About

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Professor Reeta Rao is a leader in the field of molecular genetics and genomics and has affiliate appointments at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (Cambridge) as well as the Institute of Drug Resistance at the Univ. of Mass Chan Medical School (Worcester). Her primary research activities are focused on emerging infectious diseases, specifically understanding, and managing fungal diseases. Students and research associates in her laboratory are trained to use a variety of high biochemical, molecular-genetic, and genomic tools to study host-microbe interactions to explore fungal virulence strategies and identify novel therapeutics in a high throughput fashion.

In addition, Prof. Rao is committed to the career and professional development of scientists at all levels of training. To keep researchers engaged in science, she has spree headed several workforce development opportunities aimed at recruiting, retaining, and improving the critical skills, knowledge, and resources required for academia as well as the industry. At the undergraduate level she is deeply engaged in the Global Health and Pre-Health programs. At the graduate level, she has championed several programs from micro credentials to certificates and MS degree programs to provide advanced coursework and laboratory techniques applicable to the biotechnology industry as well as upskilling for workforce development. She has served as the inaugural Associate Dean of Graduate studies.

Prof. Rao is a member of several professional societies and fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM fellow) and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS fellow). She is a recipient of the Waksman outstanding Teacher award from the Society of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Curriculum Vitae

Research

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The goal of the Rao Lab is to understand and manage fungal infectious diseases. Our laboratory has been in the forefront of developing assays using Caenorhabditis elegans as a live animal model to study fungal infectious agents and microbial interactions in the gut.

Project 1 – Defining the Gut-Brain Axis

We have discovered that pathogenic Fungi such as Candida albicans secrete metabolites that attract the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans via the activation of sensory neurons. C. elegans ingests the pathogen which colonizes the intestine and mounts an immune response. Later stages of disease manifests as intestinal distension which induces expression of the neuromodulator to produce neurotransmitters that allows the animal to learn to avoid the pathogen, C. albicans. This learned avoidance behavior is transmitted to the progeny via epigenetic mechanisms.
The goals of this project are to –

  • identify the chemical signals secreted by the pathogen that attracts the host
  • identify the immunological signals the connect colonization of the host intestine to learned aversive behavior.
  • map the neurons and neurotransmitters involved in the learning of the aversive behavior.
  • Identify the molecular and genetic basis of transgenerational inheritance.

Project 2 – Probiotics, mechanism of action

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to health and wellbeing when consumed or applied to the body. They are thought to boost host immunity, prevent growth of pathogenic microbes, neutralize their toxins, and improve digestion. We have identified several novel probiotics that can be used to limit antimicrobial usage thereby reducing the chance emerging drug resistant microbes.
The goals of this project are to –

  • investigate the molecular basis of their prophylactic and therapeutic properties.
  • conduct safety and efficacy studies to calibrate their use.

Project 3 – Antifungal Drug Discovery

Emerging drug resistant microbes is a clear and present threat to global public health. Biofilm formation is a key strategy adopted by microbes to gain resistance.  We have developed high throughput methods to screen for putative compounds that inhibit biofilm formation. Such compounds present alternative strategies to combat resistance of pathogens.
The goal of this project is to identify compounds that inhibit microbial adhesion.

Publications

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Upskilling the cell therapy manufacturing workforce: design, implementation, and evaluation of a massive open online course (Submitted)
Authors: Barone P, Duguid J, Keumurian F, Neufeld C, RAO R, Rolle M, Skrip B, Springs S, Vega H, Van Vliet K, Wolfrum J, Yang M

A correlative study of the genomic underpinnings of virulence traits and drug tolerance of Candida auris
Authors: YANG B., Vaisvil B, Schmitt D, COLLINS JH, Young, EM, Kapatral V, RAO RP
Source: bioRxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.07.536049

Drop-Seq: Massively Parallel Single-Cell RNA-Seq of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans 
Authors: Dohn R., Xie B, Back R, Selewa A, Eckart H, RAO RP, Basu A
Source: Vaccines Dec 27;10(1):30

Genetic basis for probiotic yeast phenotypes revealed 2 by nanopore sequencing
Authors: COLLINS, J H., Kunyeit, L., Weintraub, S., Sharma, N., White, C., Haq, N., Anu-Appaiah, K.A., RAO, RP*. and Young, E. M* (* Co-corresponding authors)
Source: Accepted manuscript in G3.

