Education
2013, PhD, The Ohio State University, Food Microbiology
2009, MS, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Plant and Soil Science
2007, MS, South China University of Technology, Fermentation Engineering
2004, BS, Southwest University, China, Food Science
Research Interests
The main theme of my research is to develop novel antimicrobial agents which have the potential to be used as natural food preservatives, animal feed additives or novel antibiotics against drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. We use natural antimicrobials such as bacteriophage, bacteriocin, and essential oil compounds to enhance food safety. My other research primarily focuses on developing novel peptide and lipopeptides as new drug candidates for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. I contributed to the discovery and development of several novel antimicrobial agents, particularly paenibacterin (lipopeptide) and paenipeptin (lipopeptide). These novel antimicrobial compounds show potent activity against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. After the discovery of these antimicrobials, we determined their mechanisms of action, toxicity, biosynthesis, and therapeutic efficacy in animal models.
Areas of Expertise
- Food Microbiology and Safety
- New antimicrobial drug discovery
Courses Taught
- ENVH 5404 – Environmental Biological Hazards
- ENVH 5222 – Environmental Exposure Assessment
Publications
Moon SH & Huang E. 2019. Novel linear lipopeptide paenipeptin C′ binds to lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acid and exerts bactericidal activity by the disruption of cytoplasmic membrane. BMC Microbiology, 19(1), 6.
Hussein WE, Huang E, Ozturk I, & Yousef AE. 2019. Draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus paraplantarum OSY-TC318, a producer of the novel lantibiotic paraplantaracin TC318. Microbiol Resour Announc, 8(19), e00274-19.
Noden M, Moreira R, Huang E, Yousef AE, Palmer M, and Taylor S. 2019. Total synthesis of paenibacterin and analogs. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 84,9,5339-5347
Huang E, Gupta KR, Lou F, Moon SH. 2019. Role of microbes in environmental sustainability and food preservation. In Chandra R. (Eds.) Microbes for sustainable development and bioremediation. CRC Press (Taylor and Francis Group), Boca Raton, FL, USA
Moon SH & Huang E. 2018. Lipopeptide paenipeptin analogues potentiate clarithromycin and rifampicin against carbapenem-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial agents and Chemotherapy. 62: e00329-18
Patents
Huang E, Moon SH, Smeltzer M, and Meeker D. 2018. Linear polypeptide paenipeptins and methods of using the same. PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/45395
Yousef AE, Guo Y, Huang E, Yuan C, and Zhang L. 2011. Antimicrobial agent, bacterial strain, biosynthesis, and methods of use. Patent number: US 9,017,692 B2
Professional Activities
Professional Service
Associate Editor: Microbiological Research
Ad-hoc reviewer for the following Journals:
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology
- Food and Bioprocess Technology
- Food Control
- Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
- Journal of Food Safety,
- Meat Science
- Microbial Pathogenesis
Professional Affiliations
- American Society of Microbiology, 2012-present
- Institute of Food Technologists, 2010-present
- International Association of Food Protection, 2011-present