Saroj Khadka
@microbiosaroj.bsky.social
Graduate Student at the University of Pittsburgh #h2p || Studying #Klebsiella Surface Polysaccharides in Mike Lab (themikelab.com) || Views expressed here are my own.
Pinned
Saroj Khadka
@microbiosaroj.bsky.social
· May 15
Our review broadly examining how bacteria control capsular polysaccharide chain length and cell surface attachment is in press.
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@microbiosaroj.bsky.social master-minded the review with help from @emilykinney.bsky.social and @brookeeryan3.bsky.social
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@microbiosaroj.bsky.social master-minded the review with help from @emilykinney.bsky.social and @brookeeryan3.bsky.social
Mechanisms governing bacterial capsular polysaccharide attachment and chain length
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nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Emergence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae ST111 with a novel virulence plasmid causing pyogenic liver abscess https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.25.690365v1
November 27, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Emergence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae ST111 with a novel virulence plasmid causing pyogenic liver abscess https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.25.690365v1
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Every biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true?
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
The Penicillin Myth
Competing theories seek to explain inconsistencies surrounding Alexander Fleming’s famed discovery.
press.asimov.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Every biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true?
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Phenotypic Heterogeneity Shapes Phage Resistance and Cocktail Efficacy in Klebsiella pneumoniae https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.11.687788v1
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Phenotypic Heterogeneity Shapes Phage Resistance and Cocktail Efficacy in Klebsiella pneumoniae https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.11.687788v1
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Watson’s death is a fantastic reminder that you can be intelligent without being a good person.
The obituary of someone who gained widespread fame through remarkable achievements at a young age and then expected to be taken seriously for anything he said thereafter.
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Watson’s death is a fantastic reminder that you can be intelligent without being a good person.
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
🦠 Small changes, big defense! Jordan Vacheron & coll. show specific SNPs in #Pseudomonas protegens CHA0 (algC & ykcC) remodel LPS to block #phage ΦGP100—while growth, competitiveness & root colonization stay intact, in lab conditions. 🧬 @unil.bsky.social
👉 buff.ly/MFOH2er
👉 buff.ly/MFOH2er
November 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🦠 Small changes, big defense! Jordan Vacheron & coll. show specific SNPs in #Pseudomonas protegens CHA0 (algC & ykcC) remodel LPS to block #phage ΦGP100—while growth, competitiveness & root colonization stay intact, in lab conditions. 🧬 @unil.bsky.social
👉 buff.ly/MFOH2er
👉 buff.ly/MFOH2er
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Sugar Import Suppresses Klebsiella pneumoniae Mucoidy in cAMP-CRP-dependent Manner https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.04.686645v1
November 5, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Sugar Import Suppresses Klebsiella pneumoniae Mucoidy in cAMP-CRP-dependent Manner https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.04.686645v1
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Volunteers who swallowed disease-causing bacteria were less likely to get sick after an oral vaccine. https://scim.ag/4qBtYe2
Vaccine protects people from paratyphoid fever in a ‘human challenge’ study
Volunteers who swallowed disease-causing bacteria were less likely to get sick after an oral vaccine
scim.ag
November 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Volunteers who swallowed disease-causing bacteria were less likely to get sick after an oral vaccine. https://scim.ag/4qBtYe2
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
The shrinking future of Ph.D.s in America
Attacks on science and universities
Anti-immigration wave
Visa challenges
It all adds up
www.axios.com/2025/10/26/p...
Attacks on science and universities
Anti-immigration wave
Visa challenges
It all adds up
www.axios.com/2025/10/26/p...
The pipeline for Ph.D.s out of U.S. universities is shrinking
America graduates more Ph.D.s than any other country. They go on to invent things, cure diseases and win Nobel Prizes. But admission slots are disappearing.
www.axios.com
October 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The shrinking future of Ph.D.s in America
Attacks on science and universities
Anti-immigration wave
Visa challenges
It all adds up
www.axios.com/2025/10/26/p...
