Yi-Ywan  Chen (陳怡原)

Appointment: Professor

Lab：Bacterial Genetics Research Laboratory

Education: Ph.D.

University/Nation：Univ. of Texas HSC at San Antonio, USA

Tel: (03)2118800 ext. 3352

E-mail: mchen@mail.cgu.edu.tw

Research website:

Laboratory personnel:

Postdoctoral fellow: 0; Ph.D. student: 0; Master student: 3; Res. Assistant: 3; Undergraduate: 4

Research interests:：

Dental plaque is one of the most successful biofilms in the human body and is essential for the development of chronic infections such as dental caries and periodontal diseases. Studies in recent years have demonstrated a clear link between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions such as coronary heart disease and stroke, and a higher risk of preterm low birth-weight babies. My research interests primarily focus on the molecular mechanisms regulating the physiology and virulence expression of oral bacteria in response to environmental conditions, and the development of therapeutic strategies for controlling oral infections. We are particularly interested in the process of biofilm formation and how the biofilm lifestyle affects the physiology and virulence capacity of the oral streptococci. To accomplish this, a variety of microbiological, biochemical, and molecular biology technologies are employed. These include the use of continuous chemostat culture system to tightly control growth parameters, coupled with the use of genetically-engineered bacteria and gene fusion technology, which allows for a detailed analysis of gene expression in response to specific stimuli. Systemic approaches including genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses are also employed. The first specific project focuses on the molecular and functional analyses of the twitching motility of Streptococcus sanguinis, the only streptococcal species expressing this phenotype. The second specific project focuses on the differential regulation of virulence genes expression in Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus salivairus and Streptococcus anginosus in response to different environmental cues.

Recent Publications (2017-2022)：

1.  Yi-Ywan M. Chen*, Hsing-Yi Wang, Chia-Hua Wu, Yu-Juan Lin, Cheng-Hsun Chiu. Prevalence of type IV pili-mediated twitching motility in Streptococcus sanguinis strains and its impact on biofilm formation and host adherence. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2022. Accepted.

2.  Jianing Geng, Sainan Luo, Hui-Ru Shieh, Hsing-Yi Wang, Songnian Hu*, Yi-Ywan M. Chen*. Identification of a putative CodY regulon in the Gram-negative phylum Synergistetes. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 7911.

3. Chuan Chiang-Ni, Yen-Shan Liu, Chieh-Yu Lin, Chih-Yun Hsu, Yong-An Shi, Yi-Ywan M. Chen, Chih-Ho Lai and Cheng-Hsun Chiu. Incidence and effects of acquisition of the phage-encoded ssa superantigen gene in invasive group A Streptococcus. Frontier Microbiol. 2021, 12: 685343.

4. Yi-Ywan M. Chen*, Pei-Hua Tsai, Zong-Sian Ye, Yu-Wen Huang, Hui-Ru Shieh, Chia-Hua Wu, Yu-Juan Lin, James H. Miller, Jacqueline Abranches, Cheng-Hsun Chiu. Functional analysis of the collagen binding proteins of Streptococcus parasanguinis FW213. mSphere, 2020, 5:e00863-20.

5. Yi-Ywan. M. Chen*, Pei-Shan Lu, Pei-Hua Tsai, Cheng-Hsun Chiu. Functional analysis of a fibronectin binding protein of Streptococcus parasanguinis FW213. Curr Microbilol. 2020, 7:3430-34.

6. Yu-Wen Chen, Mei-Zi Huang, Chyi-Liang Chen, Chieh-Ying Kuo, Chia-Yu Yang, Chuan Chiang-Ni, Yi-Ywan M. Chen, Chia-Ming Hsieh, Hui-Yu Wu, Ming-Ling Kuo, Cheng-Hsun Chiu and Chih-Ho Lai. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2020, 17:37 PM2.5 impairs macrophage functions to exacerbate pneumococcus-induced pulmonary pathogenesis.

7. Yi-Ywan M. Chen*, Yi-Chien Chiang, Tzu-Ying Tseng, Hui-Yu Wu, Yueh-Ying Chen, Chia-Hua Wu, Cheng-Hsun Chiu. Molecular and functional analysis of the type IV pilus gene cluster in Streptococcus sanguinis SK36. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2019, 85(6):e02788-18.

8. Jianing Geng, Szu-Chuan Huang, Yueh-Ying Chen, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Songnian Hu, Yi-Ywan M. Chen*. Impact of growth pH and glucose concentrations on the CodY regulatory network in Streptococcus salivarius. BMC Genomics, 2018, 19:386.

9. Wen-Chun Chou, Szu-Chuan Huang Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Yi-Ywan M. Chen*. YMC-2011, a temperate phage of Streptococcus salivarius 57.I. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2017, 83(6): e03186-16.