Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program
BS (Hons.), Biochemistry
University of Delhi, Delhi, India
MS, Plant Molecular Biology
University of Delhi, Delhi, India

Email: kasturi.chatterjee@drexel.edu

Advisor: Dr. Lawrence W. Bergman

Thesis Research Summary

Investigators working in the laboratory of Dr. Bergman focus on the invasion process of the malarial parasite. Apicomplexan parasites make use of an acti-myosin motor for gliding motility and host cell invasion. The interaction between the motor and host cell receptors involves trans-membrane invasins belonging to the thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) family. Studies have indicated that aldolase bridges actin and cytoplasmic tail of TRAP in Plasmodium and TRAP-like molecules in Toxoplasma. We are interested in identifying the particular motifs present in cytoplasmic domains of these molecules which are crucial for interaction and parasite survival. Currently, we are studying the strength of binding of the cytoplasmic tail domains from various TRAP-like molecules with aldolase through binding assays.