Hualiang Pi, PhD
Assistant ProfessorCards
Appointments
Contact Info
Microbial Pathogenesis
Yale West Campus Advanced Biosciences Center , 840 West Campus Drive, Rm 215B (Receiving: 300 Heffernan Dr)
West Haven, CT 06516
United States
About
Titles
Assistant Professor
Biography
Hualiang Pi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and member of the Microbial Sciences Institute. Hualiang received her PhD in Microbiology from Cornell University and conducted her postdoctoral training at Vanderbilit University Medical Center. The Pi lab focuses on elucidating microbial stress defense mechanisms important for bacterial infection. She is also the recipient of an NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00).
Appointments
Microbial Pathogenesis
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Cornell University, Microbiology
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0002-0015-4443- View Lab Website
Pi Lab
Research at a Glance
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Signal Transduction
Clostridioides difficile
RNA-Binding Proteins
Adaptation, Biological
Host Microbial Interactions
Publications
2023
Clostridioides difficile ferrosome organelles combat nutritional immunity
Pi H, Sun R, McBride J, Kruse A, Gibson-Corley K, Krystofiak E, Nicholson M, Spraggins J, Zhou Q, Skaar E. Clostridioides difficile ferrosome organelles combat nutritional immunity. Nature 2023, 623: 1009-1016. PMID: 37968387, PMCID: PMC10822667, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06719-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBacterial ProteinsCell MembraneClostridioides difficileClostridium InfectionsCryoelectron MicroscopyDisease Models, AnimalElectron Microscope TomographyFerric CompoundsHomeostasisHost Microbial InteractionsInflammationIntestinesIronLeukocyte L1 Antigen ComplexMiceMicrobial ViabilityOrganellesConceptsFerric uptake regulator FurCryo-electron tomographyRegulator FurGram-negative bacteriaMembrane proteinsNutritional immunityIron uptakeCellular membranesDetoxification strategiesIron homeostasisForms of lifeStore ironBacterial pathogensIron sequestrationBiomineralization processPhosphate biomineralsRecent studiesImportant roleBacterial colonizationOrganellesInflamed gutMouse modelProteinTransportersHomeostasis
2022
Bacterial hydrophilins promote pathogen desiccation tolerance
Green E, Fakhoury J, Monteith A, Pi H, Giedroc D, Skaar E. Bacterial hydrophilins promote pathogen desiccation tolerance. Cell Host & Microbe 2022, 30: 975-987.e7. PMID: 35413266, PMCID: PMC9283220, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.03.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsAn RNA-binding protein acts as a major post-transcriptional modulator in Bacillus anthracis
Pi H, Weiss A, Laut C, Grunenwald C, Lin H, Yi X, Stauff D, Skaar E. An RNA-binding protein acts as a major post-transcriptional modulator in Bacillus anthracis. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 1491. PMID: 35314695, PMCID: PMC8938561, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29209-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHuman pathogen Bacillus anthracisRNA-binding proteinPost-transcriptional modulatorsPathogen Bacillus anthracisDetectable nuclease activityTwo-component systemBacillus anthracisGenetic competenceRNA turnoverDNA repairMRNA stabilityCellular metabolismNuclease activityEnvelope damageRNAProteinMultiple processesAnthracisHITRSporulationGenesMRNAExpressionMetabolismTurnoverA Central Role for Magnesium Homeostasis during Adaptation to Osmotic Stress
Wendel B, Pi H, Krüger L, Herzberg C, Stülke J, Helmann J. A Central Role for Magnesium Homeostasis during Adaptation to Osmotic Stress. MBio 2022, 13: e00092-22. PMID: 35164567, PMCID: PMC8844918, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00092-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsResumption of growthOsmotic stressCompatible solutesCellular responsesBacillus subtilisDomains of lifeHigh salt stressCommon cellular responseEssential second messengerSpecific efflux pumpsSalt stressProtein translationOsmotic upshiftHyperosmotic stressSecond messengerHigh osmolarityReimportLiving cellsTransient growth inhibitionEfflux pumpsModel system
2021
DnaJ and ClpX Are Required for HitRS and HssRS Two-Component System Signaling in Bacillus anthracis
Laut C, Leasure C, Pi H, Carlin S, Chu M, Hillebrand G, Lin H, Yi X, Stauff D, Skaar E. DnaJ and ClpX Are Required for HitRS and HssRS Two-Component System Signaling in Bacillus anthracis. Infection And Immunity 2021, 90: e00560-21. PMID: 34748369, PMCID: PMC8788696, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00560-21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTwo-component systemGene expressionSubstrate-binding subunitSignal transduction activityTarget gene expressionB. anthracisBacillus anthracisGram-positive bacteriumHost-induced stressesClpXP proteaseProtein chaperonesSignal transductionClpXGene productsTransduction activityDnaJVertebrate hostsHeme levelsHomeostasis regulatorGenetic selectionHigh heme levelsCell envelope disruptionBioterror weaponHssRSAnthracis
