Infectious diseases have become a serious medical and social problem recently. Bacterial resistance against major antibiotics is causing bacteria to evolve into untreatable ‘superbacteria.’ Additionally, acute viral diseases such as SARS-CoV-2 influenza viruses and MERS, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality, are posing a threat to public health. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate plans to counter current and future infectious diseases. To combat superbacteria using the new insights gained by the study of induced resistance, the genomic library, small RNAs, and novel antibacterial lead compounds, the center is actively engaged in identifying novel antibacterial targets and innovative antibacterial compounds. For taking prophylactic measures against viral diseases, the center is developing new vaccines, adjuvant technologies, and anti-viral strategies based on virology, immunology, and structural biology. Further, the center also investigates microbe-host interactions to understand and manage viral/bacterial pathogenesis better.
Research Areas
Antibacterial discovery and target identification using the genomic information
Microbial genome analysis and recombineering for enhanced antibiotic production
Small RNA biology and induced resistance in the pathogenic bacteria
Bacterial display of enzymes and antigens: directed evolution
Bacterial acetylproteomes
Bacteria-host interactions
Development of a high throughput protein expression system
Development of new vaccines against infectious diseases, including influenza and MERS
Development of novel vaccine adjuvants and the investigation of their immunomodulatory mechanisms
Basic research on pandemic influenza, including surveillance and genetic characterization
Research on emerging and re-emerging viral infectious diseases
Development of vaccine adjuvant against pandemic H1Ni viruses
Bacterial vesicle as an efficient vaccine adjuvant against influenza virus
Reports on occurrence of African swine fever virus
Hyper sensitive bio-sensor for detection of virulent bacteria and virus
Multi-round genome editing of target bacterium
Plastic degrading enzymes from the Great wax worm
Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance bacteria from sea foods
Antibiotics against bacterial quorum sensing
Selected Publications
Chatting with a tiny belowground member of the holobiome : communication between plants and growth-promoting rhizobacteria.
Adv Bot Res. 82:135-160.
Choong-Min Ryu (Corresponding)
Biological and chemical strategies for exploring inter- and intra-kingdom communication mediated via bacterial volatile signals.
Nat Protoc. 12(7):1359-1377.
Choong-Min Ryu (Corresponding)
Foliar application of the leafcolonizing yeast Pseudozyma churashimaensis elicits systemic defense of pepper against bacterial and viral pathogens.
Sci Rep. 7:39432.
Choong-Min Ryu (Corresponding)
Poly-γ-glutamic acid/chitosan nanogel greatly enhances the efficacy and heterosubtypic cross-reactivity of H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine.
Sci Rep. 7:44839.
Haryoung Poo (Corresponding)
Seed defense biopriming with bacterial cyclodipeptides triggers immunity in cucumber and pepper.
Sci Rep. 7:14209.
Choong-Min Ryu (Corresponding)
Experimental infection of clade 1.1.2 (H5N1), clade 2.3.2.1c (H5N1) and clade 2.3.4.4 (H5N6) highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in dogs.
Transbound Emerg Dis. 64(6):1669-1675.
Dae Gwin Jeong (Co-corresponding)
Are circular RNAs New Kids on the Block?
Trends Plant Sci. 22(5):357-360.
Choong-Min Ryu (Corresponding)
Outer membrane vesicles harboring modified lipid A moiety augment the efficacy of an influenza vaccine exhibiting reduced endotoxicity in a mouse model.
Vaccine. 35(4):586-595.
Doo-Jin Kim (Co-corresponding)
Graphene-embedded hydrogel nanofibers for detection and removal of aqueous-phase dyes.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 9(12):10768-10776.
Oh Seok Kwon (Co-corresponding)
Dopamine receptor D1 agonism and antagonism using a field-effect transistor assay.
ACS Nano. 11(6):5950-5959.
Oh Seok Kwon (Co-corresponding)
3D hydrogel scaffold doped with 2D graphene materials for biosensors and bioelectronics.
