Hualiang Pi, PhD
Assistant Professor
Research & Publications
Biography
Research Summary
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium and the leading cause of nosocomial and antibiotic-associated intestinal infections in the United States. The Pi lab employs a multidisciplinary approach that integrates genetic, biochemical, structural biology, and imaging techniques, as well as animal infection models, to study this gut microbe. Our primary research emphasis lies in exploring the microbial stress defense mechanisms critical for C. difficile colonization and survival during infection.
Research Interests
Adaptation, Biological; Bacterial Infections; Signal Transduction; Clostridioides difficile; RNA-Binding Proteins; Host Microbial Interactions
Selected Publications
- Bacterial hydrophilins promote pathogen desiccation toleranceGreen 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.
- An RNA-binding protein acts as a major post-transcriptional modulator in Bacillus anthracisPi 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.
- A Central Role for Magnesium Homeostasis during Adaptation to Osmotic StressWendel 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.
- DnaJ and ClpX Are Required for HitRS and HssRS Two-Component System Signaling in Bacillus anthracisLaut 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.
- Directed evolution reveals the mechanism of HitRS signaling transduction in Bacillus anthracisPi 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.
- Dysregulation 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 PMID: 31964700, PMCID: PMC7167470, DOI: 10.1128/jb.00711-19.
- Genome-Wide Characterization of the Fur Regulatory Network Reveals a Link between Catechol Degradation and Bacillibactin Metabolism in Bacillus subtilisPi 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: e01451-18. PMID: 30377275, PMCID: PMC6212828, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01451-18.
- Antagonism of Two Plant-Growth Promoting Bacillus velezensis Isolates Against Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporumCao 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.
- Sequential induction of Fur-regulated genes in response to iron limitation in Bacillus subtilisPi 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.
- Ferrous iron efflux systems in bacteriaPi H, Helmann J. Ferrous iron efflux systems in bacteria. Metallomics 2017, 9: 840-851. PMID: 28604884, PMCID: PMC5675029, DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00112f.
- The Listeria monocytogenes Fur‐regulated virulence protein FrvA is an Fe(II) efflux P1B4‐type ATPasePi H, Patel S, Argüello J, Helmann J. The Listeria monocytogenes Fur‐regulated virulence protein FrvA is an Fe(II) efflux P1B4‐type ATPase. Molecular Microbiology 2016, 100: 1066-1079. PMID: 26946370, PMCID: PMC4914386, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13368.
- Discovery of Antibiotic (E)‑3-(3-Carboxyphenyl)-2-(4-cyanostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)‑oneBouley R, Kumarasiri M, Peng Z, Otero L, Song W, Suckow M, Schroeder V, Wolter W, Lastochkin E, Antunes N, Pi H, Vakulenko S, Hermoso J, Chang M, Mobashery S. Discovery of Antibiotic (E)‑3-(3-Carboxyphenyl)-2-(4-cyanostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)‑one. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2015, 137: 1738-1741. PMID: 25629446, PMCID: PMC4607046, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b00056.
- Structure–Activity Relationship for the Oxadiazole Class of AntibioticsSpink E, Ding D, Peng Z, Boudreau M, Leemans E, Lastochkin E, Song W, Lichtenwalter K, O’Daniel P, Testero S, Pi H, Schroeder V, Wolter W, Antunes N, Suckow M, Vakulenko S, Chang M, Mobashery S. Structure–Activity Relationship for the Oxadiazole Class of Antibiotics. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry 2015, 58: 1380-1389. PMID: 25590813, PMCID: PMC6863074, DOI: 10.1021/jm501661f.
- Structure and Cell Wall Cleavage by Modular Lytic Transglycosylase MltC of Escherichia coliArtola-Recolons C, Lee M, Bernardo-García N, Blázquez B, Hesek D, Bartual S, Mahasenan K, Lastochkin E, Pi H, Boggess B, Meindl K, Usón I, Fisher J, Mobashery S, Hermoso J. Structure and Cell Wall Cleavage by Modular Lytic Transglycosylase MltC of Escherichia coli. ACS Chemical Biology 2014, 9: 2058-2066. PMID: 24988330, PMCID: PMC4168783, DOI: 10.1021/cb500439c.
