Ruchi Joshi

M.S. Candidate Environmental and Conservation Sciences

Van Es Hall 136
ruchi.joshi@my.ndsu.edu

I work with Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite that primarily causes cryptosporidiosis in humans and other hosts. It can become chronic and fatal in immunocompromised and immunosuppressed hosts, such as patients with AIDS, cancer, and transplanted organs. My research primarily aims to better understand the environmental stimuli that cause Cryptosporidium oocysts to excyst.  I am also interested in investigating the post-translational changes that occur during excystation.
The excystation mechanism is incompletely understood. Thus, learning about excystation can lead to a better understanding of environmental persistence and host specificity of Cryptosporidium. It can also help scientists to identify environmental and chemotherapeutic interventions.