Brenda Awuor Rayola

• Designed and executed biophysical assays (FRET) to investigate oligomerization dynamics of small heat shock proteins • Generated recombinant protein constructs using molecular cloning and Gibson assembly • Performed protein expression and purification using ÄKTA systems • Analyzed protein stability and structure using CD spectroscopy, AUC and DLS

Characterization of the Small Heat Shock Proteins Hsp12s of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans • Characterized Hsp12 ACD constructs and assessed oligomerization potential • Performed co-expression of Hsp12.6 with beta-filagenin and subsequent protein analysis

Protein Extraction and Characterization from Kiwifruit • Performed protein purification using FPLC and conducted tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analyses.

• Isolated DNA, performed photometric quantification, and assessed purity. • Conducted PCR, RT-qPCR, melt-curve analysis, and Sanger sequencing for mutation detection and pathogen diagnostics. • Quantified CMV and SARS-CoV-2 using qPCR platforms (cobas 6800, LightCycler 480). • Performed variant identification and infection monitoring using BioFire and Xpert Xpress systems.

Title: Establishment of preanalytics for a molecular diagnostic tuberculosis test • Established preanalytics workflows for a molecular diagnostic tuberculosis test. • Cultivated and inactivated bacterial strains (risk groups 1 and 2) and evaluated cell lysis methods.

• Purified recombinant proteins via affinity chromatography and generated antibody Fab fragments. • Conducted flow chamber experiments to analyze platelet adhesion and aggregation under arterial shear conditions.