Cindy Spruit Email & Phone Number

Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

Utrecht Area, Netherlands

In the Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery group at Utrecht University, supervised by Robert de Vries.Supervision of 3 master students and 1 bachelor student.I am involved in the following projects:-Elongation of glycans on MDCK and hCK cell by genetic engineering for improved influenza A virus binding. --Used techniques were: molecular cloning, lentivirus generation, mammalian cell culture, qPCR, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, viral growth experiments, mammalian protein expression and purification.-Identification of the molecular determinants for the receptor specificity towards glycans terminated in NeuAc or NeuGc by of influenza A virus hemagglutinin.--Used techniques were: alignment of viral sequences, targeted mutagenesis using PCR, DNA purification, production and purification of proteins in mammalian cells, glycan microarray, hemagglutination assay, tissue immunohistochemistry, glycomics.-Review on the presence of NeuGc in animal models for influenza A virus.--Used skills: academic writing, finding appropriate literature, organizing big amounts of information, tissue immunohistochemistry, glycan microarray, hemagglutination assay.-More projects ongoing on the receptor binding of influenza viruses.--Additional techniques: ELISA, selection of appropriate tissues for binding experiments, project organization and management, supervision of students, reviewing of manuscripts, data analysis, bacterial protein production and purification, time management, teaching a course (project) to students, presenting research in an understandable and clear way, fluorescence microscopy, cell staining, mammalian gene alignment.

Helsinki Area, Finland

Final mark: 9.5/10During this research internship of six months in the group of prof. Skurnik, I investigated the proteins that are produced by the newly discoverd bacteriophage fHe-Kpn01. I identified three proteins that are toxic to bacteria. The final aim would be to develop new antibiotics. The results are published and can be found in the list of publications.

Lelystad

Final mark: 8.5/10Research project in the arbovirology group on genome packaging of bunyaviruses using among others single molecule RNA-FISH, with Rift Valley fever virus as the model virus.Experiments were carried out in ML-2 lab facilities. The results are published and can be found in the list of publications below.

Wageningen

Teaching Assistant in the tutorials of the course Bioreactor Design (mainly for second year bachelor Biotechnology students) at Wageningen University and Research.

Nijmegen En Omgeving, Nederland

Final mark: 9.0/10For this master thesis in the downstream processing group, I investigated the removal of high molecular weight species of monoclonal antibodies using Protein A chromatography. I used a Design of Experiments approach to study four different Protein A resins and different elution conditions. For setting up the experiments and analysing the results, the statistical program JMP13 was used.I packed and qualified the different Protein A columns, after which the purification runs were performed using an ÄKTApure system and Unicorn 6.4 software. For analysis of the results, high performance size exclusion chromatography and analytical Protein A chromatography was used.

Final mark: 8.5/10I performed my bachelor thesis at the Laboratory of Virology. The thesis was entitled: 'Overexpression of eIF4E to increase cell viability and production of secreted proteins after baculovirus infection'A recombinant baculovirus was constructed expressing both an enzymatic and fluorescent marker. A novel insect cell line was engineered for overexpression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E. Experiments were performed in ML-2 lab facilities.

Training secondary school children for their final exams in mathematics, biology and chemistry.

Master'S Degree

Bachelor'S Degree

Pre-University College

Education record

Gymnasium