Education: (PhD- Master- Bachelor)

2012, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Biology, Ph.D.

2007, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Biology, B.Sc. (1st class honors)

Working Experience:

2019.11-now, Shenzhen University, Assistant Professor

2018.6-2018.9, Biodiversity Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Visiting Scholar

2015.5-2018.4, Akita Prefectural University, Japan, Specially Appointed Assistant Professor

2012.3-2015.3, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Awards:

2019, Overseas High-Caliber Personnel (Level C), Shen Zhen

2007/08, H.K.S.A.R, Sir Youde Memorial fund, Graduate student Fellowship

Research Interests:

1.Development of light instruments as a new antifouling strategy that targets phototaxis of marine invertebrate larval settlement

Marine biofouling is a phenomenon when marine sessile organisms attach to man-made surfaces. This is a major problem that could lead to increasing operation cost and malfunction of important derives. Preventing larval settlement on ship hull (antifouling) is therefore a very important task. An effective yet environmentally friendly antifouling strategy is needed, but the whole developmental process of non-toxic environmentally friendly antifouling paint is rather time consuming.

Manipulation of light beam as a measure to control larvae settlement has been largely overlooked, owing to the lack of a comprehensive understanding on how different marine larvae response to different wavelength of light beams across the light spectrum. As marine organisms are often positively phototasis, many of them could distinguish different color of lights and use as a guild to search for the substratum at the suitable depth. The ultimate goal of this research direction is to apply the light setting that marine larvae hates to the field to test for antifouling effect.

2.Biomineralization and cementation studies

Marine biofouling begins with the larval settlement of the marine sessile organisms, when the free-swimming larvae commit to permanent attachment by releasing a bioadhesive. The bioadhesives secreted by marine sessile organisms are the target of antifouling and biomimetic research, because on one hand targeting the bioadhesives could lead to the development of effective antifouling paints; On the other hand, the bioadhesives have great potential to be further developed into new adhesives with industrial applications.

Similar, the production of shell by marine sessile organisms, a phenomenon known as biomineralization, has been the focus of both biologists and material scientists, because shell formation produces unique biocrystals with complex structures and high mechanical performance. As the process is biologically controlled, understanding the underlying bio-mechanisms can be useful to both antifouling regulation as well as biomimetic material development.

Using a multi-omics approach, my research targets to elucidate the biological regulation behind the formation of shell and the production of bioadhesives in major fouling organisms.

Research Projects:

Characterizing the mechanism coordinating larval phototaxis and larval settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina, 01/2020-12/2022, National Natural Science Foundation of China, PI

Comparative Omics analysis and functional characterization of the role of nervous system in the larval settlement of barnacle cyprids larvae, 04/2016-04/2018, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Wakate B), PI

Publications and Patents:

Book chapters:

1. Okano K,Wong YH, Takahashi Y, Kikuchi A, Nogata Y, and Oguro-Okano M, Chapter 5 - Larval Cementation in the Barnacles, Megabalanus Rosa, In Barnacles: Recent Progress in Biology and Antifouling, edited by Ryusuke Kado, Haruo Mimura and Noriyuki Endo. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. March, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-53613-444-5.

Conference proceedings:

1.Wong YH, Ozakia N, Zhang WP, Sun J, Yoshimura E, Oguro-Okano M, Nogata Y, Lin HC, Chan BKK, Qian PY, Okano K. Identification of barnacle shell proteins by transcriptome and proteomic approaches, In Biomineralization - From Molecular and Nano-structural Analyses to Environmental Science (pp. 105-112), edited by Kazuyoshi Endo, Toshihiro Kogure and Hiromichi Nagasawa. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Representative publications (*Co-first authors; † Corresponding author)

1.Wong YH, Zhang Y, Lun Janice C.Y., Qiu JW. A proteomic analysis of skeletal tissue anomaly in the brain coral Platygyra carnosa. Mar. Poll. Bull. Under review (IF: 3.78)

2. Xu Y, Zhang L, Wang KL, Zhang Y,Wong YH†. Transcriptomic analysis of the mode of action of the candidate anti-fouling compound di (1H-indol-3-yl) methane (DIM) on a marine biofouling species, the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Mar. Poll. Bull. 2020, 152:110904. (IF: 3.78)