- Discovery of a New Class of Non-β-lactam Inhibitors of Penicillin-Binding Proteins with Gram-Positive Antibacterial ActivityO’Daniel P, Peng Z, Pi H, Testero S, Ding D, Spink E, Leemans E, Boudreau M, Yamaguchi T, Schroeder V, Wolter W, Llarrull L, Song W, Lastochkin E, Kumarasiri M, Antunes N, Espahbodi M, Lichtenwalter K, Suckow M, Vakulenko S, Mobashery S, Chang M. Discovery of a New Class of Non-β-lactam Inhibitors of Penicillin-Binding Proteins with Gram-Positive Antibacterial Activity. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2014, 136: 3664-3672. PMID: 24517363, PMCID: PMC3985699, DOI: 10.1021/ja500053x.
- Characterization of a selective inhibitor for matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8)Ding D, Lichtenwalter K, Pi H, Mobashery S, Chang M. Characterization of a selective inhibitor for matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). RSC Medicinal Chemistry 2014, 5: 1381-1383. DOI: 10.1039/c4md00172a.
- A Chemical Biological Strategy to Facilitate Diabetic Wound HealingGooyit M, Peng Z, Wolter W, Pi H, Ding D, Hesek D, Lee M, Boggess B, Champion M, Suckow M, Mobashery S, Chang M. A Chemical Biological Strategy to Facilitate Diabetic Wound Healing. ACS Chemical Biology 2013, 9: 105-110. PMID: 24053680, PMCID: PMC3947039, DOI: 10.1021/cb4005468.
- Reactions of All Escherichia coli Lytic Transglycosylases with Bacterial Cell WallLee M, Hesek D, Llarrull L, Lastochkin E, Pi H, Boggess B, Mobashery S. Reactions of All Escherichia coli Lytic Transglycosylases with Bacterial Cell Wall. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2013, 135: 3311-3314. PMID: 23421439, PMCID: PMC3645847, DOI: 10.1021/ja309036q.
- Role of Catecholate Siderophores in Gram-Negative Bacterial Colonization of the Mouse GutPi H, Jones S, Mercer L, Meador J, Caughron J, Jordan L, Newton S, Conway T, Klebba P. Role of Catecholate Siderophores in Gram-Negative Bacterial Colonization of the Mouse Gut. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e50020. PMID: 23209633, PMCID: PMC3510177, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050020.
- A Putative P-Type ATPase Required for Virulence and Resistance to Haem Toxicity in Listeria monocytogenesMcLaughlin H, Xiao Q, Rea R, Pi H, Casey P, Darby T, Charbit A, Sleator R, Joyce S, Cowart R, Hill C, Klebba P, Gahan C. A Putative P-Type ATPase Required for Virulence and Resistance to Haem Toxicity in Listeria monocytogenes. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e30928. PMID: 22363518, PMCID: PMC3283593, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030928.
- Sortase independent and dependent systems for acquisition of haem and haemoglobin in Listeria monocytogenesXiao Q, Jiang X, Moore K, Shao Y, Pi H, Dubail I, Charbit A, Newton S, Klebba P. Sortase independent and dependent systems for acquisition of haem and haemoglobin in Listeria monocytogenes. Molecular Microbiology 2011, 80: 1581-1597. PMID: 21545655, PMCID: PMC3115469, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07667.x.
- Direct Measurements of the Outer Membrane Stage of Ferric Enterobactin Transport POSTUPTAKE BINDING*Newton S, Trinh V, Pi H, Klebba P. Direct Measurements of the Outer Membrane Stage of Ferric Enterobactin Transport POSTUPTAKE BINDING*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2010, 285: 17488-17497. PMID: 20335169, PMCID: PMC2878513, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.100206.
- A novel human SCAN/(Cys)2(His)2 zinc-finger transcription factor ZNF323 in early human embryonic developmentPi H, Li Y, Zhu C, Zhou L, Luo K, Yuan W, Yi Z, Wang Y, Wu X, Liu M. A novel human SCAN/(Cys)2(His)2 zinc-finger transcription factor ZNF323 in early human embryonic development. Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications 2002, 296: 206-213. PMID: 12147252, DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)00772-6.
- Identification and characterization of two novel zinc finger genes, ZNF359 and ZFP28, in human developmentZhou L, Zhu C, Luo K, Li Y, Pi H, Yuan W, Wang Y, Huang C, Liu M, Wu X. Identification and characterization of two novel zinc finger genes, ZNF359 and ZFP28, in human development. Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications 2002, 295: 862-868. PMID: 12127974, DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)00759-3.