Rupak Datta

This study functionally characterizes LmME2, a cytosolic malic enzyme in Leishmania major, showing its role in pyridine nucleotide homeostasis, redox balance, and virulence.

This study shows Leishmania major uses GP63 to deplete macrophage Syntaxin-2, impairing phagolysosome formation and enhancing parasite survival.

This study shows that trehalose activates Mitf, improving autophagy and reducing neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of MPS VII.

This study identifies muscle energy crisis as the initial driver of locomotor dysfunction in β-glucuronidase-deficient Drosophila, showing muscle-specific ATP depletion and autophagy defects precede neurological symptoms.

This paper identifies LmSLC26A as the first bicarbonate transporter in Leishmania, showing its critical role in pH homeostasis and virulence by enabling bicarbonate uptake and coupling with enzymatic activity.

This study identifies syntaxin-2 as a regulator of phagocytic uptake and phagolysosomal clearance in macrophages by coordinating receptor density, cup expansion, and maturation.

This study identifies GP63 as a Leishmania secretory factor that targets the DICER1/miR-122/hepcidin axis in macrophages to degrade Nramp1 and facilitate iron acquisition.

The paper identifies a novel epsilon-tubulin in Leishmania major localized at the basal body, confirmed by CRISPR-Cas9 tagging and nocodazole treatment.

This study identifies a causal link between mitophagy defects, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptotic neurodegeneration in MPS VII using a Drosophila model.