Physiology and Pharmacology : Joana Chakraborty, Ph.D.

Professor Phone: (419) 383-4149 Fax: (419) 383-2871 Email: Joana.Chakraborty@utoledo.edu

Training

• B.S., Physiology, Botany, Zoology-Honors, 1954, Science College, Calcutta, India 
• M.S., Zoology, 1956, Science College, Calcutta, India
• Ph.D., Biophysics, 1962, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta, India

Appointments

• Professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Health Science Campus, 1983 - present
• Interim Chairman, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1991 - 1993
• Serves as Acting Chairman several times a year, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1984 - present
• Visiting Scholar, Physiological Laboratory and the Department of Anatomy, Cambridge University, England, 1977
• Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1975 - 1982
• Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1972 - 1975
• Director, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Physiology Department, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1970 - 1989
• Research Associate, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1970-1972
• Visiting Scientist, University of Nara and University of Nagoya, Japan, 1966, 1966
• Lecturer, Biophysics Division, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta, India: In charge of the Ultrastructure Research Laboratory of Biophysics Department, 1964 - 1969
• Research Assistant, Biophysics Division, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta, India, 1960 - 1962

 Research Interests:

Reproductive and cellular physiology; Testicular and ovarian functions; HIV/AIDS; Mouse model of HIV.

Research:

Currently, I am working on two major projects on HIV/AIDS. Project #1) educational and epidemiological studies, and Project #2) development of a mouse model.

Project #1:

Title: HIV/AIDS Education and Epidemiological Research

This is an educational and epidemiological project on HIV and AIDS. The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a specialized curriculum for health care workers to provide them with extensive training, so that they can serve as effective HIV prevention educators. The goals of this project are: i) to develop educational materials, to offer courses to medical, nursing, allied health students and practicing physicians and to provide opportunities to interact with people living with AIDS; ii) to conduct epidemiological studies on HIV infection in developing countries and the impact of AIDS on women and children.

Project #2:

Title: Development of a Mouse Model to Study the Viral Transmission for Murine AIDS

HIV is a deadly sexually transmitted disease. The development of an animal model to study the transmission of the virus would be a significant research tool. We are currently in the process of culturing a strain of murine retrovirus called ts-1 (temperature sensitive). The ts-1 virus is a viable candidate for potential development as a small animal model of HIV transmission for the following reasons: 1) like HIV, ts-1 is a neurotropic retrovirus which infects CD4 T-cells; 2) like HIV, disease progression in ts-1 infected mice is related to the amount of viral inoculum, ability of CD8 cells to mount a suppressive response and continuous viral replication; and 3) severe immunodeficiency with subsequent death is the end result of infection with both HIV and ts-1.

The goals of the current research is to: 1) successfully culture ts-1 virus strain in the laboratory; 2) establish an assay system to quantitate the viral replications; 3) infect mice with the virus; 4) study the rate of sexual transmission of the virus; and 5) test the vertical transmission to the offspring.

Recent Selected Publications:

1. Chakraborty, J. HIV/AIDS and Ocular Manifestations. J. Indian Med. Assoc. 97(8):299-304, 1999.

2. Duggan, J., H. Walerius, A. Purohit, S. Khuder, M. Bowles, S. Carter, M. Kosy, A. Locher, K. O’Neil, A. Gray, and J. Chakraborty. Reproductive issues in HIV-seropositive women: a survey regarding counseling, contraception, safer sex, and pregnancy choices. J. Assoc. Nurses AIDS Care 10(5):84-92, 1999.

3. Allampallam, K., J. Chakraborty, and J. Robinson. Effect of ascorbic acid and growth factors on collagen metabolism of flexor retinaculum cells from individuals with and without carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 42(3):251-259, 2000.

4. Below, A., G.D. Haselhuhn, S.H. Khuder, and J. Chakraborty. Evaluation of urinary Tamm-Horsfall protein in post-menopausal women. J. Diabetes Complications 13(4):204-210, 1999.

5. Bose, K.K., J. Chakraborty, S. Khuder, W.H. Smith-Mensah, and J. Robinson. Lysyl oxidase activity in the cells of flexor retinaculum of individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 42(6):582-587, 2000.

6. Chakraborty, J., M. Chrisstie, and J. Zohmingthangha. A looming crisis: orphans in India before the impact of HIV/AIDS. Orphan Alert FXB Publication at the XIII International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa, pg. 17-21, 2000.

7. Duggan, J., W.S. Peterson, M. Schutz, S. Khuder, J. Chakraborty. 2001. Use of complementary and alternative therapies in HIV-infected patients. AIDS Patient Care and STDs 15(3):159-167.

8. Clark, S., J. Duggan, J. Chakraborty. 2001. ts1 and LP-BM5: A comparison of two murine retrovirus models for HIV. Viral Immunology 14(2):95-109.

9. Fitzgerald K, Chakraborty J, Shah T, Khuder, Duggan J. 2003. HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception among female migrant farm workers in the midwest.
Journal of Immigrant Health 5(1):29-36.

10. Duggan J, Sinha N, Khuder S, Chakraborty J. 2003. Survey of physician attitudes towards HIV testing in pregnant women. AIDS Patient Care and STDS 17(3):121-127.

11. Chakraborty J, Clark S, Okonta H, Duggan J. 2003. A small animal model for mother-to-fetus transmission of ts1, a murine retrovirus. Viral Immunology 16(2):191-201.

12. Chakraborty J, Below AA, and Solaiman D.  Tamm-Horsfall protein in patients with kidney damage and diabetes.  Urol. Res. 2004 May; 32(2):79-83.

13. Duggan J, Okonta H, Chakraborty J.  Transmission of Moloney murine leukemia virus (ts-1) by breast milk.  J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2679-84.

14. Chakraborty J, Okonta H, Bagalb H, Lee SJ, Fink B, Changanamkandat R, Duggan J.  Retroviral gene insertion in breast milk mediated lymphomagenesis.  Virology. 2008 Jul 20;377(1):100-9. Epub 2008 May 27.