Researcher Profile

My research interest is to understand the host-pathogen interaction in particular immune/inflammatory response of the host through immunological, biochemical, and molecular approaches, with the aim of using this information to develop immunotherapeutic strategy, diagnostic/prognostic markers and vaccines. I am particularly interested in Shigella and other enteric infections and tuberculosis with future focus on pneumonia.

Major focus has been to know about the expression and function of antimicrobial host defense peptides (HDPs) in health and diseases in order to use these as potential candidates for host-directed therapeutic interventions. The aim has been to induce HDPs in treating infectious diseases. I have also been exploring the therapeutic potential of HDP inducers per se.

I have also been involved in Shigella vaccine trial and study of the biologic determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes, i.e. Preterm and Stillbirth.

I have a broad interest in investigating the physiological and/or environmental factors, responsible for other acute and chronic health conditions e.g. non-communicable and autoimmune diseases, malnutrition, intoxication etc. to identify potential targets for preventive / remedial interventions.

Selected publications include:

• Protim Sarker, Akhirunnesa Mily, Abdullah Al Mamun, Shah Jalal, Peter Bergman, Rubhana Raqib, Gudmundur H. Gudmundsson and Birgitta Agerberth. Ciprofloxacin Affects Host Cells by Suppressing Expression of the Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides Cathelicidins and Beta-Defensin-3 in Colon Epithelia. Antibiotics 2014; 3, 353-374.
• Al-Mamun A, Mily A, Sarker P, Tiash S, Navarro A, Akter M, Talukder KA, Islam MF, Agerberth B, Gudmundsson GH, Cravioto A, Raqib R. Treatment with phenylbutyrate in a pre-clinical trial reduces diarrhea due to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli: link to cathelicidin induction. Microbes Infect 2013; 15(13): 939-50. PMID: 24016414
• Mily A, Rekha RS, Kamal SM, Akhtar E, Sarker P, Rahim Z, Gudmundsson GH, Agerberth B, Raqib R. Oral intake of phenylbutyrate with or without vitamin D3 upregulates the cathelicidin LL-37 in human macrophages: a dose finding study for treatment of tuberculosis. BMC Pulm Med. 2013; 16: 13:23. PMID: 23590701
• Raqib R, Sarker P, Mily A, Alam NH, Arifuzzaman AS, Rekha RS, Andersson J, Gudmundsson GH, Cravioto A, Agerberth B. Efficacy of sodium butyrate adjunct therapy in shigellosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 10:12:111. PMID: 22574737
• Sarker P, Ahmed S, Tiash S, Rekha RS, Stromberg R, Andersson J, Bergman P, Gudmundsson GH, Agerberth B, and Raqib R. Phenylbutyrate Counteracts Shigella Mediated Downregulation of Cathelicidin in Rabbit Lung and Intestinal Epithelia: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy. PLoS ONE 2011; 6(6): e20637. PMID: 21673991
• Sarker P, Bhuiyan TR, Qadri F, Alam NH, Wretlind B, Bishop AE, Mathan M, Agerberth B, Andersson J, and Raqib  R. Differential expression of enteric neuroimmune-network in invasive and acute watery diarrhea. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2010; 22(1): 70-8, e29. PMID: 19650770
• Raqib R, Sarker P, Bergman P, Ara G, Lindh M, Sack DA, Nasirul Islam KM, Gudmundsson GH, Andersson J, and Agerberth B. Improved outcome in shigellosis associated with butyrate induction of an endogenous peptide antibiotic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103(24): 9178-83. PMID: 16740661
• Rahman MJ, Sarker P, Roy SK, Ahmad SM, Chisti J, Azim T, Mathan M, Sack D, Andersson J, and Raqib R. Effects of zinc supplementation as adjunct therapy on the systemic immune responses in shigellosis. Am J Clin Nutr 2005; 81(2): 495-502. PMID:  15699240
• Raqib R, Moly PK, Sarker P, Qadri F, Alam NH, Mathan M, and Andersson J. Persistence of mucosal mast cells and eosinophils in Shigella-infected children. Infect Immun 2003; 71(5): 2684-92. PMID: 12704143
• Raqib R, Qadri F, Sarker P, Mia SM, Sansonnetti PJ, Albert MJ, and Andersson J. Delayed and reduced adaptive humoral immune responses in children with shigellosis compared with in adults. Scand J Immunol 2002; 55(4): 414-23. PMID: 11967124