2020
Directed evolution reveals the mechanism of HitRS signaling transduction in Bacillus anthracis
Pi H, Chu M, Ivan S, Latario C, Toth A, Carlin S, Hillebrand G, Lin H, Reppart J, Stauff D, Skaar E. Directed evolution reveals the mechanism of HitRS signaling transduction in Bacillus anthracis. PLOS Pathogens 2020, 16: e1009148. PMID: 33362282, PMCID: PMC7790381, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009148.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHAMP domainSignal transductionGenetic selectionUnbiased genetic selectionCell envelope stressPathogen Bacillus anthracisSignal transduction systemImportant signal transduction systemMechanistic understandingBacillus anthracisComprehensive mechanistic understandingNumerous point mutationsEnvelope stressTransduction systemMolecular basisMutational analysisPoint mutationsTransductionRate-limiting stepIndividual domainsSpecific interactionsSignal sensingHITRAnthracisSystematic characterizationDysregulation of Magnesium Transport Protects Bacillus subtilis against Manganese and Cobalt Intoxication
Pi H, Wendel B, Helmann J. Dysregulation of Magnesium Transport Protects Bacillus subtilis against Manganese and Cobalt Intoxication. Journal Of Bacteriology 2020, 202: 10.1128/jb.00711-19. PMID: 31964700, PMCID: PMC7167470, DOI: 10.1128/jb.00711-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2018
Genome-Wide Characterization of the Fur Regulatory Network Reveals a Link between Catechol Degradation and Bacillibactin Metabolism in Bacillus subtilis
Pi H, Helmann J. Genome-Wide Characterization of the Fur Regulatory Network Reveals a Link between Catechol Degradation and Bacillibactin Metabolism in Bacillus subtilis. MBio 2018, 9: 10.1128/mbio.01451-18. PMID: 30377275, PMCID: PMC6212828, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01451-18.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRegulatory networksCatechol degradationPutative DNA binding sitesGenome-wide identificationGenome-wide characterizationFerric uptake regulatorIron-dependent transcriptional repressorCellular iron requirementsDNA binding sitesIron-sufficient conditionsIron-limiting conditionsHigh-affinity iron chelatorsEnvironmental aromatic compoundsSiderophore bacillibactinFur regulonGenomic viewApo-FurRepressor functionTranscriptional repressorRegulated genesChromatin immunoprecipitationPositive regulatorIron acquisitionNegative regulationGenetic analysisAntagonism of Two Plant-Growth Promoting Bacillus velezensis Isolates Against Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum
Cao Y, Pi H, Chandrangsu P, Li Y, Wang Y, Zhou H, Xiong H, Helmann J, Cai Y. Antagonism of Two Plant-Growth Promoting Bacillus velezensis Isolates Against Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum. Scientific Reports 2018, 8: 4360. PMID: 29531357, PMCID: PMC5847583, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22782-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPlant growthRalstonia solanacearumBacillus velezensisFusarium oxysporumPathogen F. oxysporumStrong antagonistic activityRhizosphere colonizationSpore-forming bacilliBiocontrol agentsR. solanacearumB. velezensisCell motilityBiological processesF. oxysporumGreenhouse conditionsSolanacearumBiofilm formationOxysporumLP productionAntagonistic activityLipopeptide compoundsIturinRhizobacteriaPrimary rolePGPR
2017
Sequential induction of Fur-regulated genes in response to iron limitation in Bacillus subtilis
Pi H, Helmann J. Sequential induction of Fur-regulated genes in response to iron limitation in Bacillus subtilis. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114: 12785-12790. PMID: 29133393, PMCID: PMC5715773, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1713008114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFerric uptake regulatorHigh-affinity FeIron availabilityPerR regulonFur regulonSiderophore bacillibactinGenetic toolsChIP experimentsIron limitationCell transitionBacillus subtilisHigh-affinity bindingIron homeostasisBacterial cellsIntracellular ironSequential inductionRegulonBacillibactinEnzyme accessVivo occupancyGenesFurIron poolIron sufficiencyEfflux transporters
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Microbial Pathogenesis
Yale West Campus Advanced Biosciences Center , 840 West Campus Drive, Rm 215B (Receiving: 300 Heffernan Dr)
West Haven, CT 06516
United States