Janakiram Seshu

Janakiram Seshu is a Professor and Graduate Advisor of Record for the PhD program in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Sciences. His research is conducted through the Seshu Lab, which is affiliated with the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID). He teaches courses in Bacteriology, Microbial Pathogenesis II, Topics in Chemical Biology, and Vector-borne Diseases.

His research focuses on bacterial and vector-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease and Q fever. Key areas include:

• Gene expression regulation in Borrelia burgdorferi
• Host-pathogen interactions in Lyme disease
• Metabolic control of virulence in spirochetes
• Modification of Coxiella burnetii antigens to enhance T cell responses
• Intracellular trafficking and phagolysosomal biology
• Antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative bacteria

The publication trends in his work emphasize molecular microbiology, infectious disease mechanisms, and host immune responses, with a strong focus on pathogen metabolism and gene regulation. Although specific articles are not listed, the research direction indicates a consistent focus on spirochetal biology and intracellular pathogens.

Dr. Seshu leads an active research lab training undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students. He runs an Undergraduate Research Training Program on the Biology of Spirochetes and Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, providing hands-on experience in molecular techniques such as DNA cloning, PCR, protein expression, and phenotypic analysis. Competitive fellowships are available for trainees.

He has advised numerous students at various levels, including PhD, MS, and BS candidates, many of whom are listed as former lab members. His lab fosters a collaborative environment focused on experimental rigor and scientific communication.

Dr. Seshu is actively involved in mentoring and research training, with no indication of retirement or emeritus status. He maintains an active lab and teaching responsibilities, contributing significantly to microbial pathogenesis research at UTSA.