Overview
Dr. Jayasundara studies adverse human and ecological health outcomes of anthropogenic environmental change, primarily emphasizing studies on environmental drivers of kidney development and health. Of particular interest are aquatic contaminants in natural streams and the drinking water and the role of heat stress as an effect modifier. Ongoing projects in the laboratory aim to
1. Determine interactive effects of agrochemicals on kidney mitochondrial function in the context of chronic kidney disease epidemic in agricultural communities by integrating on environmental epidemiology and mechanistic toxicology studies.
2. Examine mitochondrial responses to acute and chronic heat exposure during organismal development and linking to later-life metabolic consequences
3. Elucidate the role of genetic, epigenetic, and gut microbiome shifts associated with evolved resistance to chemical pollutants and fitness consequences.
4. Assess water quality through citizen science and community engagement in multiple domestic and global communities.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Transcriptomic and Methylomic Analyses Show Significant Shifts in Biosynthetic Processes and Reduced Intrapopulation Gene Expression Variance in PAH-Adapted Atlantic Killifish.
Journal Article Environmental science & technology · November 2024 Environmental contaminants pose a significant selection pressure across taxa, potentiating evolved resistance to chemicals. However, rapid evolution may alter molecular and physiological homeostasis leading to trade-offs. To elucidate molecular underpinnin ... Full text CiteDetermining bad actors: A linear mixed effects model approach to elucidate behavioral toxicity of metal mixtures in drinking water.
Journal Article Ecotoxicology and environmental safety · November 2024 Mixtures of chemical contaminants can pose a significant health risk to humans and wildlife, even at levels considered safe for each individual chemical. There is a critical need to develop statistical methods to evaluate the drivers of toxic effects in ch ... Full text CiteAn epigenetic memory at the CYP1A gene in cancer-resistant, pollution-adapted killifish.
Journal Article bioRxiv · August 16, 2024 Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is a significant and growing public health problem. Frequent, high dose exposures are likely to increase due to a warming climate and increased frequency of large-scale wildfires. Here, we characteri ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
GCR: The other plastic problem: quantifying and predicting impacts of plastic additives across levels of biological and social organization
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2024 - 2029Duke University Program in Environmental Health
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2029The other plastic problem: weathering and plastic additives synergize to impact organismal health
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. · 2025 - 2028View All Grants