Anshika Gupta
A microbial engineer learning about the elegant solutions nature has devised to build innovative tools for a healthier planet.
I am excited to translate the rules of biology and chemistry into therapeutics that address critical health challenges.
I am currently engaged in the quest to understand respiratory illnesses that arise in patients with chronic tracheostomy support.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh
Postdoc (2023-)
Postdoc (2023-)
UIUC
PhD Candidate
(2016 - 2023)
PhD Candidate
(2016 - 2023)
PPD
Research Intern (2022)
Research Intern (2022)
UC San Diego
Research Intern (2015)
Research Intern (2015)
IIT Delhi
B.Tech. - M.Tech. (2011-2016)
B.Tech. - M.Tech. (2011-2016)
Identifying microbial markers of tracheostomy-associated tracheobronchitis
Over 100,000 Americans require tracheostomy support every year. However, the impact of tracheostomy tube insertion on susceptibility to microbial infections is unknown. In this study, we are using microbial genomics, inflammation profiling and clinical health markers to identify cases of active respiratory infection caused after tracheostomy insertions.
Stay tuned!
A. Gupta, V. S. Cooper, & A.C. Zemke
Is Streptonigrin's toxicity tied to oxidative stress?
Certain natural products produced by Streptomyces have potent antibacterial activity. A suggested mechanism of their toxicity is through the production of reactive oxygen species.
But is it really? Checkout our work below!
How a natural antibiotic uses oxidative stress to kill oxidant-resistant bacteria
A. Gupta & J.A. Imlay.
Published at Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Oxidative DNA damage and repair
DNA damage by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is believed to be the major cause of aging, carcinogenesis, and the antimicrobial activity of macrophages. However, experimental evidence testing the survival of bacteria at natural doses of H2O2 fails to support this hypothesis. This begs the question:
Is DNA oxidation a lethal outcome in natural biological systems? Read to find out!
E. coli induces DNA repair enzymes to protect itself from low-grade hydrogen peroxide stress
A. Gupta & J.A. Imlay (2021).
Published at Molecular Microbiology
Solar disinfection of water systems
Traditional household disinfection approaches have relied on solar radiation. Researchers are now trying to use solar radiation to build low-cost and efficient water disinfection apparatus.
What biological phenomena underlies the antimicrobial effect of solar radiation?
S. Giannakis, A. Gupta, C. Pulgarin, & J.A. Imlay (2022).
Published at Water Research
Internship at ThermoFisher PPD, Richmond
Detecting anti-drug antibodies
Assay development to test immunogenicity of clinical drugs [Article by Dept. of MCB]
[NDA restricted]
Developed ELISA and MSD plate-based assays to test the immunogenicity of biologics and gene therapy AAV vectors
Increased the sensitivity of antibody detection by over 50% through pH modulation
Earned a return offer for a full-time Senior Scientist position
Soil microbial community analysis (GEMS, UIUC)
Nitrogen fertilizer and soil microbial community
A multidisciplinary and collaborative project to isolate and analyze differences in microbial community composition upon the addition of nitrogen-fertilizer
Using selective and differential media, isolated 142 strains belonging to Bacillus, Streptomyces, Rhizobia and Pseudomonas families
Employed community analysis from 16S sequencing and analysis in R; the data revealed lower abundance of rhizobia in nitrogen-treated soil compared to untreated soil
Internship at UCSD
Mechanism of action of anti-fibriotic drug in diabetic kidney disease
Successfully implemented and optimized the western blotting protocol to examine which cellular pathways are activated by the drug
Identified specific TCA cycle metabolites by GC/MS that are perturbed by the drug to protect against the progression of diabetic kidney disease
