Research Introduction

Bacterial pathogenesis ~ Host responses ~ from cells to knockout mice

My long term research goal is to study the host defending system, particularly focused on the innate immune system, in human inflammatory disease with an emphasis on solving the pathogenesis using mouse genetics as a tool. In the past few years, I have applied varies gene deficient animals, including Toll-like receptor (TLR)-, iNOS-, and cystatin C-deficient mice, to study how host deficient in certain defending system responds to the inflammatory diseases (Kuo et al., 2011; Tseng et al., 2011).

Pathogenesis of Streptoccocus pyogenes From 2000, I joined a research group focused on the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pyogenes and we have some fruitful results (Chang et al., 2007; Tsai et al., 2008; Chang et al., 2009a; Chang et al., 2009b; Chiang-Ni et al., 2011). In addition, our previous results showed that the inflammatory responses regulated by NF-B and MAP kinase were activated after streptococcal infection (Tsai et al., 2006). This paved the way to additional studies that address the next important questions of how these inflammatory responses are activated; ie, through which innate immune receptors, particularly on TLRs. In 2003, we collaborated with Dr. Kuei-Tai A. Lai (賴葵太) in DCB to import the TLR2-, TLR4-, and MyD88-deficient mice and established them in Tzu-Chi University, where I was working in 2000~2006, to continue our study. In 2010, we demonstrated that a novel streptococcal collagen-like surface protein 1 has the ability to promote bacteria adherent to epithelial cells (Chen et al., 2010).

Microbial diagnosis In addition, I also devoted to the development of functionalized nanoparticles for probing pathogenic bacteria in collaboration with Dr. Yu-Chie Chen (陳月枝) and obtained promising results (Chen et al., 2007a; Chen et al., 2007b; Li et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2008; Chen et al., 2008a; Chen et al., 2008b; Liu et al., 2009; Chen et al, 2009; Cheng et al., 2009). I developed a Beijing and non-Beijing differentiated multiplex PCR method to identify Beijing and/or non-Beijing strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly from patient sputum in a single step, and demonstrated that mixed infection is present in patients with active pulmonary TB in eastern Taiwan (Huang et al., 2010；Huang and Tsai, 2011).

Molecular imaging Molecular imaging is a rapidly emerging field, providing noninvasive visual quantitative representations of fundamental biological processes in intact living subjects. Due to the family issue, in 2007, I moved to National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC, 國家實驗動物中心南部設施) and developed an in vivo light reporting system, NF-B-RE-luciferase transgenic mice that express luciferase under the control of NF-B, to monitor the inflammatory responses in vivo. This mouse serves as a platform to analyze NF-B activation noninvasively in a variety of pathological conditions, particular on inflammation. During this period, I jointed a ENU project and identified a novel leptin gene mutation site in a obese mice (Hong et al., 2011).

After creating several light reporting mouse models in NLAC, in 2009, I moved back to the academic environment, which I particularly enjoy working with, in NCKU. For the next stage of my career, I plan to initiate and continue my research work on dissecting the contribution of TLR-mediated innate inflammation to infectious disease using animal model. This idea was initiated in 2005, while I was a visiting scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Oliver Smithies and Dr. Nobuyo Maeda at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We have continued our collaboration for years together with Dr. Yau-Sheng Tsai (蔡曜聲) (Tsai et al., 2009；Jheng et al., 2011). I believe a combined basic and applied approach, with the focus on the inflammatory responses in human disease, is worth of such an investment in time and effort to better understand the innate immune system in host defending mechanisms.

