Rate My Professor Arun Muthiah

Arun Muthiah is a Lecturer I of Biology at La Sierra University, appointed in 2016. He earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Loma Linda University in 2013, M.S. in Medical Microbiology from Christian Medical College, India in 1995, and B.S. in Zoology from Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli in 1991. These qualifications underpin his teaching and research contributions in the Biology Department, where he focuses on microbiology and human physiology.

Dr. Muthiah's principal research interests lie in microbial pathogenesis and glycosylation. He seeks to understand how glycans contribute to the pathogenic properties of bacteria, aiming to uncover the biology of glycosylation for developing novel drug targets to combat multiple drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and so-called superbugs. His representative publications highlight work on Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key periodontal pathogen: Muthiah, A.S., Aruni W., Robles A.G., Dou Y., Roy F., Fletcher H.M. (2013). In Porphyromonas gingivalis VimF is involved in gingipain maturation through the transfer of galactose. Muthiah, A.S., Aruni W., Vanterpool E., Osbourne D.O., Roy F., Dou Y., Fletcher H.M. (2011). Sialidase and sialoglycoproteases can modulate virulence in Porphyromonas gingivalis. Muthiah, A.S., Osbourne D.O., Aruni W., Roy F., Perry C., Sandberg L., Fletcher H.M. (2010). Role of vimA in cell surface biogenesis in Porphyromonas gingivalis. More recently, through La Sierra University's participation in the SEA-PHAGES program, he has co-authored genome sequences of novel bacteriophages isolated by freshmen students, including JangDynasty, a mycobacteriophage infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 (2018), and KaiHaiDragon (2019). As an instructor in Biol 115L, he guides undergraduate students in phage discovery and genomics using environmental samples and hosts like Microbacterium paraoxydans. He also supports departmental initiatives, such as research emphasis weeks and the Pre-Medical Society's virtual Guatemala mission trip. His office is in the Price Science Complex, Room 206.