Keerthana S

Molecular Medicine Student at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

Experience

  • CHARITE UNIVERSITATSMEDIZIN BERLIN (Berlin, Germany)
    • Project Intern
      Aug 2023 - Dec 2023 · 5 mos

      • In this project, I conducted a comparative analysis of hemostatic components between patients with intact fibrous cap ACS (IFC-ACS) and ruptured fibrous cap ACS (RFC-ACS). • I collected 434 samples from these patient groups as well as healthy controls. • Specifically, I measured the levels of Factor Xa by Human Factor Xa Chromogenic activity assay and Factor XI by ELISA, which play crucial roles in the coagulation cascade and contribute to fibrin clot formation. • By comparing the Factor Xa and Factor XI levels across the different patient groups, I aimed to identify specific biomarkers that could distinguish plaque erosion (IFC-ACS) from plaque rupture (RFC-ACS).

    • Project Intern
      Mar 2023 - Jul 2023 · 5 mos

      • In this neuroblastoma research project, I developed a transgenic zebrafish model that expresses the human MYCN oncogene and spontaneously develops neuroblastoma tumors. • By co-expressing the LMO1 gene, which is associated with high-risk neuroblastoma, I was able to substantiate its role in tumor and metastasis formation. • Using immunohistochemistry, I detected metastatic tumor cells in various organs of the transgenic zebrafish and compared the onset and location of metastases between the MYCN-overexpressing and MYCN-LMO1 double transgenic models. • This unique animal model I established provides a valuable tool for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroblastoma development and metastasis formation.

  • Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (DBT-inStem) (3 yrs)
    • PROJECT ASSOCIATE II
      May 2021 - Oct 2021 · 6 mos

      • Performed protein purification (Affinity Chromatography and Size-exclusion Chromatography) for BRCA1 protein, both LB media and N15 labelled media. • Screened BRCA1 protein against 1000 different fragments by Saturation Transfer Difference Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (STD NMR) and analyzed the data using Bruker TopSpin Software.

    • PROJECT ASSOCIATE I
      May 2019 - Apr 2021 · 2 yrs

      • Performed protein purification (Affinity Chromatography and Size-exclusion Chromatography) for p53 and ECT2 proteins, both LB media and N15 labelled media. • Set up crystals for p53 and ECT2 at various conditions by hanging and sitting drop vapour diffusion method (Mosquito machine) and expansion of hit condition Excelled at using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) from mounting the crystal till data collection. • Experienced using UV microscopy to differentiate between protein crystal and salt crystal. • Created Site-directed mutations in p53, cloned and expressed it in E.coli. • Experienced performing Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and Microscale thermophoresis (MST) to check biophysical interaction between protein and peptide.

    • PROJECT INTERN
      Nov 2018 - Apr 2019 · 6 mos

      •Performed protein purification (Affinity Chromatography and Size-exclusion Chromatography) for 14-3-3. •Set up apo-crystallization of 14-3-3 and co-crystallization of 14-3-3 with P007 peptide.

  • PROJECT INTERN at Theragen Biologics
    May 2018 - Jul 2018 · 3 mos

    • Extraction and purification of antibody fragments present in periplasmic space by affinity column chromatography. • Estimation of the concentration of total protein in a sample by Bradford protein assay and Silver staining. • Performed detection and characterization of protein by Western blot.