3. Yang XX*,Wong YH*, Zhang Z*, Zhang G, Qian PY. The regulatory role of nitric oxide-p38MAPK/cGMP pathway in the larval settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Biofouling 2018, 34(5):545-556. (IF: 3.08)

4.Wong YH, Yu L, Zhang G, He LS, Qian PY. In silico prediction of neuropeptides/peptide Hormone transcripts in the Cheilostome bryozoan Bugula neritina. PLoS One 2016, 11(8): e0160271. (IF: 2.806)

5.Wong YH, Sun J, He LS, Chen LG, Qiu JW, Qian, PY. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing of the cold seep mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons. Sci Rep. 2015, 5:16597. (IF: 4.259)

6.Wong YH, Ryu T, Seridi L, Ghosheh Y, Bougouffa S, Qian PY, Ravasi T. Transcriptome analysis elucidates key developmental components of bryozoan lophophore development. Sci Rep. 2014, 4: 6534. (IF: 4.259)

7.Wong YH, Wang H, Ravasi T, Qian PY. Involvement of Wnt signaling pathways in the metamorphosis of the bryozoan Bugula neritina. PLoS One 2012, 7(3): e33323. (IF: 2.806)

8. Zhang H*,Wong YH* Wang H*, Chen ZF, Arellano SM, Ravasi T, Qian PY. Quantitative proteomics identify molecular targets that are crucial in larval settlement and metamorphosis of Bugula neritina. J Proteome Res. 2010, 10(1):349-360. (IF: 4.336)

9.Wong YH, Arellano SM, Zhang H, Ravasi T, Qian PY. Dependency on de novo protein synthesis and proteomic changes during metamorphosis of the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina. Proteome Sci. 2010, 8:25. (IF: 2.36)

Co-authored publications

On marine invertebrates

10. Kobayashi M,Wong YH, Oguro-Okano M, Dreyer N, Høeg JT, Yoshida R, Okano K. Identification, characterization, and larval biology of a rhizocephalan barnacle, Sacculina yatsui Boschma, 1936, from northwestern Japan (Cirripedia: Sacculinidae). J Crustacean Biol. 2018, In press. (IF: 1.064)

11. Yang XX, Zhang Y,Wong YH, Qian PY. HSP90 regulates larval settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina through NO pathway. J Exp Biol 2018, jeb-167478. (IF: 3.32)

12. Zhang Y, Yang XX,Wong YH, Qian PY. The regulatory role of arginine kinase during larval settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina. Mar Biol. 2018, 165(3):52. (IF: 2.136)

13. Lan Y, Sun J, Tian R, Bartlett DH, Li R,Wong YH, Zhang W, Qiu JW, Xu T, He LS, Tabata HG, Qian PY. Molecular adaptation in the world's deepest‐living animal: Insights from transcriptome sequencing of the hadal amphipod Hirondellea gigas. Mol Ecol. 2017, 26(14): 3732-3743. (IF: 6.086)

14. Zhang G, Yan GY, Yang XX,Wong YH, Sun J, Zhang Y, He LS, Xy Y, Qian PY. Characterization of arginine kinase in the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite and its role in the larval settlement. J Exp Zool B 2016, 326(4): 237-249. (IF: 2.387)

15. Zhang G, He LS,Wong YH, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Qian PY. p38 MAPK regulates PKAα and CUB-serine protease in Amphibalanus amphitrite cyprids. Sci Rep. 2015, 5:14767. (IF: 4.259)

16. Zhang G, He LS,Wong YH, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Qian PY. Chemical Component and Proteomic Study of the Amphibalanus (= Balanus) amphitrite Shell. PLoS One 2015, 10(7):e0133866. (IF: 2.806)

17. Zhang G, He LS,Wong YH, Yu L, Qian PY. siRNA transfection in larvae of the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite. J Exp Biol. 2015, 218(16):2505-2509. (IF: 3.32)

18. Lin HC,Wong YH, Tsang LM, Chu KH, Qian PY, Chan BKK. First study on gene expression of cement proteins and potential adhesion-related genes of a membranous-based barnacle as revealed from Next-Generation Sequencing technology. Biofouling 2014, 30(2):169-181. (IF: 3.08)

