The Yan lab studies one of the fundamental questions in microbiology: how bacteria adapt to the various environmental stresses in their ecological niches, animal host, as well as clinical settings and develop antimicrobial resistance. We aim to uncover the detailed signal transduction systems involved in these processes and translate the knowledge into anti-infective, anti-resistance interventions. We tackle these important and fundamental questions at the level of gene expression, coupled with cutting-edge interdisciplinary approaches such as multi-omics, CRISPR-Cas, genetic codon expansion, photo cross-linking etc..
Media Coverage
“Hong Kong and Beijing scientists use gene editing to find cure for superbugs”
JRNL CLUB
“Native type I-F CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing”
New Zealand Online News
“A joint research team from the University of Hong Kong reported the development of a transferrable and integrative type I CRISPR-based genome editing tool”
Eurekalert!
“HKU scientists harness the naturally abundant CRISPR-Cas system to edit superbugs with the hope of treating infections caused by drug resistant pathogens”
Bio Art
“Hong Kong and Beijing groups led by Drs YAN Aixin and XIANG Hua reported the establishment of genome editing tools in clinical MDR pathogens by harnessing native type I-F CRISPR-Cas system”
SSTP (Shanghai Science and Technology Press)
“New development in genome editing of clinical multidrug resistant pathogens”
HKU Press Release on 20/06/2021
“HKU scientists reveal silver-based antimicrobials can be utilized as antibiotic adjuvants to combat antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus”
Bio Art
“The group led by Dr. Yan Aixin in HKU developed transferrable type I-F Cascade system for heterologous genome editing in bacteria”
HKU Press Release on July 22, 2021
“HKU scientists harness the naturally abundant CRISPR-Cas system to edit superbugs with the hope of treating infections caused by drug resistant pathogens”
“港大開發可編輯超級細菌的CRISPR-Cas 基因編輯技術 - 有望藉編輯病原菌治療耐藥菌所引起的感染”
MicrobiomeTimes
“HKU scientists harness the naturally abundant CRISPR-Cas system to edit superbugs”
Opera News
“HKU scientists harness the naturally abundant CRISPR-Cas system to edit superbugs with the hope of treating infections caused by drug resistant pathogens”
News Knowledia
“HKU scientists harness the naturally abundant CRISPR-Cas system to edit superbugs with the hope of treating infections caused by drug resistant pathogens”
Newsbreak.com
“Scientists harness the naturally abundant CRISPR-Cas system to edit superbugs”
Thepaper.cn
“港大開發可編輯超級細菌的CRISPR-Cas 基因編輯技術 - 有望藉編輯病原菌治療耐藥菌所引起的感染”
Topick.hket.com
“港大開發可編輯超級細菌基因技術 - 有望藉編輯病原菌治療耐藥菌所引起的感染”
Urbanlife.com
“港大研究：研發編輯超級細菌基因技術，有望治療耐葯菌減院內感染”
Takungpao.com.hk
“編輯超級細菌基因 有望治耐葯菌感染”
Po.baidu.com
“港大开发可编辑超级细菌的CRISPR-Cas 基因编辑技术 有望藉编辑病原菌治疗耐药菌所引起的感染”
Bioon.com
“Nucleic Acids Res：利用I-F型CRISPR-Cas系统高效编辑超级细菌”
Prof. Aixin Yan
B.Sc. (Shanxi), Ph.D. (Peking)
Professor
Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry
Mailing address:
School of Biological Sciences,
The University of Hong Kong,
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2299 0864
Fax: (852) 2559 9114
E-mail: ayan8@hku.hk
Fellowships:
SUNY at Stony Brook, with Dr. William J. Lennarz
Duke University, with Dr. Christian R. H. Raetz
The University of Wisconsin-Madison, with Dr. Patricia J. Kiley
Teaching:
BIOL 2103 Biological Science Laboratory Course (Module II. Basic Microbiology Techniques)
BIOL 3508 Microbial Physiology and Biotechnology
BIOL 4401 Clinical Microbiology and Applied Immunology
BIOL 3993 Directed Studies in Molecular & Biotechnology
BIOL 4963 Molecular & Biotechnology Internship
BIOL 4993 Molecular & Biotechnology Project
Awards and Honors (selected):
* Young Investigator’s Award, Hong Kong Society of Immunology, 2013.
* Best Oral Presentation Award, The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Hong Kong Society of Immunology, Hong Kong, May 25, 2013.
* Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) Young Scientist Meeting Grant, "7th European Workshop on Bacterial Respiratory Chains", Backagården, Höör, Lund, Sweden, 2011.
* HKU Overseas Fellowship Award, HKU, 2010.
* Poster-Presentation Award at the Kenneth B. Raper Symposium for Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA, August 31, 2007.
* Traveling Award for the 11th EMBO-FEBS Advanced Lecture Course on "Molecular and Cellular Biology of Membranes", June 18-29, Corsica, France, 2007.
* Traveling Award for the US-Japan Glyco 2004, November 17-21, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 2004.
* Traveling Award for the IUBMB/ASBMB 2004 meeting, June 12-16, Boston, MA,USA, 2004.
* Excellent graduate student, Peking University, Beijing, China, 2001.
* Excellent Young Scientist Award in the Peptide Field bestowed by the 6th Chinese International Peptide Symposium (CPS), July, Mount Huang, China, 2000.
Publications:
20. "An undecaprenyl phosphate-aminoarabinose flippase required for polymyxin resistance in Escherichia coli"
Yan, A.; Guan, Z., Raetz, C. R. H. J. Biol. Chem. 2007, 282, 36077-36089.
19. "Two Oligosaccharyl Transferase complexes exist in yeast and associate with two different translocons."
Yan, A.; Lennarz, W. J. Glycobiology 2005, 15, 1407-1415.
18. "Studies of yeast oligosaccharyl transferase subunits using the split-ubiquitin system: topological features and in vivo interactions."
Yan, A.; Wu, E.; Lennarz, W. J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2005, 102, 7121-7126.
17. "Interaction of the OT subunits with the translocon complex."
Chavan, M.; Yan, A.; Lennarz, W. J. J. Biol. Chem. 2005, 280, 22917-22924.
16. "Enzymatic synthesis and bioactivity of estradiol derivative conjugates with different amino acids."
Yan, A;Chan, R. Y. K.; Lau, W. S.; Lee, K. S.; Wong, M. S.; Xing, G. W.; Tian, G. L.; Ye, Y. H. Tetrahedron, 2005, 61, 5933-5941.
15. "Unraveling the mechanism of protein N-glycosylation."
Yan, A.; Lennarz, W. J. J. Biol. Chem. 2005, 280, 3121-3124.
14. "Evidence for the existence of two distinct Oligosaccharyl Transferase complexes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae."
Yan, A.; Lennarz, W. J. Glycobiology, 2004, 14, 1116.
13. "Probing the Peptide Substrate Binding Site of Oligosaccharide Transferase by Using Competitive Inhibitors."
Yan, A.; Lennarz, W. J, FASEB J., 2004, 18, C176.
12. "New findings on the interactions among the Yeast Oligosaccharyl Transferase Subunits Using a Chemical Cross-linker."
Yan, A.; Eilaf, A.; Yan, Q.; Lennarz, W. J. J. Biol. Chem. 2003, 278, 33078-87.
11. "Interaction between OT subunit Wbp1p and yeast protein kinase C: insight into the functional relationship."
Yan, A.; Wu, E.; Lennarz, W. J. Glycobiology, 2003, 13, 858.
10. "Effects of Properties of Organic Solvents and Water Content on the Enzymatic synthesis of Derivatives of Dipeptides Containing D-Amino Acid Residues."
Shen, H.Y., Tian, G. L.; Yan, A.; Jia, Y.; Hong, Y. Y.; Ye, Y. H. Acta Chim. Sini., 2003, 61, 1144-1148. (CAN 140: 128667)
9. "Interaction of Oligosaccharide Transferase subunits in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae."
Yan, A.; Lennarz, W. J., Mol. Biol. Cell2002, 13, 233a
8. "Recent progress on the immobilization of enzymes on molecular sieves for the reactions in organic solvent."
Yan, A.; Li, X. W.; Ye, Y. H. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 2002, 101, 113-129.
7. "New developments on protease-catalyzed organic synthesis."
Yan, A.; Tian, G. L.; Ye, Y. H. Chinese Journal of Chemistry Progress, 2001, 13, 203-208. (in Chinese, CAN 136: 231901)
6. "Isolation and identification of 2-(1', 2', 3', 4'-tetrahydroxybutyl)-6-(2", 3", 4"-trihydroxybutyl)-pyrazine from Panax pseudoginseng var notoginseng."
Li, Q.; Yan, A.; Ye, Y. H.; Xing, Q. Y. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis.", 2001, 37, 286-288. (CAN 137: 90951)
5. "Synthesis of N-protected amino acid-estradiol derivatives catalyzed by subtilisin in organic solvent."
Yan, A.; Xing, G. W.; Ye, Y. H. et al., Peptide: Biology and Chemistry (Proceedings of the 6th Chinese Peptide Symposium), Eds: Jie-cheng Xu, Hong-yan Xu, Jams P. Tam, Science Press, Shanghai, China, 2001.
4. "Isolation, identification and physiological activities of 2-(1', 2', 3', 4'-tetrahydroxybutyl)-6-(2", 3", 4"-trihydroxybutyl)-pyrazine from Panax notoginseng."
Li, Q.; Ye, Y. H.; Zhou, Y. W.; Shen, H.; Xing, Q. Y. Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2001, 22, 1824-1828. (in Chinese, CAN 136: 131557)
3. "Synthesis of N-protected amino acid trifluoroethyl esters by the catalysis of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)."
Liu, P.; Yan, A.; Ye, Y. H. Chinese Journal of Hua Xue Tong Bao, 2001, No. 12, 777-780. (in Chinese CAN: 136:340953).
2. "Progress in modification of peptides with non-protein amino acids and their application inn the structure-activity relationship."
Yan, A.; Tian, G. L.; Ye, Y. H. Chinese Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2000, 20, 299-305. (in Chinese, CAN 133:68261)
1. "Study on the enzymatic synthesis of N-protected amino acid-estradiol derivatives in organic solvent."
Yan, A.; Xing, G. W.; Ye, Y. H.; Tian, G. L.; Wong, M. S.; Lee, K. S.; Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 5379-5381.
Projects
Project 1
CRISPR-Cas Systems in Pathogenic Bacteria and Their Exploitations. The advent of CRISPR-Cas-based genome-editing techniques has revolutionized the genetics in model eukaryotic organisms. However, their applications in prokaryotes are rather limited. Remarkably, CRISPR-Cas systems belonging to different classes and types are continuously identified in prokaryotic genomes and serve as a deep reservoir for expansion of the CRISPR-based genetic toolkits. ~90% of the CRISPR-Cas systems identified so far belong to the class 1 system. We aim to harness the widespread class 1 type I CRISPR-Cas systems for genome editing applications in pathogenic bacteria and for anti-resistance therapeutics.
Project 2
Microbial Stress Response and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Pathogens undergo extensive physiological changes during the transition from their natural habitats to the human host. We investigate the underlying signal transduction pathways and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during this process. Multidrug efflux pumps are encoded ubiquitously in microbial genomes and serve as a class of important AMR determinants. Research from our group and others suggests that efflux pumps have extensive physiological roles in bacteria, especially during the stress response. We aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the link of stress response and emergence of AMR in the common Gram-negative pathogens E. coli, S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa.
Project 3
Metal Homeostasis and Heavy Metal Resistance. Transition metal ions are essential for bacterial physiology due to the key roles they play in many biological processes. However, high concentrations of metals are cytotoxic due to metal displacement of protein functional site, Fe-S clusters damage, oxidative stress, etc. As a consequence, bacteria have evolved sophisticated metal homeostasis systems to maintain physiological levels of metals in the cell. Efflux is a major means of metal detoxification and mechanism of metal resistance in bacteria. We have shown that Cu/Ag efflux system is up-regulated during O2 limitation and amino acid deprivation conditions, resulting in Cu and Ag resistance. We also investigated the cross-talk of metal homeostatic processes and showed that Zn stress led to increased cellular demands for Fe and decreased sensitivity to Cu. Currently, we are exploring metal homeostasis in other physiologically or clinically relevant stress conditions.
(after joining HKU in July 2008):
65. He H, Wei X, Yang B, Liu H, Sun M, Li Y, Yan A, Tang C, Lin Y, Xu L, Ultrastrong and multifunctional aerogels with hyperconnective network of composite polymeric nanofibers, Nat. Commun. 2022; 13(1):4242. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31957-2.
64. Qin S, He Z, Liu Y, Hu J, Xiao W, Tang X, Li G, Lin P, Pu Q, Wu Q, Zhou C, Wang B, Gao P, Wang Z, Yan A, Nadeem K, Xia Z, and Wu M, Engineered bacteriophages containing anti-CRSIPR suppress infection of antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa, Microbiology Spectrum 2022, doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01602-22.
63. Wang P, Zhang G, Xu Z, Chen Z, Liu X, Wang C, Zheng C, Wang J, Zhang H, Yan A*, Whole-cell FRET monitoring of transcription factor activities enables functional annotation of signal transduction systems in living bacteria, J. Biol. Chem 2022, 298(8):102258. doi:10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102258
62. Ding X; Lan W; Li Y; Yan A; Katayama Y; Koba K; Makabe A; Fukushima K; Yano M; Onishi Y; Ge Q, Gu J*, An internal recycling mechanism between ammonia and nitrate driven by ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria (AOA, AOB, and Comammox) on Angkor sandstone monuments, Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 2021 165, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2021.105328.
61. Awan A, Yan A, Sarwar Y, Schierack P, Ali A, Detection of synergistic antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from post-operative wound infections, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2021 105 (24), 9321-9332. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11680-6.
60. Xu Z, Li Y, Cao H, Si M, Zhang G, Woo PCY, Yan A*, A transferrable and integrative type I-F Cascade for heterologous genome editing and transcription modulation, Nucleic Acids Res 2021, 49(16): e94. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkab521
59. Luo D, Wang X, Feng X, Tian M, Wang S, Tang SL, Ang P, Yan A, Luo H*, Population Differentiation of Rhodobacteraceae Along with Coral Compartments ISME J. 2021, 15(11): 3286-3302. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01009-6
58. Wang H, Wang M, Xu X, Gao P, Xu Z, Zhang Q, Li H, Yan A, Kao YT, Sun H*, Multi-target mode of action of silver against Staphylococcus aureus endows it with capability to combat antibiotic resistance, Nat. Commun. 2021, 12:3331. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23659-y
57. Deng Y, Huang Y, Che Y, Yang Y, Yin X, Yan A, Dai L, Liu YY, Polz M, Zhang T, Microbiome assembly for sulfonamide subsistence and the transfer of genetic determinants, ISME J. 2021, 15(10): 2817-2829. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00969-z
56. He H, Li Y, Liu H, Kim Y, Yan A and Xu L*, Elastic, Conductive and Mechanically Strong Hydrogels from Dual-Cross-Linked Aramid Nanofiber Composites, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021,13(6):7539-7545. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c21148
55. Li Y., Xu Z., Han W. Cao H, Umarov R, Yan A, Fan M, Chen H, Duarte C, Li L, Ho PL, Gao X. HMD-ARG: hierarchical multi-task deep learning for annotating antibiotic resistance genes. Microbiome 2021 Vol 9, 40, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-021-01002-3
54. Xiao T, Yan A, Huang J, Jorgensen E, Shah N, Comparative Peptidomic and Meta-transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Improved Gamma-amino butyric acid Production Machinery in Levilactobacillus brevis NPS-QW 145 Co-cultured with Streptococcus thermophilus ASCC1275 during Milk Fermentation, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2020, 87(1): e01985-20. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01985-20
53. Wang H, Yang X, Wang M, Hu M, Xu X, Yan A, Hao Q, Li H, Sun H, Atomic differentiation of silver binding preference in protein targets: Escherichia coli malate dehydrogenase as a paradigm, Chemical Sciences 2020, 11, 11714-11719. doi:10.1039/d0sc04151c
52. Sun H, Wang R, Zang Q, Wang H, Wong YT, Wang M, Hao Q, Yan A, Kao RYT, Ho PL, Li H, Resensitizing carbapenem- and colistin-resistant bacteria to antibiotics using auranofin, Nature Communications 2020;11(1):5263, doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18939-y.
51. Wang X, Zhang Y, Ren M, Xia T, Chu X, Liu C, Lin X, Huang Y, Chen Z, Yan A, Luo H, Cryptic Speciation of a Pelagic Roseobacter Population Varying at a Few Thousand Nucleotide Sites, The ISME Journal 2020, 14(12): 3106-3119. doi:10.1038/s41396-020-00743-7
50. Xu Z, Li Y, Li M, Xiang H, Yan A*, Harnessing the type I CRISPR-Cas systems for genome editing in prokaryotes, Environ. Microbiol. 2021, 23(2): 542-558. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15116.
49. Xu Z, Li Y, Yan A* Repurposing the native type I-F CRISPR-Cas system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa for genome editing, Star Protocol 2020, 1: 100039 doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100039.
48. Xu Z, Wang P, Wang H, Yu ZH, Au-Yeung HY, Hirayama T, Sun H, Yan A* Zinc excess increases cellular demand for iron and decreases tolerance to copper in Escherichia coli, J. Biol. Chem 2019, 294(45) 16978-16991.
47. Xu Z, Li M, Li Y, Cao H, Miao L, Xu Z, Higuchi Y, Yamasaki S, Nishino K, Woo PCY, Xiang H, Yan A*, Native CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing enables dissecting and sensitizing clinical multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa, Cell Rep. 2019, 29 1707-1717.
46. Wang H, Wang M, Yang X, Xu X, Hao Q, Yan A, Hu M, Lobinski R, Li H, Sun H, Antimicrobial Silver Targets Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase in Glycolysis of E. coli, Chem. Sci 2019, 10, 7193-7199. DOI: 10.1039/c9sc02032b.
45. Wang H, Yan A, Liu Z, Yang X, Xu Z, Wang Y, Wang R, Koohi-Moghadam M, Hu L, Xia W, Tang H, Wang Y, Li H, Sun H., Deciphering molecular mechanism of silver by integrated omic approaches enables enhancing its antimicrobial efficacy in E. coli, PLoS Biol 2019,17(6): e3000292.
44. Wang Z.#, Sun J.#, Tian M.#, Xu Z., Liu Y., Fu, J., Yan A*, Liu, X*, Proteomic analysis of FNR-regulated anaerobiosis in Salmonella Typhimurium, Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2019, Vol. 30 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-019-02145-2
43. Long S, Miao L, Li R, Deng F, Qiao Q, Liu X, Yan A, Xu Z, Rapid Identification of Bacteria by Membrane-Responsive Aggregation of a Pyrene Derivative, ACS sensors 2019, 4, 281-285
42. Cao H, Xia T, Li Y, Xu Z, Bougouffa S, Lo YT, Bajic V, Luo H, Woo, PCY, Yan A*, Uncoupled quorum sensing modulates the interplay of virulence and resistance in a multidrug-resistant clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate belonging to the MLST550 clonal complex, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2019, 63 (4), e01944-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01944-18
41. Andolina G, Wei R, Liu H, Yang X, Cao H, Chen S, Yan A, Li XD, Li X, Metabolic Labeling of Pseudaminic Acid-containing Glycans on Bacterial Surfaces, ACS Chemical Biology 2018; 13(10):3030-3037, doi: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00822.
40. Wang Z, Sun J, Xia T, Liu Y, Fu J, Lo Y., Chang C, Yan A*, Liu X*, Proteomic delineation of the ArcA regulon in Salmonella Typhimurium during anaerobiosis, Molecular &Cellular Proteomics 2018; 17(10):1937-1947, doi: 10.1074/mcp.RA117.000563.
39. Heshiki1 Y, Dissanayake1 T, Zheng T, Kang K, Ni Y, Xu Z, Sarkar C, Woo CY, Chow K. C. Chow, Baker D, Yan A, Webster C, Panagiotou G*, Li J. Toward a Metagenomic Understanding on the Bacterial Composition and Resistome in Hong Kong Banknotes, Frontiers in Microbiology, 2017, 8: 632. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00632
38. Neelakantan P *, Romero M, Vera J, Daood U, Khan A, Yan A., Cheung G, Biofilms in Endodontics — Current Status and Future Directions, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2017; 18, 1748; doi:10.3390/ijms18081748
37. Cao H*, Lai Y, Bougouffa S, Xu Z, Yan A.* Comparative genome and transcriptome analysis reveals distinctive surface characteristics and unique physiological potentials in Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, BMC Genomics 2017; 18:459 doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-3842-z.
36. Lai Y, Xu Z, Yan A. *A novel regulatory circuit to control indole biosynthesis protects Escherichia coli from nitrosative damages during the anaerobic respiration of nitrate, Environmental Microbiology 2017; 19: 598-610
35. Gan R, Deng Z, Yan A, Shah NP, Lui WY, Chan CL, Corke H, Pigmented edible bean coats as natural sources of polyphenols with antioxidant and antibacterial effects, Food Science and Technology 2016; 73, 168-177
34. Xiao M, Lai Y, Sun J, Chen G, Yan A*. Transcriptional Regulation of the Outer Membrane Porin Gene ompW Reveals its Physiological Role during the Transition from the Aerobic to the Anaerobic Lifestyle of Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol. 2016; 7: 799. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00799.
33. Fung KC, Ma YZ, Xia TY, Luk CH, Yan A*. Signaling by the heavy-metal sensor CusS involves rearranged helical interactions in specific transmembrane regions, Molecular Microbiology 2016;100 (5), 774-787
32. Xu Z, Yan A*. Multidrug Efflux Systems in Microaerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria, Antibiotics 2015; 4, 379-396.
31. Wang X*, Quinn P, Yan A*. Kdo2-lipid A: Structural Diversity and Impact on Immunopharmacology, Biological Reviews 2015; 90, 408-427.
30. Deng Z, Sun J, Yan A*. Bacterial Multidrug Efflux Pumps: Mechanisms, Physiology and Pharmacological Exploitations, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2014; 453: 254-267.
29. Fung KC, Lau WY, Chan WT, Yan A*. Copper efflux is induced during anaerobic amino acid limitation in Escherichia coli to protect iron-sulfur cluster enzymes and biogenesis #, Journal of Bacteriology 2013; 195:4556–4568. (#: highlighted in Journal of Bacteriology 2013; 195: 4553-4555; and is recommended by F1000 Prime Access the recommendation on F1000 Prime)
28. Deng Z, Shan Y, Pan Q, Gao X, Yan A*. Anaerobic expression of the gadE-mdtEF multidrug efflux operon is primarily regulated by the two-component system ArcBA through antagonizing the H-NS mediated repression, Frontiers in Microbiology 2013; 4: 194. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00194.
27. Shetye GS, Singh N, Gao X, Bandyopadhyay D, Yan A*; Luk, Y.* Structures and biofilm inhibition activities of brominated furanones for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MedChemComm 2013; 4:1079-1084.
26. Shan Y, Lai Y, Yan A*. Metabolic reprogramming under microaerobic and anaerobic conditions in bacteria, Reprogramming Metabolic Pathways 2012; 55:159-179, Chapter 8, Springer publisher
25. Pan Q, Shan Y, Yan A*. A region at the C-terminus of the Escherichia coli global transcription factor FNR negatively mediates its degradation by the ClpXP protease, Biochemistry 2012; 51 (25):5061-5071.
24. Shan Y, Pan Q, Liu J, Huang F, Sun H, Nishino K, Yan A*. Covalently linking the Escherichia coli global anaerobic regulator FNR in tandem allows it to function as an oxygen stable dimer, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2012; 419:43-48.
23. ZhangY, Xiao M, Horiyama T, Zhang Y, Li X, Nishino K, Yan A*. The multidrug efflux pump MdtEF protects against nitrosative damage during the anaerobic respiration in Escherichia coli, The Journal of Biological Chemistry 2011; 286:26576-26584.
22. Yan A*, Kiley P, Techniques to isolate O2-sensitive proteins: [4Fe-4S]-FNR as an example, Methods in Enzymology 2009; 463:787-805.
21. Yan A, Kiley P. Dissecting the Role of the N-terminal Region of Escherichia coli Global Transcription Factor FNR , Journal of Bacteriology 2008; 190:8230-8233.
Postdocs & RA
Dr. Li Yanran (Ammy)
Postdoctoral Fellow
BSc: Sun Yat-sen University
Ph.D.: The University of Hong Kong
Ms. Chen Yining (Melody)
Research Assistant
BSc: BNU-HKBU United International College
MSc: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Postgraduate Students
Ms. Tian Mengdan (Mandy)
BSc: Wuhan University
Ph.D. student since September, 2018
Mr. Ning Jiajun (Michael)
BSc: Jilin University
Ph.D. student since January, 2019
Mr. Zhang Guangming (Derek)
BSc: South China University of Technology
Ph.D. student since September, 2019
Ms. Guo Mengyao (Molly)
BEng: Tianjin University
Ph.D. student since September, 2020
Ms. Su Yingtong (Winnie)
BSc: Jinan University
MSc: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ph.D. student since September, 2021
Ms. Chen Zhe (Shadow)
BSc: Zhejiang University
Ph.D. student since September, 2021
Mr. Wang Shiwei (Cody)
BSc: Huazhong Agricultural University
Msc: Wuhan university
Ph.D. student since August, 2022
Mr. Wan Wenrui (Shire)
BSc: McGill University
Ph.D. student since September, 2022
Alumni
Dr. Si Meiru, Visiting Associate Professor 2019-2020, currently Professor at Qufu Normal University, China
Dr. Xia Tingying, Ph.D. student Sep 2015 – Dec 2019, currently Postdoc Fellow at Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
Dr. Wang Minji, Postdoctoral Fellow Sep 2017 --- Sep 2018, currently Associate Professor, East China Normal University
Dr. Sun Jingjing, Ph.D. student Sep 2013 --- Jan 2018, currently Postdoc Fellow at Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
Dr. Cao Huiluo, Postdoctoral Fellow Feb 2015 --- May 2017, currently Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Deng Ziqing, Ph.D. student Sep 2012 --- Feb 2017, currently BGI, Shenzhen.
Dr. Fung KC Danny, Postdoctoral Fellow Sep 2010 --- Nov 2014, currently Research Scientist, University of Wisconsin Madison, USA
Dr. Ma Yongzheng, Postdoctoral Fellow, Sep 2010 --- Nov 2014, currently Associate Professor, Tianjin University
Dr. Pan Qing, Ph.D. students Sep 2008 --- Aug 2012, currently Shenzhen University
Dr. Xiao Minfeng, Ph.D. students Jan 2009 --- Mar 2013, currently BGI, Shenzhen
Dr. Gao Xiang, Ph.D. student Sep 2009 --- Feb 2014, Currently Associate Professor, Hebei University of Science and Technology.
Dr. Lai Yong, Ph.D. student Sep 2011 --- Aug 2015, currently Postdoctoral Fellow at Synthetic Biology Center, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Mr. Zhang Yiliang, M. Phil. student Sep 2009 --- Aug 2011, currently Direct Marketing Specialist, QIAGEN (Shanghai).
Dr. Shan Yue, M. Phil. student Sep 2010 --- Aug 2012, currently Postdoc Fellow at University of Chicago, USA
Undergraduate Researchers, Interns and Summer research students:
Mr. Lo Yet Kei, Tommy, Feb 2016 --- July 2018, Currently M. Phil. student in Germany
Ms. Lam Yuen Man Gladys, HKU Final year project student 2008-2009
Mr. Leung Man Him,Sammy, HKU Final year project student 2011-2012
Mr. Luk Chak Hon Jakson, HKU Summer Research Fellowship and Final year project student 2012-2014, currently Ph.D. student, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
Ms. Liu Junyan, HKU Summer Research Fellowship Student, 2009-2010, currently Ph.D. candidate, Cambridge University, UK
Mr. Leung George, HKU Summer research student, summer 2011
Mr. Lo Chun Wai Johnny, HKU summer intern research student, summer 2015
Ms. Chen Xin, Exchange research student from Zhejiang university, Sep 2012 --- Mar 2013
Miss Chau Chau Han, Chris, Summer research student from Imperial College London, summer 2011
Miss Magali PELLETIER, Intern student from Catholic University of Lyon, FRANCE
Miss Janis Tam, Summer research student from Imperial College London, summer 2013
Mr. Chen Wang, Graduate school summer exchange student from Zhejiang University, summer 2013
Miss Wang Yiwei, Graduate school summer exchange student from Jilin University, summer 2016
Mr. Ma Wing Tung, Terence, HKU Final year project student 2016-2017, currently Msc student at UK
Ms. Lau Lavinia, Laura, Summer research student from Imperial College London, July – September, 2017
Ms. Tao Wanyun, Graduate school summer exchange student from Case Western Reserve Universtiy, summer 2017
Miss Cai Yumin, Graduate school summer exchange student from Sun Yat-sen University, summer 2017
Ms. Lee Hyeyoung, HKU Final Year Project student 2019 -2020, currently Postgraduate Student at National University of Singapore
Ms. Xu Jingyan, Intern student from Huazhong Agricultural University 2019-2020
Mr. Mou Yuanbiao, HKU Summer Research Fellowship and Final Year Project student 2020-21
Mr. Michael Chan, Summer Research Student from Dartmouth College USA, summer 2020
Student Awards in the Yan Lab:
· First prize for Undergraduate Research Colloquium Presentation, Miss LAM Yuen Man, Faculty of Science, HKU, 2009
· Summer Research Fellowship, Miss LIU Jun Yan, Faculty of Science, HKU, 2010
· Overseas Research Fellowship, Mr. LEUNG Man Him, Sammy, Faculty of Science, HKU, 2011
· Carl Storm International Diversity Fellowship, Miss XIAO Min Feng, on the Multi-drug Efflux Systems Gordon Research Conference, Les Diablerets, Switzerland, 2011
· Travel Award of the 2011 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting, Miss SHAN Yue, August 2-7, 2011, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
· Travel award of the 112th General Meeting of American Society of Microbiology (ASM), Miss GAO Xiang, June 16-19, 2012, San Francisco, USA
· Summer Research Fellowship, Mr LUK Chak Hon, Faculty of Science, HKU, 2012
· Best Oral Presentation Award, Undergraduate Research Colloquium Presentation 2012-2013, Mr LUK Chak Hon, Faculty of Science, HKU, 2012
· Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Travel Grant for the EMBO Synthetic Biology in Action, Mr. LAI Yong, June 8-20, 2015, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
· J.G. Phillips Memorial Scholarship 2016, Mr. XU Zeling
· Travel Award of 8th Asian Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (ASBIC), Auckland, New Zealand, Dr. XU Zeling, 2016
The Yan group, September, 2008
The Yan lab, 2009
Dinner outing, summer 2009
The Yan lab, 2010
With the Nobel Laureate Dr. Kurt Wüthrich, March 2011
Group hiking spring 2012
Group hiking spring 2012
The Yan lab, 2013
Ms. Gao Xiang graduated
The Yan lab, 2015
The Yan lab, 2016
The Yan lab, 2017
Ms. Xia Tingying at Cold Spring Harbor Asia conference 2017
Ms. Sun Jingjing at Cold Spring Harbor Asia conference 2017
The Yan lab, 2018
The Yan lab, 2019
The Yan lab, 2020
The Yan lab, 2021, Teachers' Day
The Yan lab, 2021, Teachers' Day
The Yan lab, 2021, Mid-Autumn Festival
Dr. Li Yanran, Dr. Wang Pengchao, Dr. Ding Xinghua graduated
Fax: (852) 2559 9114
E-Mail: ayan8@hku.hk
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong