Kush

Bhavsar

Biography

I am an Undergraduate Engineering student engaged in developing new drug therapies targeting the parasite Giardia lamblia, with a focus on building a kinase enzyme library to screen for potential inhibitors.

My G. lamblia kinase enzyme library project centers on PCR, Chewback/Ligation, transformation, and protein purification. The overall goal of the project is to produce the kinase enzymes needed for the library. These four experiments allow us to express kinase-coding genes in E. coli and produce substantial quantities of these enzymes. By doing so, we can use them to test if different drugs inhibit the enzyme’s functionality. Once an enzyme has been isolated, we will send it off for genomic sequencing to confirm that we have the correct target.  

Another project I am actively involved in focuses on cell culture techniques and conducting cytotoxicity assays using mammalian cells. The goal of this project is to evaluate the chemical stability of various compounds over time, as well as to assess their potential toxic effects on mammalian cells when dosed in different concentrations. 

I assist other lab members with enzyme assays, DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, and prep work for animal experiments. I'm currently training in thermal shift assays. I also aid in maintaining lab operations by preparing media and agar plates, restocking and autoclaving supplies, managing waste disposal, and organizing storage and freezer inventories.