Vandana Arakandy
Researcher
Kannur, Kerala
Summary
A self-driven and dedicated researcher in Microbiology with over 6 years of experience in the field. The host-pathogen interactions in Staphylococcus aureus have been explored during these years. The primary research interest lies in the development of personalized drugs, taking into account the diverse virulence mechanisms of S. aureus
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
14
14
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Doctoral Researcher
Institute Of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Of Jena
Jena
4 2016 - 08.2024
- Supervisor: PD. Dr. Lorena Tuchscherr de Hauschopp.
- Engaged in doctoral studies at International Leibniz Research School for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions Jena (ILRS Jena), Hans-Knöll-Institute.
- Researched host-pathogen interaction during Staphylococcus aureus infections in a BSL-2 laboratory.
- Analyzed cell membrane modification of intracellular S. aureus during persistence using a long-term infection model in primary osteoblasts, footpad mice model and S. aureus infected clinical tissues.
- Explored the impact of cell membrane modification on virulence and global regulators of S. aureus.
- Isolated human osteoblasts from healthy bones and prepared stock for cryopreservation.
- Extracted lipids from infected cells for lipidomics
- Prepared samples for proteomics and analyzed proteomic data sets.
- Collaborated with researchers and scientists to design and execute experiments.
- Mentored master’s thesis, guiding study design, conducting experiments and interpreting results.
- Managed lab resources effectively, ensuring timely completion of experiments within budget constraints.
- Adhered to laboratory safety procedures to maintain compliance with BSL-2 quality control standards.
- Participated in lab meetings and project presentations.
- Cooperated with other technicians to develop and test new protocols for the extraction of RNA from infected cells.
- Developed new protocols and improved existing laboratory processes.
Research Assistant
Central Tuber Crops Research Institute
Thiruvananthapuram
01.2014 - 03.2023
- Conducted research on in vitro regeneration and hardening of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) through plant tissue culture.
- Handled major plant tissue culture related techniques such as sterilization, inoculation and hardening. Standardized the media preparation and protocol for the regeneration and hardening of cassava.
- Successfully developed new hardening method for cassava that helped releasing new healthy plantlets for the farmers.
Research Intern
Sugarcane Breeding Institute Research Centre
Kannur
04.2013 - 09.2013
- Worked on the project: Indirect regeneration of red fleshed sugarcane (Saccharum robustum) clones.
- Accomplished a method to reduce the effect of phenol exudation in plant tissue culture of sugarcane.
- Induced somaclonal variation by callus culture of sugarcane.
- The global collection of various sugarcane clones were successfully conserved in vitro through plant tissue culture.
Education
Ph.D. - Microbiology
Faculty of Biological Sciences
Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany 04.2016 - 08.2024
Master of Science - Biotechnology
School of Biochemistry And Cell Biology
University College Cork, Ireland 10.2014 - 10.2015
Advanced Post Graduate Diploma - Plant Tissue Culture And Micro Propagation
School of Life Sciences
St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, India 06.2012 - 06.2013
Bachelor of Technology - Biotechnology
Department of Biotechnology
Adhiyamaan College Of Engineering, India 06.2007 - 06.2011
Skills
Animal Cell culture
Primary osteoblasts isolation and cryopreservation
RNA extraction
Quantitative Real-time PCR
Agarose gel electrophoresis
Lipid extraction
Hemolysis assay
Biofilm assay
DNA barcoding
Proteomics data analysis
Flow cytometry
Lipidomic analysis
Additional Information
- First author manuscript of the doctoral research is in the final phase for submission.
- Jordan PM, Gerstmeier J, Pace S, Bilancia R, Rao Z, Börner F, Miek L, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Ó, Arakandy V, Rossi A, Ialenti A, González-Estévez C, Löffler B, Tuchscherr L, Serhan CN, Werz O. Staphylococcus aureus-Derived α-Hemolysin Evokes Generation of Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators Promoting Inflammation Resolution. Cell Rep. 2020 Oct 13;33(2):108247. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108247. PMID: 33053344; PMCID: PMC7729929.
- Romp E, Arakandy V, Fischer J, Wolz C, Siegmund A, Löffler B, Tuchscherr L, Werz O, Garscha U. Exotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus activate 5-lipoxygenase and induce leukotriene biosynthesis. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020 Oct;77(19):3841-3858. doi: 10.1007/s00018-019-03393-x. Epub 2019 Dec 5. PMID: 31807813.
- R. Shiji, James George, S. Sunitha, A. Vandana and R. Muthuraj (2014), Effect of NAA and IBA on in vitro regeneration and hardening in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.), Journal of Root Crops 40(2):12-20.
Accomplishments
- Achieved second price for the poster presented at MiCom 2018- 7th International Conference on Microbial Communication conducted at Jena, Germany
Additional research experience
Master's thesis
Marine Bio Discovery for Next Generation Antimicrobials, under the supervision of Prof. Fergal O’ Gara, BIOMERIT research centre, UCC, Ireland
- 24 well plate and 96 well plate biofilm assays
- Extraction and culturing of bacteria from marine sponges
- Sequencing and identification of bacteria
- Growth curve assays
- Biosensor assays
Bachelor's Thesis
SNP genotyping of steroid metabolizing gene SULT1A1 in breast cancer using real-time PCR at Regional Cancer Centre, Kerala, India
- Investigated the link between Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in SULT1A1 gene and the development of breast cancer
- Extracted genomic DNA from whole blood samples of the patients by using the salting out method
- Carried out TaqMan-based SNP genotyping assay using quantitative real-time PCR
Mini Project
Evaluation of Anti-Tumor Activity of Plant Extracts (Amaranthus spinosus & Sesbania grandiflora) on HEp-2 Cells
- Investigated the cytotoxic action of Amaranthus spinosus & Sesbania grandiflora leaf extracts on human epitheloma cells of larynx (HEp-2)
- The leaf extract was prepared from the dried leaf powder
- HEp-2 cells were cultured and maintained on 24-well plates
- The cytotoxicity of the plant extract was analyzed using MTT assay
Supervision and Trainings
Hands on training
DNA barcoding of animals using Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I (COI) at Regional Facility for DNA Fingerprinting, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology (RGCB), India
· The tissue specimens of unknown origin were barcode sequenced and identified using BLAST analysis.
· The DNA barcoding was utilized to verify the animal samples confiscated by police and involved in court trials for poaching.
References
1) PD. Dr. rer. nat. Lorena Tuchscherr
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital of Jena
Am Klinikum 1
D-07747 Jena
Germany
lorenatuchscherr@yahoo.com
2) Dr F. Jerry Reen
Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator
School of Microbiology, University College Cork
Ireland
j.reen@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 1330
Timeline
Ph.D. - Microbiology
Faculty of Biological Sciences
04.2016 - 08.2024
Master of Science - Biotechnology
School of Biochemistry And Cell Biology
10.2014 - 10.2015
Research Assistant
Central Tuber Crops Research Institute
01.2014 - 03.2023
Research Intern
Sugarcane Breeding Institute Research Centre
04.2013 - 09.2013
Advanced Post Graduate Diploma - Plant Tissue Culture And Micro Propagation
School of Life Sciences
06.2012 - 06.2013
Bachelor of Technology - Biotechnology
Department of Biotechnology
06.2007 - 06.2011
Doctoral Researcher
Institute Of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Of Jena
4 2016 - 08.2024
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