864-889-0519 chg@clemson.edu

Dr. Sachin Rustgi

Associate Professor, Department of Plant, and Environmental Sciences

Biosketch

Dr. Sachin Rustgi is affiliated as an Associate Professor of Molecular Breeding at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, and a Faculty Scholar at the Clemson University School of Health Research, as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman. Dr. Rustgi’s research primarily focuses on developing dietary therapies for individuals with celiac disease or allergy to wheat or peanut and novel strategies to mitigate the major insect pests or fungal pathogens of the primary South Carolina crops (peanut, peach, and sorghum). His research has resulted in several high-impact publications in internationally recognized journals. Additionally, Dr. Rustgi has authored or edited three books. Given his academic contributions, he was awarded the Faculty Excellence in Research Award of the Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences and invited to join the Wheat Initiative Expert Working Group on Wheat Quality for Processing and Health.

Research

Sensitivity to wheat and peanut proteins is geographically widespread. According to a recent estimate, ~1% of the US population is diagnosed with celiac disease and ~2% with peanut allergies. Moreover, the reports over the last two decades suggest an uptick in individuals diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, and peanut allergy. Unfortunately, there is no therapy available for these sensitivities other than an abstinent diet that needs to maintain an immunogen-free environment to prevent sensitive individuals’ accidental exposure to the antigen.

Eliminating wheat and peanuts from the diet is technically and financially challenging. In particular, it affects vegans and vegetarians, who find it difficult to meet their dietary requirements. Dr. Rustgi’s research focuses on developing reduced-immunogenicity wheat and peanut genotypes using conventional plant breeding and genome editing approaches and testing genotypes with reduced allergen/antigen content using biochemical and immunological assays and for their end-use performance as well as palatability. His research additionally focuses on developing genotypes expressing wheat antigen detoxifying enzymes. Additionally, he is working on developing atoxigenic Aspergillus strains incapable of reverting to the toxigenic state to prevent pre- and post-harvest aflatoxin contamination of peanut seeds.

Publications (selected)

