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  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
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  4. En Huang, Ph.D.

En Huang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Location: RAHN 1222
Phone: (501) 526-6627
Email: ehuang@uams.edu
Website: TRI Faculty Profile
 

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
UAMS College of Public Health LogoUAMS College of Public HealthUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 526-6700
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