Joana Chakraborty, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
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.