Shantanu Bhatt

Shantanu Bhatt is a Professor and Advising Coordinator of Biology at Saint Joseph's University (SJU), affiliated with the Department of Biology. His research focuses on attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens, particularly enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Escherichia albertii, aiming to identify virulence factors and regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) that modulate the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), a critical pathogenicity island.

• BS in Biology from Denison University (2001-2004)
• PhD in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics from Emory University (2005-2011)

Dr. Bhatt’s work employs an interdisciplinary approach integrating bioinformatics, genetics, and biochemistry to characterize bacterial virulence mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies against drug-resistant strains. He has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students at SJU, with a focus on recombineering techniques and regulatory RNA networks.

His publications span from 2007 to 2023, covering topics such as sRNA-mediated transcriptional repression (OmrA/OmrB, Spot42), carbon metabolism (AzuCR), LEE regulation by Hfq and CsrA, and zoonotic transmission of EPEC. Collaborations include researchers at NIH, Emory University, and Saint Joseph's University.

As Advising Coordinator, he guides biology students while leading a lab that investigates host-pathogen interactions and the biochemical underpinnings of bacterial disease. His 2017 invited manuscript on drug-resistant microbes and 2012 dissertation on CsrA’s role in EPEC virulence reflect his long-term commitment to understanding pathogenesis.