Clinical study phenotyping monocyte markers correlated with inflammation in adolescent obesity and diabetes

 Developed and conducted multiple complex, assigned and independent, research projects through multiple collaborations. Identified sex differences in lipid and fatty acid species in visceral fat through lipidomics in high fat diet obesity and gonadectomy mouse models. Identified the role of sex hormones through gonadectomy and aging mouse models in pro-inflammatory responses (adipose, liver, bone marrow , blood macrophages, T cells, B cells) in obesity. Investigated effects of maternal gestational/lactation high fat diets on inflammatory macrophages of offspring. Techniques: Multi-color Flow cytometry sample preparation and analysis of macrophages, T cells and B cells from murine adipose, liver, blood, bone marrow and patient blood samples, 3T3L1 cell culture, mesenchymal stem cell and bone marrow macrophages and dendritic cell cultures, biochemical assays, ELISA, fluorescent microscopy, molecular biology techniques, lipidomics and RNA seq. Provided research guidance and support to honor-thesis students and training to research volunteers and staff routinely and wrote/modified Standard Operating Procedures for data collection and analysis. Authored 10+ first author publications and 2 book chapters. Presented research at local and national meetings.

Investigated lipid associated perilipins in lipolytic trafficking in murine cardiac muscle and adipose tissues. Identified the role of perilipin5 in cardiac muscle mitochondrial cristae dynamics in response to beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist induced lipolysis. Techniques: Primary cell culture and cell-based assays, transfection, plasmid DNA expansion, mitochondrial isolation, confocal imaging, FRAP, biochemical analyses, histochemistry, electron microscopy, fluoro-nanogold antibody labeling in perfused murine cardiac and fat tissues, electron tomography, mass spectrometry, proteomic analysis tools (DAVID, STRING, GO). Provided training and research guidance to undergraduates.  Prepared manuscripts and authored publications. Presented research at local and national meetings.

 Prepared and imaged cell culture samples for actin cytoskeleton imaging by transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

Characterized cellular factors involved in cell membrane protrusion formation in rat tracheal epithelial cells. Cultured and maintained primary rat tracheal epithelial cell lines for experiments Characterized structural components regulating membrane protrusion types (lamellipodia, filopodia) in rat tracheal epithelial cells through a computerized morphometric classification technique. Developed and tested hypothetical models for neurite like features formed during cell migration in epithelial cells. Developed methods to study focal adhesions orientation in cultured cells and its effect on formation of membrane protrusion types with GIS softwares. Prepared samples and performed MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to analyze the effects of chemical agonists on focal adhesion proteins in epithelial cells. Prepared samples and performed fluorescence, scanning and transmission electron microscopy to analyze focal adhesion structures in a cell membrane protrusion. Presented research at local and national scientific meetings (AACR). Authored grant proposals and scientific publications. Trained and mentored undergraduate students.

Laboratory instructor for undergraduate biology majors and non-majors.Courses included basic biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and physiology

Project: Strain improvement and development for enhanced secondary metabolite production from fungal and bacterial systems. Culture and maintenance of fungal and bacterial systems for production of secondary metabolites.  Performed microbial strain improvement through classical mutagenesis (U.V radiations, Nitroso-guanidine) and protoplastation technique for enhanced secondary metabolite production. Screened potential mutants through miniaturized screening techniques for secondary metabolite production. Performed pilot studies on optimization of fermentation media and other parameters for improved antibiotic production. Presented weekly data updates.