The University of Toledo

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 - 2004
• 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
• 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:

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

Research Projects:

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 have successfully cultured a strain of murine retrovirus called MoMuLV-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: i) establish an assay system to quantitate the viral replications; ii) infect female mice with the virus and obtain infection to the offspring; iii) study the rate of transmission of the virus via breast milk; iv) test the long term effect of breast milk transmission of ts-1 on the pups; and v) reduction of viral transmission among pups by probiotics.

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.

Recent Selected Publications:

1. Duggan, J.M., A. Locher, B. Fink, Okonta, C. and J. Chakraborty.  (2009) Adherence to antiretroviral therapy:  a survey of factors associated with medication usage.  AIDS Care.  21(9):1141-1147.

2.Chakraborty J., Okonta ,H., Bagalb, H., Lee, S.J. and Fink, B., Changanamkandat, R., and Duggan, J.  (2008) Retroviral gene insertion in breast milk mediated lymphomagenesis.  Virology. 377(1):100-109.

3.Duggan, J., Okonta, H., and Chakraborty J.  (2006) Transmission of Moloney murine leukemia virus (ts-1) by breast milk.  J Gen Virol. 87(9):2679-2684.

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

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

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

7.Fitzgerald, K., Chakraborty, J., Shah, T., Khuder, S., and 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.

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

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

10. Chakraborty, J., Chrisstie, M., and Zohmingthangha, J.  (2000) 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.

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

12. Allampallam, K., Chakraborty, J. and J. Robinson, J. (2000) 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.

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

14. Duggan, J., Walerius, H., Purohit, A., Khuder, S., Bowles, M., Carter, S., Kosy, M., Locher, A., O’Neil, K., Gray, A., and Chakraborty, J. (1999) 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.

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