I am a microbiologist specializing in microbial metabolism and metabolic engineering. I earned my PhD from the University of Georgia, where my research focused on the functional integration of metabolic pathways across different microbial species using thiamine biosynthesis as a model. Currently, I am interested in understanding the metabolic diversity found inside metabolosomes within organisms found in the human gut, and how these contribute to health.

Key Publications

Sayavedra L, Yasir M, Goldson A, Brion A, Le Gall G, Moreno-Gonzalez M, Altera A, Paxhia MD, Warren MJ, Savva G, Turner AK, Beraza N, Narbad A. 2025. Bacterial microcompartments and energy metabolism drive gut colonization by Bilophila wadsworthia. Nature Communications. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60180-y

Wiedemair M, Kieninger C, Wurst K, Podewitz M, Deery E, Paxhia MD, Warren MJ, Kräutler B. 2023. Solution, crystal and in-silico structures of the organometallic Vitamin B12-derivative acetylcobalamin and of its novel rhodium-analogue acetylrhodibalamin. Helvetica Chimica Acta. 106(2):e202200158. doi: 10.1002/hlca.202200158

Paxhia MD, Downs DM. 2022. Pyridoxal and α-ketoglutarate independently improve function of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Thi5 in the metabolic network of Salmonella enterica. Journal of Bacteriology. 204(1):e004502. doi: 10.1128/JB.00450-21

Paxhia MD, Swanson MS, Downs DM. 2021. Functional characterization of the HMP-P synthase of Legionella pneumophila (Lpg1565). Molecular Microbiology. 115(4):539-553. doi: 10.111/mmi.14622

Palmer LD, Paxhia MD, Downs DM. 2015. Induction of the sugar-phosphate stress response allows Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine phosphate synthase to function in Salmonella enterica. Journal of Bacteriology 197:3554-3562. doi: 10.1128/JB.00576-15