Pooranachithra Murugesan

With a strong foundation in wound repair mechanisms gained through doctoral research, my experience as a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Diego has been focused on understanding the intricacies of various matrix components in wound healing. Utilizing cell biology and molecular genetics, our team investigates the architecture and function of apical extracellular matrix (aECM) components such as collagens/ non collagenous proteins in wound repair and regeneration. Our recent findings revealed the nanoscale architecture of collagen components (BLI-1, BLI-2, BLI-3) and non-collagen components (EPIC-1, EPIC-2) in the ECM of C. elegans using high-resolution microscopy techniques.

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of California, San Diego, USA
12/01/2021 – Present

• Annual Salary: $60,000

Project Fellow
Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
08/01/2016 – 06/30/2019

• Monthly Stipend: Rs. 15,000

Teaching Assistant
Anna University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
12/01/2014 – 05/31/2016

• Monthly Stipend: Rs. 8,000

After completing graduate school, my research shifted towards exploring extracellular matrix proteins in C. elegans using cell biology and advanced molecular genetic approaches. Over the past three years, I have conducted functional characterization of C. elegans extracellular proteins (specifically BLI-1, BLI-2, BLI-6, EPIC-1, EPIC-2, EPIC-3) using Knock-In and Knock-Out strains generated via CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

This work included investigating their genetic interactions with other matrix proteins through extended genetic analyses and high-resolution microscopy. Additionally, I examined the functional roles of matrix proteins in wound repair.

Key findings from these studies were published in Nature Communications (BLI proteins) and Development (EPIC proteins). My current research centers on elucidating the nanoscale architecture of fibrous collagens and identifying key regulators essential for maintaining this architecture to facilitate wound repair and tissue regeneration.

During my doctoral research, I profiled crucial biological and cellular events, along with the molecular responses involved in wound healing, using C. elegans through transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Notably, I discovered that calcium signaling plays a vital role in wound healing in C. elegans, with proteomic studies revealing an interplay between calcium signals and neurotransmitter synthesis.

Additionally, I explored the impact of various factors, including bacterial infection, diabetes, and circadian rhythm, on wound healing. I also utilized this miniature wound model to assess the wound healing and closure abilities of active principles from natural sources, elucidating their mode of action through metabolomic analyses.

Awards and Honors

• AWSAR, 2018
  Awarded for Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and a certificate of appreciation for the popular science story entitled "Wound Research: Insights from a Mighty Miniature Model, Caenorhabditis elegans," presented on 02/28/2019 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

Examinations and Certifications

• SET, 2016
  Aggregate mark of 218
• GATE, 2016
  89 Percentile

Teaching Experience

• Teaching Assistantship, Rs. 8,000/month for 2 years, sponsored by TEQUIP-II, Department of Biotechnology, BIT Campus, Anna University, Tiruchirappalli (12/01/2014 – 05/31/2016).

• Mapping of Gene Expression, Department of Biotechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
• Bioinformatics Techniques for Analysis and Modeling, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
• Recombinant Protein Expression and Purification, Department of Biotechnology, SRM University, Tamil Nadu, India
• Tools on Bioinformatics, Center for Bioscience and Nanoscience, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

• EPIC proteins are candidate components of epicuticle, Poster Presentation, Development Cell Biology & Gene Expression, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, 08/11/21.
• Impact of calcium signaling on wound repair using Caenorhabditis elegans as a wound model, Poster Presentation, EMBO Symposium on Calcium Signaling: Molecular Mechanisms to Role in Health and Diseases, NCBS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 01/26/20.
• Wound healing ability and mode of action of pyridine carboxamide oxime using Caenorhabditis elegans wound model, Poster Presentation, 11th Annual Meeting of the Proteomics Society of India on Proteomics for System Integrated Bio-Omics One Health and Food Safety, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India, 12/02/19.
• Utility of model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in wound/wound infection research, Oral Presentation, 3rd International Conference on Recent Trends in Microbiology (RTM-2019), Department of Microbiology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India, 01/24/19.
• Investigation of Dermal Inflammation using Caenorhabditis elegans, Poster Presentation, The 2nd Indian C. elegans Meeting 2018, National Institute of Immunology (NII), India, 02/23/18.
• Investigation of ROS as a readout for dermal inflammation of Caenorhabditis elegans, Poster Presentation, International Meeting on Non-Mammalian Models in Biomedical Research: Current Status and Future Perspectives, NITTE University Centre for Science Education and Research, Daralakatte, Mangaluru, India, 10/05/17.

