Ashutosh Mangalam

The Mangalam Lab is dedicated to unraveling the complex interactions between the microbiome and the human host, affecting various aspects of human health, mainly focusing on diet and immune system function in the setting of autoimmunity and cancer. We aim to understand how the trillions of microorganisms living in and on our bodies influence our overall well-being. We aim to use this knowledge to develop microbiome-based therapies and interventions that improve human health.

Research Focus:

Microbiome Diversity and Composition:

Investigating the composition and diversity of the human microbiome across different populations and environments.
Identifying key microbial taxa associated with specific health conditions and disease states.
Exploring the impact of diet on shaping the microbiome and its subsequent effects on human health.
Diet-Microbiome Interactions:
Examining the reciprocal relationship between diet and the microbiome.
Evaluating how dietary components and patterns influence microbial communities.
Uncovering the mechanisms by which the microbiome modulates nutrient metabolism and energy balance.
Microbiome and Immune System:
Elucidating the intricate crosstalk between the microbiome and the immune system.
Investigating the role of the microbiome in immune system development, function, and regulation.
Exploring how dysbiosis in the microbiome contributes to immune-related disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS)

Microbiome and Multiple Sclerosis:
Studying the link between dysbiosis in the microbiome and multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the central nervous system affecting millions of people worldwide.
Identifying gut microbiota-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of MS.
Assessing the impact of Bacteria as drugs (Brugs) and Brugs+diet (synbiotics) as therapeutic targets

Microbiome and Cancer:
Identifying microbial signatures associated with different types of cancer.
Investigating the microbiome's influence on cancer development, progression, and response to therapy.
Developing microbiome-based approaches for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Microbiome and Environmental Toxicants:
Exploring the role of the microbiome in environmental toxicants (e.g. glyphosate) induced adverse health effects in humans.
Developing diet and microbiome-targeted interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity.