Dr. Ying-Tsong Chen

 

Ying-Tsong Chen, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
Joint Associate Investigator, Functional Genomics Group, Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
onion@nchu.edu.tw
onion@nhri.org.tw

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Dept. of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University
M.S. Institute of Genetics, National Yang Ming University
B.E. Dept. of Bioengineering, Tatung Institute of Technology

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

2004-2009       Postdoctoral fellow, Division of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes
2009-2015       Assistant Professor, National Chung Hsing University
2010-present   Joint Assistant Professor, Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University
2011-present   Joint Assistant Investigator, National Health Research Institute
2015-present   Associate Professor, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Bacterial genomes carry DNA sequences that are acquired through horizontal transfer. These genetic materials, called the mobilome, are known to associate frequently with pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and adaptation of bacteria. Nowadays, many of the emerging bacterial infections are actually not caused by those notorious pathogens listed in the textbooks but by commensals with acquired virulence and/or resistance determinants of foreign origins. We utilize high-throughput shotgun sequencing and comparative genomics to identify these important genomic elements in bacterial species with medical significance.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT RESEARCH

YT Chen - fig of research highlight

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a globally distributed pathogenic bacterium that is responsible for a broad spectrum of infections. Common sites for nosocomial Klebsiella infections include the urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, biliary tract, and surgical wound sites. Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a complication of intra-abdominal or biliary tract infections, resulting from mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacterial infections. However, pyogenic liver abscess mediated by primary infection with invasive K. pneumoniae as a single pathogen has been reported in recent years. In Taiwan, the occurrence of PLA has been suggested to correlate with an increasing risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). K. pneumoniae is the leading PLA bacterial pathogen in Taiwan, of which K1 serotype-predominated. We have identified a pks colibactin gene cluster from a K. pneumoniae K1 strain through complete sequencing and comparative genomics analyses. The pks genotoxin is responsible for genotoxicity in cell and mice infection models. Accumulating evidences pointed to an association of the genotoxic phenotype with the virulent serotypes commonly identified among PLA patients in Taiwan. (PlosONE. 2014. 9:e96292)

 

HONORS & AWARDS

2014    Outstanding Young Teacher Award, National Chung Hsing University
2013    Excellent Teacher, Liberal Education, National Chung Hsing University

Societies

American Society of Microbiology

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

 

    1. Chen YT, Siu LK, Tsai YK, Lin FM, Koh TH, Chen JH*. A Common Flanking Region in Promiscuous Plasmids Encoding blaNDM-1 in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated in Singapore. Microbial Drug Resistance. 2015. 22:109-14.
    2. Tang HJ, Chen YT, Chiang T, Fung CP, Chuang YC, Siu LK*. Identification of the first imported KPC-3 Klebsiella pneumoniae from the USA to Taiwan. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 2014. 44:431-435.
    3. Lai YC, Lin AC, Chiang MK, Dai YH, Hsu CC, Lu MC, Liau CY, and Chen YT.* Genotoxic Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan. PlosONE. 2014. 9:e96292.
    4. Chen YT, Lin JC, Fung CP, Lu PL, Chuang YC, Wu TL, Siu LK*. KPC-2-encoding plasmids from Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2014. 69:628-631.
    5. Huang TW, Wang JT, Lauderdale TL, Liao TL, Lai JF, Tan MJ, Lin AC, Chen YT, Tsai SF, Chang SC*. Complete sequences of two plasmids in an NDM-1 positive Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from Taiwan.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2013. 57:4072-4076.
    6. Huang TW, Chen TL, Chen YT, Lauderdale TL, Liao TL, Lee YT, Chen CP, Liu YM, Lin AC, Chang YH, Wu KM, Kirby R, Lai JF, Tan, MC, Siu, LK, Chang CM, Fung CP, Tsai SF. Copy Number Change of the NDM-1 Sequence in a Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolate. PlosONE. 2013. 8:e62774.
    7. Chen YT, Lin AC, Siu LK, Koh TH. Sequence of closely related plasmids encoding blaNDM-1 in two unrelated Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Singapore. PlosONE. 2012. 7:e48737.
    8. Lin AC, Liao TL, Lin YC, Lai YC, Lu MC, Chen YT*. Complete Genome Sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae 1084, a Hypermucoviscosity-negative K1 Clinical Strain. Journal of Bacteriology.  2012. 194:6316.
    9. Liao TL, Chen SY, Lin AC, Huang TW, Lauderdale TL, Tsai SF, and Chen YT*. Complete genome sequence of Klebsiella oxytoca E718, a New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing nosocomial strain. Journal of Bacteriology.  2012. 194:5454.
    10. Huang TW, Chen FJ, Miu WC, Liao TL, Lin AC, Huang IW, Wu KM, Tsai SF, Chen YT*, and Lauderdale TL*. Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus M013, a pvl-positive ST59:SCCmec V Strain Isolated in Taiwan. Journal of Bacteriology. 2012. 194:1256-1257.

 

 

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