Sagar Aryal, PhD
Research Head, Department of Natural Products, Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), Lalitpur, Nepal
Email: sagar@kribs.org.np, Website: https://sagararyal.com
My current research involves isolating actinobacteria and myxobacteria from soils and sediments at different altitudes. I am phylogenetically identifying the isolated strains using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolated actinobacteria and myxobacteria are being tested for antimicrobial activity against different Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. I am also working on extracts derived from actinomycetes and myxobacteria that are analyzed and identified by HPLC-MS and compared with the Natural Product library and the Myxobase myxobacterial library. I am also interested in the metagenomics of very high-altitude soils (above 3000 m.a.s.l.) and in determining the actinomycete and myxobacterial abundance in Nepalese soils.
Dr. Laxmi Neupane
Researcher, Department of Natural Products, Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), Lalitpur, Nepal
Email: neupane.l@kribs.org.np
I am Laxmi Neupane, a dedicated microbial researcher specializing in the discovery of natural products and anti-infectives. I work as a researcher at the Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS). I also contribute as a content writer for Microbe Notes, creating educational resources in microbiology. I completed my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany. My research work focused on Isolation and characterization of myxobacteria from underexplored habitats as a potential source of new anti-infectives.
Current Research Students/Interns
Ms. Kripa Kiran Shrestha
Undergraduate Thesis Student [August 2026 – Present]
Education: Pinnacle College, Tribhuvan University
Research Study: Isolation, Identification, and Antimicrobial Activity of Soil Actinomycetes from Different Locations of Kathmandu
Supervisors: Dr. Sagar Aryal and Mr. Gopiram Syangtan
Ms. Misam Rai
Undergraduate Thesis Student [August 2026 – Present]
Education: Pinnacle College, Tribhuvan University
Research Study: Isolation, Identification, and Antimicrobial Activity of Soil Actinomycetes from Different Locations of Kathmandu
Supervisors: Dr. Sagar Aryal and Mr. Gopiram Syangtan
Ms. Ragyee Thapa
Undergraduate Thesis Student [August 2026 – Present]
Education: Pinnacle College, Tribhuvan University
Research Study: Isolation, Identification, and Antimicrobial Activity of Soil Actinomycetes from Different Locations of Kathmandu
Supervisors: Dr. Sagar Aryal and Mr. Gopiram Syangtan