Yeasts originating from fermented foods, their potential as probiotics and therapeutic implication for human health and disease
Authors: Kunyeit, L., RAO, R.P*. and Anu-Appaiah, K.A* (*Co-corresponding authors)
Source: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, pp.1-12.

Secondary metabolites from food-derived yeasts inhibit virulence of Candida albicans
Authors: Kunyeit, L., Kurrey, N.K., Anu-Appaiah, K.A. and RAO, R.P.
Source: Mbio, 12(4), pp.e01891-21.

Application of probiotic yeasts on candida species associated infection
Authors: Kunyeit, L., KA, A.A. and RAO, R.P.
Source: Journal of Fungi, 6(4), p.189.

Using COVID-19 as a teaching tool in a time of remote learning: A workflow for bioinformatic approaches to identifying candidates for therapeutic and vaccine development
Authors: BRYCE S, HEATH KN, ISSI L, Ryder EF, RAO RP
Source: Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2020;1–7.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 4/5-Aroyl-2-aminoimidazoles as Microbial Biofilm Inhibitors
Authors: Rasapalli S, Sammeta VR, Singh S, Golen JA, Semerdzhiev D, YANG B, Silby M, RAO R, Ali A, Schiffer CA, and Savinov SN
Source: ChemistrySelect 2020, 5, 5965 –5969

Coordinated host-pathogen transcriptional dynamics revealed using sorted subpopulations and single macrophages infected with Candida albicans
Authors: Munoz JF, DELOREY T, Ford C, Li BY, Thompsom DA, RAO RP, Cuomo CA
Source: Nat Commun, 10, 1607

Probiotic Yeasts Inhibit Virulence of Non-albicans Candida Species
Authors: Kunyeit, L., Kurrey, NK, Anu-Appaiah KA, & RAO, R. P
Source: mBio, 10, e02307-19.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans – A versatile in vivo model to study host-microbe interactions
Authors: ISSI, L., RIOUX, M, RAO R.
Source: J. Vis. Exp. 128(e56487).

Whole genome sequence of the heterozygous clinical isolate Candida krusei 81-B-5
Authors: Cuomo, C, Shea, T, YANG, B, RAO R, Forche, A
Source: Jul10, pii:G3.10.1534/g3.117.043547.

A pretherapeutic coating for medical devices that prevents the attachment of Candida albicans
Authors: VARGAS-BLANCO D, Lynn A, ROSCH J, NORELDIN R, SALERNI A, Lambert C, RAO R,
Source: BMC: Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 16(1):41

Zinc Cluster Transcription Factors alter virulence in Candida albicans
Authors: ISSI, L., Farrar, R. A., PASTOR, K., LANDRY, B., DELOREY, T. M, Bell, G., Thompson, D. A., Cuomo, C. A., RAO, R. P.
Source: Genetics, February 2017 205: 559-576.

The evolution of drug resistance in clinical isolates of Candida albicans
Authors: Ford CB, Funt, JM, Abbey, D, ISSI, L., Oliver, BG, Guiducci, C, Martinez, DA, DELOREY, T, Li, BY, White, TC, Cuomo, C, RAO, R. P, Berman, J, Thompson, D, Regev, A.
Source: eLife;4:e00662.
Remarks: Featured in eLIFE insight (figure generated in RAO lab).

Chemical screening identifies a small molecule inhibitor of C
Authors: Fazly A, JAIN C, Dehner AC, ISSI L, Lilly E, Fidel PL, RAO R. P *, Kaufman PD* (* Corresponding authors)
Source: albicans adhesion, morphogenesis and pathogenesis. PNAS 110(33): 13594-13599.

