Anoli Borad, B. S. Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA
M.D. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Infectious Diseases Fellow
E-mail: aborad@tufts-nemc.org

Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) have been used for the treatment of a variety of etiologies of diarrheal disease. A case report and two studies in animal models of cryptosporidiosis suggest that probiotics may be beneficial. Although the mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect are unknown, host immune responses which are crucial in resolution of cryptosporidiosis are known to be modulated by probiotics. My research is focused on the effects of LGG on Cryptosporidium infection in vitro in a cell culture model and in vivo in animal models. I plan to investigate the effects of LGG on mucin production and immune modulation in Cryptosporidium infection in these models. I also plan to participate in a study to determine whether immunomodulatory and colonizing effects of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract reduce diarrhea and growth faltering in children with cryptosporidial infections in South India.