Our lab has been working on Entamoeba histolytica, a unicellular, anaerobic protozoan parasite that causes amebiasis or amebic dysentery in humans. The life cycle of Entamoeba is biphasic and consists of the motile trophozoite form and the non-motile cyst form. Encystation is a complex process marked by the formation of the chromatoid body, glycogen granule, and formation of four nuclei and deposition of a chitin wall. The primary aim of our lab is to understand the regulation of gene expression and unravel the components of signal transduction pathways during encystation. Entamoeba invadens, a reptilian parasite, is used as a model organism because of its ability to undergo encystation under in vitro conditions. We are also interested in various aspects like nuclear division, stress-related cell signaling pathways (MAPK and AMPK pathways), the role of nucleotide sugar transporter in chitin synthesis during encystation. The other major project in the lab concerns the screening and characterization of several surface antigens for the development of potential diagnostic markers and identification of potential vaccine candidates, and the identification of new drug targets and understanding the mechanism of activation of metronidazole, the prodrug. We have discovered three novel kinases responsible for the early signaling of encystations.Our pioneering work also includes identification of miRNA, presence of probable sex, and Topoisomerase system in Entamoeba.

Our recent contribution to Entamoeba motility is a brilliant addition that established the Amoeba as an excellent model for cellular migration, including cancer cells. Our group have recently discovered and characterized the Apoptosis-Inducing Factor (AIF) and TALE homeodomain protein transcription factor in Entamoeba for the first time. Development of an Entamoeba detection kit based on newly identified surface markers is in progress.

He is also involved in Plant Biotechnology research and Nanoparticle-based drug delivery.

For List of Publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1Zqmb89t9rv/bibliography/public/

All Publications

Three-amino acid loop extension homeodomain proteins regulate stress responses and encystation in Entamoeba by Meenakshi .., Balbhim S. S., Sarkar S. , Vasudevan M. , Ghosh S. K. Molecular Microbiology 1-22 (2023)
Role of autophagy in stress and drug-responsive cell death in Entamoeba histolytica and its cross-talk with apoptosis-inducing factor. by Bandyopadhyay A., Ghosh S. K. Molecular Biochemical Parasitology 256 1-12 (2023)
Giardia, Entamoeba,Trichomonas enzymes activate metronidazole (nitroreductase) and inactivate metronidazole (NIMs) by Pal D, Banerjee S, Cui J, Swartz A, Ghosh SK and Samuelson J Antimicrobial Agent Chemotherapy 53 458-64 (2009)
Novel Insights into the Wattle and Daub Model of Entamoeba Cyst Wall Formation and the Importance of Actin Cytoskeleton by Krishnan D., Pandey M., Nayak S., Ghosh S.K. Pathogens 13 20- (2024)
Cellular Events of Multinucleated Giant Cells Formation During the Encystation of Entamoeba invadens by Krishnan D., Ghosh S. K. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 8 1-13 (2018)
The chitin biosynthesis pathway in Entamoeba and the role of Glucosamin-6-P isomerase by RNA interference by Samanta SK and Ghosh SK Mol. Biochem. Parasitol 186 60-68 (2012)
Stress-responsive Entamoeba Topoisomerase II: A Potential Antiamoebic Target by Varghese S. S., Ghosh S. K. FEBS Letter 1-16 (2019)
Morphological and motility features of the stable bleb driven monopodial form of Entamoeba and its importance in encystation by Krishnan D., Ghosh S. K. Infection and Immunity 88 1-25 (2020)
Apoptosis-inducing factor-like protein-mediated stress and metronidazole-responsive programmed cell death pathway in Entamoeba histolytica by Bandyopadhyay A., Ghosh S.K. Molecular Microbiology 119 640-658 (2023)

Completed Projects

Principal Investigator

Exploring upstream components and their receptor(s) for the signaling pathway of encystation and other cellular processes of Entamoeba spp. WB-DST

Alumni members