Dr. Nikhilesh Joardar, M.Sc., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad MIT-World Peace University, Pune. His research spans parasitology, host–pathogen interactions, immunology, and antiparasitic drug development. Dr. Joardar previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, contributing to studies on bacterial, parasitic infections and biomarker discovery. He did his PhD on antifilarial drug development and host-pathogen interaction from the Department of Zoology, Visva Bharati (An Institute of national importance). He has published extensively in leading journals, received multiple national research fellowships, and serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Neglected Tropical Diseases and review editor in Frontiers i
EDUCATION
Postdoc: 2022-2025
Ph. D. : 2016-2021
M.Sc. 2014
B.Sc. 2012
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Immunology and Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Biomedical Engineering
35
Scopus Publications
672
Scholar Citations
13
Scholar h-index
18
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
The gut microbiota shapes the human and murine breath volatilome Ariel J. Hernandez-Leyva, Amalia Z. Berna, Maggie H. Bui, Yang Liu, Anne L. Rosen, Michael A. Lint, Samantha A. Whiteside, Natalia Jaeger, Ryan T. McDonough, Nikhilesh Joardar, Jesús Santiago-Borges, Christopher P. Tomera, Wentai Luo, Audrey R. Odom John, Andrew L. Kau Cell Metabolism, 2026
In silico exploration and in vitro validation of the filarial thioredoxin reductase inhibitory activity of Scytonemin and its derivatives Animesh Sen, Varun Dewaker, Utsab Debnath, Kuladip Jana, Jnanendra Rath, Nikhilesh Joardar, Santi P. Sinha Babu Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 2025 experiments. Parasite death upon exposure to Scytonemin can be correlated with the TrxR inhibiting capacity of the compound. Therefore, this cyanobacterial-derived compound may possibly be used further as novel and safe therapeutic candidate against filarial infection.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
An ethnopharmacological approach to evaluate antiparasitic and health-promoting abilities of Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. in livestock Suman Kalyan Mandal, Niladri Mukherjee, Anindya Sundar Ray, Samik Hazra, Sathi Saha, Swetarka Das, Nikhilesh Joardar, Saradindu Saha, Santi Prasad Sinha Babu, Chowdhury Habibur Rahaman Plos One, 2024 In eastern India, the tubers ofPueraria tuberosa(Willd.) DC. are used by the ethnic communities for its wide range of medicinal and nutritional value, especially to rejuvenate livestock health and to treat helminthiasis. The study is aimed to evaluate the ethnoveterinary medicinal importance ofP.tuberosaas anthelmintic, to verify its nontoxic nature and identify the most potent phytoconstituents aided byin silicomolecular docking technique. Ethnomedicinal data collected from 185 informants were quantitatively analyzed employing eight quantitative indices to highlight the use diversity and most frequently used part of the plant. High scores of certain indices employed, such as Use Value (UV = 0.52), Fidelity Level (FL = 68.42%) and Tissue Importance Value (TIV = 1) clearly illustrate an ethnomedicinal lead regarding medico-nutritional benefits of the tuber part used against intestinal helminthic diseases of veterinary animals. Based on this ethno-guided lead, root tuber has been investigated for its chemical profiling by the estimation of total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids, along with HPLC and GC-MS analyses. Anthelmintic property was evaluated with the tuber extracts byin vitrostudies on some helminths of livestock and poultry birds, and it showed promising results against the tested parasites namelyCotylophoron cotylophorum,Raillietina tetragonaandSetaria cervi. Toxicity assessments of tuber extract throughin vitroandin vivomethods were performed using Vero cells and BALB/c mice. Nontoxic nature of the studied tuber extract was observed even in higher experimental doses. Out of 12 phytocompounds identified by GC-MS analysis, one compound [Morphinan-4,5-epoxy-3,6-di-ol,6- (7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-yl) amino-] exhibited the best binding conformations in cost of the lowest binding energy values with six target proteins that include one anti-inflammatory, one antioxidant, and four anthelmintic proteins. The findings of our study are found very encouraging to evaluate this tuber drug furthermore intensively towards the development of anthelmintic veterinary medicine.
