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Current Members

Principal Investigator

Dr. Yongtao Zhu

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Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU, 2023 - present    
Assistant Professor, Minnesota State University Mankato, 2018 - 2023
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2011 - 2018
Ph.D. in Microbiology, Shandong University, 2011
B.S. in Bioscience, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 2006

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9r8TXE8AAAAJ&hl=en

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yongtao-Zhu

Staff Profile: https://scholar.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/persons/YongtaoZhu

Technician

Xinwei Ge

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Master’s in Biology and Medicine, Guangxi University.

Xinwei joined XJTLU in July 2023 and is in charge of mentoring UG students, ordering lab supplies and reagents, equipment maintenance, and also involves in research projects in the Zhu lab.

"I love watercolour painting and sketching."       

Email: Xinwei.Ge@xjtlu.edu.cn

PhD Candidates

Lin Su

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PhD candidate in Biological Sciences, XJTLU.
Master’s in Agriculture, Qingdao Agricultural University.

Lin’s research is focused on the pathogenic mechanism of Flavobacterium psychrophilum and vaccine development to fight BCWD.   

Motto: One step at a time.

“Welcome to the Zhu Lab - let’s explore amazing microorganisms together!”

Email: Lin.Su23@student.xjtlu.edu.cn    

Master's Candidates

To be updated

 

 

UG Research Assistants

Yuying Xun

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Bachelor's candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences, XJTLU.

Yuying's research includes developing genetic manipulation tools in Bacteroidetes and exploring the antimicrobials they produce.    

Email: Yuying.Xun21@student.xjtlu.edu.cn

 

Yukun Jiang

to be updated

FYP Students

Zihe Zhang

to be updated

Molin Sun

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Mengyuan Geng

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Xiaoyu Liu

to be updated 

Lab Alumni

Research Interests

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Research in the Zhu Lab is mainly focused on the genetic manipulation of bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes (now called Bacteroidota) and their unique mechanisms of gliding motility, polysaccharide degradation, protein secretion (type IX secretion system), biosynthesis of antimicrobial compounds, and pathogenicity on humans and animals. Genetic, molecular, and biochemical tools are typically used to investigate the gene/protein functions in the above processes in different bacteria.

One of the major strengths in the Zhu lab is genetic manipulation of bacteria to study the gene function in vivo. A variety of genetic tools including plasmids and strains are available in the lab. We are open to collaborations in any related field. 

Type IX Secretion System (T9SS) and Gliding Motility

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Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Bacterial Cold Water Disease

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the causative agent of bacterial cold-water disease (BCWD) in salmonid fish, resulting in substantial economic losses in aquaculture worldwide. It is known that the type IX secretion system (T9SS) is involved in the pathogenesis of F. psychrophilum but the mechanism is not well understood. We recently developed genetic manipulation tools that function in multiple strains of F. psychrophilum. By using these tools, we are trying to identify the potential virulence factors associated with the T9SS in F. psychrophilum, and develop live attenuated vaccines to prevent BCWD.         

Publications

2024

Methylation of foreign DNA overcomes the restriction barrier of Flavobacterium psychrophilum and allows efficient genetic manipulation

Sloboda, S., Ge, X., Jiang, D., Su, L., Wiens, G., Beveridge, C., Duchaud, E., McBride, M. J., Rochat, T. & Zhu, Y*., Dec 3, 2024, (Accepted) In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of the Type-IX secretion system's response regulator: Structural and functional insights

Saran, A., Kim, H-M., Manning, I., Hancock, M., Schmitz, C., Madej, M., Potempa, J., Sola, M., Trempe, J-F., Zhu, Y., Davey, M. E. & Zeytuni, N., 31 Jul 2024, In: PNAS Nexus. p. 316

2023

Filamentous structures in the cell envelope are associated with bacteroidetes gliding machinery

Shibata, S., Tahara, Y. O., Katayama, E., Kawamoto, A., Kato, T., Zhu, Y., Nakane, D., Namba, K., Miyata, M., McBride, M. J. & Nakayama, K., Jan 2023, In: Communications Biology. 6, 1, 94.

2022

Type IX Secretion System Effectors and Virulence of the Model Flavobacterium columnare Strain MS-FC-4

Thunes, N. C., Conrad, R. A., Mohammed, H. H., Zhu, Y., Barbier, P., Evenhuis, J. P., Perez-Pascual, D., Ghigo, J. M., Lipscomb, R. S., Schneider, J. R., Li, N., Erbes, D. H., Birkett, C., LaFrentz, B. R., Welch, T. J. & McBride, M. J., Feb 2022, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 88, 3, e01705-21.

2021

In situ imaging of bacterial outer membrane projections and associated protein complexes using electron cryo-tomography

Kaplan, M., Chreifi, G., Metskas, L. A., Liedtke, J., Wood, C. R., Oikonomou, C. M., Nicolas, W. J., Subramanian, P., Zacharoff, L. A., Wang, Y., Chang, Y. W., Beeby, M., Dobro, M. J., Zhu, Y., McBride, M. J., Briegel, A., Shaffer, C. L. & Jensen, G. J., Sept 2021, In: eLife. 10, e73099.

The Monoheme c Subunit of Respiratory Alternative Complex III Is Not Essential for Electron Transfer to Cytochrome aa3 in Flavobacterium johnsoniae

Lorencik, K., Ekiert, R., Zhu, Y., McBride, M. J., Gennis, R. B., Sarewicz, M. & Osyczka, A., Sept 2021, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 9, 1, p. 1-12 12 p.

2019

The carboxy-terminal region of Flavobacterium johnsoniae SprB facilitates its secretion by the type IX secretion system and propulsion by the gliding motility machinery

Kulkarni, S. S., Johnston, J. J., Zhu, Y., Hying, Z. T. & McBride, M. J., 1 Oct 2019, In: Journal of Bacteriology. 201, 19, e00218-19.

2017

Carrageenan catabolism is encoded by a complex regulon in marine heterotrophic bacteria

Ficko-Blean, E., Préchoux, A., Thomas, F., Rochat, T., Larocque, R., Zhu, Y., Stam, M., Génicot, S., Jam, M., Calteau, A., Viart, B., Ropartz, D., Pérez-Pascual, D., Correc, G., Matard-Mann, M., Stubbs, K. A., Rogniaux, H., Jeudy, A., Barbeyron, T., Médigue, C., & 5 others, 1 Dec 2017, In: Nature Communications. 8, 1, 1685.

Diverse C-terminal sequences involved in Flavobacterium johnsoniae protein secretion

Kulkarni, S. S., Zhu, Y., Brendel, C. J. & McBride, M. J., 1 Jun 2017, In: Journal of Bacteriology. 199, 12, e00884-16.

Genetic analyses unravel the crucial role of a horizontally acquired alginate lyase for brown algal biomass degradation by Zobellia galactanivorans

Zhu, Y., Thomas, F., Larocque, R., Li, N., Duffieux, D., Cladière, L., Souchaud, F., Michel, G. & McBride, M. J., Jun 2017, In: Environmental Microbiology. 19, 6, p. 2164-2181 18 p.

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The type IX secretion system is required for virulence of the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare

Li, N., Zhu, Y., LaFrentz, B. R., Evenhuis, J. P., Hunnicutt, D. W., Conrad, R. A., Barbier, P., Gullstrand, C. W., Roets, J. E., Powers, J. L., Kulkarni, S. S., Erbes, D. H., García, J. C., Nie, P. & McBride, M. J., 2017, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 83, 23, e01769-17.

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The unusual cellulose utilization system of the aerobic soil bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii

Zhu, Y*. & McBride, M. J., 1 Oct 2017, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 101, 19, p. 7113-7127 15 p.

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2016

A polysaccharide utilization locus from Flavobacterium johnsoniae enables conversion of recalcitrant chitin

Larsbrink, J., Zhu, Y., Kharade, S. S., Kwiatkowski, K. J., Eijsink, V. G. H., Koropatkin, N. M., McBride, M. J. & Pope, P. B., 2016, In: Biotechnology for Biofuels. 9, 1, 260.

Comparative analysis of Cellulophaga algicola and Flavobacterium johnsoniae gliding motility

Zhu, Y. & McBride, M. J., 1 Jun 2016, In: Journal of Bacteriology. 198, 12, p. 1743-1754 12 p.

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Complete genome sequence of the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare strain C#2

Bartelme, R. P., Newton, R. J., Zhu, Y., Li, N., LaFrentz, B. R. & McBride, M. J., 2016, In: Genome Announcements. 4, 3, e00624-16.

Periplasmic Cytophaga hutchinsonii endoglucanases are required for use of crystalline cellulose as the sole source of carbon and energy

Zhu, Y., Han, L., Hefferon, K. L., Silvaggi, N. R., Wilson, D. B. & McBride, M. J., 2016, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 82, 15, p. 4835-4845 11 p.

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2015

Outer membrane proteins related to SusC and SusD are not required for Cytophaga hutchinsonii cellulose utilization

Zhu, Y., Kwiatkowski, K. J., Yang, T., Kharade, S. S., Bahr, C. M., Koropatkin, N. M., Liu, W. & McBride, M. J., 22 Aug 2015, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 99, 15, p. 6339-6350 12 p.

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2014

Deletion of the Cytophaga hutchinsonii type IX secretion system gene sprP results in defects in gliding motility and cellulose utilization

Zhu, Y. & McBride, M. J., Jan 2014, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 98, 2, p. 763-775 13 p.

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2013

Characterization of a family 5 glycoside hydrolase isolated from the outer membrane of cellulolytic Cytophaga hutchinsonii

Zhu, Y., Zhou, H., Bi, Y., Zhang, W., Chen, G. & Liu, W., 1 May 2013, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 97, 9, p. 3925-3937 13 p.

