Fang Zhen, Associate Professor

Dr. Zhen Fang, Associate Professor

Biofuel Institute, School of Environment, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Email：zhenfang@ujs.edu.cn

Research experience

2016.01-2016.07，Visiting scholar, biotechnology and interdisciplinary research center, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, USA（supervisor: Prof. Mattheos A.G. Koffas）；

2011.09-2016.12，PhD, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China；

2008.09-2011.09，Bachelor, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China。

Research interest

Rational design of high activity food enzyme molecules;

Synthetic biological design and metabolic engineering of high value-added medicinal compounds;

Research on energy acquisition and conversion mechanism of photo/electric driven non-autotrophic microorganisms and their efficient carbon/nitrogen fixation.

Honor / host project

1. 100 Excellent Doctoral Dissertations in Jiangsu Province（2018）

2. Postdoctoral Innovative Talents Program（High efficiency nitrogen fixation by light driven in a novel energy-saving biological hybrid system，2018，600000RMB）

3. Youth fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China（Study on the mechanism and regulation of NADH regeneration for carbon sequestration by Shewanella，2020.01-2022.12，250000RMB）

4. Youth program of Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation（Study on the construction of complex conducting network of Shewanella and the biological reduction mechanism of precious metals，2019.07-2022.06，200000RMB）

Some interesting papers：

1. Fang, Z.*, Zhou, J., Zhou, XT., Koffas, MAG. (2021) Abiotic-biotic hybrid for CO₂ biomethanation: From electrochemical to photochemical process. Science of the Total Environment, 79,1148288. (Top)

2. Luo, B., Wang, YZ., Li, D., Fang, Z., et al. (2021) A Periplasmic Photosensitized Biohybrid System for Solar Hydrogen Production. Advanced Energy Materials, 2100256. (Top，IF>25)

3. Yu YY, Wang YZ., Fang Z., et al. (2020) Single cell electron collectors for highly efficient wiring-up electronic abiotic/biotic interfaces. Nature Communications, 11, 4087. (IF>10)

4. Ma L.#, Fang Z.#, Wang Y.Z., Zhou J.*, Yong Y. C.* (2020) Photo-driven highly efficient one-step CO₂ biomethanation with engineered photo-synthetic bacteria Rhodopseudomonas palustris. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8, 9616–9621. (Cover story)

5. Suo, D., Fang, Z.*, Yu, Y.Y, Yong. Y.C*. (2020) Synthetic curli enables efficient microbial electrocatalysis with stainless-steel electrode. AIChE Journal, e16897, DOI: 10.1002/aic.16897 (To)

6. Naraginti, S., Yu, Y.Y., Fang, Z., Yong, Y.C. * (2019) Novel tetrahedral Ag3PO4@N-rGO for photocatalytic detoxification of sulfamethoxazole: Process optimization, transformation pathways and biotoxicity assessment. Chemical Engineering Journal, 375, 122035 (Top)

7. Jamile Mohammadi Moradian, Xu Z. A., Shi Y. T., Fang Z., Yong Y. C.* (2020) Efficient biohydrogen and bioelectricity production from xylose by microbial fuel cell with newly isolated yeast of Cystobasidium slooffiae. International Journal of Energy Research, 44, 325-333.

8. Zhai D.D.#, Fang Z.#, JIn H., Hui M., Kirubaharan C.J., Yu Y.Y., Yong Y. C.* (2019) Vertical Alignment of Polyaniline Nanofibers on Electrode Surface for High-Performance Microbial Fuel Cells. Bioresource Technology, 288, 121499.

9. Fang Z., Sha C., Peng Z., Zhang J.*, Du G.C. (2019) Protein engineering to enhance keratinolytic protease activity and excretion in Escherichia coli and its scale-up fermentation for high extracellular yield. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 121, 37-44.

10. Fang, Z., Jones, J. A., Zhou, J., & Koffas, M. A. (2018). Engineering Escherichia coli Co‐Cultures for Production of Curcuminoids From Glucose. Biotechnology Journal, 13(5), 1700576.（Cover story）

11. Zhang, C. L., Yu, Y. Y., Fang, Z., Naraginti, S., Zhang, Y., & Yong, Y. C*. (2018). Recent advances in nitroaromatic pollutants bioreduction by electroactive bacteria. Process Biochemistry. 70, 129-135

12. Zhu, Z., Zhang, J*., Ji, X., Fang, Z., Wu, Z., Chen, J., & Du, G. (2018). Evolutionary engineering of industrial microorganisms-strategies and applications. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 102(11), 4615-4627.

13. Yu, Y. Y., Fang, Z., Gao, L., Song, H., Yang, L., Mao, B., ... & Yong, Y. C*. (2018). Engineering of bacterial electrochemical activity with global regulator manipulation. Electrochemistry Communications, 86, 117-120.

14. Liu, X., Zhao, X., Yu, Y. Y., Wang, Y. Z., Shi, Y. T., Cheng, Q. W., Fang, Z., & Yong, Y. C*. (2017). Facile fabrication of conductive polyaniline nanoflower modified electrode and its application for microbial energy harvesting. Electrochimica Acta, 255, 41-47.

15. Yang, Y., Wang, Y. Z., Fang, Z., Yu, Y. Y., & Yong, Y. C*. (2018). Bioelectrochemical biosensor for water toxicity detection: generation of dual signals for electrochemical assay confirmation. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 410(4), 1231-1236.

16. Yang, Y., Yu, Y. Y., Wang, Y. Z., Zhang, C. L., Wang, J. X., Fang, Z., ... & Yong, Y. C*. (2017). Amplification of electrochemical signal by a whole-cell redox reactivation module for ultrasensitive detection of pyocyanin. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 98, 338-344.

17. Fang, Z., Zhang, J.*, Du, G., & Chen, J. (2017). Rational protein engineering approaches to further improve the keratinolytic activity and thermostability of engineered keratinase KerSMD. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 127, 147-153.

18. Fang, Z., Yong, Y. C., Zhang, J.*, Du, G., & Chen, J. (2017). Keratinolytic protease: a green biocatalyst for leather industry. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 101(21), 7771-7779.

19. Fang, Z., Zhang, J.*, Liu, B., Du, G.*, & Chen, J. (2016). Enhancement of the catalytic efficiency and thermostability of Stenotrophomonas sp. keratinase KerSMD by domain exchange with KerSMF. Microbial Biotechnology, 9(1), 35-46.

20. Fang, Z., Zhang, J.*, Du, G.*, & Chen, J. (2016). Improved catalytic efficiency, thermophilicity, anti-salt and detergent tolerance of keratinase KerSMD by partially truncation of PPC domain. Scientific Reports, 6.

21. Fang, Z., Zhang, J.*, Liu, B., Du, G.*, & Chen, J. (2015). Insight into the substrate specificity of keratinase KerSMD from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by site-directed mutagenesis studies in the S1 pocket. RSC Advances, 5(91), 74953-74960.

22. Fang, Z., Zhang, J., Liu, B., Jiang, L., Du, G., & Chen, J*. (2014). Cloning, heterologous expression and characterization of two keratinases from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BBE11-1. Process Biochemistry, 49(4), 647-654.

23. Liu, B., Zhang, J., Fang, Z., Du, G. *, Chen, J., & Liao, X. (2014). Functional analysis of the C-terminal propeptide of keratinase from Bacillus licheniformis BBE11-1 and its effect on the production of keratinase in Bacillus subtilis. Process Biochemistry, 49(9), 1538-1542.

24. Fang, Z., Zhang, J., Liu, B., Du, G., & Chen, J*. (2013). Biodegradation of wool waste and keratinase production in scale-up fermenter with different strategies by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BBE11-1. Bioresource Technology, 140, 286-291.

25. Fang, Z., Zhang, J., Liu, B., Du, G., & Chen, J*. (2013). Biochemical characterization of three keratinolytic enzymes from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BBE11-1 for biodegrading keratin wastes. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 82, 166-172.

26. Liu, B., Zhang, J., Fang, Z., Gu, L., Liao, X., Du, G., & Chen, J*. (2013). Enhanced thermostability of keratinase by computational design and empirical mutation. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 40(7), 697-704.