Bacterial Dormancy and Stress-Resistant/Antibiotic Tolerance

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is one of the major global scientific concerns. Compared to antibiotics resistance caused by genetic mutations or resistance genes, dormancy-triggered tolerance is more common and elusive. By entering the dormant state, bacteria can evade antibiotics killing, thus resulting in chronic and recurrent infections.

Our research focuses on regulation of bacterial dormancy and intervention against antibiotic tolerance. We systematically investigate how dormant cells, such as persisters, biofilm and spores, exit from the dormancy, with the goal of developing novel strategies to control bacterial dormancy, aiming to provide new solutions to combat against the infections caused by dormancy-related antibiotics tolerance. 

Our main research area include:

1.    How bacterial spores exit from their dormancy

2.    The molecular basis of bacterial resistance to antibiotics or environmental stress

3.    Novel therapies targeting dormancy-driven antibiotic tolerance

4.    The mechanism of antimicrobial action for natural antibacterial compounds

5.    Development of spore-based probiotics

2014. 09 - 2019. 11：

Ph.D. University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2011. 09 - 2014. 07:

M.S. Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

2007. 09 – 2011. 07

B.A. Hebei University of Science and Technology, China

2025. 01 - present

Principle Investigator, Professor, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

2019. 04 - 2024. 12

Posdoc, Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

1. Gao Y, Amon JD, Artzi L, Ramírez-Guadiana FH, Cofsky JC, Kruse AC, Rudner DZ. SpoVAF and FigP form an oligomeric ion channel that amplifies nutrient-triggered spore germination. Genes Dev 38, 31-45 (2024).

2. Gao Y, Amon JD, Artzi L, Ramírez-Guadiana FH, Brock KP, Cofsky JC, Marks DS, Kruse AC, Rudner DZ. Bacterial spore germination receptors are nutrient-gated ion channels. Science 380, 387-391, doi:10.1126/science.adg9829 (2023). 

Spotlight by Trends in Microbiology: Spore germination receptors - a new paradigm

3. Gao Y, Barajas-Ornelas RDC, Amon JD, Ramírez-Guadiana FH, Alon A, Brock KP, Marks DS, Kruse AC, Rudner DZ. The SpoVA membrane complex is required for dipicolinic acid import during sporulation and export during germination. Genes Dev 36, 634-646, doi:10.1101/gad.349488.122 (2022). 

4. Wenzel M, Celik Gulsoy IN, Gao Y, Teng Z, Willemse J, Middelkamp M, van Rosmalen MGM, Larsen PWB, van der Wel NN, Wuite GJL, Roos WH, Hamoen LW. Control of septum thickness by the curvature of SepF polymers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 118, doi:10.1073/pnas.2002635118 (2021). 

5. Syvertsson S, Wang B, Staal J, Gao Y, Kort R, Hamoen LW. Different Resource Allocation in a Bacillus subtilis Population Displaying Bimodal Motility. J Bacteriol 203, e0003721, doi:10.1128/jb.00037-21 (2021).

6. Gao Y, Wenzel M, Jonker MJ, Hamoen LW. Free SepF interferes with recruitment of late cell division proteins. Sci Rep 7, 16928, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-17155-x (2017). 

7. Syvertsson S, Vischer NO, Gao Y, Hamoen LW. When Phase Contrast Fails: ChainTracer and NucTracer, Two ImageJ Methods for Semi-Automated Single Cell Analysis Using Membrane or DNA Staining. PLoS One 11, e0151267, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151267 (2016). 

8. Gao Y, Liu C, Ding Y, Sun C, Zhang R, Xian M, Zhao G. Development of genetically stable Escherichia coli strains for poly(3-hydroxypropionate) production. PLoS One 9, e97845, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0097845 (2014). 

9. Gao Y, Feng X, Xian M, Wang Q, Zhao G. Inducible cell lysis systems in microbial production of bio-based chemicals. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97, 7121-7129, doi:10.1007/s00253-013-5100-x (2013). 

10. Zeng Y, Guo L, Gao Y, Cui L, Wang M, Huang L, Jiang M, Liu Y, Zhu Y, Xiang H, Li D, Zheng Y. Formation of NifA-PII complex represses ammonium-sensitive nitrogen fixation in diazotrophic proteobacteria lacking NifL. Cell Rep 43(7): 114476 (2024).

11. Zhang X, Liu C, Gao Y, Liu L, Zhang H. The canalization in domesticated yeast: Metabolic traits develop robustness against Hsp90 stress during the evolutionary process. Green Carbon, doi: 10.1016/j.greenca.2024.11.002 (2024). 

12. Jiang M, Liu M, Gao Y, Zheng Y. Discovery of a new host for rhizobial symbiont in the ocean. The Innovation Life, 2(3), Article 100077. (2024)

13. Liu C, Li X, Han Y, Li W, Gao Y, Jiang C, Liu Y, Zheng Y. Enhanced pyrite bioleaching through the synergistic interactions between Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans and Alicyclobacillus ferrooxydans. Environ. Technol. Innov. 37, 104005 (2025).  

现指导学生

朱明雪  硕士研究生  071007-遗传学  

马俊泽  博士研究生  071007-遗传学