Dr. Rakesh Kundu | VBZOOLOGY

Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Assistant Professor

Email: rakesh.kundu@visva-bharati.ac.in

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About the Faculty

Dr. Rakesh Kundu joined the department in the year 2012. He has obtained his masters degree from Banaras Hindu University (2000) and his doctoral degree from Visva-Bharati (2009). Before joining the department he worked as a Assistant professor (Temporary) at the Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur (2009-2010) and as a project assistant (Level-I) at the CSIR-North East Institute of Science & Technology, Jorhat, Assam (2010-2011). His research area of interest includes Fetuin-A mediated insulin secretory defects; ß-Cell inflammation, Islet Biology; CD36-TLR4, Lipid accumulation; Nrf2-Keap1 signaling.

Awards and Professional Recognitions

ICMR-DHR International Fellowship for Young Biomedical Scientists (May 2024-Jan 2025), ICMR, Govt. of India, 2024 for high end research training in the Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen (CBIB), University of Bremen, Germany
SERB International Research Experience (SIRE) visiting scientist award, SERB, Govt. of India, 2022
INSA Visiting Scientist, Indian National Science Academy, 2021-22
ISE Travel Fellowship Award from International Society of Endocrinology (ISE) to attend ICE-SEMDSA 2018 conference at Cape Town, South Africa, 2018.
Early Career Research (ECR) Award, SERB, Govt. of India, 2017 | UGC-BSR Research Start-up-Grant, UGC, Govt. of India, 2014

Life Memberships

International society of endocrinology (ISENDO)
Society of Biological Chemists
Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA)
Society for Reproductive Biology and Comparative Endocrinology (SRBCE)

Current Research Activities

Our present study focuses on the role of CD36 on palmitate-fetuin-A mediated lipid accumulation in beta-cell, its inflammation, and insulin secretory defects. We use high fat-fed (HFD) animal model (C57BL6/J mice) and in vitro cell culture (MIN6) to observe physiological effects and pathway studies respectively [Nature Medicine 2012; JBC 2013; BBRC 2017; MCE 2021; JCP 2021, JCS 2021, BBA 2024].
Anti-inflammatory effects of DPP-4 inhibitors [BBRC 2023, BBA 2024]. 3. Nrf2-Keap1 signaling in lung cancer. Screening of Nrf2 inhibitors to address cancer drug resistance using cell culture and in vivo models. [TIV 2020; ABB 2020, TIV 2024]

Titles

Year

Duration

Sanctioned Amount
(In Lakhs)

PI/Co-PI

Status

Elucidating the role of CD36 and its association with Fetuin-A-TLR4 pathway in promoting pancreatic beta cell inflammation, lipid accumulation and insulin secretory defects in diabetic mice models.

2023

3 _

PI: Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Ongoing

To investigate the role of Fetuin-A in lipotoxicity induced beta-cell dysfunction and inflammatory injury to the pancreatic islets.

2018

3 _

PI: Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Completed

Understanding the role of Nrf2-Keap1 pathway in developing drug resistance in lung cancer cells.