19. Chen ZF, Zhang H, Wang H, Matsumura K,Wong YH, Ravasi T, Qian PY. Quantitative proteomics study of larval settlement in the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. PLoS One 2014, 9(2): e88744. (IF: 2.806)

20. Zhang G, He LS,Wong YH, Qian PY. MKK3 was Involved in larval settlement of the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite through activating the kinase activity of p38MAPK. PLoS One 2013, 8(7):e69510. (IF: 2.806)

21. Chandramouli, KH, Zhang Y,Wong YH, Qian PY. Comparative glycoproteome analysis: Dynamics of protein glycosylation during metamorphic transition from pelagic to benthic life stages in three invertebrates. J Proteome Res. 11(2):1330-1340. 2011. (IF: 4.336)

22. Wang H, Zhang H,Wong YH, Voolstra C, Ravasi T, Bajic V, Qian PY. Rapid transcriptome and proteome profiling of a non-model marine invertebrate, Bugula neritina. Proteomics 2010, 10(16):2972-2981. (IF: 4.041)

23. Qian PY,Wong YH, Zhang Yu. Changes in the proteome and phosphoproteome expression in the bryozoan Bugula neritina larvae in response to the antifouling agent butenolide. Proteomics 2010, 10(19):3435-3446. (IF: 4.041)

24. Thiyagarajan V, Wong T, Qian PY. 2D gel-based proteome and phosphoproteome analysis during larval metamorphosis in two major marine biofouling invertebrates. J Proteome Res. 2009, 8(6): 2708-2719. (IF: 4.336)

On microbial ecology

25. Cai L, Tian RM, Zhou G, Tong H,Wong YH, Zhang W, Chui APY, James Y. Xie, Xia J, Qiu JW, Ang PO, Liu S, Huang H, Qian PY. Exploring coral microbiome assemblages in the South China Sea. Sci Rep. 2018, 8(1):2428. (IF: 4.259)

26. Cai L, Zhou G, Tian RM, Tong H, Zhang W, Sun J, Ding W,Wong YH, Xia J, Qiu JW, Liu S, Huang H, Qian PY. Metagenomic analysis reveals a green sulfur bacterium as a potential coral symbiont. Sci Rep. 2017, 7(1):9320. (IF: 4.259)

27. Tian RM, Zhang W, Cai L,Wong YH, Ding W, Qian PY. Genome Reduction and Microbe-Host Interactions Drive Adaptation of a Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium Associated with a Cold Seep Sponge. mSystems 2017, 2(2): e00184-16. (IF: 6.280)

28. Gao ZM, Wang Y, Tian RM, Lee OO,Wong YH, Batang ZB, Al-Suwailem A, Lafi FF, Bajic VB, Qian PY. Pyrosequencing revealed shifts of prokaryotic communities between healthy and disease-like tissues of the Red Sea sponge Crella cyathophora. PeerJ 2015, 3:e890. (IF: 2.177)

29. Zhang W, Wang Y, Bougouffa S, Tian RM, Cao HL, Li YX, Cai L,Wong YH, Zhang G, Zhou G. Synchronized dynamics of bacterial niche specific functions during biofilm development in a cold seep brine pool. Environ Microbiol. 2015, 17(10):4089-4104. (IF: 5.395)

30. Gao ZM, Wang Y, Tian RM,Wong YH, Batang ZB, Al-Suwailem AM, Bajic VB, Qian PY. Symbiotic Adaptation Drives Genome Streamlining of the Cyanobacterial Sponge Symbiont “Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum”. MBio 2014, 5(2):e00079-14. (IF: 6.956)

31. Gao ZM, Wang Y, Lee OO, Tian RM,Wong YH, Bougouffa S, Batang, Zenon; Al-Suwailem A, Lafi FF, Bajic VB. Pyrosequencing reveals the microbial communities in the Red Sea sponge Carteriospongia foliascens and their impressive shifts in abnormal tissues. Microbial Ecol. 2014, 68(3):621-632. (IF: 3.630)

32. Wang Y, Zhang WP, Cao HL, Shek CS, Tian RM,Wong YH, Batang ZB, Al-Suwailem A, Qian PY. Diversity and distribution of eukaryotic microbes in and around a brine pool adjacent to the Thuwal cold seeps in the Red Sea. Front Microbiol. 2014, 5:37. (IF: 4.076)

