Dr. Mojibur R. Khan

Research

Microbes of human body are indispensable for maintaining good health. The human gut is colonized by 100 trillion microbes belonging to few thousand species and by their enormous number of genes, they influence the physiology of the host. The gut microbiota is inherited from mother and subsequently modulated by diet, disease, aging, medication etc. Understanding the dynamic nature of the microbiota and its relation to physiology will help us to develop pro- & pre- biotics for targeted modulation for better health. The north-east of India is home to more than 200 distinct tribes with distinct genetic background and diverse food habits is an ideal place to undertake such studies. Our group has undertaken research to determine the gut bacterial profile of the tribal population of north-east of India to understand the genetic, dietary or environmental forces acting in shaping their profile and to explore beneficial gut bacteria in these population.

The key questions of this research are:

  1. What is the variation and similarity in the gut bacterial profile of the ethnic tribes of north-east of India?
  2. How is this variation or similarity related to other population of India and the world?
  3. Are there microbes in this population that are linked to some good or ill health effects?
  4. How to manipulate the gut bacterial profile for better health

Career

Academic

2003(January) – 2006 (January): PhD

Institution: College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin 4, Ireland.

1999-2001: MSc (Agricultural Biotechnology)

Institution: Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.

Employments

Professor (I): January 2024- till date

Associate Professor (II): January 2020- December 2023

Associate Professor (I): January 2016- December 2019

Assistant Professor (II): August 2011- December 2015.

Institution: Institute of Advance Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Assam.

 

Ramalingaswami Fellow: June 2011- May 2016 (Concurrent).

Institution: Institute of Advance Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Assam.

Postdoctoral Scientist: February 2006- May 2011.

Institution: College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Senior Research Fellow: February 2002- October 2002

Institution: Soil Microbiology Laboratory, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Awards

  1. UCD Research and Innovation award, 2011.
  2. Presented the best student oral presentation award in the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists meeting, 2005.

