Dr Shixue ZHENG
Associate Professor in Microbiology
Expertise Statement
Teaching Duties
General Microbiology, Advanced Microbiology, and Environmental Molecular
Biotechnology
Research Interests
My research focus on environmental microbiology, especially on two aspects:
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Bacterial mechanism of selenium metabolism.
Soil quality and fertility by microbial activity and community structure.
1. The metabolism and molecular ecology of selenium in bacteria
Selenium (Se) is an essential element for life metabolism, as it is required for
certain cell processes and enzymes, but it becomes harmful at greater doses.
Bacteria have developed mechanisms for the detoxification of the oxyanion
metals by reduction to the elemental state or by methylating them; and some
bacteria oxidize selenium. We also are interested in the geobiochemical
reactions of selenium.
2. Soil microbial activity by Calorimetry and ecological methods
In recent years, calorimetric technique has been used to study microbial
activities in soils due to its sensitivity, simplicity, providing quantitative and
continuous indexes and non-disturbance of samples. To investigate the influence
of different agricultural practices on soil microbial activity and community
structure, and then indicate soil quality and fertility, soil samples from different
lands were studied by Calorimetry, PLFA and molecular techniques.
Professional Memberships
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Council Member, Microbial Resource Division, Chinese Society for
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Microbiology (2009-2015);
Council Member, Hubei Society for Ecology (2012-2016).
Education & Working Experience
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Sep,1999~Jan, 2007: Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), PhD in
Microbiology.
Sep,1992~Jun,1995: Central China Normal University, Master in Botany.
Sep,1988~Jun,1992: Shaanxi Normal University, Bachelor in Biology.
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2004~present: Associate professor, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural
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Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, HZAU, China
1997~2004: Lecturer, College of Life Science and Technology, HZAU, China
1995~1997: Teaching Assistant, College of Life Science and Technology, HZAU,
China.
Publications
Papers Published in English
1. Zheng S, Yao J, Zhao B and Yu Z, 2007. Influence of agricultural practices on soil
microbial activity measured by microcalorimetry. Eur. J. Soil Biol., 43, 151-157.
2. Zheng S., Hu J., Chen K., Yao J., Yu Z., Lin X., 2009. Soil microbial activity measured
by microcalorimetry in response to long-term fertilization regimes and available
phosphorous on heat evolution. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 41, 2094-2099.
3. Sandy E.H., Yao J., Zheng S., Gogra A.B., Chen H., Zheng H., Yormah T.B.R., Zaray G.,
Ceccanti B., Choi M.M.F., 2010. A comparative cytotoxicity study of isomeric
alkylphthalates to metabolically variant bacteria. Journal of Hazardous Materials,
182, 631-639.
4. Chen K., Yao J., Qi S., Zheng S., Luo Y., Záray G., Wang F., Mohammad R., Choi M. M.
F., 2011. Characterization of depth-related microbial community activities in
freshwater sediment by combined method. Geomicrobiology Journal, 28(4),
328-334.
5. Li X, Zheng S, Dong W, Chen G, Mao H, Bai Y, 1999. Insect-resistant transgenic
plants of Brassica napus and analysis of resistance in the plants. Acta Genetica
Sinica 26, 162-268.
Papers Published in Chinese （*, corresponding author）
1. Zhao Y., Zheng S. * , Fang Z., Yu Z., 2011. Vertical distribution of fungal
communities in Honghu Lake sediment. Mycosystema, 30(5): 721-728.
2. Li J.，Wang L.，Liu Y.，Zheng S. *，Yu Z., 2011. Cloning of Acetyl-Coenzyme A
Carboxylase Gene ( ACC) from Rhodotorula glutinis and Prokaryotic Expression of
Its CT Functional Domain Gene. Journal of Microbiology, 31(3), 6-11.
3. Li J., Zheng S. *, Yu Z., Zhang J., 2011. Acetyl-coenzyme A Carboxylase: A Key
Metabolic Enzyme of Fatty Acid and Progress of Its Gene Clone. Chin J Appl
Environ Biol., 17 (5): 753~758.
4. Zheng H., Qi S., Wang Z., Liu H., Jiang X., Yu Z., Zheng S. *, 2011. Effects of Shrimp
Aquaculture on the Quality of Upland Pond Soil Indicated by Microbial FAME and
Enzyme Activity. Chin J Appl Environ Biol., 17 ( 1 ): 69~72.
5. Zheng S, Dong X, Yu Z, Zhao B, 2004. Molecular detection of competitive
colonization of AM fungi within fresh roots. Mycosystema, 23 (1), 126-132.
6. Zheng S, Dong X, Yu Z, Zhao B, 2004. Molecular detection of four arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi inocula in field trials. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 41 (5), 742-749.
7. Dong C, Zheng S, Zhao B, 2003. The study for surface-sterilization and germination
of Glomus spores. Mycosystema, 22 (3), 410-416.
8. Zheng S, Dong W, Li X, 1996. Study on genetic transformation of celery callus. J. of
Central China Normal University (Nat. Sci.) 30, 327-329.
Presentations to international scientific meetings
1. Zheng S., Fang Z., Qi S., Yu Z., 2010. Vertical distribution of prokaryotes and
interactions with their environment in Honghu lake sediments. The 13th
International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, ISME-13, Seattle, USA. Poster
2. Zheng S., Zheng H., Qi S., Zhou Y., Yu Z., 2010. Microcalorimetric assessment to
evaluate quality of long-term shrimp aquaculture soils in Hainan Island of
southern China. The 13th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology,
ISME-13, Seattle, USA. Poster
3. Zheng S., Dong X., Zhao B., 2003. Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in
Hubei province of Central China. The Sixth China-Korea Joint Symposium on
Mycology, Wuhan, China.
Additional Information
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS PARTICIPATING AND FULFILLING
1. PI of NSFC (National Natural Science Foundation of China) project “The soil
microbial dynamics of metabolic heat and its function for indicating soil quality
measured by microcalorimetry” (No. 41171213), 2012~2015.
2. Molecular mechanisms of microbial arsenite sensing and gene regulation of
heterotrophic and chemotrophic arsenite-oxidizing bacteria. Major International
Joint Research Project of Chinese National Natural Science Foundation
(No.31010103903), 2011-2013. （PI: Gejiao Wang）
WEBSITE
http://www.ebmlab.org
Contact details
Dr Shixue ZHENG,
Associate professor in Environmental Microbiology,
State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology,
College of Life Science & Technology,
Huazhong Agricultural University,
Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China
Tel: 86-27-87294148
Fax: 86-27-87280670
E-mail: zhengsx@mail.hzau.edu.cn