6 October, 2017

Student of the faculty, Michelle Salazar, obtained award Fermelo-society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

In the framework of the XL annual meeting of the society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Chile, carried out between 26 and 29 September 2017 in the city of Puerto varas, the student of the faculty, Michelle Salazar, obtained the "Premio Fermelo-society of biochemistry) SBBMCH).

This is awarded to the best oral free paper, best free communication panel and the best work of incorporation and they are delivered to exhibitors at the Congress of the SBBMCh. They are intended to give support to researchers for merits in their work and who have made an excellent presentation, with the condition that delivered moneys are intended to assist other congresses or scientific events.

The tutor's work was the researcher María Inés Becker.

Michelle was kind enough to answer our questions about this award:

-What is the name of the presentation and what is its purpose?

-"The work I presented is entitled" Effect of enzymatic elimination of N-glycosylations on the structure and immunogenic properties of mollusk hemocyanins ", and is part of my masters thesis, which I make in FUCITED, with the support of Biosonda S.A, under the direction" Dr. María Inés Becker.

In the laboratory we work with hemocyanins of molluscs, which are up to 8 MDa glycoproteins, widely used in biomedicine and biotechnology, because they act as unspecific immunostimulants to be inoculated in mammals. Our group works with the KLH hemocyanin, which is the most widely used, and also with CCH and FLH, surrogate hemocyanins described by our laboratory. Although multiple uses for these proteins have been described, the mechanisms by which produce experimental are not fully described. In this context, we are working to prove that the N-glicosilaciones (very abundant in these proteins sugars), have a decisive role in its potential immunogenic. In a first approach to the structural part, we have described that the N-desglicosilacion decreases the formation of Quaternary, characteristic of these protein structures. With respect to its potential immunogenic, we have described these N-glicosilaciones participate in the recognition of the hemocyanins by receptor cells presenters of antigens, such as lectin receptors type C. In addition, we note that by removing these sugars the humoral response produced by these proteins decreases. These results, together with other experiments that we are doing, we hope to contribute to the study of the hemocyanins and immunostimulants mechanisms, and also hope to continue characterizing hemocyanins of Chilean origin, so that in the future have various biotechnological applications.
-How do you feel when you receive this distinction?

-"It is a great honor and was completely unexpected, because there were many works of great level. In conjunction with the laboratory we try to present a complete work, showing several of the results we have, but at the same time would be self-explanatory and easy to understand. That same principle tried to apply it in the oral presentation of our work, we care that was a ranked presentation, which had an emphasis on results, but without leaving the context of our research. Apparently these considerations, in addition to the work we do in the lab, allowed us to obtain this distinction that personally makes me great enthusiasm for, is an incentive to continue growing and improving as a student and future professional scientific.

Congratulations to Michelle for this achievement!!

In the picture, Ms. Lorena García gives you recognition.

Category Interviews and letters