Our body harbors more microbial cells than human cells; in ratio of 10:1 collectively they are referred as microbiota consisting of both mutualistic and pathogenic microbial communities. Recently many studies have demonstrated a link between microbial dysbiosis and various diseases affecting human health. The research interest of my laboratory center on the interplay between immune system and microbiota to understand important questions related to mucosa-associated diseases as oral cancer (OSCC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We focus to understand the shift in composition and functional diversity of oral and gut microbiome and its influence on immune architecture and metabolic profile of affected individuals.

• Rashmi Kumar, Martina P. Bach, Federica Mainoldi, Mikako Maruya, Satoshi Kishigami, Hassan Jumaa, Teruhiko Wakayama, Osami Kanagawa, Sidonia Fagarasan and Stefano Casola. Antibody repertoire diversification through VH replacement in mice cloned from an IgA plasma cell. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Feb 3;112(5):E450-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1417988112. Epub 2015 Jan 21.
• Rashmi Kumar, María Ferez, Mahima Swamy, Ignacio Arechaga, María Teresa Rejas, Jose M. Valpuesta, Wolfgang W. A. Schamel, Balbino Alarcon and HisseM. van Santen. Increased sensitivity of antigen-experienced T-cells through the enrichment of oligomeric TCR complexes. Immunity. 2011 Sep 23;35(3):375-87.