Dr. Keya Chaudhuri (b. 1952) obtained her Ph.D. degree from the Jadavpur University in 1983 and is presently working as a Scientist G in Molecular & Human Genetics Division at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India. Her research has been focussed on Vibrio cholerae infection, mainly on the cellular and molecular mechanism of the disease process, with special emphasis on the identification of bacterial gene products that are expressed during infection and their role in V. cholerae pathogenesis and elucidation of host response at the molecular level. Besides Vibrio cholerae, her research interest includes bioinformatics, cancer biology and toxicology.
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• Studies on Vibrio cholerae:
The contributions from our laboratory have strongly influenced the research on molecular pathogenesis of Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the disease cholera. We have demonstrated for the first time that V. cholerae cells grown in vivo have a more rigid cell surface compared to the laboratory grown cells due to high expression of the peptidoglycan biosynthetic enzymes. Our group discovered a block of genes around an in-vivo expressed icmF gene and proposed their role in secretion or cell surface organization through in-silico analysis. This study has a great impact as it turned out to be a new type of secretion system in V. cholerae delivering effector molecules directly to the host. A new algorithm has been developed by us for identification of genomic islands which again has identified a novel toxin in V. cholerae. We have demonstrated the entire signal transduction pathway in the intestinal epithelial cells following V. cholerae infection.
• Studies on oral precancerous conditions:
Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic progressive precancerous condition of the oral cavity and oropharynx due to chewing of arecanut, tobacco, pan masala and so on. The disease is mostly prevalent in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asian countries. Presently no satisfactory treatment for OSF has been described; although a wide range of treatment modalities have been proposed. Our study aims at determining (i) the association of polymorphisms in genes coding for DNA repair, detoxification, and antioxidant enzymes and the enzymes involved in collagen biosynthesis to the susceptibility of OSF, (ii) early diagnosis of OSF and its progression using Image analysis of histopathological sections as well as using the expression of various tumor marker proteins immunohistochemically, (iii) effective treatment and management of the disease.
Presently our laboratory, in collaboration with Dept. of Oral Pathology, Dr. R Ahmed Dental College & Hospital, has come up with an effective treatment regimen in early diagnosed cases of OSF. The treatment focuses on zinc acetate and vitamin supplementation followed by cessation of habit and yields satisfactory results like increased mouth opening reduced collagen deposition, minimization of burning sensation due to re-epithelialization as noted by analysis of epithelial sections of post treatment patients. Our study also focuses whether genotype of an individual affects the treatment status or not, so that newer concepts of personalized medicine can be established.
• Remediation of Arsenic Toxicity:
Arsenic is a xenobiotic metalloid that has become a major environment pollutant. As many as 70 million people in the Indo-Bangladesh region are exposed to inorganic arsenic through consumption of water soluble arsenic salts in drinking water. This has resulted in a number of adverse health outcomes which include melanosis, hyperkeratosis which can later lead to Bowen’s disease, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Our laboratory, for the first time, has demonstrated that garlic, a major component of Indian diet, has the capacity to reduce arsenic induced toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Rats which were also fed aqueous garlic extracts had 40 per cent less arsenic in their blood and liver, and released 45 per cent more arsenic in their urine. The sulphur-containing substances in garlic scavenge arsenic from tissues and blood. This could be a potential remediation of arsenic toxicity for people in at risk areas.
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