Wei Zhang Assistant Professor of Biology Joint Assist. Prof. of Food Microbiology
	B.S.:	Huazhong Agricultural University
	Ph.D.:	Pennsylvania State University
	Office:	R318, B90, Moffett Campus
	Phone:	708.563.2980       Fax:  708.563.1873
	e-mail:	zhangw@iit.edu
	Zhang's Web page

Professional Interests

My research interests include molecular detection, genotyping, epidemiology, virulence and pathogenesis of foodborne bacteria. The long-term goal of our research is to better understand the genetic and physiological basis by which bacterial pathogens colonize environmental niches, survive and grow in foods, and infect animal and human hosts. A significant theme in our research is the use of an interdisciplinary approach that employs microbial genetics, molecular biology, genomics and proteomics. Research projects are undertaken to: (1) study genomic diversification and virulence factors in different Listeria serovars; (2) study gene expression and stress response of Salmonella; (3) develop high-throughput single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assays for E. coli O157:H7. My labs are located at National Center for Food Safety and Technology jointly sponsored by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Students in our lab work closely with faculty members in BCPS, FDA scientists, and food industry. Prospective students seeking M.S. or Ph.D. degrees or postdoctoral training are encouraged to contact me to discuss specific interests.

Representative Publications

• He X, Ou H, Qing Y, Zhou X, Wu J, Liang J, Zhang W, Rajakumar K, Deng Z. 2007. Analysis of a genomic island housing dnd gene clusters which encodes S modification system in Streptomyces lividans. Molecular Microbiology 65:1034-1048.
  
  
• Cai H, Rodr¨ªguez BT, Zhang W, Broadbent JR, Steele JL. 2007. Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Lactobacillus casei strains from different ecological niches suggests frequent recombination and niche specificity. Microbiology (UK). 153:2655-2665.
  
  
• Chen Y, Zhang W, Knabel SJ. 2007. Multi-virulence-locus sequence typing identifies single nucleotide polymorphisms which differentiate epidemic clones and outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 45: 835-846.
  
  
• Swaminathan B, Cabanes D, Zhang W, Cossart P. 2007. Chapter 21: Listeria monocytogenes. p. 457-491. In: Doyle MP, Beuchat LR, Montville TJ, (ed.), Food Microbiology: Fundamentals and Frontiers, 3rd ed. ASM Press, Washington DC
  
  
• Zhang W, Qi W, Albert T J, Motiwala A S, Alland D, Hyytia-Trees E K, Ribot E M, Fields P I, Whittam T S, Swaminathan B. 2006. Probing genomic diversity and evolution of Escherichia coli O157 by single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Genome Research 16:757-767
  
  

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