SEZER OKAY

PhD Student, Research Assisstant

Dept. of Biological Sciences
Middle East Technical University
Ankara / TURKEY

Mailing Address:
ODTU Biyoloji Bolumu 06531 Ankara TURKEY

e-mail:
sezer@metu.edu.tr

personal web page:
http://www.metu.edu.tr/~sezer

phone:
+90 312 210 51 90

fax:
+90 312 210 79 76

Research Interest

• Development of new vaccine strategies
• Bioinsecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis
• Cephamycin C production by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Education

• 2005 -          PhD in Biology, METU. Thesis: Development of vaccine strategies against Pasteurella multocida 
• 2003 - 2005 MSc in Biology, METU. Thesis: Cloning of chitinase A gene from Serratia marcescens Bn10 and its expression in Coleoptera-specific Bacillus thrungiensis
• 1998 - 2002 BSc in Biology, Anadolu University. Thesis: Investigation of mutagenecity and antimutagenecity of Origanum onites essential oil by the help of Ames test.

Publications

SCI-Journals:

• Ipek, E., Zeytinoglu, H., Okay, S., Tuylu, B.A., Kurkcuoglu M. and Baser, K.H.C. (2005). Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of Origanum oil and carvacrol evaluated by Ames Salmonella/microsomal test. Food Chemistry 93(3): 551-556. [Cited 26 times] 
  
• Okay, S., Tefon, B.E., Ozkan M. and Ozcengiz, G. (2008). Expression of chitinase A (chiA) gene from a local isolate of Serratia marcescens in Coleoptera-specific Bacillus thuringiensis. Journal of Applied Microbiology 104: 161-170. [Cited 1 time
• Özcengiz, G., Okay, S., Ünsaldı, E., Taşkın, B., Liras, P., Piret, J. (2010). Homologous expression of aspartokinase (ask) gene in Streptomyces clavuligerus and its hom-deleted mutant: Effects on cephamycin C production. Bioengineered Bugs 1 (3): 1-3.
• Okay, S., Özcengiz, G. (2010). Molecular cloning, characterization and homologous expression of an endochitinase gene from Bacillus thuringiensis serovar morrisoni. Turkish Journal of Biology [accepted].

International Congress Presentations:

• Okay, S., Ipek, E., Zeytinoğlu, H., Kurkcuoğlu, M. (2003). Antimutagenicity testing of Origanum oil and carvacrol in the Ames assay. 13th Balkan Biochemical Biophysical Days & Meeting on Metabolic Disorders (October 12-15, 2003 Aydın, Turkey) Programme & Abstracts. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry 28(3): 62-224. 
  
• Okay, S., Ozkan, M. and Ozcengiz, G. (2006). Expression of an endochitinase (chiA) gene from Serratia marcescens Bn10 in a Cry3A producer Bacillus thuringiensis. 2nd FEMS Congress of European Microbiologists (July 4-8, 2006 Madrid, Spain) Abstract Book p.124. 
  
• Okay S. and Ozcengiz G. (2008). Characterization and homologous expression of endochitinase gene (chi3023) from Bacillus thuringiensis serovar morrisoni. XII. International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology (5-9 August 2008, İstanbul, Turkey) Abstract Book p. 75 
  
• Ünsaldı, E., Okay, S. and Özcengiz, G. (2008). Cephamycin C overproduction upon releasing relaxing precursor flux by genetic engineering and medium formulation. XII. International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology (5-9 August 2008, İstanbul, Turkey) Abstract Book p. 98

National Congress Presentations:

• Okay, S., Özkan, M., Özcengiz, G. (2005). Kitinaz A geninin Serratia marcescens'ten klonlanması ve Coleoptera-spesifik Bacillus thuringiensis'te ifade edilmesi. 14. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (31 Ağustos-2 Eylül, Eskişehir) Bildiri ve Poster Kitabı Sayfa: 586. 
  
• Okay, S., Özcengiz, G. (2007). Bacillus thuringiensis alttür morrisoni kitinaz geninin karakterizasyonu. 15. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (28-31 Ekim, Antalya). Bildiri Kitabı Sayfa: 303-304.
  
• Okay, S., Tefon, B.E., Özkan, M., Özcengiz, G. (2007). Serratia marcescens Kitinaz A Geninin Rekombinant Bacillus thuringiensis'te Ekspresyonunun Analizi. 15. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (28-31 Ekim, Antalya). Bildiri Kitabı Sayfa: 44.
• Okay, S., Özcengiz, E., Özcengiz, G. (2009). Pasteurella multocida P-1062 suşuna ait ompH geninin klonlanması ve biyoinformatik analizi. 16. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (13-16 Aralık, Antalya). Bildiri Kitabı Sayfa: 15. 
• Okay, S., Baloğlu, M.C., Eroğlu, A., Battal, A., Özcengiz, G., Öktem, H.A., Yücel, M. (2009). Serratia marcescens’e ait kitinaz A geninin tütün bitkisine aktarılması. 16. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (13-16 Aralık, Antalya). Bildiri Kitabı Sayfa: 14-15. 
• Ünsaldı, E., Okay, S., Özcengiz, G. (2009). Yabanıl tip Streptomyces clavuligerus ve hom geni delesyona uğramış mutantında aspartokinaz (ask) geni çoklu kopyasının homolog ekspresyonu:  Hücre içi serbest aminoasit seviyesindeki değişimler. 16. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (13-16 Aralık, Antalya). Bildiri Kitabı Sayfa: 314-317.    
• Yılmaz, Ç., Okay, S., Tefon, B. E., Özcengiz, E., Özcengiz, G. (2009). Bordetella pertussis Tohama I ve Saadet suşuna ait PPIase, POMP ve FIMX genlerinin klonlanması. 16. Ulusal Biyoteknoloji Kongresi (13-16 Aralık 2009, Antalya) Bildiri Kitabı, sayfa: 71-72.