Current Members
Principal Investigator
Dr. Yongtao Zhu
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
- Email address: Yongtao.Zhu@xjtlu.edu.cn
Technician
Xinwei Ge
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
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
Shuhan Lin
Master’s candidate in Molecular Bioscience, XJTLU.
Bachelor’s Degree in Bioengineering, Lanzhou University of Technology.
Shuhan’s research is to figure out the T9SS secreted virulence factors in Flavobacterium psychrophilum.
“My hobbies are singing and playing the piano. I like sports and travelling in my spare time.”
Email: Shuhan.Lin24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Zhe Hu
Master’s candidate in Molecular Bioscience, XJTLU.
Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.
Zhe's research is to explore the genes responsible for antimicrobials production in members of Bacteroidetes.
"I have a strong passion for scientific research. In my daily life, I enjoy playing all types of games, watching movies and animations, traveling, and LEGO. I’m always open to connecting with new people, so feel free to reach out! :)"
Email: Zhe.Hu24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
UG Research Assistants
Yuying Xun
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
Mengyuan Geng
Xiaoyu Liu
to be updated
Lab Alumni
Research Interests
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
Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Bacterial Cold Water Disease
to be updated
Publications
2024
Methylation of foreign DNA overcomes the restriction barrier of Flavobacterium psychrophilum and allows efficient genetic manipulation
Sloboda, S., Ge, X., Jiang, D., Wiens, G., Su, L., Beveridge, C., Duchaud, E., McBride, M. J., Rochat, T. & Zhu, Y*., 2 Aug 2024, (Under Revision) In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
2016
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.
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.
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.
2015
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.
2014
Zhu, Y. & McBride, M. J., Jan 2014, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 98, 2, p. 763-775 13 p.
2013
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.
Mark, B. M. & Zhu, Y., Jan 2013, In: Journal of Bacteriology. 195, 2, p. 270-278 9 p.
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.
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
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.
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
Lab News
Aug-20-2018 The Zhu Lab was born at Minnesota State University Mankato! Happy Birthday!
Apr-2-2019 Members of the Zhu lab (Barakallah, Bersabeh, and Shamim) presented their research at the 2019 MSU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Well done!
Apr-15-2022 The Zhu Lab celebrated the 2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium at MSU with pizza.
May-14-2022 The Zhu Lab had the first picnic and enjoyed a happy time.
Dec-11-2022 Congratulations Seada and Hunter! Well done!
Dec-29-2022 Bye Seada, Hunter, and Chouakou! We'll meet again!
Jan-12-2023 The Zhu Lab successfully transferred from Minnesota State University and launched at XJTLU.
Jul-19-2023 Congratulations Yitong and Shangbo! Wish you a bright future!
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-25-2023 Dr. Zhu presented his research at the 2023 Academic Annual Conference of Fish Disease in Guangzhou.
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)!
May-22-2024 Congratulations on completing your thesis defense Yihsuan, Siqi, and Jingyi! Great job!
Jun-1-2024 Welcome our first PhD candidate Lin Su!
Jun-17-2024 Welcome our second cohort of SURF students (Yuying Xun, Yukun Jiang, Pengbo Ji, Zibo Wei, Junqi Qian, Yuetong Wang)
Sep-20-2024 Greeeeat job Yifei! We are proud of your accomplishments at Zhu Lab! Enjoy your time at UoL!
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
Oct-12-2024 The Zhu Lab had the first lovely BBQ for celebration of everyone's hard work and achievements! Cheers!