Logo for University of Iowa Health Care This logo represents the University of Iowa Health Care

Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD

Contact Information

Office: 1080 ML 
Phone: 335-8558
Faculty Profile


Brief description of current research: 

Trillion of microbes including bacteria (microbiome) cohabitate our body and play an essential role in maintaining the healthy state. Perturbation of the microbiome (dysbiosis) might lead to expansion of pathobionts and metabolic changes that can predispose an individuals to disease as highlighted by presence of dysbiosis during a disease state. As diet is among the strongest factor influencing gut microbiome, Dr. Mangalam’s research is focused on understanding how the interaction among diet, the gut microbiota, environmental contaminant(s), and the immune response influence the development of pathologic conditions, such as autoimmunity, cancer and obesity. Previously, I utilized a bedside-to-bench-to-bedside approach to understand the mechanisms by which gut microbes or their metabolites are involved in the pathobiology of MS and to identify novel human gut-derived commensals that can be used as therapeutic agents for this disease. Recent studies in Mangalam’s lab is focus on: 1) To determine the interaction between diet and gut microbiota in the pathobiology of Multiple Sclerosis; 2) Role of diet induced microbial dysbiosis in obesity and metabolic syndrome; 3) Role of diet and  gut microbiome on glyphosate-induced metabolic syndrome and obesity; and 4)  Decipher the role of microbiome in cancer

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications:

  • Chen J, Chia N, Kalari K, Yao J, Novotna M, Paz Soldan M, Luckey D, Marietta E, Jeraldo P, Chen X, Weinshenker, Rodriguez M, Kantarci O, Nelson H, Murray J, and Mangalam A* (2016). Multiple sclerosis patients have a distinct gut microbiota compared to healthy controls. Sci. Rep. 6, 28484; doi: 10.1038/srep28484 (2016). Altmetric Score 275
  • Mangalam AK, Shahi SK,  Luckey D, Karau M, Marietta E, Luo N, Choung SR Ju J, Sompallae R#, Gibson-Corley K#, Patel R, Rodriguez M, Chella D, Taneja V, and Murray J. (2017). Human Gut-derived Commensal Bacteria Suppress Central Nervous System Inflammatory and Demyelinating Disease. Cell Reports 20:1269-77. Altmetric Score 275
  • Shahi SK,  Freedman S, Murra A, Zarei K, Sompallae R, Gibson-Corley K, , Karandikar N, and Murray J. Mangalam AK, (2019). Prevotella histicola, a human gut commensal, is as potent as Copaxone® in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Front. Immunol. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00462. Altmetric Score 25

Quote: 

As a mentor, I want to provide an environment so that my trainees become best version of themselves.