Attacks on science and universities
Anti-immigration wave
Visa challenges
It all adds up
www.axios.com/2025/10/26/p...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Mark your calendars! #mmpc2026 The 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference will be take place September 25-27, 2026 at the University of Minnesota! We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Andy Camilli. Give us a follow and watch for important information here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu
Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference | Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference 2026
mmpc2026.umn.edu
October 23, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Mark your calendars! #mmpc2026 The 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference will be take place September 25-27, 2026 at the University of Minnesota! We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Andy Camilli. Give us a follow and watch for important information here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
A novel post-translational modification of fimbriae drives pathogenicity in Klebsiella pneumoniae https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.03.680091v1
October 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
A novel post-translational modification of fimbriae drives pathogenicity in Klebsiella pneumoniae https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.03.680091v1
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
UChicago Microbiology is searching for tenured or tenure-track faculty working in host-pathogens interactions, viral and bacterial pathogenesis, and emerging infectious diseases. Come join our vibrant Department! microbiology.uchicago.edu
Apply here apply.interfolio.com/174404
Apply here apply.interfolio.com/174404
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:03 PM
UChicago Microbiology is searching for tenured or tenure-track faculty working in host-pathogens interactions, viral and bacterial pathogenesis, and emerging infectious diseases. Come join our vibrant Department! microbiology.uchicago.edu
Apply here apply.interfolio.com/174404
Apply here apply.interfolio.com/174404
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
#Perspective
Estrela and Huang discuss nutrient starvation in the context of the gut microbiome, outlining what is known and highlighting key questions for future research to address knowledge gaps.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky 🦠
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Estrela and Huang discuss nutrient starvation in the context of the gut microbiome, outlining what is known and highlighting key questions for future research to address knowledge gaps.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky 🦠
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
How nutrient starvation impacts the gut microbiome - Nature Microbiology
In this Perspective, Estrela and Huang discuss nutrient starvation in the context of the gut microbiome, outlining what is known and highlighting key questions for future research to address knowledge gaps.
www.nature.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
#Perspective
Estrela and Huang discuss nutrient starvation in the context of the gut microbiome, outlining what is known and highlighting key questions for future research to address knowledge gaps.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky 🦠
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Estrela and Huang discuss nutrient starvation in the context of the gut microbiome, outlining what is known and highlighting key questions for future research to address knowledge gaps.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky 🦠
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Our story on within-host #evolution of #Klebsiella is now out in @natcomms.nature.com 🌟
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Parallel within-host evolution alters virulence factors in an opportunistic Klebsiella pneumoniae during a hospital outbreak - Nature Communications
Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is a critical priority pathogen. Here, the authors explore its evolution in 110 patients during a hospital outbreak, highlighting selected mutation-driven adaptations that alter its key virulence traits.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Our story on within-host #evolution of #Klebsiella is now out in @natcomms.nature.com 🌟
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
🚨 Microbiologists! We are recruiting Assistant / Associate Professors in 3 collaborative areas of our U. Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
1) MMG (my dept): fundamental research in med micro
2) Peds ID / I4Kids institute
3) Center for Vaccine Research
🔗 to all 3 w/info: www.linkedin.com/posts/vaughn...
1) MMG (my dept): fundamental research in med micro
2) Peds ID / I4Kids institute
3) Center for Vaccine Research
🔗 to all 3 w/info: www.linkedin.com/posts/vaughn...
Faculty Professor Associate - Full-Time | Vaughn Cooper
We are recruiting Faculty microbiologists in three (3) different, complementary, and collaborative areas at the University of Pittsburgh associated with the School of Medicine.
1) Fundamental researc...
www.linkedin.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:31 PM
🚨 Microbiologists! We are recruiting Assistant / Associate Professors in 3 collaborative areas of our U. Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
1) MMG (my dept): fundamental research in med micro
2) Peds ID / I4Kids institute
3) Center for Vaccine Research
🔗 to all 3 w/info: www.linkedin.com/posts/vaughn...
1) MMG (my dept): fundamental research in med micro
2) Peds ID / I4Kids institute
3) Center for Vaccine Research
🔗 to all 3 w/info: www.linkedin.com/posts/vaughn...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
How complex functions, with important physiological and evolutionary impacts get repeatedly and efficiently transferred across genomes?
That’s what we explored using one of the fastest-evolving loci in Bacteria: the capsule locus.
The paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread👇
That’s what we explored using one of the fastest-evolving loci in Bacteria: the capsule locus.
The paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread👇
Serotype swapping in Klebsiella spp. by plug-and-play
Understanding how complex, multi-gene systems evolve and function across genetic backgrounds is a central question in molecular evolution. While such systems often impose costs through epistatic inter...
www.biorxiv.org
September 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM
How complex functions, with important physiological and evolutionary impacts get repeatedly and efficiently transferred across genomes?
That’s what we explored using one of the fastest-evolving loci in Bacteria: the capsule locus.
The paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread👇
That’s what we explored using one of the fastest-evolving loci in Bacteria: the capsule locus.
The paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thread👇
We're far beyond the point of waiting for change. Every major party has failed to deliver the future they promised, incl. the basic necessities for the vulnerable in our society. Corruption, injustice & lack of accountability have reached intolerable levels.
Home minister quits, leaders hold prime minister responsible for 19 protesters’ deaths
Nepal saw several people’s movements in 1950, 1990 and 2006, but never before had the state killed so many people in a single day.
kathmandupost.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:25 AM
We're far beyond the point of waiting for change. Every major party has failed to deliver the future they promised, incl. the basic necessities for the vulnerable in our society. Corruption, injustice & lack of accountability have reached intolerable levels.
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
C. albicans colonization is a susceptibility factor for disseminated Salmonella infection and arginine as a central metabolite in the cross-kingdom interaction between fungi, bacteria and host @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 4, 2025 at 5:02 AM
C. albicans colonization is a susceptibility factor for disseminated Salmonella infection and arginine as a central metabolite in the cross-kingdom interaction between fungi, bacteria and host @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Zinc is a critical nutrient for many bacterial pathogens. New research in #JBacteriology expands our understanding of a novel zinc transport system & provides evidence for an alternative mechanism of cell wall protein localization in C. diphtheriae. asm.social/2zf
September 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Zinc is a critical nutrient for many bacterial pathogens. New research in #JBacteriology expands our understanding of a novel zinc transport system & provides evidence for an alternative mechanism of cell wall protein localization in C. diphtheriae. asm.social/2zf
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Gut mucin fucosylation dictates the entry of botulinum toxin complexes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.30.672933v1
August 31, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Gut mucin fucosylation dictates the entry of botulinum toxin complexes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.30.672933v1
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
"Focused efforts and sustained investment in novel antibacterials are needed to address #AMR priority pathogens, which include #high-burden antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Salmonella and #Shigella spp..."
@shigellameeting.bsky.social
#MicroSky #IDSky 🦠🧫🔬
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
@shigellameeting.bsky.social
#MicroSky #IDSky 🦠🧫🔬
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
The WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List 2024: a prioritisation study to guide research, development, and public health strategies against antimicrobial resistance
The 2024 WHO BPPL is a key tool for prioritising research and development investments
and informing global public health policies to combat AMR. Gram-negative bacteria
and rifampicin-resistant M tuber...
www.thelancet.com
August 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
"Focused efforts and sustained investment in novel antibacterials are needed to address #AMR priority pathogens, which include #high-burden antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Salmonella and #Shigella spp..."
@shigellameeting.bsky.social
#MicroSky #IDSky 🦠🧫🔬
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
@shigellameeting.bsky.social
#MicroSky #IDSky 🦠🧫🔬
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
We are hiring! The Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is looking for faculty at the Assistant or Associate professor level (tenure track). Please consider joining our vibrant microbiology and immunology community at the University of Pittsburgh School of medicine
August 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
We are hiring! The Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is looking for faculty at the Assistant or Associate professor level (tenure track). Please consider joining our vibrant microbiology and immunology community at the University of Pittsburgh School of medicine
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
Did you miss the opportunity to submit an abstract to MMPC?
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
MMPC 2025 - Submit an Abstract
Submission Dates
Abstract submission will open on May 1, 2025
Oral abstract submission deadline: July 15, 2025
Poster abstract submission deadline: Extended to August 25!
Instructions for abstract s...
www.mmpconference2025.com
August 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Did you miss the opportunity to submit an abstract to MMPC?
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
We have extended the deadline to August 25! Please consider sharing your latest and greatest research!
www.mmpconference2025.com/submit-an-ab...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
The return of the Swiss cheese model, now for anti microbial resistance!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
A layered strategy for tackling antimicrobial resistance: the Swiss cheese model for policy, prevention, and engagement
Murphy’s Law, “anything that can go wrong will go wrong”,1 finds no more fitting application
in public health than in the case of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR will emerge
whenever conditions pe...
www.thelancet.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The return of the Swiss cheese model, now for anti microbial resistance!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Saroj Khadka
LPS O-antigen polysaccharide length impacts outer membrane permeability of enteric gram-negative bacteria https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.14.670410v1
August 16, 2025 at 3:18 AM
LPS O-antigen polysaccharide length impacts outer membrane permeability of enteric gram-negative bacteria https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.14.670410v1