Recent Publishcations

• >YH Liu, YC Chang, WC Ko, YS Tsai, YH Chen, HC Lai, CY Wu, YP Hung, and PJ Tsai*. The ATP-P2X7 signaling axis is an essential sentinel for intracellular Clostridium difficile pathogen-induced inflammasome activation. Front. in Cell. & Infect. Microbiol. 2018.
• >H Suzuki, M Tomita, PJ Tsai, WC Ko, YP Hung, IH Huang, and JW Chen. Comparative genomic analysis of Clostridium difficile ribotype 027 strains including the newly sequenced strain NCKUH-21 isolated from a patient in Taiwan. Gut Pathog. 2017. 9:70.
• >YP Hung, JC Lee, HJ Lin, CW Chiu, JL Wu, HC Liu, IH Huang, PJ Tsai, and WC Ko*. Perceptions of Clostridium difficile infections among infection control professionals in Taiwan. J. Microbiol. Immunol. Infect. 2017. 50:521-526.
• >WT Lee, YN Wu, YH Chen, SR Wu, TM Shih, TJ Li, LX Yang, CS Yeh, PJ Tsai*, DB Shieh*. Octahedron Iron Oxide Nanocrystal embedded on Clostridium difficile Spore and prohibited its Germination. Sci. Rep. 2017. 7:8124.
• >YW Liu, YH Chen, JW Chen, PJ Tsai, and IH Huang*. Immunization with recombinant TcdB-encapsulated nanocomplex induces protection against Clostridium difficile challenge in a mouse model. Front. in Microbiol. 2017. (in press)
• >M Cairns, M Preston, D Gerding, P Hawkey, H Kato, H Kim, E Kuijper, T Lawley, H Pituch, S Reid, B Kullin, T Riley, K Solomon, PJ Tsai, J Weese, R Stabler, B Wren, and C Hall*. Comparative genome analysis and global phylogeny of the toxin variant Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 017 reveals the evolution of two independent sub-lineages. J. Clin. Micrbiol. 2017. 55:865-876.
• >YP Hung, IH Huang, HJ Lin, BY Tsai, HC Liu, HC Liu, JC Lee, YH Wu, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Predominance of ribotype 017 among toxigenic isolates and ribotype 078 family among binary toxin producers. PLoS One. 2016. 11: e0166159.
• >WJ Cheng, YL Wei, JCC Wei, CW Lin, HY Lu, YP Hsia, PJ Tsai, YC Lai, YL Kuo, and MS Jan. Effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae on Toll-Like Receptor-Dependent Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Signaling Pathways and Gene Expression and Promotes HLA-B27 Misfolding. J. Pharm. and Pharmacol. 2016. 4: 667-678
• YP Hung, HJ Lin, BY Tsai, HC Liu, HC Liu, JC Lee, YH Wu, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Clostridium difficile in southern Taiwan: predominance of ribotype 017 among toxigenic isolates and ribotype 078 family among binary toxin producers. PLoS One. (revision)
• Ho LC, Sung JM, Shen YT, Jheng HF, Chen SH, Tsai PJ, Tsai YS*. Egr-1 deficiency protects from renal inflammation and fibrosis. J Mol Med (Berl). 2016 94(8):933-42.
• JC Lee, YP Hung, HJ Lin, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*.Clostridium difficile Infections in Medical Intensive Care Units of a Medical Center in Southern Taiwan: Variable Seasonality and Disease Severity. PLoS One. 2016 11(8): e0160760.
• BY Tsai, WC Ko, TH Chen, YC Wu, PH Lan, YH Chen, YP Hung, and PJ Tsai*. Zoonotic Potential of the Clostridium difficile RT078 Family in Taiwan. Anaerobe 2016. 41:125-30.
• YH Liu, YS Tsai*, SC Lin, NS Liao, MS Jan, CT Liang, SW Hsu, WC Chen, JM Sung, N Maeda, and PJ Tsai*. Quantitative PPARγ expression affects the balance between tolerance and immunity. Sci. Rep. 2016. 6:26646.
• CL Chen, YY Wu, CF Lin, CF Kuo, CL Han, S Wang, WJ Chuang, CY Chen, JJ Wu, PJ Tsai, CC Liu, and YS Lin. Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B inhibits apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages through protein S cleavage. Sci. Rep. 2016. 6:26026.
• HC Tai, PJ Tsai, JY Chen, CH Lai, KC Wang, SH Teng, SC Lin, AYW Chang, MJ Jiang, YH Li, HL Wu, N Maeda, and YS Tsai*. PPARγ level contributes to structural integrity and component production of elastic fibers in the aorta. Hypertension 2016. 67:1298-308.
• YC Wu, JJ Lee, BY Tsai, YF Liu, CM Chen, PJ Tsai*, and TH Chen*. Potentially hypervirulent Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 078 Lineage isolates in pigs and possible implications for humans in Taiwan. Intern. J. Med. Microbiol. 2016. 306:115-22.
• C Chiang-Ni, PX Zheng, SY Wang, PJ Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, and JJ Wu*. Epidemiology analysis of Streptococcus pyogenes in a hospital in southern Taiwan by use of the updated emm cluster typing system. J Clin Microbiol. 2016. 54:157-62.
• HF Jheng, PJ Tsai, YL Chuang, YT Sheng, TA Tai, WC Chen, CK Chou, LC Ho, MJ Tang, KT Lai, JM Sung*, and YS Tsai*. Albumin Stimulates Renal Tubular Inflammation through a HSP70-TLR4 Axis in Early Diabetic Nephropathy. Dis Model Mech. 2015. 8:1311-21.
• YP Hung, JC Lee, HJ Lin, HC  Liu, YH  Wu, PJ Tsai, and WC Ko*. Doxycycline and tigecycline-two friendly drugs: less association with Clostridium difficile infection. Antibiotics 2015, 4:216-29.
• YP Hung, WC Ko, PH Chou, YH Chen, HJ Lin, YH Liu, HW Tsai, JC Lee, and PJ Tsai*. Proton pump inhibitor exposure aggravates Clostridium difficile colitis: evidences from a mouse model. J. Infet. Dis. 2015. 212:654-63. (Cover Page)
• PX Zheng, YC Chan, CS Chiou, C Chiang-Ni, SY Wang, PJ Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, JJ Wu. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats are emm type-specific in highly prevalent group A streptococci. PLoS One. 2015 10:e0145223.
• CJ Wu, PL Chen, PR Hsueh, MC Chang, PJ Tsai, HI Shih, HC Wang, PH Chou, and WC Ko*. Clinical implications of species identification in monomicrobial Aeromonas bacteremia. PLoS One 2015. 10:e0117821.
• MW Cheong, LH Kuo, YN Cheng, PJ Tsai, LC Ho, HC Tai, WT Chiu, SH Chen, PJ Lu, YS Shan, LM Chuang, and YS Tsai*. Loss of Egr-1 sensitizes pancreatic β-cells to palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis. J Mol Med. 2015. 93:807-18.
• TL Chang*, HY Chiang, JY Shen, SW Lin, and PJ Tsai. Phenolic compounds stage an interplay between the ubiquitin–proteasome system and ubiquitin signal autophagic degradation for the ubiquitin-based cancer chemoprevention. J Funct Foods 2015. 17:857–71.
• YP Hung, JC Lee, HJ Lin, HC Liu, YH Wu, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Clinical impact of Clostridium difficile colonization. J. Microbiol. Immunol. Infect. 2015. 48:241-8.
• HJ Lin, YP Hung, HC Liu, JC Lee, CI Lee, YH Wu, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Risk factors for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea among hospitalized adults with fecal toxigenic C. difficile colonization. J. Microbiol. Immunol. Infect. 2015. 48:183-9.
• KC Young, CH Bai, HC Su, PJ Tsai, CY Pu, CS Liao, YM Lin, HW Lai, LW Chong, YS Tsai and CW Tsao. Fluoxetine a novel anti-hepatitis C virus agent via ROS-, JNK-, and PPARβ/γ-dependent pathways. Antiviral Res. 2014. 110:158-167.
• PL Chen, PJ Tsai, CS Chen, YC Lu, HM Chen, CC Lee, CW Li, MC Li, CJ Wu, and WC Ko. Aeromonas stool isolates from individuals with or without diarrhea in southern Taiwan: Predominance of Aeromonas veronii. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2014. pii: S1684-1182.
• PL Chen, CJ Wu, CS Chen, PJ Tsai, HJ Tang, and WC Ko. Virulence diversity among bacteremic Aeromonas isolates: ex vivo, animal, and clinical evidences. PLoS One 2014. 8: e81882.
• SM Chen, YS Tsai, SW Lee, YH Liu, SK Liao, WW Chang*, and PJ Tsai*. Astragalus membranaceus modulates the Th1/2 immune balance and activates PPARγ in a murine asthma model. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2014. 2(5):397-405.