Fellowships

  1. Energy bioscience overseas fellowship (DBT-ICT centre for bioenergy, Mumbai) (Fellowship offered but declined).
  2. Ramalingaswami fellowship (DBT, Govt. of India).
  3. Postdoctoral fellowships (3) from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (DAFF, Govt. of Ireland), Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).
  4. Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (DAFF, Govt. of Ireland) fellowship during PhD.
  5. Department of Biotechnology (DBT, Govt. of India) fellowship during MSc.
  6. University merit scholarship during BSc.
  7. State merit scholarship during 10+2.
  1. S Das, E Ozkurt, TK Joishy, AK Mukherjee, F Hildebrand, MR Khan (2023) A single dietary factor, daily consumption of a fermented beverage, can modulate the gut microbiome within the same ethnic community, mSystems (manuscript id: 00745-23R1, Accepted) IF 7.324
  2. A Bhattacharya, S Das, MJ Bhattacharjee, AK Mukherjee, MR Khan (2023) Comparative pangenomic analysis of predominant human vaginal lactobacilli strains towards population-specific adaptation: Understanding the role in sustaining a balanced and healthy vaginal microenvironment, BMC Genomics (manuscript id: 32596bf0-5bd2-46f1-90b6-6d6b8a46e5f6 (Accepted) IF 4.5
  3. S Das, MJ Bhattacharjee, AK Mukherjee, MR Khan, (2023) Comprehensive bacterial-metabolite profiles of HawaijarBekang, and Akhone: A comparative study on traditional fermented soybeans of north-east India, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (manuscript id:1b454818-b293-47ef-996b-2722714d4d7e, (Accepted) IF 4.1
  4. MJ Bhattacharjee, A. Bhattacharya, B Kashyap, MJ Taw, WH Li, AK Mukherjee, MR Khan (2023) Genome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from a population reveals the rapid selective sweep of a haplotype carrying many pre-existing and new mutations, Virology Journal, 20, 201. (doi.org/10.1186/s12985-023-02139-3) IF 5.9
  5. MB Devi, HK Sarma, AK Mukherjee and M.R. Khan (2023). Mechanistic Insights into Immune-Microbiota Interactions and Preventive Role of Probiotics Against Autoimmune Diabetes Mellitus. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 15(4), 983-1000. (doi: 10.1007/s12602-023-10087-1) IF 5.265
  6. P Sarkar, R Kandimalla, A Bhattacharya, R Wahengbam, M Dehingia, MC Kalita, NC Talukdar, R Talukdar and MR Khan (2023) Multi-Omics Analysis Demonstrates the Critical Role of Non-Ethanolic Components of Alcoholic Beverages in the Host Microbiome and Metabolome: A Human-and Animal-Based Study. Microorganisms, 11(6), 1501. (org/10.3390/microorganisms11061501) IF 4.926
  7. B Bhaskar, A Bhattacharya, A Adak, S Das and MR Khan (2023). A Human and Animal Based Study Reveals That a Traditionally Fermented Rice Beverage Alters Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites for Better Gut Health. Fermentation, 9(2), 126. (org/10.3390/fermentation9020126) IF 5.1
  8. S Dash, YA Syed, MR Khan (2022) Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in brain development and its association with neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10: 880544. (org/10.3389/fcell.2022.880544) IF 5.5
  9. S Das, MJ Bhattacharjee, AK Mukherjee, MR Khan (2022) Recent advances in understanding of multifaceted changes in the vaginal microenvironment: implications in vaginal health and therapeutics. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 49(2):256-282. (doi: 10.1080/1040841X.2022.2049696) IF 6.5
  10. TK Joishy, A Jha, M Oudah, S Das, A Adak, D Deb, MR Khan (2022) Human Gut Microbes Associated with Systolic Blood Pressure. International Journal of Hypertension, (doi.org/10.1155/2022/2923941) IF 1.9
  11. A Kumar, T Joishy, S Das, MC Kalita, AK Mukherjee, MR Khan (2022) A Potential Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum JBC5 Improves Longevity and Healthy Aging by Modulating Antioxidative, Innate Immunity and Serotonin-Signaling Pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans. Antioxidants, 11 (2), 268. (doi: 10.3390/antiox11020268) IF 7
  12. B Bhaskar, A Adak, MR Khan (2021) Fractions of traditionally brewed rice beverage relieve anxiety and improve spatial memory in mice. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 8 (13). (doi.org/10.1186/s42779-021-00090-8) IF 1.465
  13. D Deb, S Das, A Adak, MR Khan (2020) Traditional rice beer depletes butyric acid‑producing gut bacteria Faecalibacterium and Roseburia along with fecal butyrate levels in the ethnic groups of Northeast India. 3 Biotech, 10(6):283. (doi: 10.1007/s13205-020-02280-8) IF 2.48
  14. A Kumar, A Baruah, M Tomioka, Y Iino, MC Kalita, M Khan (2020) Caenorhabditis elegans: a model to understand host–microbe interactions. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 77 (7), 1229-1249. (doi: 10.1007/s00018-019-03319-7) IF 8.5
  15. P Baruah, A Patra, S Barge, MR Khan, and AK Mukherjee (2023) Therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from the edible mushrooms to attenuate SARS-COV-2 infection and some complications in Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Journal of Fungi, 9, 897. (doi.org/ 10.3390/jof9090897) IF 4.7
