Ritu Malhotra
3461 SW, 2nd Ave, #402
Gainesville, Florida 32607, USA
Phone: 1-352-336-1872
E-mail:
Professional experience / Graduate Student at the Department of Ophthalmology and Molecular Cell Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.. Presently involved in studying the role of autophagy in the preferential degradation of the polytopic integral membrane proteins for my dissertation.Associate In at Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida from September 2002 until December 2003.
The project involved purification and characterization of mutants of rhodopsin like P23H that causes retinitis pigmentosa in humans, which is one of the leading causes of blindness in United States. Studies were also performed to observe the effect of retinoids in assisting the folding of the mutant P23H protein.
Research Fellow at Talwar Research Foundation, New Delhi, India from July 1999 to August 2002, with a position of Researcheur at Commissariat a l’ Energie Atomique, France from 1st November 2000 uptil 30th September 2001.
- Nature of Job and Responsibilities
Further involved in approaches towards chimerization of monoclonal antibodies and their expression in plants in an effort to produce edible vaccines.
Prevention of sexual transmission of HIV: Efficacy in macaques of a polyherbal formulation, Praneem, from plants to prevent the experimental transmission of SIV by vaginal route.
Studies involved both in vitro and in vivo investigations using the formulation. In vitro experiments were performed to study the effect on both cell free and cell associated virus [HIV 1 and SIVmac251 respectively], using activated human PBMCs. Confirming the efficacy in vitro, experiments were carried out in macaques to observe the prevention of vaginal transmission of SIVmac251. Various immunological parameters were determined to confirm virus infection in macaques. Determination of CD4/ CD8 counts, proliferation studies, plasma viral loads, presence of viral DNA in blood and vaginal washes was conducted.
Research trainee at Ranbaxy Research Foundation (NDDR), India, from 1st June to 15th July 1998, on “In vitro evaluation of potential antimicrobial agents”. The work involved primary and secondary screening of antimicrobial agents and animal inoculations as a step towards tertiary screening.
Education / MSc. (Microbiology) from Department of Microbiology (1999), University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi-110021, India
Title of the thesis: Production and characterization of alpha amylase of an extreme thermophile Bacillus thermooleovorans
Summary of the thesis:
Considering the importance and need of very thermostable, calcium independent - amylases in the present starch hydrolysis industry, thermophilic bacteria were isolated from various thermal environments including New Zealand. These were screened for amylase production and based on activity, temperature stability, calcium independence, and thin layer chromatographic analysis of the hydrolysis products, isolate NP54 was chosen for further studies. This isolate was identified as Bacillus thermooleovorans by 16s rRNA analysis.
The - amylase production was optimized first in shake flasks and further in a laboratory scale 22L B. Braun, Biostat C fermenter, which led to a 3 fold increase in enzyme production. The enzyme was partially purified by acetone precipitation, which resulted in 43.7% recovery with 6.2 fold purification. The enzyme was then characterized as to its thermal stability and other factors.
-Amylase of B. thermooleovorans is maximally active at 100C at pH 8.0. Its half life was determined to be 3h at 100C. the Km (for starch) was 0.83mg/ml with Vmax 250mol/min/ml.
Activity staining (zymogram) of the enzyme was performed by Native PAGE followed by incubating the starch-incorporated gel at appropriate temperature and staining with iodine. The protein profile was obtained by SDS PAGE and detection using silver stain.
Participation and Awards / Poster presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FLfrom May 1-5, 2005 entitled: Role Of Autophagy In The Preferential Degradation Of Misfolded P23H Opsin.
Participated in the Molecular Cell Biology Medical Guild Presentations on March 15, 2005 at University of Florida and received a $150 honorarium.
Presented a talk at the 23rd Annual Pediatric Science Day at University of Florida, March 10, 2005, entitled: Preferential Degradation Of Misfolded Polytopic Integral Membrane Proteins By Autophagy.
Poster presentation at 44th Annual Meeting of American Society of Cell Biology, WashingtonDC from December 4-8, 2004, entitled: Role Of Autophagy In The Degradation Of Misfolded P23H Opsin Aggregates.
Poster presentation at Microbicides, Antwerp, Belgium from May 12-15, 2002, entitled; A Safe For Human Use Vaginal Tablet With Virucidal Action On HIV-1.
Poster presentation at 9th Asian Pacific Congress of Clinical Biochemistry and Annual Conference of ACBI, New Delhi, India, entitled; Immunological Approaches for Prostate Hypertrophy and Carcinoma of Prostate.
Abstract accepted for poster presentation at 19th Annual Symposium on Non human Primate Models for AIDS, Puerto Rico, from November 7-10, 2001, entitled; Evaluation of the in vitro effect of Praneem polyherbal (PPH) on the replication and infective ability of both cell free and cell associated HIV-1 and SIVmac251.
Poster presentation at 8th International Congress of Reproductive Immunology held at Opatija, Croatia from July 3-7, 2001, entitled; Androgen independent human prostatic carcinoma cells have unique epitope sensitive to lysis by monoclonal antibody, MoAb 730.
