Overview
Dr. Chatterjee’s lab uses mouse models to study Gulf War illness and design therapeutics. The lab also focuses on examining the impact of climate change-induced co-stressors, such as increased salinity stress, harmful algal blooms, and Vibrio vulnificus exposure, particularly in the context of underlying metabolic diseases like obesity, liver diseases and diabetes. A key aspect of our research is understanding the mechanisms related to the gut microbiome and how these contribute to adverse outcomes resulting from the aforementioned environmental exposures.
Climate Change-Induced Stressors and Human Health
The effects of global warming extend beyond rising temperatures, initiating a complex chain of events that contribute to climate change. Our research group has extensively studied the combined effects of microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms, and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) on various organ systems in mice. Using both in vivo and in vitro models, our work has uncovered novel mechanistic insights into the toxicity associated with microcystin exposure. Additionally, we investigate the impact of Vibrio vulnificus, a pathogenic bacterium often found in warmer waters, and heat stress resulting from rising global temperatures. By studying these factors in combination with metabolic diseases, we aim to better understand the full scope of climate change-induced health risks and develop more effective interventions.
Gulf War Illness (GWI) Pathophysiology and Therapeutics
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptomatic condition that remains medically unexplained, affecting nearly one-third of veterans who served in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War. These veterans were exposed to a range of toxic substances during their deployment, including pesticides like permethrin (Per), the nerve gas antidote pyridostigmine bromide (PB), chemical agents such as sarin and mustard gas, depleted uranium, and harmful combustion byproducts from burning oil wells. This combination of exposures, along with the stress of wartime, contributed to the development of GWI, which manifests as chronic fatigue, somatic pain, cognitive and neurological issues, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory difficulties, and dermatological conditions.
Even three decades after the war, many veterans continue to suffer from these persistent health problems. Understanding the complex symptoms of GWI and developing effective treatments remain significant challenges for both medical professionals and researchers.
Clinical trials
Gut-Microbiome-Directed Therapeutics (VA Merit funding received in 2021).