Research/Areas of Interest:
Cryptosporidium sporozoite attachment to epithelial cells and subsequent invasion are crucial events in the establishment of an infection. My work focuses on the way carbohydrate-mediated interaction of sporozoites with host cells is mediated and on the enzymes involved in mucin-type O-glycosylation of the pathogen-encoded glycoproteins. I have cloned, expressed and characterized a Gal/GalNAc-specific lectin, Cp30 that binds to glycoconjugates on host cells as well as on the parasite and shown that Gal/GalNAc-containing molecules, especially mucins and mucin-like proteins on the host cell and sporozoite surface are involved in mediating attachment. In addition, I have cloned and partially characterized polypeptide N-acetyl galactosaminyl transferases and am determining their role in mucin-type O-glycosylation of Cryptosporium glycoproteins.
Education
BSc, Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
MSc, Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
PhD, Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India