Probiotic factory
Research Field
My expertise lies in microbiology and synthetic biology, with extensive research experience in microbial strain engineering and genome editing technologies, leading to significant publications in these fields. During my Ph.D. training, I was awarded a research visit fellowship to Germany jointly supported by the National Science Council (NSC) of Taiwan and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Through this program, I acquired skills in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and 3D single-particle reconstruction, and resolved Taiwan’s first structure of a heterologously reconstituted enterovirus 71 particle (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2015), 99(16): 6765–6774; first author).
During my postdoctoral training at Academia Sinica, I applied protein-directed mutagenesis and chromosomal multi-copy integration to construct an engineered yeast strain for astaxanthin production, achieving what was reported as the highest heterologous astaxanthin yield of yeast worldwide (Bioresource Technology (2017), 245: 899–905; first author). In 2018, I was invited as a short-term scholar for technical exchange at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE-JGI), where we co-developed a drug-free selection CRISPR/Cas9 system for yeast and engineered a biomimetic cellulosome-like cellulolytic enzyme complex to convert cellulose into bioenergy products (Biotechnology and Bioengineering (2018), 115(3): 751–761; first author; PNAS (2020), 117(5): 2385–2394).
Our lab centers on challenges such as environmental pollution, antibiotic misuse, and shortages of natural resources, with the goal of developing microbe-based alternatives through microbial resources. Our core approaches include screening diverse functional microorganisms from natural environments, genome mining, and the development of microbial genome-editing tools. Current experimental platforms in the lab cover Oxford Nanopore third-generation sequencing, HPLC, microbial isolation and molecular techniques, and protein analysis. Ultimately, we aim to translate microbial resources into sustainable, green, and circular industrial models.
My research focuses on the Harnessing Microbial Resources, with the goal of building an integrated research framework spanning fundamental mechanisms to industrial applications. I aim to deliver microbial solutions to challenges in biomedicine, the environment, and aquaculture. Key representative studies and publications are summarized below:
Development of microbial cell factories for short peptides and functional characterization
This line of research focuses on heterologous production of bee-venom peptides using probiotic microbes. Although the therapeutic potential of bee venom has been discussed in traditional medicine, its broader biomedical application has been limited by the difficulty of large-scale production. As alternatives to natural extraction and chemical synthesis, microbial production can reduce ecological impact and environmental pollution risks while enabling high-yield and high-purity production of bee-venom peptides for medical use. We have completed an initial investigation of the repair and protective effects of bee-venom peptides on motor neurons and published one journal article (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2024), 108, 496; corresponding author). In the next phase, we will incorporate AI-based prediction and design of peptide mutants to further enhance efficacy.
Substitution and degradation of petrochemical plastics: bioprocess development and value-added conversion
As plastic pollution continues to intensify—especially for plastics that are difficult to degrade—this research addresses two main directions: (i) developing bio-based feedstocks to replace petrochemical plastics, and (ii) identifying effective strategies to degrade and valorize plastic waste. To date, we have published four related journal articles, including two studies on microbial production of the bioplastic precursor polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) (Essays in Biochemistry (2021), 65(2), 337–353; Bioresource Technology Reports (2022), 18, 101048). In addition, we published two studies on microbial conversion of waste lignocellulosic substrates into high-value products, including ton-scale fermentation for D-lactic acid production (Bioresource Technology (2024), 413, 131553; corresponding author) and diversified bioenergy production (Bioresource Technology (2025), 429, 132489; corresponding author).
Development of functional microbial strains and their potential applications in aquaculture
In collaboration with a research team at National Taiwan Ocean University, we co-applied for projects supported by the Fisheries Agency to assist the shrimp aquaculture industry and to establish microbial pathogen detection capacity. From 2021 to 2024, our team published seven journal articles in leading journals in this field. Notably, my laboratory has developed and evaluated probiotic strategies aligned with key sustainability goals, including low-carbon and precision health management, replacement of conventional feed additives, reduced reliance on chemical agents, and lower operational costs. These efforts resulted in two publications: Scientific Reports(2023), 13:2248 (first author); and Fish and Shellfish Immunology (2023), 135, 108661 (corresponding author). Moving forward, we will further examine how pollution and environmental stressors affect cultured aquatic animals and develop microbial approaches to mitigate risks associated with environmental pollution and extreme climate conditions.
2026 | National Chung Hsing University “Outstanding Young Scholar Huai-Bi Award” — Life Sciences Division, Taiwan.
2024 | Taiwan Comprehensive University System (TCUS) Young Scholar Innovative R&D Achievement Selection — Biomedical Division, Award of Excellence (Merit Prize), Taiwan.
2024 | Selected as a “Distinguished assistant professor”, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan.
Ph.D. Graduate Program in Department of Biochemical Science and Technology/ National Taiwan University, Taiwan
M.S. in Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology/ National Taiwan University, Taiwan