Nikhil Thomas

Nikhil Thomas is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Dalhousie University, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and the Division of Infectious Diseases. His research focuses on host-pathogen interactions, particularly bacterial virulence mechanisms involving type III secretion systems (T3SS), protein secretion, and microbiome dynamics. He holds a BSc (Honours) and PhD from Queen’s University, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia and the Michael Smith Laboratory.

Research interests include molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, enteric bacterial pathogens, and the role of microbial communities in gastrointestinal diseases. His work integrates molecular microbiology, genetics, cell biology, and proteomics to study bacterial virulence factors and host responses.

Recent publications highlight studies on Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Citrobacter rodentium, exploring virulence regulation, immune modulation, and microbiome impacts in Crohn’s disease. He has received awards including the CIHR New Investigator Award and NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Key contributions include discoveries on CesT chaperone roles in T3SS, UV disinfection efficacy, and seaweed-based antimicrobial strategies. His lab bridges basic science and translational research, addressing infectious disease challenges.