The Role of Misfolded Proteins on Oxidative Stress Mediated Neurodegeneration Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Health and Disease, 2024
The Interplay Between Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediated ROS Generation and Apoptosis in Human Diseases Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Health and Disease, 2024
Filarial thioredoxin reductase: A possible means to exterminate lymphatic filariasis Nikhilesh Joardar, Santi P. Sinha Babu Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2022 Brugia malayi asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (BmAsnRS) has been identified as an immunodominant antigen and a physiocrine that mimics Interleukin-8 (IL-8) to induce chemotaxis and angiogenesis in endothelial cells. Computational analyses have shown that the N-terminal region of BmAsnRS has a novel fold, a lysine rich β-hairpin α-helix, (FLIRTKKDGKQIWE) which is similar to that present in IL-8 chemokine, CXCR1. This novel fold is involved in tRNA binding and is integral for the manifestation of the disease, lymphatic filariasis (LF). Drug discovery programmes carried out so far for LF have not been successful because of the target (BmAsnRS) resistance due to the disease-associated mutation. Mutations in AARS targets have been shown to correlate with several diseases. However, no disease-associated mutational studies have been carried out for LF. BmAsnRS has been an established target for LF. It was proposed, therefore, to study the effect of single point mutations in BmAsnRS so as to elucidate the molecular target. An understanding of the molecular consequences of mutations will provide insight into how resistance develops in addition to the identification of the likely resistance-conferring mutations. Three mutants were, therefore, generated by site-directed mutagenesis using CUPSAT server and their angiogenic properties evaluated. Cytometric analysis of the mutants on endothelial cell cycle was also carried out. CUPSAT prediction of protein stability upon point mutations reveal that two mutants generated are likely resistance-conferring mutations. All the three mutants show significant reduction in their angiogenic properties and reduction in the DNA content in the cells of S and G2/M phases thus showing altered function of the gene encoding the drug target. The resistance- conferring mutants, however, show angiogenic properties nearer to the wild type protein, BmAsnRS. Future work on designing newer drugs may take into consideration these drug resistance-conferring mutations.
The molecular mechanisms to functional significance of selective targeting of the redox active thioredoxin system as an effective therapy towards cancer elimination Horizons in Cancer Research, 2020
The gut microbiota shapes the human and murine breath volatilome AJ Hernandez-Leyva, AZ Berna, MH Bui, Y Liu, AL Rosen, MA Lint, ... Cell Metabolism , 2026 2026 Citations: 4
In silico assessment of cyanobacterial alkaloids as probable medications against SARS-CoV-2 A Sen, HMKC Chanda, S Cheemanapalli, A Umamaheswari, J Rath, ... In Silico Research in Biomedicine 2, 100215 , 2026 2026
Clinical trials unveiling the potential of phytochemicals across different diseases A Kundu, P Rooj, N Joardar, AK Sinha, A Sen Phytoceuticals in Food for Health and Wellness, 309-340 , 2026 2026
In silico exploration and in vitro validation of the filarial thioredoxin reductase inhibitory activity of Scytonemin and its derivatives A Sen, V Dewaker, U Debnath, K Jana, J Rath, N Joardar, SP Sinha Babu Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 43 (2), 890-902 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
The breath volatilome is shaped by the gut microbiota AJ Hernandez-Leyva, AZ Berna, Y Liu, AL Rosen, MA Lint, SA Whiteside, ... medRxiv , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
An ethnopharmacological approach to evaluate antiparasitic and health-promoting abilities of Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. in livestock SK Mandal, N Mukherjee, AS Ray, S Hazra, S Saha, S Das, N Joardar, ... PLoS one 19 (7), e0305667 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Filarial thioredoxin reductase: a possible means to exterminate lymphatic filariasis. N Joardar, SPS Babu 2022 Citations: 1