• YP Hung, HJ Lin, CJ Wu, PL Chen, JC Lee, HC Liu, YH Wu, FH Yeh, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. The first case of severe Clostridium difficile ribotype 027 infection in Taiwan. J. Infect. 2014. 70(1):98-101.
• YP Hung, HJ Lin, CJ Wu, PL Chen, JC Lee, HC Liu, YH Wu, FH Yeh, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Vancomycin-resistant Clostridium innocuum bacteremia following oral vancomycin for Clostridium difficile infection. Anaerobe 2014. 30:24-6.
• YP Hung, HJ Lin, BY Tsai, HC Liu, HC Liu, JC Lee, YH Wu, MH Wilcox, WN Fawley, PR Hsueh, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Clostridium difficile ribotype 126 in southern Taiwan: a cluster of three symptomatic cases. Anaerobe 2014. 30:188-92.
• PX Zheng, C Chiang-Ni, SY Wang, PJ Tsai, CF Kuo, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, and JJ Wu. Arrangement and number of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat spacers are associated with erythromycin susceptibility in emm12, emm75 and emm92 of group A streptococcus. Clinical Microbiol Infect 2014. 20:516-23.
• CS Chang, PJ Tsai, JM Sung, JY Chen, LJ Ho, K Pandya, N Maeda, and YS Tsai. Diuretics prevent thiazolidinedione-induced cardiac hypertrophy without compromising insulin-sensitizing effects in mice. Am. J. Pathol. 2014. 184:442-53.
• CH Wang, C Chiang-Ni, HT Kuo, PX Zheng, CC Tsou, Wang S, PJ Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, and JJ Wu. Peroxide responsive regulator PerR of group A streptococcus is required for the expression of phage-associated DNase Sda1 under oxidative stress. PLoS One 2013. 8: e81882.
•  CN Chuan, PX Zheng, SY Wang, PJ Tsai, CF Kuo, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, and JJ Wu. Invasive hypermucoid variant of group A streptococcus is defective in growth and susceptible to DNA-damaging treatments. Pathog. Dis. 2014. 70:194-201.
• PL Chen, CJ Wu, CS Chen, PJ Tsai, HJ Tang, and WC Ko. A comparative study of clinical Aeromonas dhakensis and Aeromonas hydrophila isolates in southern Taiwan: A. dhakensis is more predominant and virulent. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 2013. 20:O428-34.
• YP Hung, HJ Lin, TC Wu, HC Liu, JC Lee, CI Lee, YH Wu, L Wan, PJ Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Risk factors of fecal toxigenic or non-toxigenic Clostridium difficile colonization: impact of toll-like receptor polymorphisms and prior antibiotic exposure. PLoS One 2013. 8:e69577.
• PX Zheng, KT Chung, C Chiang-Ni, SY Wang, PJ Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, and JJ Wu. Complete genome sequence of emm1 Streptococcus pyogenes A20, a strain with an intact two-component system, CovRS, isolated from a patient with necrotizing fasciitis. Genome Announc. 2013. 1:e00149-12. 
• JY Chen, PJ Tsai, HC Tai, RL Tsai, YW Chiou, ML Yeh, MJ Tang, YH Li, WC Tsai, LJ Lin, HL Wu, and YS Tsai*. Increased Aortic Stiffness and Impaired Elastic Fiber Stability in Obesity. Arterioscl. Throm. Vas. 2013. 33:839-46.
• YP Hung, NY Lee, HC Chang, CJ Wu, CM Chang, PL Chen, HJ Lin, YH Wu, PJ Tsai, YS Tsai*, and WC Ko*. Effects of PPARγ and RBP4 gene variants on metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected patients with anti-retroviral therapy. 2012 PLoS One 7:49012.
• CJ Wu, PJ Tsai, PL Chen, IC Wu, YT Lin, YH Chen, LR Wang, and WC Ko. Aeromonas aquariorum septicemia and enterocolitis in a cirrhotic patient. 2012. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 74(4):406-8.
• WP Su, YC Lo, JJ Yan, IC Liao, PJ Tsai, HC Wang, HH Yeh, CC Lin, HH Chen, WW Lai, and WC Su. Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 regulates the effects of paclitaxel on Stat3 activation and cellular survival in lung cancer cells. 2012 Carcinogenesis 33:2065-75. 