  1. Rustgi S, Naveed N, Windham J, Zhang H, Demirer GS (2022) Plant Biomacromolecule Delivery Methods in the 21st Century. Frontiers in Genome Editing 4:1011934.
  2. Li F, Zhao A, Cui C, Dong J, Gao X, Rustgi S, Yang M (2022) Progress in genetic studies of traits related to the nutritional value of wheat. Advances in Agronomy https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2022.07.002.
  3. Rustgi S, Alam T, Jones ZT, Brar AK, Kashyap S (2022) Reduced-immunogenicity wheat and peanut lines for people with foodborne disorders. Chemistry Proceedings 10:67.
  4. Wen N, Osorio CE, Brew-Appiah RAT, Mejias JH, Alam T, Kashyap S, Reinbothe S, Reinbothe C, Moehs CP, von Wettstein D, and Rustgi S (2022) Targeting Induced Local Lesions in the wheat DEMETER and DRE2 genes, responsible for transcriptional derepression of wheat gluten proteins in the developing endosperm. Frontiers in Nutrition 9:847635.
  5. Alam T, Anco D, Rustgi S (2021) Reconditioning and disposition of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut: A guide for the United States peanut producers. Clemson University Land-Grant Press LGP 1116. https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/reconditioning-and-disposition-of-aflatoxin-contaminated-peanut-a-guide-for-us-peanut-producers/.
  6. Alam T, Anco DJ, Rustgi S (2020) Management of aflatoxins in peanuts. Clemson University Land-Grant Press LGP 1073. https://doi.org/10.34068/report7
  7. Osorio CE, Wen N, Mejias JH, Mitchell S, von Wettstein D, Rustgi S (2020) Directed-mutagenesis of Flavobacterium meningosepticum prolyl-oligopeptidase and a glutamine-specific endopeptidase from barley. Frontiers in Nutrition 7:11.
  8. Osorio CE, Mejias JH, Rustgi S (2019) Gluten detection methods and their critical role in assuring safe diets for celiac patients. Nutrients 11:2920.
  9. Rustgi S, Shewry P, Brouns F, Deleu L, Delcour JA (2019) Wheat seed proteins – factors influencing their content, composition, and technological properties, and strategies to reduce adverse reactions. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 18:1751-1769.
  10. Brouns F, Van Rooy G, Shewry P, Rustgi S, Jonkers D (2019) Adverse reactions to wheat or wheat components. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 18:1437-1452.
  11. Osorio CE, Wen N, Mejias JH, Liu B, Reinbothe S, von Wettstein D, Rustgi S (2019) Development of wheat genotypes expressing a glutamine-specific endoprotease from barley and a prolyl endopeptidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum or Pyrococcus furiosus as a potential remedy to celiac disease. Functional & Integrative Genomics 19:123-136.
  12. Rustgi S, Boex-Fontvieille E, Reinbothe C, von Wettstein D, Reinbothe S (2017) Serpin 1 and the water-soluble chlorophyll binding Kunitz protease inhibitor WSCP differentially regulate the activity of the cysteine protease RD21 (RESPONSIVE TO DESICCATION) during plant development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 114:2212–2217.
  13. Springer A, Kang C, Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Reinbothe C, Pollmann S, Reinbothe S (2016) Programmed chloroplast destruction during leaf senescence involves 13-lipoxygenase (13-LOX). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 113:3383–3388.
  14. Reinbothe S, Gray J, Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Reinbothe C (2015) Cell growth defect factor 1 is crucial for the plastid import of NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase A in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 112:838–5843.
  15. Rustgi S, Pollmann S, Buhr F, Springer A, Reinbothe C, von Wettstein D, Reinbothe S (2014) JIP60-mediated, jasmonate- and senescence-induced molecular switch in translation toward stress and defense protein synthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 111:14181-14186.
  16. Bhullar R, Nagarajan R, Bennypaul H, Sidhu GK, Sidhu G, Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Gill KS (2014) Silencing of a metaphase I-specific gene results in a phenotype similar to that of the Pairing homeologous 1 (Ph1) gene mutations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 111:14187-14192.
  17. Yang C, Zhao L, Yang Z, Xu C, Zhang H, Wen S, Zhang C, Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Liu B (2014) Evolution of physiological responses to salt stress in hexaploid wheat. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 111:11882-11887.
  18. Hu L, Li N, Xu C, Zhong S, Lin X, Yang J, Zhou T, Yuliang A, Cao X, Zemach A, Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Liu B (2014) Mutation of a major CG methylase in rice causes genome-wide hypomethylation, dysregulated genome expression, and seedling lethality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 111:10642-10647.
  19. Mejias JH, Lu X, Osorio C, Ullman JL, von Wettstein D, Rustgi S (2014) Analysis of wheat prolamins, the causative agents of celiac sprue, using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Nutrients 6:1578–1597.
  20. Zhang H, Bian Y, Gou X, Zhu B, Xu C, Qi B, Li N, Rustgi S, Zhou H, Han F, Jiang J, von Wettstein D, Liu B (2013) Persistent whole-chromosome aneuploidy is generally associated with nascent allohexaploid wheat. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 110:3447-3452.
  21. Rustgi S (2013) Engineering wheat genotypes compatible for gluten sensitive, allergenic and intolerant individuals. International Journal of Plant Biology & Research 1:1003.
  22. Zhang H, Bian Y, Gou X, Dong Y, Rustgi S, Zhang B, Xu C, Li N, Qi B, Han F, von Wettstein D, Liu B (2013) Intrinsic karyotype stability and gene copy number variations may have laid the foundation for tetraploid wheat formation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 110:19466-19471.
  23. Osorio C, Wen N, Gemini R, Zemetra R, von Wettstein D, Rustgi S (2012) Targeted modification of wheat grain protein to reduce the content of celiac causing epitopes. Functional & Integrative Genomics 12:417-438.
  24. Wen S, Wen N, Pang J, Langen G, Brew-Appiah RAT, Mejias JH, Osorio C, Yang MM, Gemini R, Moehs CP, Zemetra RS, Kogel KH, Liu B, Wang X, von Wettstein D, Rustgi S (2012) Structural genes of wheat and barley 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylases and their potential applications for human health. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 109:20543-20548.
  25. Lee H, Rustgi S, Kumar N, Burke IC, Yenish JP, Gill KS, von Wettstein D, Ullrich SE (2011) Single nucleotide mutation in the barley acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) gene confers resistance to imidazolinone herbicides. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 108:8909-
  26. Sidhu GK, Rustgi S, Shafqat MN, von Wettstein D, Gill KS (2008) Fine structure mapping of a gene-rich region of wheat carrying Ph1, a suppressor of crossing over between homoeologous chromosomes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States of America 105:5815-5820.

