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Professor Madhav Bhatia

Madhav BhatiaGroup Leader, Inflammation Research Group
Co-ordinator, BBiomedSc(Hons) Programme

BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)

Email madhav.bhatia@otago.ac.nz 
Tel 64 3 378 6238

Research interests

Professor Madhav Bhatia's research focuses on inflammation, and he is the head of the Inflammation Research Group at the University of Otago, Christchurch.

Professor Bhatia leads an active research programme on the molecular pharmacology and molecular pathology of inflammatory conditions, such as acute pancreatitis, polymicrobial sepsis, burns, and arthritis.

His research has shown hydrogen sulfide and substance P as mediators of inflammation and potential therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. Professor Bhatia is interested in defining the mechanism by which hydrogen sulfide and substance P contribute to inflammation.

The Group's research has shown a key role of chemokines in inflammatory diseases, and of pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis in acute pancreatitis. The Group has also been working on novel markers for diagnosis and prognosis of inflammatory and infectious diseases

The long-term goal of this research is to translate this knowledge to the clinic, and early results in this direction have been promising.

Funding

The Inflammation Research Group is supported by:

  • Lottery Health
  • Canterbury Medical Research Foundation
  • Arthritis New Zealand
  • University of Otago Research Grant
  • Maurice & Phyllis Paykel Trust 
  • Health Reseach Council of New Zealand Singapore Networking Grant
  • Royal Scoiety of New Zealand's Catalyst: Leaders New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange Programme

Prior to moving to Christchurch, Professor Bhatia's research was supported by research grants from Biomedical Research Council, Singapore, National Medical Research Council, Singapore, Academic Research Fund, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and Defence Science and Technology Agency-National University of Singapore Joint Applied R&D Co-operation Programme, Singapore.

Major review articles

Publications to peer reviewed literature: More than 190 papers and review articles, and more than 130 abstracts published in journals.

Citations: More than 14000 (One article cited more than 1000 times, and 39 articles cited more than 100 times).

“h” index: 60

  1. Zhu Z, Chambers S, Zeng Y, and Bhatia M. Gases in sepsis: novel mediators and therapeutic targets. Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23: 3669.
  2. Lian X, Scott-Thomas A, Lewis JG, Bhatia M, MacPherson S, Zeng Y, and Chambers S. Monoclonal antibody and invasive aspergillosis: diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23: 5563.
  3. Kumar A, and Bhatia M. Role of hydrogen sulfide, substance P, and adhesion molecules in acute pancreatitis. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22: 12136.
  4. Patel BK, Patel KH, Bhatia M, Iyer SG, Madhavan KK, and Moochhala SM. Gut microbiome in acute pancreatitis-A review based on current literature. World J Gastroenterol. 2021; 27: 5019-5036.
  5. Bhatia M, and Gaddam R. Hydrogen sulfide in inflammation: a novel mediator and therapeutic target. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2021; 34: 1368-1377.
  6. Dawoodbhoy FM, Patel BK, Patel K, Bhatia M, Lee CN, and Moochhala SM. Gut microbiota dysbiosis as a target for improved post-surgical outcomes and improved patient care. A review of current literature. Shock. 2021; 55: 441–454.
  7.  Bhatia M. Understanding hydrogen sulfide in inflammation: opportunities and challenges (Editorial). Mol Cell Ther. 2019; 7: 9-14.
  8. Gaddam RR, Jha P, and Bhatia M. The infections and hydrogen sulfide. Frontiers in Anti-Infective Drug Discovery. (Eds. Rahman AU, and Choudhary MI). 2018; 7: 261-272.
  9. Pan LL, Li J, Shamoon M, Bhatia M, and Sun J. Recent advances on nutrition in treatment of acute pancreatitis. Front Immunol. 2017; 8: 762.
  10. Shamoon M, Chen Y, Bhatia M, and Sun J. Therapeutic implications of innate immune system in acute pancreatitis. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2016; 20: 73-87.
  11. Bhatia M. H2S and inflammation - an overview. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2015; 230: 165-180.
  12. Bhatia M. H2S and substance P in inflammation. Meth Enzymol. 2015; 555: 195-205.
  13. Bhatia M, Zemans RL, and Jeyaseelan S. Role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. Amer J Resp Cell Mol Biol. 2012; 46: 566-572.
  14. Rivers J, Badiei A, and Bhatia M. Hydrogen sulfide as a therapeutic target for inflammation. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2012; 16: 439-449.
  15.  Bhatia M. Hydrogen sulfide and substance P in inflammation. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2010; 12: 1191-1202.

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Publications

Zhu, Z., & Bhatia, M. (2023). Inflammation and organ injury the role of substance P and its receptors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 6140. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076140

Tian, H., Li, J., Chen, X., Ren, Z., Pan, X., Huang, W., Bhatia, M., … Sun, J. (2023). Oral delivery of mouse β-defensin 14 (mBD14)-producing Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 attenuates experimental colitis in mice. Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07098

Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2023). Amino acids in health and disease: The good, the bad, and the ugly. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 4931. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054931

Zhu, Z., Lian, X., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Hydrogen sulfide: A gaseous mediator and its key role in programmed cell death, oxidative stress, inflammation and pulmonary disease. Antioxidants, 11, 2162. doi: 10.3390/antiox11112162

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). A novel monoclonal antibody 1D2 that broadly inhibits clinically important Aspergillus species. Journal of Fungi, 8, 960. doi: 10.3390/jof8090960

Zhu, Z., & Bhatia, M. (2023). Inflammation and organ injury the role of substance P and its receptors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 6140. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076140

Journal - Research Other

Tian, H., Li, J., Chen, X., Ren, Z., Pan, X., Huang, W., Bhatia, M., … Sun, J. (2023). Oral delivery of mouse β-defensin 14 (mBD14)-producing Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 attenuates experimental colitis in mice. Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07098

Journal - Research Article

Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2023). Amino acids in health and disease: The good, the bad, and the ugly. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 4931. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054931

Journal - Research Other

Zhu, Z., Lian, X., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Hydrogen sulfide: A gaseous mediator and its key role in programmed cell death, oxidative stress, inflammation and pulmonary disease. Antioxidants, 11, 2162. doi: 10.3390/antiox11112162

Journal - Research Other

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). A novel monoclonal antibody 1D2 that broadly inhibits clinically important Aspergillus species. Journal of Fungi, 8, 960. doi: 10.3390/jof8090960

Journal - Research Article

Manandhar, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Harrington, M., Sinha, P., Pilbrow, A., Richards, A. M., Cameron, V., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Hydrogen sulfide and substance P levels in patients with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 8639. doi: 10.3390/ijms23158639

Journal - Research Article

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., MacPherson, S. A., Zeng, Y., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Monoclonal antibodies and invasive aspergillosis: Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 5563. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105563

Journal - Research Other

Zhu, Z., Chambers, S., Zeng, Y., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Gases in sepsis: Novel mediators and therapeutic targets. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 3669. doi: 10.3390/ijms23073669

Journal - Research Other

Lian, X., Chambers, S., Lewis, J. G., Scott-Thomas, A., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Two monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize aspergillus cell wall antigens and can detect circulating antigens in infected mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 252. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010252

Journal - Research Article

Kumar, R., Bhatia, M., & Pai, K. (2022). Role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis. Current Medicinal Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.2174/0929867329666220509171244

Journal - Research Other

Bhatia, M., & Gaddam, R. R. (2021). Hydrogen sulfide in inflammation: A novel mediator and therapeutic target. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 34(17), 1368-1377. doi: 10.1089/ars.2020.8211

Journal - Research Other

Kumar, A., & Bhatia, M. (2021). Role of hydrogen sulfide, substance P and adhesion molecules in acute pancreatitis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(22), 12136. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212136

Journal - Research Other

Mustansir Dawoodbhoy, F., Patel, B. K., Patel, K., Bhatia, M., Lee, C. N., & Moochhala, S. M. (2021). Gut microbiota dysbiosis as a target for improved post-surgical outcomes and improved patient care: A review of current literature. Shock, 55(4), 441-454. doi: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001654

Journal - Research Other

Patel, B. K., Patel, K. H., Bhatia, M., Iyer, S. G., Madhavan, K., & Moochhala, S. M. (2021). Gut microbiome in acute pancreatitis: A review based on current literature. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 27(30), 5019-5036. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i30.5019

Journal - Research Other

Manandhar, S., Sinha, P., Ejiwale, G., & Bhatia, M. (2021). Hydrogen sulfide and its interaction with other players in inflammation. In Y.-C. Zhu (Ed.), Advances in hydrogen sulfide biology: Advances in experimental medicine and biology (Vol. 1315). (pp. 129-159). Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-0991-6_6

Chapter in Book - Research

Ellmers, L. J., Templeton, E. M., Pilbrow, A. P., Frampton, C., Ishii, I., Moore, P. K., Bhatia, M., Richards, A. M., & Cameron, V. A. (2020). Hydrogen sulfide treatment improves post-infarct remodeling and long-term cardiac function in CSE knockout and wild-type mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(12), 4284. doi: 10.3390/ijms21124284

Journal - Research Article

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Lewis, J., Aamir, R., & Bhatia, M. (2020, December). The application of MARS spectral CT in diagnosing invasive aspergillosis. Poster session presented at the 6th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, [Online].

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Gaddam, R. R., Chambers, S., Fraser, R., Cogger, V. C., Le Couteur, D. G., Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2019). Cystathionine-gamma-lyase-derived hydrogen sulfide-regulated substance P modulates liver sieve fenestrations in caecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(13), 3191. doi: 10.3390/ijms20133191

Journal - Research Article

Pan, L.-L., Niu, W., Fang, X., Liang, W., Li, H., Chen, W., … Bhatia, M., & Sun, J. (2019). Clostridium butyricum strains suppress experimental acute pancreatitis by maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 63, 1801419. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201801419

Journal - Research Article

Pan, L.-L., Deng, Y.-Y., Wang, R., Wu, C., Li, J., Niu, W., … Bhatia, M., … Sun, J. (2018). Lactose induces phenotypic and functional changes of neutrophils and macrophages to alleviate acute pancreatitis in mice. Frontiers in Immunology, 9, 751. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00751

Journal - Research Article

Yan, F., Gao, H., Zhao, H., Bhatia, M., & Zeng, Y. (2018). Roles of airway smooth muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of Translational Medicine, 16, 262. doi: 10.1186/s12967-018-1635-z

Journal - Research Other

Gaddam, R. R., Chambers, S., Murdoch, D., Shaw, G., & Bhatia, M. (2017). Circulating levels of hydrogen sulfide and substance P in patients with sepsis. Journal of Infection, 75(4), 293-300. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2017.07.005

Journal - Research Article

Muniraj, N., Stamp, L. K., Badiei, A., Hegde, A., Cameron, V., & Bhatia, M. (2017). Hydrogen sulfide acts as a pro-inflammatory mediator in rheumatic disease. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 20(2), 182-189. doi: 10.1111/1756-185x.12472

Journal - Research Article

Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., Badiei, A., Chambers, S., Cogger, V. C., Le Couteur, D. G., & Bhatia, M. (2017). Differential effects of Kupffer cell inactivation on inflammation and the liver sieve following caecal-ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in mice. Shock, 47(4), 480-490. doi: 10.1097/shk.0000000000000755

Journal - Research Article

Pan, L.-L., Li, J., Shamoon, M., Bhatia, M., & Sun, J. (2017). Recent advances on nutrition in treatment of acute pancreatitis. Frontiers in Immunology, 8, 762. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00762

Journal - Research Article

Gillies, N. A., Pendharkar, S. A., Singh, R. G., Windsor, J. A., Bhatia, M., & Petrov, M. S. (2017). Fasting levels of insulin and amylin after acute pancreatitis are associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Archives of Physiology & Biochemistry, 123(4), 238-248. doi: 10.1080/13813455.2017.1308382

Journal - Research Article

Singh, P. M., Reid, K., Gaddam, R., Bhatia, M., Smith, S., Jacob, A., & Chambers, P. (2017). Effect of choline chloride premedication on xylazine-induced hypoxaemia in sheep. Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia, 44(5), 1149-1155. doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2017.01.002

Journal - Research Article

Bhatia, M. (2017). Understanding toxicology: Mechanisms and applications. Cell Biology & Toxicology, 33(1), 1-4. doi: 10.1007/s10565-016-9363-8

Journal - Research Other

Lv, J., Bhatia, M., & Wang, X. (2017). Roles of mitochondrial DNA in energy metabolism. In H. Sun & X. Wang (Eds.), Mitochondrial DNA and diseases: Advances in experimental medicine and biology (Vol. 1038). (pp. 71-83). Singapore: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-6674-0_6

Chapter in Book - Research

Kumar, R., Bhatia, M., & Pai, K. (2017). Role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis. Clinical Laboratory, 63(10), 1549-1559. doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2017.170404

Journal - Research Other

Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., Badiei, A., Chambers, S., Cogger, V. C., Le Couteur, D. G., … Bhatia, M. (2016). Cystathionine-gamma-lyase gene deletion protects mice against inflammation and liver sieve injury following polymicrobial sepsis. PLoS ONE, 11(8), e0160521. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160521

Journal - Research Article

Badiei, A., Chambers, S. T., Gaddam, R. R., & Bhatia, M. (2016). Cystathionine-γ-lyase gene silencing with siRNA in monocytes/macrophages attenuates inflammation in cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in the mouse. Journal of Biosciences, 41(1), 87-95. doi: 10.1007/s12038-016-9598-9

Journal - Research Article

Badiei, A., Chambers, S. T., Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., & Bhatia, M. (2016). Cystathionine-gamma-lyase gene silencing with siRNA in monocytes/macrophages protects mice against acute pancreatitis. Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, 100(1), 337-346. doi: 10.1007/s00253-015-6989-z

Journal - Research Article

Shamoon, M., Deng, Y., Chen, Y. Q., Bhatia, M., & Sun, J. (2016). Therapeutic implications of innate immune system in acute pancreatitis. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 20(1), 73-87. doi: 10.1517/14728222.2015.1077227

Journal - Research Article

Dong, Z., Shang, H., Chen, Y. Q., Pan, L.-L., Bhatia, M., & Sun, J. (2016). Sulforaphane protects pancreatic acinar cell injury by modulating Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammatory pathway. Oxidative Medicine & Cellular Longevity, 2016, 7864150. doi: 10.1155/2016/7864150

Journal - Research Article

Deng, Y.-Y., Shamoon, M., He, Y., Bhatia, M., & Sun, J. (2016). Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide modulates the severity of acute pancreatitis in mice. Molecular Medicine Reports, 13(5), 3881-3885. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5008

Journal - Research Article

Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., Badiei, A., Cogger, V., Le Couteur, D., Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2016). The effect of hydrogen sulfide synthesized by cystathionine-gamma-lyase on inflammation and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in polymicrobial sepsis in mice. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1439), (pp. 88). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Bhatia, M. (2015). H2S and inflammation: An overview. In P. K. Moore & M. Whiteman (Eds.), Chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology of hydrogen sulfide (Handbook of experimental pharmacology, Vol. 230). (pp. 165-180). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-18144-8_8

Chapter in Book - Research

Bhatia, M. (2015). H2S and substance P in Inflammation. In E. Cadenas & L. Packer (Eds.), Methods in enzymology: Hydrogen sulfide in redox biology, Part B (Vol. 555). (pp. 195-205). Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2014.11.024

Chapter in Book - Research

Gaddam, R. R., Ang, A. D., Badiei, A., Chambers, S. T., & Bhatia, M. (2015). Alteration of the renin-angiotensin system in caerulein induced acute pancreatitis in the mouse. Pancreatology, 15(6), 647-653. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2015.09.007

Journal - Research Article

Badiei, A., Gieseg, S., Davies, S., Othman, M. I., & Bhatia, M. (2015). LPS up-regulates cystathionine γ-lyase gene expression in Primary human macrophages via NF-κB/ERK pathway. Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets, 14(2), 99-104. doi: 10.2174/1871528114666151201201719

Journal - Research Article

Du, C., Bhatia, M., Tang, S. C. W., Zhang, M., & Steiner, T. (2015). Mediators of inflammation: Inflammation in cancer, chronic diseases, and wound healing. Mediators of Inflammation, 2015, 570653. doi: 10.1155/2015/570653

Journal - Research Other

Bhatia, M., Badiei, A., Gaddam, R., Fraser, R., & Chambers, S. (2015). Inhibition of hydrogen sulfide synthesis by gene silencing protects mice against caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Pancreatology, 15(3, Suppl.), (pp. S2). doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2015.05.048

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gaddam, R. R., Chambers, S., & Bhatia, M. (2014). ACE and ACE2 in inflammation: A tale of two enzymes. Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets, 13(4), 224-234. [Review].

Journal - Research Other

Gaddam, R. R., Ang, A. D., Badiei, A., Chambers, S., & Bhatia, M. (2014, September). Alteration of metalloprotease enzymes of the renin-angiotensin system in acute pancreatitis in a mouse model. Poster session presented at the Division of Health Sciences Research Forum: Learning Different Research Languages, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Fraser, R., Bhatia, M., Gaddam, R. R., Jamieson, H. A., Dobbs, B. R., Wade, R. T., … Le Couteur, D. G. (2014). Arsenic containing water from Bangladeshi wells relates to local heart disease and stroke. Internationally, mining and exploratory fracking may lead to arsenical contamination of aquifers. Arsenical drinking-water, by closing the "liver sieve" causes dyslipidaemia and atherosclerosis? Proceedings of the 7th Annual Otago International Health Research Network (OIHRN) Conference. (pp. 9-10). Retrieved from http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/international_hlth/conference/index.html

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Badiei, A., Chambers, S., & Bhatia, M. (2014, September). Inhibition of hydrogen sulfide production through gene silencing attenuates inflammation in LPS-activated macrophages via NF-κB pathway. Poster session presented at the Division of Health Sciences Research Forum: Learning Different Research Languages, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Ang, A. D., Rivers-Auty, J., Hegde, A., Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2013). The effect of CSE gene deletion in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in the mouse. American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal & Liver Physiology, 305, G712-G721. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00044.2013

Journal - Research Article

Badiei, A., Rivers-Auty, J., Ang, A. D., & Bhatia, M. (2013). Inhibition of hydrogen sulfide production by gene silencing attenuates inflammatory activity of LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, 97(17), 7845-7852. doi: 10.1007/s00253-013-5080-x

Journal - Research Article

Bhatia, M., Ang, A., Rivers, J., & Hegde, A. (2013). Effect of cystathionine-gamma-lyase gene deletion in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in the mouse. Pancreatology, 13(Suppl. 3), (pp. S91). doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2013.04.318

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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