Contact details +6492136593

Associate Professor Xue-Xian Zhang PhD

Associate Professor in Molecular Cell Biology

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Natural Sciences

My primary expertise lies in Microbiology, Genetics, and Genomics. Current research in my lab focuses on:

Molecular and evolutionary mechanims of bacterial adaptation to their natural environments, particularly eukaryotic hosts;
Experimental evolution of bacterial resistance to copper-containing bactericdes and antibiotics;
Biofilm formation and its impacts on the control of infectious disease.

Professional

Contact details

Ph: (09) 4140800 ext. 41191
Location: 3.08, IC
Campus: Albany

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy - Huazhong Agricultural University (1993)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

The microbiological research conducted in my lab spans from molecular genetics to ecology and evolution, with a specific focus on disease-causing pathogenic bacteria (i.e., Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Thematics

Resource Development and Management, Health and Well-being, Future Food Systems

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Biogeography and Phylogeography (060302): Biological Sciences (060000): Community Ecology (060202): Ecology (060200): Evolutionary Biology (060300): Evolutionary Impacts of Climate Change (060306): Genetics (060400): Microbial Genetics (060503): Microbiology (060500): Population Ecology (060207)

Keywords

Microbiology, Experimental Evolution, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Resistance

Research Projects

Current Projects

Project Title: Use it or lose it: what determines the regulation mode of a given gene?

Gene expression in bacteria can be controlled by either an activator or a repressor which binds DNA to turn a gene on or off, respectively. The two modes are mechanistically distinct but lead to the same functional outcome. The established Demand Theory predicts a gene’s optimum regulation mode is dependent on how frequently an inducing signal (e.g., a nutrient) is present. However, despite widespread acceptance, the Demand Theory has been applied only to theoretically explain, not experimentally predict, modes of gene regulation and key assumptions remain untested. Here, we propose to determine the functional and evolutionary consequences of activator versus repressor modes of gene regulation in a model plant-associated bacterium, focusing on two well-studied regulatory systems for controlling xylose and histidine utilization. Modern tools of molecular biology and experimental evolution in conjunction with mathematical modelling will be used to determine the evolutionary outcomes of regulators under controlled laboratory conditions. Experiments are specifically designed to address the currently overlooked key aspects of gene regulation: substrate concentration and alternative substrate availability. Results will contribute to a predictive theory crucial to understanding the consequences of gene regulation modes in natural system and for effective engineering of gene circuits in synthetic biology.

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Date Range: 2023 - 2026

Funding Bodies: Marsden Fund - Full; Royal Society of New Zealand

Project Team:

A/Pro Xue-Xian Zhang - Project Leader

Project Title: Isolating and evolving microbial communities to reduce nitrate contamination of water

Date Range: 2019 - 2023

Funding Body: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Project Team:

A/Pro Xue-Xian Zhang - Project Leader

Consultancy and Languages

Languages

English
Last used: now
Spoken ability: Excellent
Written ability: Excellent
Chinese
Last used: 2000
Spoken ability: Excellent
Written ability: Excellent

Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

162760, Research Methods and Communication in Biosciences

247712, Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology

162214, Biology of Microorganisms

203203, Biomedicine

203212, Principles of Genetics

203340, Applied Molecular Biology

122231, Genes and Gene Expression

203342, Molecular Cell Biology

122303, Gene Regulation

Contact Supervisor

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

Hema Rallapati - Doctor of Philosophy
The molecular mechanisms of copper homeostasis in plant-associated Pseudomonas

Co-supervisor of:

Boying Wang - Doctor of Philosophy
Characterisation of acetic acid bacteria and yeast isolated from Kombucha produced in New Zealand
Indika Serasinghe Mudiyanselage - Doctor of Philosophy
Investigation into the development of probiotic starter culture for industrial production of sauerkraut

Completed Doctoral Supervision