Senior Scientist Emeritus, Inflammation and Chronic Disease
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Ottawa

Professor, cross-appointed, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology
University of Ottawa

RESEARCH INTERESTS
We have two main research directions.  The first, which is the main one, is to develop an mulipurpose prevention technology (MPT) agents to be administered into the female reproductive tract (FRT), so that women will be protected against unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  We have discovered that LL-37, a cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, and its truncated peptides, as well as a bioengineered peptide based on its sequence can exhibit both spermicidal (contraceptive) and anti-STI activities.  We are currently developing a formulation to deliver these peptides effectively into the FRT.  
The second research interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms of mammalian sperm-egg interaction with the focus on the roles of lipids in this process.

 

I am currently a senior scientist emeritus.  I have been doing research in mammalian reproduction for the past 50 years.  I received a Ph.D. in biochemistry/cell biology from the University of Iowa and a B.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota.

Lee SG, Vahdati L, Morelli L, Panza L, Compostella F, Tanphaichitr N.  Short-chain analogue of Seminolipid: synthesis and inhibitory effect on mouse fertilization. Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18, 611. 
      
Taoto C, Tangsrisakda N, Thukhammee W, Iamsaard S, Tanphaichitr N.  Rats orally administered with ethyl alcohol for a prolonged time show histopathology of the epididymis and seminal vesicle together with changes in the luminal metabolite composition. Biomedicines 2024,12(5), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12051010 3.  
       
Lee SG, Burke SS, Kiattiburut W, Angel J, Tanphaichitr N. Safety of multiple administrations of spermicidal LL-37 antimicrobial peptide into the mouse female reproductive tract. Mol Human Reproduction 2023, 29(7), gaad023.  IF: 4.518An Editor’s choice publication. PMID: 37326833  12 reads, 0 citation (Feb 2024)  
       
Lee SG, Kiattiburut W, Baker M, Anderson DJ, Wang G, Angel J, Tanphaichitr N. 17BIPHE2, an engineered cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide with low susceptibility to proteases, is an effective spermicide and microbicide against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Human Reproduction 2022, 37(11):2503-2517. IF: 6.918PMID: 36053257  43 Reads, 5 citation   (Feb 2024) 
       
Kongmanas K, Saewu A, Raghupathy R, Kiattiburut W, Baker M, Faull K, Burger D, Tanphaichitr N.  Arsa null male mice with subfertility produce high levels of reactive oxygen species in their reproductive system.  Antioxidants 2021, 10, 912. IF: 7.675PMID: 34199863,  79 reads, 7 citations (Feb 2024) 
        
Vera-Cruz A, Tanphaichitr N*, Angel J*.  Antimicrobial peptide, LL-37, and its potential as an anti-HIV agent.  Clinical Investigative Medicine 2021, 44(3):E64-71. *shared corresponding authorship   https://doi.org/10.25011/cim.v44i3.36657IF: 1.279PMID:  34600462, 37 reads, 5 citations (Feb 2024) 
        
Netherton JK, Hetherington L, Ogle RA, Mazloumi M, Velkov T, Villaverde AISB, Tanphaichitr N, Baker MA.  Mass Spectrometry reveals new insights into the production of superoxide anions and 4-hydroxynonenal adducted proteins in human sperm.  Proteomics 2020, 20, 1900205. IF:3.106PMID: 201900205, 46 reads, 9 citations  (Feb 2024)       

Saewu A, Kongmanas K, Raghupathy R, Netherton J, Kadunganattil S, Linton JJ, Chaisuriyanond W, Faull K, Baker M, Tanphaichitr N. Primary Sertoli cell cultures from adult mice have different properties compared with those derived from 20-day-old animals.  Endocrinology 2020 Jan; 161(1): bqz020. IF: 4.736PMID: 31730175, 307 reads, 10 citation (Feb 2024)           

Young C, Tatieng S, Kongmanas K, Fongmoon D, Lomenick B, Yoon AJ, Kiattiburut W, Compostella F, Faull KF, Suree N, Angel J, Tanphaichitr N. Sperm can act as vectors for HIV-1 transmission into vaginal and cervical epithelial cells.  Am J Reprod Immunol 2019, 82:1-12. IF:3.886Featuring the journal cover. https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13129;. PMID:  31066971, 159 reads, 1 recommendation, 6 citation (Feb 2024)American Journal of Reproductive Immunology gave us a certificate recognizing  that our paper is one of the most read (top downloaded paper 2018-2019). 1      

Tanphaichitr N, Kongmanas K, Faull KF, Whitelegge J, Compostella F, Goto-Inoue N, Linton JJ, Doyle B, Oko R, Xu H, Panza L, Saewu A.  Properties, metabolism and roles of sulfogalactosylglycerolipid on male fertility. Prog Lipid Res 2018, 72:18-41 IF:12.540PMID: 30149090, 221 reads, 27 citations, 1 recommendation (Feb 2024)      

Kiattiburut W, Zhi R, Lee SG, Foo A, Hickling D, Keillor J, Goto N, Li W, Conlan W, Angel J, Wang G, Tanphaichitr N.  Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and its truncated forms, GI-20 and GF-17, exert spermicidal effects and microbicidal activity on Neisseria gonorrhoeae.  Human Reprod 2018, 33:2175-2183 IF: 6.918https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey315PMID: 30357408, 208 reads, 15 citations, 1 recommendation (Feb 2024)       

Saewu A, Kadunganattil S, Raghupathy R, Kongmanas K, Diaz Astukillo P, Hermo L, Tanphaichitr N. Clusterin in the mouse epididymis: Possible roles in sperm maturation and capacitation.  Reproduction 2017, 154:867-880 IF:3.923PMID:  28971894, 155 reads, 19 citations, 1 recommendation (Feb 2024)       

Tanphaichitr N, Srakaew N, Alonzi R, Kiattiburut W, Kongmanas K, Zhi R, Li W, Baker M, Wang G, Hickling D.  Potential use of antimicrobial peptides as vaginal spermicides/microbicides.  An invited review article.  Pharmaceuticals 2016, 9:13, doi:10.3390/ph9010013 (published in the Special Issue- Antimicrobial Peptides: Expanded Activity Spectrum and Applications) IF:5.30. https://doi-org.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/10.3390/ph9010013PMID: 26978373,  797 reads, 43 citations, 1 recommendations  (Feb 2024)        

Tanphaichitr N, Kongmanas K, Kruevaisayawan K, Saewu A, Sugeng C, Fernandes J, Souda P, Angel JB, Faull KF, Aitken RJ, Whitelegge J, Hardy D, Berger T and Baker M. Remodelling of the plasma membrane in preparation for sperm-egg recognition: Roles of acrosomal membranes.  Asian J Andro 2015, 17:542-582 (a special issue for the proceedings of the 12th International Symposium of Spermatology; our article was featured as “Invited Research Highlight”)PMID: 25994642, 286 reads, 23 citations, 1 recommendations  (Feb 2024)      

Fazlollahi F, Kongmanas K, Tanphaichitr N, Gopen Q, Faull KF, Suh JD.  Lipidomic profiling of sinus mucosa from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.  Clin Transl Sci. 2015 Jan 15. doi: 10.1111/cts.12256.PMID: 25588779, 35 reads, 9 citations  (Feb 2024)        

Fazlollahi F, Kongmanas K, Tanphaichitr N, Suh JD, Faull KF, Gopen Q.  Lipidomic profiling of mastoid bone and tissue from patients with chronic otomastoiditis.      Intl Arch Otorhinolaryngology, 2014 Dec 8. DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1396522PMID: 25992170,185 reads, 3 citations (Feb 2024)

Kongmanas K, Kruevaisayawan H, Saewu A, Sugeng C, Fernandes J, Souda P, Angel JB, Faull KF, Aitken RJ, Whitelegge J, Hardy D, Berger T, Baker M, and Tanphaichitr N.  Proteomic Characterization of Pig Sperm Anterior Head Plasma Membrane Reveals Roles of Acrosomal Proteins in ZP3 Binding.  J Cell Physiol Jul 30,2014. doi: 10.1002/jcp.24728. [Epub ahead of print |   

Srakaew N, Young CD, Sae-wu A, Xu H, Quesnel KL, diBrisco R, Kongmanas K, Fongmoon D, Hommalai G, Weerachatyanukul W, Hall SH, Zhang Y-L, Panza L, Franchini L, Compostella F, Pearson TW, Hancock RE, Oko RJ, Hermo LS, and Tanphaichitr N.  Antimicrobial host defence peptide, LL-37, as a potential vaginal contraceptive.  Human Reprod 2014, 29:683-96, doi: 10.1093/humrep/deu018, 

Xu H, Kongmanas K, Kadunganattil S, Smith CE, Rupar T, Goto-Inoue N, Hermo L, Faull KF, Tanphaichitr N.  Arylsulfatase A deficiency results in lyosomal storage disorder in Sertoli cells and male subfertility.   J Lipid Res. 2011 Dec;52(12):2187-97. Featuring the cover page.

Bou Khalil M, Chakrabandhu K, Weerachatyanukul W, Xu H, Vuong N, Buhr M, Berger T, Kumarathasan P, Carmona E, Wong PTT, Carrier D and Tanphaichitr N.  Pig sperm rafts have zona pellucida binding ability and contain the mammalian male germ cell specific sulfogalactosylglycerolipid.  Dev. Biol. 2006; 290:220-235.

Carmona E, Weerachatyanukul W, Soboloff T, Fluharty AL, Shite D, Promdee L, Ekker M, Berger T, Buhr M, and Tanphaichitr N.  Arylsulfatase A is present on the pig sperm surface and is involved in sperm-zona pellucida binding. Devel. Biol. 2002; 247:182-196.

HIV; Infectious disease; Infertility; Men's health; Sexually transmitted infections; Women's health

Basic research; Drug development; Imaging; Lipidomics; Molecular and cellular biology; Proteomics