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Gliding motility and por secretion system genes are widespread among members of the phylum bacteroidetes

Mark, B. M. & Zhu, Y., Jan 2013, In: Journal of Bacteriology. 195, 2, p. 270-278 9 p.

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2010

Cellulose and cellodextrin utilization by the cellulolytic bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii

Zhu, Y., Li, H., Zhou, H., Chen, G. & Liu, W., Aug 2010, In: Bioresource Technology. 101, 16, p. 6432-6437 6 p.

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2009

Cultrue-independent digging of cellulases and genes from natural environments

Zhu, Y., Liu, W., Wang, L. & Chen, G., 2009, In: Shengwu Gongcheng Xuebao/Chinese Journal of Biotechnology. 25, 12, p. 1838-1843 6 p.

Book Chapter

The Family Cytophagaceae

McBride, M. J., Liu, W., Lu, X., Zhu, Y. & Zhang, W., 1 Jul 2014, In: Rosenberg, E., DeLong, E.F., Lory, S., Stackebrandt, E., Thompson, F. (eds) The Prokaryotes. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. p. 577-593 17 p.
 

Patents

一种利用微生物酶系对啤酒酵母细胞进行破壁裂解的方法

Method for breaking yeast cell walls by utilizing microbial enzyme system. Liu, W., Shi, W., Zhu, Y., Lu, X. & Chen, G., 2009, Patent No. CN101717733 B

一种利用酵母制备可溶性β-1,3-葡聚寡糖的方法

Method for preparing soluble beta-1,3- oligo-glucosides by using yeast. Liu, W., Zhu, Y., Lu, X. & Chen, G., 2008, Patent No. CN101434974 B

Join Us

We are recruiting PhD candidates in the following areas:

  • Bacteroidetes gliding motility and T9SS mechanisms
  • Identification and characterization of antimicrobial compounds produced by Bacteroidetes 

Please contact Dr. Zhu if you are interested.  

Resources (Protocols and Plasmid Maps)

Lab News

Dec-3-2024. Congratulations to the Zhu Lab! Our first manuscript @XJTLU "Methylation of foreign DNA overcomes the restriction barrier of Flavobacterium psychrophilum and allows efficient genetic manipulation" was officially accepted by the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Congratulations to Seada, Xinwei, Lin, and Carly! Great job!  

Oct-12-2024 The Zhu Lab had the first lovely BBQ for celebration of everyone's hard work and achievements! Cheers!

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Oct-11-2024 Congratulations to our SURF students on receiving the Excellent Poster, School Winner, and the Outstanding Project First Prize Awards! Well done!

Check the media report https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/y48ouc0vz1D7PNLHbsd-KQ

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Sep-20-2024 Greeeeat job Yifei! We are proud of your accomplishments at Zhu Lab! Enjoy your time at UoL! WechatIMG4.jpg

Jun-17-2024 Welcome our second cohort of SURF students (Yuying Xun, Yukun Jiang, Pengbo Ji, Zibo Wei, Junqi Qian, Yuetong Wang)

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Jun-1-2024 Welcome our first PhD candidate Lin Su! 

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May-22-2024 Congratulations on completing your thesis defense Yihsuan, Siqi, and Jingyi! Great job! 

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Feb-20-2024 Dr. Zhu presented his research at the Aquaculture America 2024 Conference in San Antonio, TX and met his friends (Dr. Haitham Mohammed, Dr. Benjamin LaFrentz, and Dr. Thomas Loch)!  

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Jul-25-2023 Dr. Zhu presented his research at the 2023 Academic Annual Conference of Fish Disease in Guangzhou. 

Jun-13-2023 Welcome our first cohort of SURF students (Zhengyang Yin, Molin Sun, Mingbai Zeng, Chang Xue, Zihe Zhang, Tianji Li, Siqi Sun, Yihan Chen, Luyao Chen, Shixin Wang, Zijun Tang, Yi-Hsuan Chang)!

Jul-3-2023 Welcome our lab technician Xinwei Ge! 

Jul-19-2023 Congratulations Yitong and Shangbo! Wish you a bright future! 

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Jan-12-2023 The Zhu Lab successfully transferred from Minnesota State University and launched at XJTLU. 

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Dec-29-2022 Bye Seada, Hunter, and Chouakou! We'll meet again! 

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Dec-11-2022 Congratulations Seada and Hunter! Well done!  

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May-14-2022 The Zhu Lab had the first picnic and enjoyed a happy time. 

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Apr-15-2022 The Zhu Lab celebrated the 2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium at MSU with pizza. 

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Apr-2-2019 Members of the Zhu lab (Barakallah, Bersabeh, and Shamim) presented their research at the 2019 MSU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Well done! 

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Aug-20-2018 The Zhu Lab was born at Minnesota State University Mankato! Happy Birthday!  

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Updated on 09 December 2024, 11:49 AM; 461 page visits from 18 December 2023 to 18 December 2024