Dr. SUSANTA KAR

Research Interests

Interactions between host and the parasite during infection define the systemic localization and continuous persistence of the pathogen by regulating the host-protective signaling pathways and communications between the cells of the immune system. During the course of evolution, pathogens have developed survival strategies like manipulation of the host immune system to overcome the lethal pathogen-clearing responses. The research from our lab aims to define the survival tactics of Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite that infects macrophages and the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, a lethal infectious disease affecting millions worldwide. We study the interaction of Leishmania with immune cells like macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells and the fate of these interactions on modulation of various intracellular signaling cascades that ultimately affect immune response/infection progression.


Our lab is actively involved in the anti-leishmanial drug discovery programme of CSIR-CDRI where we use luciferase expressing transgenic L. donovani parasite for high-throughput anti-leishmanial screening of several synthetic compounds/natural products.

Recent Publications


  • Leishmania donovani exploits host deubiquitinating enzyme A20, a negative regulator of TLR signaling, to subvert host immune response. J. Immunol (2012) 189, 924-934 Srivastav, S1. Kar, S1, Chande, A G., Mukhopadhyaya R and Das, P.K. (1Equal contribution). (Impact Factor – 5.52)
  • Successful therapy of visceral leishmaniasis with curdlan involves T-helper 17 cytokines. J Infect. Dis. (2013) 207,1016-25 Ghosh K., Sharma G, Saha A, Kar S, Das P.K. and Ukil A(Impact Factor – 5.77)
  • Curative effect of fucoidan on visceral leishmaniasis is mediated by activation of MAP kinases through specific protein kinase C isoforms. Cell Mol. Immunol. (2014) 11, 263-274. Sharma, G., Kar, S., Basu Ball, W., Ghosh, K., and Das, P.K. (Impact Factor – 4.18)
  • Combination of liposomal CpG oligodeoxynucleotide 2006 and miltefosine induces strong cell-mediated immunity during experimental visceral leishmaniasis. Plos One (2014) 14;9(4):e94596. Shivahare R, Vishwakarma P, Parmar N, Yadav PK, Haq W, Srivastava M, Gupta S, Kar S.(Impact Factor – 3.53)
  • Hesperetin induces apoptosis in breast carcinoma by triggering accumulation of ROS and activation of ASK1/JNK pathway. J.Cell. Physiol. (2014) 230, 1729-1739. Palit, S. Kar, S., Sharma, G., and Das, P.K.(Impact Factor – 3.8)
  • Protection against filarial infection by 45-49 kDa molecules of Brugia malayi via IFN-γ-mediated iNOS induction. Vaccine (2015) 33:527-34. Verma SK, Joseph SK, Verma R, Kushwaha V, Parmar N, Yadav PK, Thota JR, Kar S, Murthy PK. (Impact Factor – 3.7)
  • 15d-Prostaglandin J2 induced reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis during experimental visceral leishmaniasis. J Mol Med (Berl). Feb 2016. Vishwakarma P, Parmar N, Yadav PK, Chandrakar P,, Kar S. (Impact Factor – 5.1)