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The official website of the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science program.

University of Southern Mississippi

Four letter SEA-PHAGES code: SOMS

Location: Hattiesburg, MS United States

Website: http://www.usm.edu/

Joined SEA-PHAGES: PHAGES Cohort 8 (started in 2015)

Buddy school: Xavier University of Louisiana

Term type: None

Total SEA-PHAGES sections taught: 11

Total SEA-PHAGES students: 209

University of Southern Mississippi is a public institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,451 (fall 2020). It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity."

SEA Faculty

Primary Faculty Contact

ramesh.rijal@usm.edu

6012664586

University of Southern Mississippi

Assistant Professor

Cell and Molecular Biology

In human lungs, macrophages are key defenders against bacterial infections. They ingest invading bacteria, and phagosomes containing these bacteria fuse with lysosomes to form phagolysosomes, where the bacteria are killed. However, certain pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Legionella pneumophila and Listeria monocytogenes, escape killing in phagolysosomes. Although antibiotics are available to target these pathogens, the rise of multidrug-resistant strains has further complicated treatment efforts. A key factor in the development of drug resistance is bacteria’s ability to tolerate a range of stresses, which is essential for their survival under conditions of stress, whether from host cell defenses or antibiotic treatment. My lab investigates how polyphosphate (polyP), a phosphate polymer secreted by Mtb and other pathogens, prevents their killing in human macrophages, as well as protects bacteria from antibiotics. In a first line of research, we study how bacterial polyP modulates macrophage functions, including phagosome acidification, lysosome activity, autophagy, and cell polarization, facilitating bacterial survival within phagosomes. In a second line of research, we study how secreted polyP contributes to bacterial physiological adaptation to stress, cell envelope biogenesis, and biofilm formation. By identifying and targeting components of the polyP signal transduction pathway with small molecule inhibitors, we aim to render bacteria vulnerable to complete eradication by human immune cells. Our ultimate goal is to develop innovative strategies to effectively overcome drug tolerance and combat bacterial diseases. My lab is actively seeking motivated and hard-working undergraduates and graduate students and, in the future, postdoctoral fellows to join my team.

SEA-PHAGES Faculty Members

dmitri.mavrodi@usm.edu

(601) 266-6926

University of Southern Mississippi

Associate Professor

School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

SEA-GENES Faculty Members

dmitri.mavrodi@usm.edu

(601) 266-6926

University of Southern Mississippi

Associate Professor

School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

ramesh.rijal@usm.edu

6012664586

University of Southern Mississippi

Assistant Professor

Cell and Molecular Biology

In human lungs, macrophages are key defenders against bacterial infections. They ingest invading bacteria, and phagosomes containing these bacteria fuse with lysosomes to form phagolysosomes, where the bacteria are killed. However, certain pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Legionella pneumophila and Listeria monocytogenes, escape killing in phagolysosomes. Although antibiotics are available to target these pathogens, the rise of multidrug-resistant strains has further complicated treatment efforts. A key factor in the development of drug resistance is bacteria’s ability to tolerate a range of stresses, which is essential for their survival under conditions of stress, whether from host cell defenses or antibiotic treatment. My lab investigates how polyphosphate (polyP), a phosphate polymer secreted by Mtb and other pathogens, prevents their killing in human macrophages, as well as protects bacteria from antibiotics. In a first line of research, we study how bacterial polyP modulates macrophage functions, including phagosome acidification, lysosome activity, autophagy, and cell polarization, facilitating bacterial survival within phagosomes. In a second line of research, we study how secreted polyP contributes to bacterial physiological adaptation to stress, cell envelope biogenesis, and biofilm formation. By identifying and targeting components of the polyP signal transduction pathway with small molecule inhibitors, we aim to render bacteria vulnerable to complete eradication by human immune cells. Our ultimate goal is to develop innovative strategies to effectively overcome drug tolerance and combat bacterial diseases. My lab is actively seeking motivated and hard-working undergraduates and graduate students and, in the future, postdoctoral fellows to join my team.

Legal Contact

Pamela Thornton, USM Office of Technology Development. Technology Licensing Coordinator
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5012
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: 601-266-4063
E-mail | pamela.m.thornton@usm.edu

SEA Publications

Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage Waterfoul.

Jackson PN et al., Genome Announcements, 2016

THIS PUBLICATION HAS 7 SEA-PHAGES UNDERGRADUATE AUTHORS

Academic Terms

Spring 2025

Start: Jan 21, 2025, End: May 09, 2025

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Spring 2025

Start: Jan 21, 2025, End: May 09, 2025

PHAGES Sections in this Term

No sections entered for this term yet

Spring Semester 2025

Start: Jan 21, 2025, End: May 09, 2025

PHAGES Sections in this Term

No sections entered for this term yet

Spring Semester 2025

Start: Jan 21, 2025, End: May 09, 2025

PHAGES Sections in this Term

No sections entered for this term yet

Fall Semester 2023

Start: Aug 21, 2023, End: Dec 08, 2023

No class was offered.

PHAGES Sections in this Term

No sections entered for this term yet

Spring 2023

Start: Jan 18, 2023, End: May 11, 2023

PHAGES Sections in this Term

No sections entered for this term yet

GENES Sections in this Term

Spring 2022

Start: Jan 19, 2022, End: May 13, 2022

Taught two sections SEA-GENES lab

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Spring 2020

Start: Jan 22, 2020, End: May 14, 2022

Taught SEA-GENES as part of the BSC 447/L Microbial Genetics lab.

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Spring Semester 2019

Start: Jan 24, 2019, End: May 09, 2019

Taught SEA-GENES as part of the BSC 447/L Microbial Genetics lab.

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Spring Semester 2018

Start: Jan 16, 2018, End: May 04, 2018

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Fall Semester 2017

Start: Aug 16, 2017, End: Dec 08, 2017

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Spring Semester 2017

Start: Jan 17, 2017, End: May 11, 2017

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Fall Semester 2016

Start: Aug 24, 2016, End: Dec 09, 2016

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Spring Semester 2016

Start: Jan 19, 2016, End: May 12, 2016

Primary Instructor: Dmitri Mavrodi Additional Instructor: Michael Sellers Type: In silico (phage genome bioinformatics) Number of students: 18 Freshmen: 18 Meetings per week: 1 or 2 Hours per week: 3.0 to 4.0

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Fall Semester 2015

Start: Aug 19, 2015, End: Dec 11, 2015

PHAGES Sections in this Term

Institution Addresses

Current Mailing Address

Ramesh Rijal

University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

School of BEES

118 College Drive, Box 5018

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

USA

6012664586

Current Shipping Address

Ramesh Rijal

University of Southern Mississippi

School of BEES

100 Charles Lane Dr.

Johnson Science Tower, Rm# 105

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

USA

6012664586

Upcoming Events

2025 Phage Discovery Workshop 18C

July 12, 2025 to July 18, 2025

Recent Events

2025 Phage Discovery Workshop 18B

June 21, 2025 to June 28, 2025

2025 Phage Discovery Workshop 18A

May 17, 2025 to May 23, 2025

Forum Activity

Steven Caruso posted in Teaching with PECAAN

mespariz posted in Teaching with PECAAN

Jeremy Garza posted in Phage Staining - Uranyl Acetate

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