Thejaswi Kalagara (the first generation MCGS doctoral candidate working in the group of Prof. Moerschbacher) aimed at elucidating the role of human chitotriosidase in the biomedical activities of chitosans. She showed for the first time that a bacterial chitin deacetylase can be used to generate partially acetylated chitosan polymers with non-random patterns of acetylation (PA). Digestion of these chitosans using recombinant human chitotriosidase yielded chitosan oligomers which differed from those obtained when chemically generated chitosans with a random PA were digested, as revealed by mass spectrometric sequencing in collaboration with the group of Dr. Mormann. In collaboration with the groups of Prof. Schneider, Dr. Grobe, and Dr. Götte, Teja was able to show that even small chitosan oligomers generated enzymatically using chitotriosidase exhibited significant biological activities towards a range of human cells. This is a landmark study on which current and future projects of the Moerschbacher group are and will be based.

After successfully defending her doctoral thesis in early 2013, Teja joined her husband in Trinidad/Tobago where she is now searching for a post-doctoral position where she can start her own research projects.

Last update 06.05.2013

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