  16. B Das, D Madhubala, S Mahanta, A Patra, U Puzari, M.R. Khan and A.K. Mukherjee, (2023) A Novel Therapeutic Formulation for the Improved Treatment of Indian Red Scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus) Venom-Induced Toxicity-Tested in Caenorhabditis elegans and Rodent Models. Toxins, 15(8), (doi.org/10.3390/toxins15080504) IF 4.2
  17. D Madhubala, A Patra, T Islam, K Saikia, MR Khan, SA Ahmed, JC Borah and AK Mukherjee (2023) Snake venom nerve growth factor-inspired designing of novel peptide therapeutics for the prevention of paraquat-induced apoptosis, neurodegeneration, and alteration of metabolic pathway genes in the rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cell. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 197, 23-45. (doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.01.019) IF 7.4
  18. RR Khanikar, M Kalita, P Kalita, B Kashyap, S Das, MR Khan, H Bailung, K. Sankaranarayanan (2022) Cold atmospheric pressure plasma for attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to ACE2 protein and the RNA deactivation. RSC advances,12: 9466. (doi: 10.1039/d2ra00009a) IF 3.9
  19. S Deka, M B Devi, MR Khan, A Venimadhav, B Choudhury (2022) Piezo-Photocatalytic and Photocatalytic Bismuth Vanadate Nanorods with Antibacterial Property. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 10: 1021. (doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.2c02072) IF 5.9
  20. S Upadhyaya, G Gogoi, A Kumar, MR Khan, NS Sarma (2022) Synthesis of N-vinylpyrrolidone and acrylonitrile derived stiff crosslinked copolymer using high pressure for its application in reversible dye adsorption and antimicrobial activities. Materials Today Communications, 31(2):103826. (DOI:1016/j.mtcomm. 2022.103826) IF 3.8
  21. P Pulipati, P Sarkar, A Jakkampudi, V Kaila, S Sarkar, M Unnisa, DN Reddy, M Khan, R Talukdar (2020) The Indian gut microbiota-Is it unique? Indian Journal of Gastroenterology 39 (2), 133-140. (doi: 10.1007/s12664-020-01037-8) IF 1.31
  22. MR Khan, E O’Brien, BF Carney, FM Doohan (2010) A fluorescent pseudomonad shows potential for the control of net blotch disease of barley. Biological Control, 54(1): 41-45 IF 2.382
  23. MR Khan, FM Doohan (2009) Bacterium-mediated control of Fusarium head blight disease of wheat and barley and associated mycotoxin contamination of grain. Biological Control, 48(1):42-47 IF 1.9
  24. MR Khan, FM Doohan (2009) Comparison of the efficacy of chitosan with that of a fluorescent pseudomonad for the control of Fusarium head blight disease of cereals and associated mycotoxin contamination of grain. Biological Control, 48(1):48-54 IF 1.9
  25. MR Khan, S Fischer, D Egan, FM Doohan (2006) Biological Control of Fusarium Seedling Blight Disease of Wheat and Barley. Phytopathology, 96(4): 386-394 IF 2.357
  1. MR Khan, NC Talukdar, D Thakuria (2003). Detection of Azospirillum and PSB in Rice Rhizosphere Soil by Protein and Antibiotic Resistance Profile and Their Effect on Grain Yield of Rice. Indian Journal of Biotechnology, 2(4): 246-250 IF 0.269
  2. TK Joishy, M Dehingia, MR Khan (2019) Bacterial diversity and metabolite profiles of curd prepared by natural fermentation of raw milk and back sloping of boiled milk. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 35 (7), 1-12 IF 2.74
  3. S Das, D Deb, A Adak, MR Khan (2019) Exploring the microbiota and metabolites of traditional rice beer varieties of Assam and their functionalities. 3 Biotech 9 (5), 1-10 IF 2.16
  4. M Dehingia, A Adak, MR Khan (2019) Ethnicity-Influenced Microbiota: A Future Healthcare Perspective. Trends in Microbiology, 27 (3), 191-193 IF 9.16
  5. A Adak, MR Khan (2019) A review: an insight into gut microbiota and its functionalities. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 76 (3), 473-493
  6. M Dehingia, S Sen, B Bhaskar, TK Joishy, M Deka, MR Khan (2017) Ethnicity influences gut metabolites and microbiota of the tribes of Assam, India. MEBO-D-17-00014, Metabolomics, 13:69 DOI 10.1007/s11306-017-1206-y IF 6.58
  7. S Sen, M Dehingia, NC Talukdar, MR Khan (2017) Chemometric analysis reveals links in the formation of fragrant bio-molecules during agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) and fungal interactions. Scientific Reports, 7: doi:1038/srep44406. IF 4.45
  8. M Dehingia, TK Devi, NC Talukdar, R Talukdar, N Reddy, SS Mande, M Deka, MR Khan (2015) Gut bacterial diversity of the tribes of India and comparison with the worldwide data. Scientific Reports, doi: 10.1038/srep18563 IF 3.54
  9. YB Chaudhari, NC Talukdar, NC Adhikary, MC Kalita, MR Khan (2015) Rice straw based evaluation of lignolytic and cellulolytic capabilities of novel strains of saprophytic fungi from Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Energy & Fuels, 29 (2): 784-792. IF 2.79