Crude protein fraction with high thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) enzyme activity from filarial parasite Setaria cervi counters lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced … N Joardar, K Jana, SPS Babu Parasitology Research 121 (5), 1379-1388 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
Anti-microfilarial Activities of Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.) Against Dirofilaria immitis in Dogs ( Canis familiaris ) N Mukherjee, N Joardar, S Mukherjee, SP Sinha Babu Proceedings of the Zoological Society 75 (1), 127-133 , 2022 2022
Effect of Senna plant on the mitochondrial activity of Hymenolepis diminuta B Ukil, N Joardar, SPS Babu, LM Lyndem Journal of Parasitic Diseases 46 (1), 139-151 , 2022 2022 Citations: 5
Filarial thioredoxin reductase exerts anti-inflammatory effects upon lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation in macrophages N Joardar, R Bhattacharya, S Halder, A Sen, SR Biswas, K Jana, ... International journal of biological macromolecules 193, 1379-1390 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
Disruption of redox homeostasis with synchronized activation of apoptosis highlights the antifilarial efficacy of novel piperine derivatives: an in vitro mechanistic approach N Joardar, P Shit, S Halder, U Debnath, S Saha, AK Misra, K Jana, ... Free Radical Biology and Medicine 169, 343-360 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
A review on the interactions between dendritic cells, filarial parasite and parasite‐derived molecules in regulating the host immune responses N Joardar, C Mondal, SP Sinha Babu Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 93 (4), e13001 , 2021 2021 Citations: 13
Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) triggers oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in filarial nematode Setaria cervi channelized through ASK-1-p38 mediated caspase activation N Joardar, A Sen, J Rath, SPS Babu Molecular and biochemical parasitology 242, 111364 , 2021 2021 Citations: 12
Nanopharmaceuticals to target antifilarials: administration of old age drugs in a novel way N Joardar, N Mukherjee, SPS Babu Applications of Nanobiotechnology for Neglected Tropical Diseases, 329-356 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Triggering the downstream apoptotic signal inside human parasitic organisms demonstrates a promising approach for anti-parasitic drug development: A mechanistic perspective N Joardar, N Mukherjee, S Halder, K Jana, SPS Babu Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology 125, 193-213 , 2021 2021 Citations: 4
Thiol antioxidant thioredoxin reductase: A prospective biochemical crossroads between anticancer and antiparasitic treatments of the modern era N Joardar, A Guevara-Flores, JJ Martinez-Gonzalez, SPS Babu International journal of biological macromolecules 165, 249-267 , 2020 2020 Citations: 28
Senna plant generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces apoptosis in Hymenolepis diminuta S Roy, N Joardar, SPS Babu, LM Lyndem Molecular and biochemical parasitology 238, 111297 , 2020 2020 Citations: 15
Synthesis of Novel Glycosyl Carbamo (dithioperoxo) thioate Derivatives A Gucchait, S Ghosh, AK Misra Synthesis 52 (10), 1523-1530 , 2020 2020 Citations: 4
Gut microbes as future therapeutics in treating inflammatory and infectious diseases: lessons from recent findings S Mukherjee, N Joardar, S Sengupta, SPS Babu The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 61, 111-128 , 2018 2018 Citations: 145
Graphene oxide dispersed supramolecular hydrogel capped benign green silver nanoparticles for anticancer, antimicrobial, cell attachment and intracellular imaging applications D Ghosh, S Dhibar, A Dey, S Mukherjee, N Joardar, SPS Babu, B Dey Journal of Molecular Liquids 282, 1-12 , 2019 2019 Citations: 49
Chitosan biopolymer functionalized gold nanoparticles with controlled cytotoxicity and improved antifilarial efficacy P Chowdhury, B Roy, N Mukherjee, S Mukherjee, N Joardar, MK Mondal, ... Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials 1 (3), 577-590 , 2018 2018 Citations: 47
