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Christian Heryakusuma

GBCB Ph.D. Student
  • Research area(s): Redox metabolisms of methanogenic archaea
Christian Heryakusuma, Virginia Tech Department of Biochemistry Graduate Student
123A Engel Hall
heryakusuma@vt.edu
  • Lab Phone: (540) 231-1219

Education

Ph.D., Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Tech, USA, 2024 Expected.

B.Sc., Chemistry, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, 2016.

Experience

August 2018 – present, Graduate Research Assistant in Prof. Biswarup Mukhopadhyay’s Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA.

August 2022 – present, Head of the Indonesian Student Association (PERMIAS) at Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA.

January 2022 – May 2022, Coordinator Research Seminars by Virginia Tech Graduate Students at Oakwood University as part of a Virginia Tech ICTAS-supported collaboration between the Oakwood University Department of Biology and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA.

February 2017 – July 2018, Research Assistant in Prof. Dessy Natalia’s Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia.

September  – December 2016, Practicum Assistant at General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry Educational Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia.

August 2016 – July 2018, Private Tutor, A Plus Study Center, Bandung, Indonesia.

Selected Major Awards

  • Travel Award from the Gordon Research Conference (GRC): Molecular Basis of Microbial One-Carbon Metabolism for Presenting a Poster at the Conference, August 7 – 12, 2022, Southbridge, MA, USA.
  • Travel Award from the Virginia Tech Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) for Presenting a Poster at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Conference, June 9 – 13 2022, Washington, DC, USA.
  • First Place Winner in Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium at Flash Talk Presentation for Eye-opening Societal Intervention Category, April 8 – 20, 2020, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA.
  • Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology (GBCB) Ph.D. Program Fellowship, August 2018 – December 2020.
  • Best Poster Presenter at the ASEAN Microbial Biotechnology Conference, August 3 – 4, 2016, Bali, Indonesia.
  • The Winner of Institut Teknologi Bandung Ganesha Karsa Award, August 4, 2015, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia.
  • Certificate of Merit for the Most Outstanding Student 2015 at Chemistry Study Program, March 27, 2015, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia.

Undergraduate research mentor, Department of Biochemistry, Mukhopadhyay’s Laboratory, August 2019 – present.

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Department of Biology, January – May 2021.

Project 1. Redox regulation of metabolism in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, a hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. The research focuses on the characterization of M. jannaschii’s thioredoxin (Trx) system and the organism's molecular responses toward H2 availability and temperature. On the applied side, such investigations will allow the bioinspired development of efficient catalysts and novel biosensors.

Project 2. Development of tools and techniques for the isolation and characterization of protein complexes from M. jannaschii. The goal of the research is to provide a platform for discovering and interrogating the functions of M. jannaschii enzyme complexes in a physiologically relevant manner. A clear understanding of the molecular basis for the formation and actions of these complexes could lead to the discovery or design of unique and novel protein catalysts.

Reviewed Journals

  • Heryakusuma, C., Johnson, E. F., Purwantini, E., and Mukhopadhyay, B. (2023). Nitrite reductase activity in F420-dependent sulfite reductase (Fsr) from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. Access Microbiol (in press)
  • Heryakusuma, C.#, Susanti, D.#, Yu, H., Li, Z., Purwantini, E., Hettich, R. L., Orphan, V. J., and Mukhopadhyay, B. (2022). A Reduced F420-Dependent Nitrite Reductase in an Anaerobic Methanotrophic Archaeon. J Bact, 204(7): e0007822.
  • Das, J. K.#, Heryakusuma, C.#, Susanti, D., Choudhury, P. P., and Mukhopadhyay, B. (2022). Reduced protein sequence patterns in identifying key structural elements of dissimilatory sulfite reductase homologs. Comput Biol Chem, 98: 107691.
  • Natalia D, Heryakusuma C, Puspasari F, Juniar L, Sugiyono Y, Yuwita A, Djauhari H, Riswari SF, Alisjahbana B, Ihsanawati. (2018). Production of Immunologically Active Untagged Recombinant DENV-2 NS1 in Escherichia coli. Am J Biochem Biotechnol, 14:230-237.
  • Heryakusuma C, Puspasari F, Ihsanawati I, Giri-Rachman EA, Irasonia Tan M, Ramadhani E, Nurainy N, Natalia D. (2016). Cloning and Expression of Small Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (sHBsAg) In Hansenula polymorpha. Microbiol Indones, 10:119-124.

Oral Presentations

  • Heryakusuma C, Susanti D, Mukhopadhyay B. Thioredoxin-based Stabilization of Methyl Coenzyme-M Reductase (Mcr), a Tool for Bioconversion of Methane to Liquid Fuel. Flash Talk, The 36th Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) Research Symposium, April 2020, Blacksburg, USA. 

Poster Presentations

  • Heryakusuma C, Susanti D, Purwantini E, Mukhopadhyay B. Functional Implications of Partner Proteins in Thioredoxin System of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, a Hyperthermophilic Methanogenic Archaeon from Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents. Poster Number 18, Virginia Tech Department of Biochemistry Annual Research Showcase "Engelpalooza", October 2022, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
  • Heryakusuma C, Susanti D, Purwantini E, Mukhopadhyay B. Functional Implications of Partner Proteins in Thioredoxin System of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, a Hyperthermophilic Methanogenic Archaeon from Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents. Poster Number 8, Gordon Research Conference (GRC): Molecular Basis of Microbial One-Carbon Metabolism, August 2022, Southbridge, MA, USA.
  • Heryakusuma C, Johnson EF, Mukhopadhyay B. Nitrite reductase activity in F420-dependent sulfite reductase (Fsr) from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. Poster Board Number MBP1235, The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Conference, June 2022, Washington, DC, USA.
  • Heryakusuma C, Susanti D, Yu H, Li Z, Purwantini E, Hettich RL, Orphan VJ, Mukhopadhyay B. A homolog of F420-dependent sulfite reductase of vent methanogens in an anaerobic methanotrophic archaeon is an F420-independent enzyme. Poster, Virginia Tech Department of Biochemistry Recruitment Day, February 2022, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
  • Heryakusuma C, Susanti D, Yu H, Li Z, Purwantini E, Hettich RL, Orphan VJ, Mukhopadhyay B. A homolog of F420-dependent sulfite reductase of vent methanogens in an anaerobic methanotrophic archaeon is an F420-independent enzyme. Poster, The Archaea Online Conference, July 2021, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
  • Heryakusuma C, Susanti D, Yu H, Li Z, Purwantini E, Hettich RL, Orphan VJ, Mukhopadhyay B. A homolog of F420-dependent sulfite reductase of vent methanogens in an anaerobic methanotrophic archaeon is an F420-independent enzyme. Poster, The World Microbe Forum, Virtual Conference, June 2021, Blacksburg, VA, USA.