Garima K Shekhawat Poster 2023

Ms Garima K Shekhawat

Central University of Rajasthan, India

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase B as Vaccine Candidate against Tuberculosis

Poster Abstract

Purpose and motivation- Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). Due to the emergence of drug resistance and the coexistence of TB with HIVAIDS, the management of TB has become very challenging worldwide. So, there is an urgency to develop new effective drugs and vaccines to combat TB. 

Work Done- In this study, we used Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein tyrosine phosphatase B (PtpB), secreted into the host cell. By interacting with host signal transduction processes in macrophages, PtpB attenuates host immune defenses. Thus it could be a potential vaccine candidate against tuberculosis. Here, we performed computational analyses to study the M.tb PtpB immunogenicity and vaccine potential by in-silico producing a multi-epitope subunit vaccine against TB. 

Methods- Mycobacterium tuberculosis PtpB epitopes were constructed as a subunit vaccine candidate. Further, we performed in-silico tests for its allergenicity and immunogenicity. Then, the structure of the vaccine was predicted and with the help of docking and simulation techniques, we analyzed its reaction with the host immune system in an imitating environment. 

Results- The computationally prepared multi-epitope subunit vaccine is predicated as nonallergic with significant immunogenicity to generate an immune response in the host. Also, the analysis of docking this with an immunological receptor reveals its potential to serve as a good vaccine candidate against TB. 

Conclusion- In this work, we studied the importance of Ptp B in vaccine development against TB and found positive vaccine potential using our computation approaches. Thus, this study can be extended to develop and validate as a vaccine against TB in vivo.

Biography

I'm an integrated M.Sc. microbiology, life sciences, 2016-2021 graduate from Central University of Rajasthan, India. For my bachelor’s thesis (2019) supervised by Dr. Deeksha Tripathi, I was fortunate to work towards a vaccine candidate against 𝘔𝘺𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴, worked on PtpB secretory protein, using in-silico methods such as molecular docking, simulations, allergenicity and immunogenicity tests. Also, our work was selected to be  resented by me at an International Conference on Frontiers in Biochemistry and Biotechnology: Strategies to Combat Human Diseases, 2020, Delhi, India, among other 40 poster presentations.

In my master’s thesis (2021) supervised by Prof. Dr. Inshad A. Khan, I worked towards development of drug target for Methicillin Resistant 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘴, using it’s efflux pump NorA examined with in-silico methods. Currently, I’m interested to work on TB and HIV co-infections, cancer, COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance, one health and open to work on other pressing issues and eagerly look forward to potential opportunities and  collaborations. As a person, I'm a nature loving, travel enthusiast, detail oriented, data nerd, always curious to learn, adaptable, optimistic fellow, and much more...

I look forward to hearing from you until then take care!