  10. AJ Choudhury, D Gogoi, R Kandimalla, S Kalita, J Kotoky, YB Chaudhari, MR Khan, J Chutia (2016) Penicillin impregnation on oxygen plasma surface functionalized chitosan/Antheraea assama silk fibroin: Studies of antibacterial activity and antithrombogenic property. Materials Science and Engineering C, 60:475-484. IF 4.67
  11. AJ Choudhury, D Gogoi, J Chutia, R Kandimalla, S Kalita, J Kotoky, YB Chaudhari, MR Khan, K Kalita (2015) Controlled antibiotic-releasing Antheraea assama silk fibroin suture for infection prevention and fast wound healing. Surgery, doi:10.1016/j.surg.2015.07.022. IF 3.55
  12. S Goyari, SH Devi, B Louis, MR Khan, CK Sharma, MC Kalita, NC Talukdar (2015) Unveiling the optimal parameters for cellulolytic characteristics of Talaromyces verruculosus SGMNPf3 and its secretory enzymes. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 119(1):88-98. IF 2.55
  13. S Walter, A Kahla, C Arunachalam, A Perochon, MR Khan, S Scofield, F Doohan (2015) A wheat ABC transporter contributes to both grain formation and mycotoxin tolerance. Journal of experimental Botany. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erv048. IF 6.14
  14. SN Borah, D Goswami, J Lahkar, HK Sarma, MR Khan, S Deka (2014) Rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa SS14 causes complete suppression of wilt by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi in Pisum sativum. BioControl, DOI 10.1007/s10526-014-9645-0. IF 1.9
  15. KI Ansari, SM Doyle, J Kacprzyk, MR Khan, S Walter, JM Brennan, CS Arunachalam, PF McCabe, FM Doohan (2014) Light Influences How the Fungal Toxin Deoxynivalenol Affects Plant Cell Death and Defense Responses. Toxins, 6(2), 679-692. IF 3.23
  16. SS Ali, LR Gunupuru, GBS Kumar, MR Khan, S Scofield, P Nicholson, FM Doohan (2014) Plant disease resistance is augmented in uzu barley lines modified in the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1. BMC Plant Biology, 14(1):227. IF 4.4
  17. D Gogoi, D Barman, D Choudhury, M Khan, Y Chaudhari, M Dehingia, AR Pal, H Bailung, J Chutia (2014) Immobilization of trypsin on plasma prepared Ag/PPAni nanocomposite film for efficient digestion of protein. Materials Science and Engineering C, 43 237–242. IF 3.42
  18. SS Ali, S Kumar, FM Doohan, MR Khan (2013) Brassinosteroid enhances resistance to Fusarium diseases of barley. Phytopathology, 103(12):1260-1267. IF 2.83
  19. SS Ali, MR Khan, E Mullins, FM Doohan (2013) Identification of Fusarium oxysporum Genes Associated with Lignocellulose Bioconversion Competency. BioEnergy Research, 7(1): 110-119. IF 3.776
  20. D Gogoi, A J Choudhury, J Chutia, A R Pal, M Khan, M Choudhury, P Pathak, G Das, DS Patil (2013) Development of advanced antimicrobial and sterilized plasma polypropylene grafted muga (Antheraea assama) silk as suture biomaterial. Biopolymers, 101 (4):355-365. IF 2.395
  21. SS Ali, MR Khan, E Mullins, FM Doohan (2012) The effect of wheat genotype on bioethanol production from straw and the implications for multifunctional crop breeding. Biomass and Bioenergy, 42:1-9. IF 2.975
  22. SS Ali, MR Khan, B Fagan, E Mullins, FM Doohan (2012) Exploiting the inter-strain divergence of Fusarium oxysporum for microbial bioprocessing of lignocellulose to bioethanol. AMB Express, 2(16) DOI: 10.1186/2191-0855-2-16. IF 2.427
  23. E Smyth, R Nevin, J McCarthy,MR Khan, M Dow, F O’Gara, FM Doohan (2011) In vitro analyses are not reliable predictors of the plant growth promotion capability of bacteria; a Pseudomonas fluorescens strain that promotes the growth and yield of wheat. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 111: 683-692. IF 2.616
  24. C Petti, MR Khan, FM Doohan (2010) Lipid transfer proteins and protease inhibitors as key factors in the priming of barley responses to Fusarium head blight disease by a biocontrol strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Functional and Integrative Genomics, 10(4):619-27. IF 3.418
  25. S Walter, JM Brennan, C Arunachalam, KI Ansari, X Hu, MR Khan, F Trognitz, B Trognitz, G Leonard, D Egan, FM Doohan (2008) Components of the gene network associated with genotype-dependent response of wheat to the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Functional and Integrative Genomics, 8(4):421-427. IF 4.061
  26. S Kildea, V Ransbotyn, MR Khan, B Fagan, L Gerald, E Mullins, FM Doohan (2008) Bacillus megaterium shows potential for the biocontrol of septoria tritici blotch of wheat. Biological Control, 47(1): 37-45. IF 1.921
  27. C Petti, MR Khan, FM Doohan (2008) Investigating the mechanisms underpinning bacterium-mediated control of FHB disease. Cereal Research Communications, 36:689-693. IF 2.719
  28. FM Doohan, C Arunachalam, S Jiang, MR Khan, D Egan, G Erard, S Walter (2008) The wheat response to deoxynivalenol: Does maintenance of hormone homeostasis and alleviation of oxidative stress play an important role in toxin tolerance? Cereal Research Communications, 36:233-237. IF 2.719
  29. D Thakuria, NC Talukdar, C Goswami, S Hazarika, RC Boro, MR Khan (2004). Characterization and screening of bacteria from rhizosphere of rice grown in acidic soils of Assam. Current Science, 86(7): 978-985. IF 0.54