• MF Shih, LY Chen, PJ Tsai, and JY Cherng. In vitro and in vivo therapeutics of β-thujaplicin on LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages and septic shock in mice. 2012 Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 25:39-48.
• YP Hung, PJ Tsai, KH Hung, HC Liu, CI Lee, HJ Lin, YH Wu, JJ Wu*, and WC Ko*. Impact of toxic Clostridium difficile colonization and infection among hospitalized adults at a district hospital in southern Taiwan. 2012 PLoS One 7:42415.
• HF Jheng, PJ Tsai, SM Guo, LH Kuo, CS Chang, IJ Su, and YS Tsai*. Mitochondrial fission contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. 2012 Mol Cell Biol. 32:309-19. (IF=6.188, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 41/286=14.3%)
• C Chiang-Ni, PX Zheng, PJ Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, CC Liu, and JJ Wu. Environmental pH changes, but not the LuxS signaling pathway, regulates SpeB expression in M1 group A streptococci. 2012. J. Med. Microbiol. 61(Pt 1):16-22. (IF=2.38, Micrbiology 54/107= 50.5%)
• YT Tseng, YC Lin, CW Shih, CH Tsai, and PJ Tsai*. Clinical relevance of serum cystatin C and malignant tumors. 2011 J Biomed. Lab. Sci. 23:97-104.
• HY Huang, and PJ Tsai*. Mixed infection of Beijing and non-Beijing strains of Mycobacterium rculosis. 2011 J Biomed. Lab. Sci. 23:39-45.
• YC Lin, YT Huang, PJ Tsai, TF Lee, NY Lee, CH Liao, SY Lin, WC Ko, and PR Hsueh. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and molecular epidemiology of clinical isolates of Clostridium difficile in Taiwan. 2011 Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 55: 1701-5. (IF=4.802, Pharmacology & Pharmacy 24/237=10.1%)
• LH Kuo, PJ Tsai, MJ Jiang, YL Chuang, L Yu, KT Lai, and YS Tsai. Toll-like receptor 2 deficiency improves insulin sensitivity and hepatic insulin signalling. 2011 Diabetologia 54:168-79. (IF=6.551, Endocrinology & Metabolism 9/105=8.6% )
• SM Chen, YS Tsai, CM Wu, LC Wu, CS Chang, YH Liu, and PJ Tsai*. Streptococcal collagen-like surface protein 1 promotes adherence to respiratory epithelial cells. 2010 BMC Microbiol. 10:320. (IF=2.89, Microbiology 35/95=36.8%)
• CJ Hong*, PJ Tsai*, CY Cheng, CK Chou, HF Jheng, YC Chuang, CN Yang, SY Chen, SJ Tsai, YJ Liou, and YS Tsai. ENU mutagenesis identifies mice with morbid obesity and severe hyperinsulinemia caused by a novel mutation in leptin. 2010 PLoS One 5:15333. (*equal contribution) (IF=4.351, Biology 10/76=13.2%)
• HY Huang, YS Tsai, JJ Lee, MC Chiang, CY Chiang, NT Lin, and PJ Tsai*. Mixed infection with Beijing and non-Beijing strains and drug resistance pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 2010 J. Clin. Microbiol. 48:4474-80. (IF=4.162, Microbiology 18/95=18.9%)
• CW Chang, WH Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, JJ Wu, CC Liu, PJ Tsai, and MT Lin. Procaspase 8 and Bax are upregulated by distinct pathways in the SPE B-induced apoptosis. 2009 J. Biol. Chem. 284: 33195-205. (IF=5.328, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 48/283=17%)
• YS Tsai, PJ Tsai, MJ Jiang, TY Chou, A Pendse, HS Kim, and N Maeda. Decreased PPAR expression compromises perigonadal-specific fat deposition and insulin sensitivity. 2009 Mol. Endocriol. 23: 1787-98. (IF=5.257, Endocrinology & Metabolism 16/105=15.2%)
• CW Chang, SY Wu, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, JJ Wu, CC Liu, PJ Tsai, and MT Lin. The IL-8 production by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B. 2009 Exp. Biol. Med. 234:1316-26. (IF=2.635, Medicine, Research & Experimental 34/93=36.6%)