Synthesis of smart graphene quantum dots: A benign biomaterial for prominent intracellular imaging and improvement of drug efficacy MK Mondal, S Mukherjee, N Joardar, D Roy, P Chowdhury, SPS Babu Applied Surface Science 495, 143562 , 2019 2019 Citations: 46
Aryl quinolinyl hydrazone derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents that inhibit TLR4 activation in the macrophages U Debnath, S Mukherjee, N Joardar, SPS Babu, K Jana, AK Misra European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 134, 102-115 , 2019 2019 Citations: 43
Quinolone-fused cyclic sulfonamide as a novel benign antifilarial agent S Mukherjee, N Joardar, S Mondal, A Schiefer, A Hoerauf, K Pfarr, ... Scientific Reports 8 (1), 12073 , 2018 2018 Citations: 38
Development of novel anti-filarial agents using carbamo (dithioperoxo) thioate derivatives A Gucchait, N Joardar, PK Parida, P Roy, N Mukherjee, A Dutta, ... European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 143, 598-610 , 2018 2018 Citations: 35
Polyphenol enriched ethanolic extract of Cajanus scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars exerts potential antifilarial activity by inducing oxidative stress and programmed cell death AS Ray, N Joardar, S Mukherjee, CH Rahaman, SP Sinha Babu Plos One 13 (12), 1-18 , 2018 2018 Citations: 29
Thiol antioxidant thioredoxin reductase: A prospective biochemical crossroads between anticancer and antiparasitic treatments of the modern era N Joardar, A Guevara-Flores, JJ Martinez-Gonzalez, SPS Babu International journal of biological macromolecules 165, 249-267 , 2020 2020 Citations: 28
A review on the druggability of a thiol-based enzymatic antioxidant thioredoxin reductase for treating filariasis and other parasitic infections N Joardar, SPS Babu International journal of biological macromolecules 142, 125-141 , 2020 2020 Citations: 22
Antifilarial activity of azadirachtin fuelled through reactive oxygen species induced apoptosis: a thorough molecular study on Setaria cervi N Mukherjee, N Joardar, SPS Babu Journal of Helminthology 93 (5), 519-528 , 2019 2019 Citations: 22
Thioredoxin reductase from the bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi: Studies on its localization and optimization of the extraction N Joardar, S Mukherjee, SPS Babu International journal of biological macromolecules 107, 2375-2384 , 2018 2018 Citations: 20
Senna plant generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces apoptosis in Hymenolepis diminuta S Roy, N Joardar, SPS Babu, LM Lyndem Molecular and biochemical parasitology 238, 111297 , 2020 2020 Citations: 15
A review on the interactions between dendritic cells, filarial parasite and parasite‐derived molecules in regulating the host immune responses N Joardar, C Mondal, SP Sinha Babu Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 93 (4), e13001 , 2021 2021 Citations: 13
Redox regulatory circuits as targets for therapeutic intervention of bancroftian filariasis: biochemical, molecular, and pharmacological perspectives S Mukherjee, N Joardar, SP Sinha Babu Oxidative stress in microbial diseases, 185-208 , 2019 2019 Citations: 13
Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) triggers oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in filarial nematode Setaria cervi channelized through ASK-1-p38 mediated caspase activation N Joardar, A Sen, J Rath, SPS Babu Molecular and biochemical parasitology 242, 111364 , 2021 2021 Citations: 12
Filarial thioredoxin reductase exerts anti-inflammatory effects upon lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation in macrophages N Joardar, R Bhattacharya, S Halder, A Sen, SR Biswas, K Jana, ... International journal of biological macromolecules 193, 1379-1390 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
Disruption of redox homeostasis with synchronized activation of apoptosis highlights the antifilarial efficacy of novel piperine derivatives: an in vitro mechanistic approach N Joardar, P Shit, S Halder, U Debnath, S Saha, AK Misra, K Jana, ... Free Radical Biology and Medicine 169, 343-360 , 2021 2021 Citations: 10
Exploring the homolog of a novel proinflammatory microfilarial sheath protein (MfP) of Wuchereria bancrofti in the adult-stage bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi S Mukherjee, N Joardar, SPS Babu Journal of Helminthology , 2018 2018 Citations: 9