePauw University, Greencastle IN 2005 Sanjeeve Martyn Medical Student, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, D.C. 2005 Amy Baker Peace Core, Swaiziland, Africa 2004 - To date
Ilse Broekaert Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 2005 - To date
Wei-Shu Zhu Research Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA
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