Extension articles (selected)

  1. Rustgi S, Kashyap S, Alam T, Kerr R, Jones Z, Naveed S, Shekar PV, Gemini R, Reisenauer P (2020) Non-immunogenic wheat needed to feed 10% of the US population suffering from wheat-related disorders. Annual Wheat Newsletter 66:93-98.
  2. Rustgi S, Kashyap S, Gandhi N, Naveed S, Windham J, Yang M, Gemini R, and Reisenauer P (2019) A creative solution to gluten-induced disorders using a unique combination of multigene editing and nanoparticle-based gene-delivery. Annual Wheat Newsletter 65:79-84.
  3. Rustgi S, Kashyap S, Gandhi N, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Gemini R, Reisenauer P (2018) Novel wheat genotypes designed to meet the future needs for safe and surplus food. Annual Wheat Newsletter 64:56-61.
  4. Rustgi S, Gandhi N, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Gemini R, Reisenauer P (2017) Celiac-safe wheat genotypes: A target not beyond reach. Annual Wheat Newsletter 63:85-88.
  5. Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Ou X, Sun Y, Gemini R (2016) Quest for celiac-safe wheat. Annual Wheat Newsletter 62:89-92.
  6. Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Brew-Appiah RAT, Wen N, Mitchell SM, Gemini R, Reisenauer P (2015) Celiac-safe wheat genotypes: A dietary solution to the gluten-induced disorders. Annual Wheat Newsletter 61:99-103.
  7. Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Brew-Appiah RAT, Wen N, Mitchell SM, Gemini R, Reisenauer P, Brabb I (2014) Breeding celiac-safe wheat cultivars a future market class of wheat. Annual Wheat Newsletter 60:143-146.
  8. Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Mejias JH, Brew-Appiah RAT, Wen S, Wen N, Osorio C, Gemini R, Reisenauer P, Mohan J, Brabb I (2013) A natural dietary-therapy for gluten intolerance, sensitivity and allergenicity. Annual Wheat Newsletter 59:151-155.
  9. Rustgi S, von Wettstein D, Ankrah N, Brew-Appiah RAT, Wen S, Wen N, Osorio C, Gemini R, Reisenauer P, Lu X, Mejias JH (2012) Engineering wheat for celiac patients. Annual Wheat Newsletter 58:248-253.
  10. von Wettstein D, Rustgi S, Kannangara CG, Ankrah N, Brew-Appiah RAT, Wen S, Wen N, Gemini R, Brueggeman R, Reisenauer P, Gill KS, Moehs CP, Liu B, Pang J, Wang X, Langen G, Kogel KH (2010) Multipronged approach to develop nutritionally improved celiac safe wheat varieties. Annual Wheat Newsletter 56:261-264.

Book chapters (selected)

  1. Rustgi S, Naveed S, Prasanna S (2021) Advances in understanding the genetics of the nutritional properties of cereals: maize and oat proteins. In: T. Beta (Ed.), Improving the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of wheat and other cereals. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. DOI: 10.19103/AS.2021.0087.12.
  2. Windham J, Sharma S, Kashyap MK, Rustgi S (2021) CRISPR/Cas12a (Cpf1) and its role in plant genome editing. In: G. Tang, S. Teotia, X. Tang, D. Singh (Eds.), RNA-based technologies for functional genomics in plants. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland. pp 15-42.
  3. Rustgi S, Kashyap S, Deleu LJ, Delcour J (2021) Reduced-immunogenicity wheat now coming to age. In: Wani SH, Mohan A, Singh GP (eds) Physiological, Molecular, and Genetic perspectives of Wheat Improvement. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland. pp 279-300.
  4. Rustgi S, Shewry P, Brouns F (2020) “Health hazards associated with gluten consumption in susceptible individuals and current status of research on the dietary therapies,” In: Igrejas G, Ikeda TM, Guzmán C (Eds.), ‘Wheat Quality for Improving Processing and Human Health,’ Springer, Cham. pp. 471-515.
  5. Rustgi S, Luo H (2020) Biolistic DNA delivery in plants. Springer Nature, New York, NY. Pp. 334.
  6. Rustgi S, Wen N, Osorio C, Brew-Appiah RAT, Wen S, Gemini R, Mejias JH, Ankrah N, Moehs CP, von Wettstein D (2014) Natural dietary therapies for the ‘gluten syndrome’. The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pp 87.
  7. Rustgi S (2011) In silico development and use of SSR and SNP markers in bread wheat: Gene derived markers and genome fractionation a glimpse in the wheat genome. VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller GmbH & Co. KG, Saarbrücken, Germany. Pp 152.