• Pooranachithra, M., Muthubharathi, B.C., and Balamurugan, K., 2022. A Paradigm Gap in Host–Pathogen Interaction Studies: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic. In: Coronavirus Therapeutics – Volume II: Clinical Management and Public Health, Springer International Publishing, pp. 47-70.

• Pooranachithra, M., Jyo, E.M., Brouilly, N., Pujol, N., Ernst, A.M., and Chisholm, A.D., 2024. C. elegans epicuticlins define specific compartments in the apical extracellular matrix and function in wound repair. Development, 151(21), 4.6.
• Johnson, L.C., Vo, A.A., Clancy, J.C., Myles, K.M., Pooranachithra, M., Aguilera, J., Levenson, M.T., Wohlenberg, C., Rechtsteiner, A., Ragle, J.M., and Chisholm, A.D., 2023. NHR-23 activity is necessary for C. elegans developmental progression and apical extracellular matrix structure and function. Development, 150(10), 4.6.
• Adams, J.R.G.*, Pooranachithra, M.*, Jyo, E.M., Zheng S.L., Goncharov A., Crew J.R., Kramer J.M., Jin Y., Ernst A.M., & Chisholm A.D., 2023. Nanoscale patterning of collagens in C. elegans apical extracellular matrix. Nature Communications, 14(7506), 4.6. *equal contribution
• Pooranachithra, M., Satheesh Kumar, C., Prabhanand, B.J., Venkateswaran, K., Ravichandiran, V., Balamurugan, K., 2021. Proteomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans wound model reveals novel molecular players involved in repair. Journal of Proteomics, 240, 104222, 4.044.
• Pooranachithra, M., Suruthi, K., Prabhanand, B.J., Deepa, M., Sekhar, D.S., Venkateswaran, K., Rahul, G., Ravichandiran V., Balamurugan, K., 2021. Longevity upon Staphylococcus aureus mediated wound infection in Caenorhabditis elegans and the mechanism entailed. Microbial Pathogenesis, 157, 104952, 3.738.
• Pooranachithra, M., Prabhanand, B.J., Balamurugan, K., 2021. Wounding of C. elegans by glass wool. Bio-protocol, 11(2), e3885.
• Pooranachithra, M., Prabhanand, B.J., Deepa, M., Sekhar, D.S., Gnanasekaran, J., Venkateswaran, K., Balamurugan, K., 2019. Unravelling the wound healing ability and mode of action of pyridine carboxamide oxime using Caenorhabditis elegans as a potential pre-screen wound model. Life Sciences, 235, 116859, 3.640.
• Johnson, L.C., Vo, A.A., Clancy, J.C., Myles, K.M., Pooranachithra, M., Aguilera, J., Levenson, M.T., Wohlenberg, C., Rechtsteiner, A., Ragle, J.M., and Chisholm, A.D., 2023. NHR-23 activity is necessary for C. elegans developmental progression and apical extracellular matrix structure and function. Development, 150(10), p.dev201085, 4.6.
• Suryalakshmi, P., Pooranachithra, M., Ramudu, K.N., Balamurugan, K., Ayyadurai, N., 2020. Enhanced cellular uptake and sustained transdermal delivery of collagen for skin regeneration. Applied Biomaterials, 3(11), 7540-7549, 8.758.
• Kavita, S., Pooranachithra, M., Singh, N., Prasanth, P.M., Balamurugan, K., Goel, G., 2020. Lactobacillus gastricus BTM 7 prevents intestinal colonization by biofilm forming Cronobacter sakazakii in Caenorhabditis elegans model host. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 113, 1587–1600, 2.674.
• Swetha, T.K., Pooranachithra, M., Ashwinkumar, S.G., Divya, V., Balamurugan, K., Pandian, S.K., 2019. Umbelliferone impedes biofilm formation and virulence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis via impairment of initial attachment and intercellular adhesion. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 9, 357, 4.123.
• Sharma, K., Pooranachithra, M., Balamurugan, K., Goel, G., 2019. Probiotic-mediated colonization resistance against E. coli infection in experimentally challenged Caenorhabditis elegans. Microbial Pathogenesis, 127, 39-47, 2.914.
• Sharma, K., Pooranachithra, M., Balamurugan, K., Goel, G., 2018. Multivariate analysis of increase in lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans through intestinal colonization by indigenous probiotic strains. Probiotics & Antimicrobial Proteins, 1, 1-9, 3.050.

The particulars of information are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
San Diego, 02/26/24
POORANA CHITHRA M