Yong-Xin Li

Dr. Yong-Xin Li is an Assistant Professor in Chemical Biology in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong since July 2019. After receiving his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in pharmaceutical science from Peking University, Dr. Li joined the Qian’s lab in HKUST for his PhD study focusing on genome mining of secondary metabolites from marine bacteria. He went to Moore’s lab of UCSD to study natural product biosynthesis in 2013. He came back to HKUST in 2014 for his post-doctoral training at the IAS, where he applied big data genome mining and genetic engineering for antibiotics discovery and their resistance study. Applying bioinformatics, molecular genetics, metabolomics, and chemical biology approaches, his group seeks to convert the genetic potential of microbiota into chemical reality for the discovery of structurally novel and biologically active molecules.

Education

• 2014, PhD in Biology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• 2010, Mphil in Medicinal Chemistry, Peking University
• 2008, B.Sc in Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University

Awards

• 2016-2017 Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities
• 2014-2017 IAS Postdoctoral Fellowship, HKUST
• 2013 Oversea Research Awards, HKUST
• 2012 Research excellence Award of School of Science, HKUST

Publications

Zhang, W., Ding, W., Li, Y. X., Tam, C., Bougouffa, S., Wang, R., ... & Sun, J. Marine biofilms constitute a bank of hidden microbial diversity and functional potential. Nat. Commun., 2019, 10(1), 517.

Li YX#, Zhong Z#, Zhang W, Qian PY. Discovery of cationic nonribosomal peptides as Gram-negative antibiotics through global genome mining. Nat. Commun., 2018,9(1): 3273.

Li YX, Zhong Z, Hou P, Zhang W, Qian PY. Resistance to nonribosomal peptide antibiotics mediated by D-stereospecific peptidases. Nat. Chem. Biol., 2018, 14(4), 381-385.

Li Z, Li J, Gu JP, Lai JYH, Duggan BM, Zhang WP, Li ZL, LiYX, RB Tong, Moore B, & Qian PY, Discovery of precolibactin-886, the missing aminomalonate-containing member of the genotoxin colibactin family. Nat. Chem. Biol., 2016 12(10): 773–775.

Li YX, Li Z, Yamanaka K, Xu Y, Zhang W, Vlamakis H, Kolter R, Moore BS, Qian PY. Directed natural product biosynthesis gene cluster capture and expression in the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Sci. Rep., 2015, 5:9383.

Li YX#, Wu HX#, Xu Y, Shao CL, Wang CY, Qian PY. Antifouling activity of secondary metabolites isolated from Chinese marine organisms. Mar. Biotechnol., 2013, 15(5):552-558.

Li YX, Xu Y, Liu L, Han Z, Lai PY, Guo X, Zhang X, Lin W, Qian PY. Five new amicoumacins isolated from a marine-derived bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Mar. drugs, 2012, 10(2):319-28.7.

Li YX, Zhang F, Xu Y, Matsumura K, Han Z, Liu L, Lin W, Jia Y, Qian PY. Structural optimization and evaluation of butenolides as potent antifouling agents: modification of the side chain affects the biological activities of compounds. Biofouling, 2012, 28(8):857-64.

Li YX, Yu S, Liu D, Proksch P, Lin W. Inhibitory effects of polyphenols toward HCV from the mangrove plant Excoecaria agallocha L. Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Lett., 2012, 22(2):1099-102.

Li YX, Liu J, Yu S, Proksch P, Gu J, Lin W. TNF-α inhibitory diterpenoids from the Chinese mangrove plant Excoecaria agallocha L. Phytochemistry, 2010, 71:2124-31.