Poulami Chatterjee

Mass spectrometry • Developed method and set up mass spectrometry instrument for both untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry to identify lipids in Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease causing pathogenic bacteria (Manuscript in preparation), Manager at Dassama lab metabolomics facilities. Gene editing • Used CRISPRi screening to identify potential drug targets and confirmed phenotypic and genetic changes using qRT-PCR, Phase-contrast microscopy, growth curve, and whole genome sequencing. Microscopy • Used total internal reflection fluorescence microscope to observe lipid droplet formation in Borrelia burgdorferi using neutral lipid specific dye LipidToxTM Deep red. Biochemistry • Identified and purified protein drug targets using ÄKTA and confirmed their role either as lipid biosynthesizing enzymes or lipid transporters using enzymatic assays/binding assays. Machine learning-Artificial Intelligence (AI) based model development • Co-developed an AI-driven method for identification of lipid binding proteins in bacteria as well in eukaryotes and validated using biochemistry. Collaborations / Mentoring/ Achievements • Mentored postdocs, grad students on mass spectrometry, molecular cloning and biochemistry. • Collaborated with Labs and helped in transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of gut bacteria Eubacteria coprostanoligenes (collaboration with Prof. Emily Balskus, Harvard University) and a parasite Plasmodium falciparum (collaboration with Prof. Matthias Garten, Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University - Stanford Bio-X Grant). • Developed independently fully functional and equipped BSL-2 laboratory and aseptic techniques for growing Treponema pallidum, a syphilis causing microaerophilic bacteria. • Wrote a preview on “Unveiling of a messenger: Gut microbes make a neuroactive signal”, published in Cell, June, 2024

Lyme disease, a model of emerging bacterial infection: From bacterial cell envelope trafficking to developing new tools for diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine discovery

Worked with Prof. John C. Meeks Project: Used transcriptomics (deep and bulk) to understand plant-cyanobacteria interactions to establish free living nitrogen fixing Nostoc punctiforme as a biofertilizer, using time-course analysis during symbiosis with hornworts. Whole transcriptomics, bioinformatic data analysis, gas chromatography and biochemistry • Developed novel mechanisms of host-microbe interactions and molecular insights into it using deep and bulk transcriptomic approach along with bioinformatics analysis (published research in Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions). Gene editing • Identified key features of Cyanobacteria (Nostoc punctiforme), prepared gliding motility mutants using molecular genetics and studied its interactions with host Anthoceros punctatus to confirm the role of key gene regulating elements in symbiotic interactions. Deep transcriptomics • Characterized gene expression changes using transcriptomics in Nostoc while its colocalized in Eukaryotic host (manuscript under preparation).

Effect of bacterial inoculant on foliage photosynthetic characteristics and emission dynamics of biogenic volatile organic compounds upon abiotic and biotic stress in Eucalyptus sp. through recovery phase. The present study is the first report contributing the possibility of foliage application of ACC deaminase producing plant growth-promoting bacteria to alleviate temporal dynamics of stress induced by abiotic-biotic stress. The temporal emission dynamics of volatiles from bacteria inoculated leaves upon subsequent abiotic-biotic treatments will provide valuable information for diagnosing the efficiency of bacteria alleviating MeJA stress. As reflected in decreased VOC emission and higher photosynthesis rates for Eucalyptus sp. leaves primed by bacteria and subsequently treated with abiotic-biotic stress factors, bacterial inoculation considerably improved plant stress resistance against acute abiotic-biotic stresses.

Inoculation of ACCdeaminase producing plant growth-promoting bacteria in Oryza sativa genotypes enhanced salinity resistance: impacts on photosynthetic traits and foliar volatile emissions Our study demonstrated that the use of ACC deaminase-containing plant growth-promoting bacteria led to a major amelioration of salt afterstress effects on foliage photosynthesis, volatile emissions in both rice cultivars, and the associated onset of stress responses downstream the signaling cascade.

Worked on a mycobacterial invasion protein involved in pathogenesis and immunomodulatory activities and also reported antimicrobial resistance to weaken the host immune system in macrophages. In this study, we characterized the role of Rv1478 (mycobacterial protein) using both in vitro and in vivo experiments and our results indicated that NlpC/P60 family protein of M.tb has the potential for the development of antibiotic resistance in order to survive within the host cell.

Synthesis, characterization, and bio-efficacy study of Manganese nanoparticles (MnNP) on nitrogen metabolism and oxidative stress in plants. This study revealed that MnNP might modulate the nitrogen metabolism process and thereby could be used as a suitable alternative for MS, commercially available Mn fertilizer. MnNP, because of its size and properties, was absorbed readily by the root from soil and transported to the leaf where it acted as a cofactor in the series of enzymatic reactions during the assimilation of nitrate salt into organic nitrogen compounds.

Role of Artocarpus lakoocha as an antimicrobial agent & also studied the biochemical activity of the plant Bioassay with Artocarpus leaf leachate, Isolation and Characterization of Active Allelochemical, using Thin Layer Chromatography and U-V spectrophotometer, Effects of ArtclAF of Artocarpus lakoocha at Different Concentrations on Bacteria and Fungi, Effects of ArtclAF of Artocarpus lakoocha at Different Concentrations on the Germination and Subsequent Growth of Rice.

Regulation of plant volatile emission using ACCdeaminase producing plant growth promoting bacteria under salt and heat stresses This study gives us a preliminary idea about the efficiency of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase producing plant growth-promoting bacteria Brevibacterium linens RS16 in altering volatile emission and photosynthetic traits in conjunction with ameliorating salt stress and heat stress

I received Master degree in Biotechnology with First class. I did my dissertation project entitled" To find the role of mycobacterial secretory proteins in inflammasome mediated cell-death pathway" under the supervision of Dr. Avinash Sonawane, Associate Professor, KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

I passed my Bachelors in Microbiology (Hons.) with First Class.