Shu-Cheng Chuang
Shu-Cheng (Olivia), originally from Taiwan, has been a Ph.D. student in the Phytobacteriology lab since Spring 2020. She completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the National Taipei University of Education in Taiwan. She also worked as a research assistant at the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center of Academia Sinica in Taiwan and spent three years in the Ph.D. program in Microbial Genomics at National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica.
In our phytobacteriology lab, Shu-Cheng's research focuses on molecular plant-bacterial interactions and phylogenomics. Her primary area of study involves bacterial leaf blight in araceous and araliaceous plants, specifically caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae and X. campestris pv. hederae, respectively. Many plants in both families are of global economic importance as ornamental plants, particularly in Hawaii. This includes species like Anthurium, Colocasia, Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, and Syngonium from the Araceae family, and Hedera, Polyscias, and Schefflera from the Araliaceae family.
A significant focus of her research project is to comprehensively understand the role of flagellar gene clusters and their components in the mechanisms of bacterial virulence. By analyzing the genetic and functional aspects of flagellar genes, the research aims to elucidate their impact on the pathogenicity and infection process, thereby providing deeper insights into the complex interactions between bacteria and host plants. This knowledge is crucial for developing targeted strategies to combat bacterial diseases in economically important plants.
In our phytobacteriology lab, Shu-Cheng's research focuses on molecular plant-bacterial interactions and phylogenomics. Her primary area of study involves bacterial leaf blight in araceous and araliaceous plants, specifically caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae and X. campestris pv. hederae, respectively. Many plants in both families are of global economic importance as ornamental plants, particularly in Hawaii. This includes species like Anthurium, Colocasia, Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, and Syngonium from the Araceae family, and Hedera, Polyscias, and Schefflera from the Araliaceae family.
A significant focus of her research project is to comprehensively understand the role of flagellar gene clusters and their components in the mechanisms of bacterial virulence. By analyzing the genetic and functional aspects of flagellar genes, the research aims to elucidate their impact on the pathogenicity and infection process, thereby providing deeper insights into the complex interactions between bacteria and host plants. This knowledge is crucial for developing targeted strategies to combat bacterial diseases in economically important plants.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Pal K, Amore TD, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2024). Xanthomonas strains isolated from hosts in the Araceae reveal diverse phylogenetic relationships and origins. Phytopathology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-08-23-0265-R
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2024). Three new species, Xanthomonas hawaiiensis sp. nov., Stenotrophomonas aracearum sp. nov., and Stenotrophomonas oahuensis sp. nov., isolated from Araceae family. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1356025
DeLude A, Wells R, Boomla S, Chuang S, Urena F, Shipman A, Rubas N, Kuehu DL, Bickerton B, Peterson T, Dobhal S, Arizala D, Klair D, Ochoa-Corona FM, Ali ME, Odani J, Bingham JP, Jenkins D, Fletcher J, Stack JP, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2022). Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for specific and rapid detection of Dickeya fangzhongdai targeting a unique genomic region. Scientific Reports, 12:19193, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22023-4 (Print available here)
PRESENTATIONS/ABSTRACTS
Chuang SC, Dobhal S, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2023). Three new species, Xanthomonas hawaiiensis sp. nov., Stenotrophomonas aracearum sp. nov., and Stenotrophomonas oahuensis sp. nov., isolated from Araceae. (APS Annual Meeting - Plant Health 2023, Denver, Co).
Chuang S.C., Dobhal S., Alvarez A.M., Arif M. 2023. Comparative genomic analyses revealed flagellar biosynthesis as a key virulence factor in the Xanthomonas euvesicatoria-panax pathosystem. (APS Annual Meeting - Plant Health 2023, Denver, Co).
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Pal K, Amore TD, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2021). Xanthomonas strains isolated from Araceae reveal diverse phylogenetic relationships and origins. (Abstract for presentation: APS Annual Meeting 2021, virtual).
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2021). Pathological and molecular biology of Xanthomonas strains causing bacterial leaf blight of Panax (Polyscias guilfoylei) in Hawaii. (Abstract for presentation: APS Annual Meeting 2021, virtual).
Dobhal S, Arizala D, Chuang SC, Pal K, Amore TD, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2020). Comparative genomics analyses of the bacterial blight pathogen of anthurium, Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae (Abstract; APS Annual Meeting, Virtual).
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Pal K, Amore TD, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2024). Xanthomonas strains isolated from hosts in the Araceae reveal diverse phylogenetic relationships and origins. Phytopathology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-08-23-0265-R
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2024). Three new species, Xanthomonas hawaiiensis sp. nov., Stenotrophomonas aracearum sp. nov., and Stenotrophomonas oahuensis sp. nov., isolated from Araceae family. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1356025
DeLude A, Wells R, Boomla S, Chuang S, Urena F, Shipman A, Rubas N, Kuehu DL, Bickerton B, Peterson T, Dobhal S, Arizala D, Klair D, Ochoa-Corona FM, Ali ME, Odani J, Bingham JP, Jenkins D, Fletcher J, Stack JP, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2022). Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for specific and rapid detection of Dickeya fangzhongdai targeting a unique genomic region. Scientific Reports, 12:19193, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22023-4 (Print available here)
PRESENTATIONS/ABSTRACTS
Chuang SC, Dobhal S, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2023). Three new species, Xanthomonas hawaiiensis sp. nov., Stenotrophomonas aracearum sp. nov., and Stenotrophomonas oahuensis sp. nov., isolated from Araceae. (APS Annual Meeting - Plant Health 2023, Denver, Co).
Chuang S.C., Dobhal S., Alvarez A.M., Arif M. 2023. Comparative genomic analyses revealed flagellar biosynthesis as a key virulence factor in the Xanthomonas euvesicatoria-panax pathosystem. (APS Annual Meeting - Plant Health 2023, Denver, Co).
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Pal K, Amore TD, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2021). Xanthomonas strains isolated from Araceae reveal diverse phylogenetic relationships and origins. (Abstract for presentation: APS Annual Meeting 2021, virtual).
Chuang S, Dobhal S, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2021). Pathological and molecular biology of Xanthomonas strains causing bacterial leaf blight of Panax (Polyscias guilfoylei) in Hawaii. (Abstract for presentation: APS Annual Meeting 2021, virtual).
Dobhal S, Arizala D, Chuang SC, Pal K, Amore TD, Alvarez AM, Arif M (2020). Comparative genomics analyses of the bacterial blight pathogen of anthurium, Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae (Abstract; APS Annual Meeting, Virtual).