2014

2 _

PI: Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Completed

Research Publications

Fetuin-A acts as an endogenous ligand of TLR4 to promote lipid-induced insulin resistance, D. Pal, S. Dasgupta, R. Kundu, S. Maitra, S. S. Majumder, S. Mukhopadhyay, S. Ray, G. Das, S. Bhattacharya, Nature Medicine, 18(8), 1279-1285, (2012), DOI: doi.org/10.1038/nm.2851
Adipocyte fetuin-A contributes to macrophage migration into adipose tissue and polarization of macrophages, P. Chatterjee, S. Seal, S. Mukherjee, R. Kundu, S. Mukherjee, S. Ray, S. Mukhopadhyay, S.S. Majumdar and S. Bhattacharya, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288, 28324-28330, (2013), DOI: 10.1074/jbc.C113.495473
CD36 inhibition corrects lipid-FetuinA mediated insulin secretory defects by preventing intracellular lipid accumulation and inflammation in the pancreatic beta cells, S. Mandal, S. Nag, O. Mukherjee, N. Das, P. Banerjee, T. Majumdar, S. Mukhopadhyay, K. Maedler, R. Kundu, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1871 (2), 167580, 2025.
Silencing Nrf2 in cisplatin resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells augments sensitivity towards EGFR inhibitor, C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, D. Chattopadhyay, S. Das, S.K. Hira, R. Kundu, Toxicology in Vitro, 101, 105921, 2024.
An insight into the role of ESIPT/TICT-based antioxidant flavone analogues in fluoro-probing diabetes-induced viscosity changes: a unified experimental and theoretical endeavor, T. Samanta, S. Mandal, A. Karmakar, A. Pramanik, R. Kundu, N Ara Begum, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 23, 1771–1782, 2024.
Rational design and computational evaluation of a multi-epitope vaccine for monkeypox virus: Insights into binding stability and immunological memory, A. Kaur, A. Kumar, G. Kumari, R. Muduli, M. Das, R. Kundu, S. Mukherjee, T. Majumdar, Heliyon, 10 (16), e36154, 2024.
Vildagliptin inhibits high fat and fetuin-A mediated DPP-4 expression, intracellular lipid accumulation and improves insulin secretory defects in pancreatic beta cells, S. Nag, S. Mandal, O. Mukherjee, T. Majumdar, S. Mukhopadhyay, R. Kundu, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1870 (3), 167047, 2024.
Nrf2 inhibition regulates intracellular lipid accumulation in mouse insulinoma cells and improves insulin secretory function, A Mukhuty, S Mandal, C Fouzder, S Das, D Chattopadhyay, T Majumdar, R Kundu, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 581, 112112, (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2023.112112.
Targeting DPP4-RBD interactions by sitagliptin and linagliptin delivers a potential host-directed therapy against pan-SARS-CoV-2 infections, S Mani, A Kaur, K Jakhar, G Kumari, S Sonar, A Kumar, S Das, S Kumar, V Kumar, R Kundu, AK Pandey, UP Singh, T Majumdar, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 125444, (2023)
DPP-4 Inhibitors as a savior for COVID-19 patients with diabetes, S Nag, S Mandal, O Mukherjee, S Mukherjee, R Kundu, Future Virology, 18 (5), 321-333, (2023)
FFA-Fetuin-A regulates DPP-IV expression in pancreatic beta cells through TLR4-NFkB pathway. S Nag, S Mandal, T Majumdar, S Mukhopadhyay, R Kundu. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 647: 55-61, (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.01.070
TGR5 potentiates GLP-1 secretion and cause pancreatic islet regeneration in response to Tithonia diversifolia saponin-rich extract in diabetic model mice. OC Ejelonu, OO Elekofehinti, IG Adanlawo, R Kundu. Phytomedicine Plus 2 (1), 100203, (2022).
Understanding the Role of Flavonoid Based Small Molecules in Modulating the Oncogenic Protein-Protein Interactions: A Quest for Therapeutic Arsenal. A. Karmakar, T. Mallick, C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, S. Mondal, R. Kundu, N. A. Begum. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1248:131511, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131511
Fetuin-A secretion from β-cells leads to accumulation of macrophages in islets, aggravates inflammation and impairs insulin secretion. A Mukhuty, C Fouzder, R Kundu. Journal of Cell Science 134 (21), 1-14, (2021).
Exploring the Propensities of Fluorescent Carbazole Analogs toward the Inhibition of Amyloid Aggregation in Type 2 Diabetes: An Experimental and Theoretical Endeavor. T. Mallick, A. Karmakar, A. Mukhuty, C. Fouzder, J. Mandal, S. Mondal, A. Pramanik, R. Kundu and N. A. Begum. Physical Chemistry B 125(37):10481–10493, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c06161
Fetuin-A excess expression amplifies lipid induced apoptosis and β-cell damage. A. Mukhuty, C. Fouzder, R. Kundu. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 237:532-550, (2021) https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.30499
Blocking TLR4-NF-κB pathway protects mouse islets from the combinatorial impact of high fat and fetuin-A mediated dysfunction and restores ability for insulin secretion. A. Mukhuty, C. Fouzder, R. Kundu. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 532, 111314, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111314
Kaempferol inhibits Nrf2 signalling pathway via downregulation of Nrf2 mRNA and induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells. C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, R. Kundu. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 697, 108700, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108700
Trigonelline inhibits Nrf2 via EGFR signalling pathway and augments efficacy of Cisplatin and Etoposide in NSCLC cells. C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, S. Mukherjee, C. Malick, R. Kundu. Toxicology in Vitro 70, 105038, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.105038
Multi-emissive biocompatible silicon quantum dots: Synthesis, characterization, intracellular imaging and improvement of two fold drug efficacy, D. Roy, A. Mukhuty, C. Fouzder, N. Bar, S. Chowdhury, R. Kundu, P. Chowdhury, Dyes and Pigments, 109004, (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.109004
Unfolding the Role of a Flavone-Based Fluorescent Antioxidant towards the Misfolding of Amyloid Proteins: An Endeavour to Probe Amyloid Aggregation, A. Karmakar, T. Mallick, C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, S. Mondal, A. Pramanik, R. Kundu, D. Mandal, N.A. Begam. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 124 (49), 11133-11144, (2020), DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c08729
Gustatory ultrastructures of an amphihaline migratory fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha, C. Malick, S.K. Chatterjee, S. Bhattacharya, V.R. Suresh, R. Kundu, S.K. Saikia, Microscopy Research and Technique, 83(5), 507-513, (2020). DOI: doi.org/10.1002/jemt.23439
A nuclear-localized naphthalimide-based fluorescent light-up probe for selective detection of carbon monoxide in living cells, A. Sarkar, C. Fouzder, S. Chakraborty, E. Ahmmed, R. Kundu, S. Dam, P. Chattopadhyay, K. Dhara, Chemical Research in Toxicology 33 (2), 651-656, (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00462
Multi-emissive biocompatible silicon quantum dots: Synthesis, characterization, intracellular imaging and improvement of two fold drug efficacy, D. Roy, A. Mukhuty, C. Fouzder, N. Bar, S. Chowdhury, R. Kundu, P. Chowdhury. Dyes and Pigments, 109004, (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.109004
Ectopic expression of olfactory receptors and associated G‐protein subunits in the head integument of the amphihaline migratory fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha, S.K. Chatterjee, C. Malick, S. Bhattacharya, V.R. Suresh, R. Kundu, S.K. Saikia, Journal of Fish Biology 95 (1), 324, (2019). DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13801
Antioxidant flavone functionalized fluorescent and biocompatible metal nanoparticles: Exploring their efficacy as cell imaging agents, A. Karmakar, T. Mallick, C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, R. Kundu, N.A. Begum, Nano-Structures and Nano-Objects, 18, 100278, (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoso.2019.100278.
Designed synthesis of dual emitting silicon quantum dot for cell imaging: Direct labeling of Alpha 2-HS-Glycoprotein, D. Roy, C. Fouzder, A. Mukhuty, S. Pal, M. K. Mondal, R. Kundu, P. Chowdhury, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 30(5), 1575-1583, (2019). DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00279
Islet inflammation and beta cell dysfunction by fat and Fetuin-A, R. Kundu, Diabetologia, 62 (1) S221, (2019), DOI: 10.1007/s00125-019-4946-6. (55th EASD Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Spain, Barcelona)
Structural organization of the olfactory organ in an amphihaline migratory fish Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha, C. Malick, S.K. Chatterjee, S. Bhattacharya, V. R. Suresh, R. Kundu and S.K. Saikia, Microscopy Research and Technique, 81(10), 1122-1131, (2018). DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23095
Fetuin A - A Major Player in Lipid-Induced Islet Dysfunction and ß-Cell Apoptosis, R. Kundu, A. Mukhuty, Diabetes, 67 (Supplement 1), 2466-PUB, (2018). DOI: 10.2337/db18-2466-PUB. (Conference paper published by the American Diabetes Association, USA in its 2018 meeting)
Evidence of putative sensory receptors from snout and tongue in an upstream amphihaline migratory fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha, Malick, S.K. Chatterjee, S. Bhattacharya, V.R. Suresh, R. Kundu, S.K. Saikia.. Ichthyological Research, 65, 42-55, (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s10228-017-0592-5
Exploring the efficacy of Basella alba mucilage towards the encapsulation of the hydrophobic antioxidants for their better performance, S. Das, Md. N. Alam, S. Batuta, G. Ahamed, C. Fouzder, R. Kundu, D. Mandal, N. A. Begum, Process Biochemistry, 61C, 178-188, (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2017.06.022
Antioxidant flavone analog functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles: Synthesis and exploration of their possible use as biomolecule sensor, S. Das, S. Batuta, Md. N. Alam, C. Fouzder, R. Kundu, D. Mandal, N. A. Begum, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 157, 286-296, (2017), DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.05.074
Palmitate induced Fetuin-A secretion from pancreatic b-cells adversely affects its function and elicits inflammation, Mukhuty, C. Fouzder, S. Mukherjee, C. Malick, S. Mukhopadhyay, S. Bhattacharya, R. Kundu, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communication, 491, 1118-1124, (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.08.022
Variations in soil alter availability of carlinoside: an anti-hepatitic compound from Cajanus cajan (Linn.) leaves, S. Das, S. Mukherjee, R. Kundu, P. Bhattacharyya, B. Duary, S.S. Bhattacharya, Current Science, 110 (11), 2148-2154, (2016), DOI: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24908147.
A carbazole alkaloid deactivates mTOR through the suppression of rictor and that induces apoptosis in lung cancer cells, P. Chatterjee, S. Seal, S. Mukherjee, R. Kundu, M. Bhuyan, N. C. Barua, P. K. Baruah, S. P. Sinha Babu and S. Bhattacharya, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 405, 149-158, (2015), DOI: 10.1007/s11010-015-2406-2
Low concentration of mercury induces autophagic cell death in rat hepatocytes, S. Chatterjee, A. Ray, S. Mukherjee, S. Agarwal, R. Kundu, S. Bhattacharya, Toxicology and Industrial Health, 30(7), 611-620, (2014), DOI: 10.1177/0748233712462442
Vapor of volatile oils from Litsea cubeba seed induces apoptosis and causes cell cycle arrest in lung cancer cells, S. Seal, P. Chatterjee, S. Bhattacharya, D. Pal, S. Dasgupta, R. Kundu, S. Bhattacharya, M. Bhuyan, P. R. Bhattacharyya, G. Baishya, N. C. Barua, P. K. Barua, P. G. Rao and S. Bhattacharya, PLoS One, 7(10), e47014, (2012), DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047014
Mechanism of lipid induced insulin resistance: An overview, S. Bhattacharya, R. Kundu, S. Dasgupta, S. Bhattacharya, Endocrinology and Metabolism, 27(1), 12-19, (2012), DOI: 10.3803/EnM.2012.27.1.12
Carlinoside reduces hepatic bilirubin accumulation by stimulating bilirubin-UGT activity through Nrf2 gene expression, R. Kundu, S. Dasgupta, A. Biswas, S. Bhattacharya, B.C. Pal, Sh. Bhattacharya, P.G. Rao, N.C. Barua and S. Bhattacharya, Biochemical Pharmacology, 82, 1186-1197, (2011), DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.07.069
Insulin resistance due to lipid induced signaling defects could be prevented by mahanine, A. Biswas, S. Bhattacharya, S. Dasgupta, R. Kundu, S.S. Roy, B.C. Pal and S. Bhattacharya, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 336, 97-107, (2010), DOI: 10.1007/s11010-009-0257-4
Lipid induced overexpression of NF-kB in skeletal muscle cells is linked to insulin resistance, P. Burma, S. Bhattacharya, A. Bhattacharya, R. Kundu, S. Dasgupta, A. Biswas, S.S. Roy, Sh. Bhattacharya and S. Bhattacharya, Biochimica Biophysica Acta-Molecular Basis of Disease (BBA), 1792, 190-200, (2009), DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2008.11.014
Cajanus cajan Linn. (Leguminosae) prevents alcohol induced rat liver damage and augments cytoprotective function, R. Kundu, S. Dasgupta, A. Biswas, A. Bhattacharya, B.C. Pal, D. Bandyopadhyay, Sh. Bhattacharya and S. Bhattacharya, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 118, 440-447, (2008), DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.05.010

Zoology

Department of

Visva-Bharati Santiniketan

Titles

Year

Duration

Sanctioned Amount (In Lakhs)

PI/Co-PI

Status

Elucidating the role of CD36 and its association with Fetuin-A-TLR4 pathway in promoting pancreatic beta cell inflammation, lipid accumulation and insulin secretory defects in diabetic mice models.

2023

3

_

PI: Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Ongoing

To investigate the role of Fetuin-A in lipotoxicity induced beta-cell dysfunction and inflammatory injury to the pancreatic islets.

2018

3

_

PI: Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Completed

Understanding the role of Nrf2-Keap1 pathway in developing drug resistance in lung cancer cells.

2014

2

_

PI: Dr. Rakesh Kundu

Completed

Visva-Bharati
Santiniketan

Sanctioned Amount
(In Lakhs)