The role of Candida albicans AP-1 protein against host derived ROS in in-vivo models of infection
Authors: JAIN C, PASTOR K, Gonzalez AY, Lorenz MC, RAO R. P.
Source: Virulence 4: 67-76.

Aberrant synthesis of Indole-3-acetic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae triggers morphogenic transition, a virulence trait of pathogenic fungi
Authors: RAO R. P, HUNTER A, KASHPUR O and Normanly J
Source: Genetics 185 (1): 211-220.
Remarks: Featured in the highlights section of the journal. Featured in Faculty of 1000.

A Patho-assay using Scerevisiae and C. elegans reveals novel roles for yeast AP-1, Yap1 and host dual oxidase BLI-3 in fungal pathogenesis
Authors: J CHARU, YUN M, Politz S. M, RAO R. P.
Source: Eukaryotic Cell. 8 (8) 1218-1227
Remarks: Featured in the Science highlights of the NECN Cable News network.

Expression Profiling of Auxin-Treated Arabidopsis Roots: Toward a molecular analysis of lateral root emergence
Authors: Laskowski M, Biller S, Stanley K, Kajstura T, PRUSTY R.
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology 47(6): 788-792.

SCH9, a putative kinase from Scerevisiae, affects HOT1-stimulated recombination
Authors: PRUSTY R, Keil RL.
Source: Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 272: 264-274.

The plant hormone, Indole acetic acid, induces invasive growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: PRUSTY R, Grisafi P, Fink GR.
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 101(12): 4153-57.
Remarks: Featured in Faculty of 1000 ‘must read papers’

Ribosomal DNA replication fork barrier and HOT1 recombination hot spot: shared sequences but independent activities
Authors: Ward TR*, Huong MJ*, PRUSTY R*, Lau CK, Keil RL, Fangman WL, Brewer BJ. (* Equal contribution)
Source: Molecular and Cellular Biology, 20(13): 4948-57.

Elimination of yeast replication block protein Fob1p extends the life span of mother cells
Authors: Defossez P, PRUSTY R, Kaeberlein M, Lin S, Ferrigno P, Silver PA, Keil RL, Guarente L.
Source: Molecular Cell, 3: 447-455.
Remarks: Featured in News and Views in Nature Genetics, May 1999, 22: 4-6.

ENOD 8, a Medicago early nodulin gene, expressed in empty nodules
Authors: Dickstein R, PRUSTY R, Peng T, Ngo W and Smith ME
Source: Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, 6: 715-721.

Group

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 LAB MEMBERS  Undergraduate students
Post-doctoral Fellow

Lohith Kunyeit
Romina D’Almeida
Pablo Reyes-Guiterrez

 Susanna Oppong
Alex Guerra
Addison Writ Jones
Michelle Pan
David Datta
Meredith Rioux
Monet Norales
Daira Daly
Rose Awada
Erica Friel
Nina Murphy-Cook
Natalie Fabrizio
Brittney Lambert
Meredith Rioux
Jeffery Letourneau
Heather Bartlett
Rony Noreldin
Jonah Rosch
Chietara Japutra
Allison Simpson
Michael Boyd
Damien Cabral
Nouran Abdelfattah
Giles Chikering
Stephanie Post
Tracy Sears
Vicky Mason
Danica Rili
Margaret Chiasson
Benjamin Landry
Kurtis McCannell
Kelly Pastor
Christy Royer
Nick Dufour
Pamela Levandowsky
Muxun Zhao
Kyle Peet
Linsley Kelly
Brendan O’Brien
Rachel Robillard
Meryl Gray
Zoe Lentz
Doctoral students

Bo Yang
Toni Delorey
Luca Issi
Charu Jain

Masters’ students

Sam Bryce
Cat Harwood
Ally Hunter
Brett Ericson
Jeff Swana
Alisha Perelta
Asmaa Elkabti

Contact

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
100 Institute Rd.
Worcester, MA 01609 USA
Email: rpr@wpi.edu

Broad Institute
7 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02143 USA
Email: rpr@broadinstitute.org