• JC Liu, WJ Chen, CW Li, TK Mong, PJ Tsai, TL Tsai, YC Lee, and YC Chen. Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using functional magnetic nanoparticle-based affinity capture combined with MALDI MS analysis. 2009 Analyst 134:2087-94. (IF=3.272, Chemistry, Analytical 11/70=15.7%)
• CL Cheng, DS Sun, WC Chu, YH Tseng, HC Ho, JB Wang, PH Chung, JH Chen, PJ Tsai, NT Lin, MS Yu, and HH Chang. The effects of the bacterial interaction with visible light responsive titania photocatalyst on the bactericidal performance. 2009 J. Biomed. Sci. 16:7. (IF=2.007, Medicine, Research & Experimental 50/93=53.8%)
• WJ Chen, PJ Tsai, and Y.C Chen. Multifunctional Fe3O4@Au nanoeggs as photothermal agents for selective killing of nosocomial and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 2009 Small 5:51-6. (IF=6.171, Materials Science, Multidisciplinary 13/214=6.1%)
• WJ Chen, PJ Tsai, and YC Chen. Functional nanoparticle-based proteomice strategies for characterization of pathogenic bacteria. 2008 Anal. Chem. 80:9612-21. (IF=5.214, Chemistry, Analytical 3/70=4.3%)
• JC Liu, PJ Tsai, Y Lee, and YC Chen. Affinity Capture of Uropathogenic E. coli Using Pigeon Ovalbumin-Bound Fe3O4@Al2O3 Magnetic Nanoparticles. 2008 Anal. Chem. 80:5425-32. (IF=5.214, Chemistry, Analytical 3/70=4.3%)
• WH Tsai, CW Chang, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, JJ Wu, CC Liu, PJ Tsai, and MT Lin. The SPE B-induced apoptosis in A549 cell is mediated through v3 integrin and Fas. 2008 Infect. Immun. 76:1349-57. (IF=4.205, Infectious Disease 10/57=17.5%)
• WR Chen, PJ Tsai, and YC Chen. Functional Fe3O4/TiO2 core/shell magnetic nanoparticles as the photo-killing agents for pathogenic bacteria. 2008 Small 4:485-91. (IF=6.171, Materials Science, Multidisciplinary 13/214=6.1%)
• LS Wang, CC Wang, PJ Tsai, YH Hsu, BS Chang, AF Su, T Low, YH Ho, PN Chong, SB Chow, and SZ Ling. Leptospire endocarditis and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia presenting with cardiac aneurysm and multiple infracts of brain, liver, and kidneys. 2008 Infect. Dis. Clin. Pract. 16:66-68.
• YS Tsai, and PJ Tsai. Designer Mice for Human disease- A close view of Nobel Laureate: Professor Oliver Smithies. 2007 Trends in Bio/Pharmaceutical Industry 4:5-10.
• YC Li, YS Lin, PJ Tsai, CT Chen, WY Chen, and YC Chen. Nitrotriacetic acidimmobilizedmagnetic nanoparticles as affinity probes for enrichment of histidine-tagged probes and phosphorylated peptides. 2007 Anal. Chem. 79:7519-7525. (IF=5.214, Chemistry, Analytical 3/70=4.3%)
• CT Chen, PJ Tsai, WY Chen, YS Lin, and YC Chen. Functional gold nanoparticles as photothermal agents for selective-killing of pathogenic bacteria. 2007 Nanomedicine 2:777-87. (IF=5.982, Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology 12/152=7.9%)
• CZ Liu, TF Huang, PJ Tsai, PJ Tsai, and MC Chang. A segment of Staphylococcus aureus clumping factor A with fibrinogen-binding activity (ClfA(221-550)) inhibits platelet-plug formation in mice. 2007 Thromb. Res. 116:145-55. (IF=2.406, Peripheral Vascular Disease 27/61=44.3%)
• CW Chang, WH Tsai, WJ Chuang, YS Lin, JJ Wu, CC Liu, PJ Tsai, and MT Lin. The fate of SPE B after internalization and its implication in SPEB-induced apoptosis. 2007 J. Biomed. Sci. 14:419-427. (IF=2.007, Medicine, Research & Experimental 50/93=53.8%)
• CT Chen, WY Chen, PJ Tsai, KY Chien, JS Yu, and YC Chen. Rapid enrichment of phosphopeptides and phosphoproteins from complex samples using magnetic particles coated with alumina as the concentrating probes for MALDI MS analysis. 2007 J. Proteome Res. 6:316-325. (IF=5.132, Biochemical Research Methods 8/67=11.9%)

Education

• Ph.D., National Cheng-Kung University

Research

Clinical microbiology, Infectious diseases, Animal disease models