One health approach to understand Inflammation: A friend or foe 

Inflammation is essential for the host immune response or to our survival, but inflammatory disorders are a major challenge and is a leading cause of mortality across the sub-continent.  The major focus of the lab is to understand the checks and balances associated with this phenomenon.

To understand this we are using two disease models, first helminth parasite Taenia solium and second Helicobacter pylori. 

T. solium is the common tapeworm that causes intestinal or central nervous system infection (causing epilepsy) and is a known strong suppressor of the host immune system. The CNS infection of the cystic stage of this parasite causes epilepsy called Neurocysticercosis. Neurocysticercosis is a "Neglected tropical disease" and is a major concern among endemic areas where they are responsible for up to 30% of acquired epilepsy. We are particularly focused on understanding the different antigenic fractions in inducing inflammation and their therapeutic values for other inflammatory disorders.

H. pylori is a strong immune activator and is a designated biological agent that causes gastric cancer due to strong inflammation evoked during its gut infection. 

We aim to develop engineered immune cells and engineered peptides/molecules to regulate inflammation. We are designing vaccines against Taenia and exploring herbal products to control inflammation. The lab is also working to make point-of-care and digital health care devices. We are fortunate to have good collaboration in India and abroad. Immune engineering lab is extensively using state-of-the-art facilities available at the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering and other instrumentation facilities of the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi to reach the goal.