Patents

  1. R. Khan, B. Bhaskar, A. Adak, N. C. Talukdar (23-02-2017) Rice based beverage with high alcohol content. Indian patent No. 418469 (Date of grant 18-01-2023)
  2. R. Khan, B. Bhaskar (17-05-2019) Production of antioxidant rich red wine like alcoholic beverage using black rice. Indian patent No. 400100 (Date of grant 27-06-2022)
  3. M R Khan, S Sen, N C Talukdar (10-12-2014) A method for production of fragrant compounds from Aquilaria malaccensis cell culture. Indian Patent No. 355515 (Date of grant 08-01-2021)
  4. R. Khan, S. Sen, N. C. Talukdar (09-05-2016) A method for production of fragrant compounds from resinous chips of Aquilaria malaccensis by fermentation. Indian patent No. 355518 (Date of grant 08-01-2021)

Projects

  1. Heritage food and beverage research programme [Funded by DST under Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) scheme, Govt. of India. Total grant is Rs 1332 lakhs] [Involved as Principal Investigator].
  2. Optimization of method of red wine production using black rice [Funded by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise (PACE) scheme, Govt. of India under unit of excellence programme. Total grant is Rs 36.33 lakhs][Involved as Principal Investigator].
  3. Effect of traditional dietary habits on human gut microbes: dairy products of Nepali population and traditional rice beer of tribes of Assam on gut bacterial profile [Funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India under unit of excellence programme. Total grant is Rs 133 lakhs][Involved as Principal Investigator].
  4. Study on intestinal microbiota of ethnically diverse tribal population of India: enhancing our understanding on effect of host genotype, diet and ecology. [Funded by DBT. Total grant is Rs 80 lakhs][Involved as Principal Investigator].
  5. Institutional biotech hub [Funded by DBT. Total grant is Rs 27 lakhs][Involved as Co-ordinator].
  6. Exploration of microbial resources of north-east India: generation of metagenomic DNA bank, construction of metagenomic libraries and screening for genes of interest [Funded by DBT. Total grant is Rs 77.11 lakhs][Ramalingaswami fellowship].

Postdocs

Ex-members

  1. Dr. Supriyo Sen
  2. Dr. Sailendra Goyari
  1. Dr. Kaushik Bhattacharya
  2. Dr. Atanu Adak
  3. Dr. Sushmita Das

Current

  1. Dr. M. J. Bhattacharya
  2. Dr. Yunus Shaikh

PhD

Awarded

  1. Dr. Yogesh B. Chaudhari
  2. Dr. Madhusmita Dehingia
  3. Dr.  Priyanka Sarkar
  4. Dr.  Rabiya Sultana
  5. Dr. Tulsi Joishy
  1. Dr. Dibyayan Deb
  2. Dr. Arun Kumar
  3. Dr. Bhuwan Bhaskar

Thesis submitted

  1. Dr. Santanu Das

Ongoing

  1. Ms Mayanglambam Bidyarani Devi
  2. Ms Somarani Dash
  3. Mr. Chingtham Thanil Singh
  4. Ms Hempriya Tiwari
  5. Ms Deepjyoti Kalita
  6. Ms Ipsah Akhter

Opportunities

Interested students with good academic and research record can send their biodata throughout the year for doctoral and postdoctoral positions. Candidates having UGC/CSIR/DBT/ICMR fellowships will get preference.

Contact: mojibur[dot]khan[at]gmail[dot]com