Rabindra Mandal

• B. V. Sc & A. H. (DVM), 2010 Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University (TU)
• Ph.D., 2016, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
• Postdoc, 2019, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
• Postdoc, 2021, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

The role of the gut microbiome in human health
The overarching goal of my lab is to unlock the potential of the gut microbiome for the benefit of human health, aiming to prevent and cure diseases. Currently, I am focused on three main projects:

• Project 1: Investigating the Role of Gut Bacteroides in Severe Malaria Malaria is a devastating disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes that continue to pose a significant global health threat. Despite progress, the disease remains a burden, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting young children which cause more than 600,000 deaths and 240 million cases annually. Our research has revealed that gut Bacteroides act in a microbial consortium to cause susceptibility to severe malaria. Bacteroides, normally beneficial gut commensals providing nutrition and supporting host immunity, are implicated in the severity of malaria. However, the mechanisms behind their involvement remain poorly understood. In this project, I aim to decipher how gut Bacteroides influence both gut and systemic immunity, exacerbating severe malaria, using a murine malaria model. Additionally, I am interested in developing a precision gut microbiota editing tool for fine-tuning gut Bacteroides levels to promote host health and mitigate severe malaria.
• Project 2: Exploring the Impact of Gut Microbiome on RBC Tension, Hematopoiesis, and Severe Malaria Our preliminary data indicate that naïve mice susceptible to hyperparasitemia caused by Plasmodium yoelii (Py) infection exhibit increased genetic potential for the alpha hemolysin/cyclolysin transport system in their gut microbiota, compared to mice resistant to hyperparasitemia. Moreover, hyperparasitemia susceptible naïve mice show enhanced expression of genes related to heme metabolism and increased RBC surface tension compared to resistant mice. This project aims to investigate the link between alpha toxin, heme metabolism, and severe malaria.

• Mandal RK, Mandal A, Denny JE, Namazii R, John CC, Schmidt NW. Gut Bacteroides act in a microbial consortium to cause susceptibility to severe malaria. Nat Commun . 2023 Oct 13; 14 (1) :6465 . doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42235-0. PubMed PMID: 37833304; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10575898
• Mandal RK, Schmidt NW. Mechanistic insights into the interaction between the host gut microbiome and malaria. PLoS Pathog . 2023 Oct; 19 (10 ) :e 1011665 . doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011665. eCollection 2023 Oct. Review. PubMed PMID: 37824458; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10569623
• Van Den Ham KM, Little MR, Bednarski OJ, Fusco EM, Mandal RK, Mitra R, Li S, Doumbo S, Doumtabe D, Kayentao K, Ongoiba A, Traore B, Crompton PD, Schmidt NW. Creation of a non-Western humanized gnotobiotic mouse model through the transplantation of rural African fecal microbiota. Microbiol Spectr . 2023 Oct 11, e0155423 . doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01554-23. [ Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37819130
• Bloodworth JC, Hoji A, Wolff G, Mandal RK, Schmidt NW, Deshane JS, Morrow CD, Kloepfer KM, Cook-Mills JM. Dysbiotic lung microbial communities of neonates from allergic mothers confer neonate responsiveness to suboptimal allergen. Front Allergy . 2023; 4 :1135412 . doi: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1135412. eCollection 2023. PubMed PMID: 36970065; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10036811
• Tiwari UP, Mandal RK, Neupane KR, Mishra B, Jha R. Starchy and fibrous feedstuffs differ in their in vitro digestibility and fermentation characteristics and differently modulate gut microbiota of swine. J Anim Sci Biotechnol . 2022 May 3; 13 (1) :53 . doi: 10.1186/s40104-022-00699-y. PubMed PMID: 35501888; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9063073