33. Zhang WP, Wang Y, Tian RM, Bougouffa S, Yang B, Cao HL, Zhang G,Wong YH, Xu W, Batang ZB. Species sorting during biofilm assembly by artificial substrates deployed in a cold seep system. Sci Rep. 2014, 4:6647. (IF: 4.259)

34. Jin T, Zhang T, Ye L, Lee OO,Wong YH, Qian PY. Diversity and quantity of ammonia-oxidizing Archaea and Bacteria in sediment of the Pearl River Estuary, China. Appl Microbiol Biot. 2011, 90(3):1137-1145. (IF: 3.420)

35. Yang, Jiangke; Sun, Jin; Lee OO,Wong YH, Qian, PY. Phylogenetic diversity and community structure of sponge-associated bacteria from mangroves of the Caribbean Sea. Aquat Microb Ecol. 2011, 62(3):231. (IF: 2.35)

36. Qian PY, Wang Y, Lee OO, Lau SCK, Yang J, Lafi FF, Al-Suwailem A,Wong YH. Vertical stratification of microbial communities in the Red Sea revealed by 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. ISME J. 2011, 5(3):507-518. (IF: 9.664)

37. Wang Y, Yang J, Lee OO, Dash S, Lau SCK, Al-Suwailem A,Wong YH, Danchin A, Qian PY. Hydrothermally generated aromatic compounds are consumed by bacteria colonizing in Atlantis II Deep of the Red Sea. ISME J. 2011, 5(10):1652-1659. (IF: 9.664)

38. Lee OO, Chui, Pui Yi;Wong YH, Pawlik, Joseph R; Qian PY. Evidence for vertical transmission of bacterial symbionts from adult to embryo in the Caribbean sponge Svenzea zeai. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009, 75(19):6147-6156. (IF: 3.668)

39. Lee OO,Wong YH, Qian PY. Inter-and intraspecific variations of bacterial communities associated with marine sponges from San Juan Island, Washington. Appl Environ Microbiol. 75(11):3513-3521. 2009. (IF: 3.668)

On antifouling/toxicology

40. Huang XZ, Xu Y, Zhang YF, Zhang Y,Wong YH, Han Z, Yin Y, Qian PY. Nontoxic piperamides and their synthetic analogues as novel antifouling reagents. Biofouling 2014, 30(4):473-481. (IF: 3.08)

41. Chen L, Zhang H, Sun J,Wong YH, Han Z, Au DWT, Bajic VB, Qian PY. Proteomic changes in brain tissues of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) after chronic exposure to two antifouling compounds: Butenolide and 4, 5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (DCOIT). Aquat Toxicol. 2014, 157:47-56. (IF: 4.129)

WEBSITE OF GOOGLE SCHOLAR:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=M5j3ZiQAAAAJ&hl=ja&authuser=1

Conferences and Presentations:

Invited Talks

1. 2018.11, The 13th Biomineralization Symposium, Tokyo, Japan. On “Variations and conservations in barnacle shell structures and shell proteins”

2. 2018.7, The GRC Biomineralization conference, New Hamsphire, USA. On “Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Involved in Barnacle Shell Formation”

3. 2018.4, Tokyo University Biomineralization Seminar, Tokyo, Japan. On “Understanding barnacle shell formation from developmental and molecular perspectives.”

4. 2018.3, Symposium of marine sessile organism 2018, Tokyo, Japan. On “アカフジツボの幼稚体における殻形成過程の解析 (Towards understanding the shell formation process of the early juvenile of the barnacle Megabalanus rosa)”

5. 2017.10, The 14th International Symposium on Biomineralization (BIOMIN XIV), Tsukuba, Japan. On “Comprehensive profiling of barnacle shell proteins by an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach.”

6. 2017.10, Symposium of marine sessile organism 2017, Tokyo, Japan. On “The importance of integrating "Omics" approaches and comparative analysis in the study of novel proteins in fouling organisms: a case study on Megabalanus rosa shell formation.”

Oral Presentations:

1.2017. 6, The 19th Marine Biotechnology Meeting, Sendai, Japan. On “寄生性フジツボのインテルナに特異的高発現するペプチドホルモンの探索 (Exploration of peptide hormone that were specifically expressed in the interna of the parasitic barnacle Sacculina yatsui)”