Chemistry
Area of Doctoral Study: RNA Structural Biology
Undergraduate Institute: University of Dhaka (BSc & MS)
Graduate Institute: North South University (MPH)
Research Advisor: Deepak Koirala, PhD
Description of Research
My current research area for my PhD program is RNA Structural Biology at the Koirala lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). More specifically, my projects aim to elucidate the tertiary structure of some essential RNA elements of clinically important viruses to understand their biological role during infection. In one project, I am working with are called IRES (Internal Ribosome Entry Sites) which are common to many prevalent and infectious RNA viruses, like- coxsackievirus, poliovirus, human rhinovirus, enterovirus 71, etc. High resolution 3D structures of these RNA elements will help us to understand the molecular-level interactions of these RNAs with host proteins and ultimately to develop more effective therapeutics or vaccines. I am developing a novel antibody-based RNA imaging system in live cells in a separate project. While antibody derivatives such as Fabs and scFvs targeting cells and proteins have revolutionized cellular protein and tissue imaging, analogous strategies are unavailable for RNA visualization. Our anti-RNA scFv probes offer enhanced flexibility by enabling the selection of target RNA-specific modules from a library of probes generated through the diversification of CDRs (Complementary Determining Regions). We envision that these innovative tools will open significant avenues for tracking RNA molecules, capturing their folding dynamics, discerning conformational changes, and elucidating their spatial distribution within living cells.