Poster presentation at Association of Microbiologist of India (AMI) conference in Jaipur, India
Participated in "National Symposium of Microbial Technologies for Environmental Management and Resource Recovery" organized by Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus held on Oct. 1-2, 1997.
Participated in 38th Annual Conference on "Microbes in Sustainable Development" held on Dec. 12-14, 1997, organized by Delhi Unit II of AMI, New Delhi, India.
Participated in the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the 39th Annual Conference of AMI held on Dec. 5-7, 1998 in Mangalore, India.
Received the "South Campus Endowment Scholarship" from 1997 to 1999 from University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India.
Selected the "Head Girl" of the school for 1993-94.
Received the "Best All Rounder" Award in class XI (1993).
Publications / Pang JJ, Chang B, Hawes NL, Hurd RE, Davisson MT, Li J, Noorwez SM, Malhotra R, McDowell JH, Kaushal S, Hauswirth WW, Nusinowitz S, Thompson DA, Heckenlively JR (2005). Retinal degeneration 12 (rd12): a new, spontaneously arising mouse model for human Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Mol Vis. 28; 11: 152-62.
Krebs MP, Noorwez SM, Malhotra R, Kaushal S (2004). Quality control of integral membrane proteins. TIBS. 29(12): 648-655.
Noorwez SM, Malhotra R, McDowell JH, Smith KA, Krebs MP, Kaushal S (2004). Retinoids assist the cellular folding of the autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa opsin mutant P23H. J Biol Chem. 279(16): 16278-84.
Malhotra R, Narang S, Rao U M and Satyanarayana T (2004). Production of a Hyperthermostable -Amylase by an Extreme Thermophile Geobacillus thermooleovorans. Microbiology and Biotechnology for Substantial Development (Ed. P.C. Jain), 261-266.
Chakrovarty S, Wadhwa S, Diwan M, Malhotra R, Wadhwa SN, Talwar GP (2003). Transient Compensatory Hypertrophy and Limited Regeneration of the Surgically Removed Rat Ventral Prostate. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 9(6): 407-12.
Talwar G P, Gupta R, Gupta S K, Malhotra R, Khanna R, Mitra D K, Sehgal S, Minz R, and Kumar A (2001). A monoclonal antibody cytolytic to androgen independent DU145 human prostatic carcinoma cells. TheProstate 46: 207-213.
Malhotra R, Noorwez S M and Satyanarayana T (2000). Production and partial characterization of thermostable and calcium independent - amylase of an extreme thermophile Bacillus thermooleovorans NP54. Letters in Applied Microbiology 31: 378-384.
The impact of new technologies on vaccines. Talwar GP, Diwan M, Razvi F, Malhotra R. Natl Med J India. 12(6): 274-80 12(6): 1999, Review.
Research experience / Experience in cell culture techniques, culturing and handling of various carcinoma cell lines
Generation of mouse monoclonal antibodies (Hybridoma technology)
Handling of mice and mice immunizations at different sites
Purification of antibodies of different classes, and studies towards chimerisation of mouse monoclonal antibody
Knowledge of Flow cytometry for FACS (Flourescent Activated Cell Sorting) studies and analysis; immunofluorescence, ELISA and cell cytotoxicity assays
Wide experience in handling, culturing, identification and maintaining both thermophilic and mesophilic microbial cultures
Culturing of viruses by egg inoculation technique, purification and preparation of virosomes. Dealt with sendai virus for use as vector to transfer oligonucleotide sequences to cells by fusion mechanism
Product analysis of microorganisms (enzymes, organic compounds etc.)
In vitro evaluation of various antimicrobial compounds, involving primary and secondary screening techniques
Parametric optimization of microbial growth and enzyme production
Protein purification, ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography, native and SDS- PAGE
Laboratory scale fermentation (22L B. Braun Biostat C fermenter). Optimisation of biomass and enzyme production, batch fermentation
ELISA, Western blotting, Native and SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, zymogram
DNA and RNA isolations, PCR, RT-PCR, Agarose gel electrophoresis
Proliferation studies, and use of scintillation counters
Determination of plasma viral loads
Reverse transcriptase activity determination analysis
Work experience in P3 bio-safety facility for handling and culture of HIV and SIV
Professional memberships / Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI)
Languages / English, Hindi, Punjabi
Extracurricular activities / Music, Driving, Outdoor sports, Traveling
References / *Dr. Shalesh Kaushal, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, 1600 SW, Archer Road, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0284. Phone: 1-352-870-8013. Fax: 1-352-392-0573. Email:
*Dr. Roger LE GRAND, Scientist, Commissariat a l’ Energie Atomique, Service de Neurovirologie, CRSSA, IPSC, EPHE, Fontenay Aux Roses, France. Phone: 33-1-46547374. Fax: 33-1-46547726. Email:
*Dr. T. Satyanarayana, Reader and Head, Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi-110021, India. Phone: 91-11-4672737. Fax: 91-11-6885270. Email: