Shengde Zhou, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Education

• Postdoc. University of Florida (Microbial genetics and Biotechnology)
• Ph.D., Auburn University (Microbiology), 1997
• M.S., Central China Agricultural University (Plant Pathology), 1987
• B.S., Central China Agricultural University (Horticulture), 1984

Field of Interest

• Microbial genetics
• Molecular biology
• Metabolic engineering
• Biotechnology

Research

The research in my lab focuses on metabolic/genetic engineering of microbial biocatalysts for production of biobased fuels and chemicals using renewable lignocelluloses such as corn residues as a feedstock. This work will entail a combination of approaches in microbial physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetic engineering, and fermentation technology. Particularly, I am interested in the genetic regulation of carbon central metabolism. Using functional genomic (gene knockout and replacement), metabolic flux, microarray, and proteomic analysis tools, we can elucidate critical metabolic points in carbon central metabolism. Therefore, "optimal" metabolic pathways can be designed and engineered to enhance the carbon flow and the reducing power generation through the central metabolism for production of useful compounds such as fuel ethanol, hydrogen, organic acids, amino acids, electricity using microbial fuel cells and antibiotics.

Representative Publications

• Lu H., Zhao X., Wang Y., Ding X., Wang J. Garza E., Manow R., Iverson A., and Zhou S. 2016. Enhancement of D-lactic acid production from a mixed glucose and xylose substrate by the Escherichia coli strain JH15 devoid of the glucose effect. BMC Biotechnology 16:19. DOI 10.1186/s12896-016-0248-y
• Liu Y., Gao W., Zhao X., Wang J., Garza E., Manow R., and Zhou S. 2014. Pilot scale demonstration of d-lactic acid fermentation facilitated by Ca(OH)2 using a metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. Bioresource Technol. 169:559-565
• Wang Y., Li K., Huang F., Wang J., Zhao J., Zhao X., Garza E., Manow R., Grayburn S., and Zhou S. 2013. Engineering and adaptive evolution of Escherichia coli W for L-lactic acid fermentation from molasses and corn steep liquor without additional nutrients. Bioresource Technol. 148:394-400.
• Zhao J., L. Xu, Y. Wang, X. Zhao, J. Wang, E. Garza, R. Manow, and Zhou S. 2013. Homofermentative Production of Optically Pure L-Lactic Acid from Xylose by Genetically Engineered Escherichia coli B. Microbial Cell Factories. 12:57.
• Iverson A., Garza E., Zhao J., Wang Y., Zhao X., Wang J., Manow R., and Zhou S. 2013. Increasing reducing power output (NADH) of glucose catabolism for reduction of xylose to xylitol by genetically engineered Escherichia coli AI05. World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 29(7):1225-1232.
• Wang Y., Tian T., Zhao J., Wang J., Yan T., Xu L., Liu Z., Garza E., Iverson A., Manow R., Finan C., and Zhou S. 2012. Homofermentative production of D-lactic acid from sucrose by a metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Lett. 34(11):2069-2075.
• Garza E., Zhao J., Wang Y., Wang J., Iverson A., Manow R., Finan C., and Zhou S. 2012. Engineering a homobutanol fermentation pathway in Escherichia coli EG03. J. Industrial Microbiol. Biotechnol. 39:1101-1107
• Manow R., Wang J., Wang Y., Zhao J., Garza E., Iverson A., Finan C., Grayburn S., and Zhou S. 2012. Partial deletion of rng (RNase G) enhanced homethanol fermentation of xylose by the non-transgenic Escherichia coli RM10. J.Industrial Microbiol. Biotechnol. 39:977-985
• Wang Y., Manow R., Finan C., Wang J., Garza E., and Zhou S. 2011. Adaptive evolution of non-transgenic Escherichia coli KC01 for improved ethanol tolerance and homoethanol fermentation from xylose. J. Industrial Microbiol. Biotechnol. 38:1371–1377.
• Li Q., Zheng L., Cai H., Garza E., Yu Z., and Zhou S. 2011. From organic waste to biodiesel: black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, makes it feasible. Fuel. 90:1545-1548.
• Garza E., Finan C., Iverson A., and Zhou S. 2011. Extension temperature of 60⁰C required for PCR amplification of large DNA fragments (> 5 kb) from a low GC bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 27:449-451.
• Wang, Y., R. Manow, C. Finan, J. Wang, E. Garza and S. Zhou. 2010. Adaptive evolution of non-transgenic Escherichia coli KC01 for improved ethanol tolerance and homoethanol fermentation from xylose. J. Industrial Microbiol. Biotechnol. DOI: 10.1007/s10295-010-0920-5.
• Li, Q., L Zheng, H. Cai, E. Garza, Z. Yu, S. Zhou. 2010. From organic waste to biodiesel: black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, makes it feasible. Fuel. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2010.11.016.
• Li, Q., H. Cai, B. Hao, C. Zhang, Z. Yu and S. Zhou. 2010. Enhancing clostridial acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production and improving fuel properties of ABE-enriched biodiesel by extractive fermentation with biodiesel. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. DOI: 10.1007/s12010-010-9010-4
• Garza E., C. Finan, A. Iverson and S. Zhou. 2010. Extension temperature of 600C required for PCR amplification of large DNA fragments (> 5 kb) from a low GC bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. DOI: 10.1007/s11274-010-0451-2.
• Zhou, S., A. G. Iverson, and W. S. Grayburn. 2010. Doubling the catabolic reducing power (NADH) output of Escherichia coli fermentation for production of reduced products. Biotechnol Progress. 26(1):45-51.
• Chen, K., A. G. Iverson, E. A. Garza, W. S. Grayburn, and S. Zhou. 2010. Metabolic evolution of non-transgenic Escherichia coli SZ420 for enhanced homoethanol fermentation from xylose. Biotechnol Lett. 32:87-96
• Yomano L. P., S. W. York, S. Zhou, K. T. Shanmugam and L. O. Ingram. 2008. Re-engineering of Escherichia coli for ethanol production. Biotechnol Lett. 30:2097-2103
• Zhou, S., A. G. Iverson, and W. S. Grayburn. 2008. Engineering a native homoethanol pathway in Escherichia coli B for ethanol production. Biotechnol. Lett. 30(2):335-342
• Grabar, T.B., S. Zhou, K. T. Shanmugam, L. P. Yomano, and L. O. Ingram. 2006. Methyal glyoxal bypass identified as the source of chiral contamination in L(+) and D(-) lactate produced by recombinant Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Lett. 28(10):1527-1535
• Zhou S., K. T. Shanmugam, L. P. Yomano, T. B. Grabar, and L. O. Ingram. 2006. Fermentation of 12% glucose to 1.2 M lactate by Escherichia coli strain SZ194 using mineral salts medium. Biotechnology Lett. 28(9):663-670
• Zhou S., T. B. Grabar, K. T. Shanmugam, and L. O. Ingram. 2006. Betaine tripled the volumetric productivity of D(-)-lactate by Escherichia coli strain SZ132 in mineral salts medium. Biotechnology Lett. 28(9):671-676
• Zhou, S., L. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2005. Fermentation of 10% sugars (w/v) to D-lactic acid by engineered Escherichia coli B. Biotechnol. Lett. 27:1891-1896.
• Shukla, V., S. Zhou, L.P. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, J.F. Preston and L.O. Ingram. 2004. Production of D(-)-lactic acid from sucrose and molasses. Biotechnol. Lett. 26:689-693.
• Causey, T.B., S. Zhou, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Engineering the metabolism of Escherichia coli W3110 for the conversion of sugar to redox-neutral and oxidized products: Homo-acetate production. PNAS: 100:825-832.
• Zhou, S., K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Functional replacement of Escherichia coli D(-)-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) with L(+)-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhL) from Pediococcus acidilactici. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:2237-2244.
• Zhou, S., T.B. Causey, A. Hasona, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Production of optically pure D-lactic acid in mineral salts medium by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli W3110. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:399-407.
• Underwood, S.A., S. Zhou, T.B. Causey, L.P. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2002. Genetic changes to optimize carbon partitioning between ethanol and biosynthesis in ethanologenic Escherichia coli. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:6263-6272.
• Zhou, S., and L.O. Ingram. 2001. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of amorphous cellulose to ethanol by recombinant Klebsiella oxytoca SZ21 without supplemental cellulase. Biotechnol. Lett. 23:1455-1462.
• Zhou, S., and L.O. Ingram. 2000. Synergistic hydrolysis of carboxymethyl cellulose and acid-swollen cellulose by two endoglucanases (EGY and EGZ) from Erwinia chrysanthemi. J. Bacteriol. 182:5676-5682.
• Ingram, L.O., H.C. Aldrich, A.C. Borges, T.B. Causey, A. Martinez, F. Morales, A. Saleh, L.P. Yomano, S.W. York, J. Zaldivar, and S. Zhou. 1999. Enteric bacterial catalysts for fuel ethanol production. Biotechnol. Prog. 15:855-866.
• Zhou, S., and L.O. Ingram. 1999. Engineering endoglucanase-secreting strains of ethanologenic Klebsiella oxytoca P2. J. Industrial Microbiol Biotechnol. 22:600-607.
• Zhou, S., L.P. Yomano, A. Saleh, F.C. Davis, H.C. Aldrich, and L.O. Ingram. 1999. Enhancement of expression and apparent secretion of Erwinia chrysanthemi endoglucanase (encoded by celZ) in Escherichia coli B. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:2439-2445.
• Zhou, S., T.A. McCaskey, and J. Broder. 1996. Evaluation of nitrogen supplements for bioconversion of MSW to lactic acid. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 57/58: 517-524.
• McCaskey T.A., S. Zhou, S.N. Britt, and R.C. Strickland. 1994. Bioconversion of municipal solid waste to lactic acid by Lactobacillus species. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 45/46:555-568

Patents

• Malaysia patent No. MY-154509-A (issued on June 30, 2015) Reengineering bacteria for ethanol production. L.P. Yomano, S.W. York, S. Zhou, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram.
• Japanese patent No. 5,798,441 (issued on Aug. 28, 2015) Materials and methods for efficient lactic acid production. S. Zhou, L.O. Ingram, KT Shanmugam, L. Yomano, T.B. Grabar and J. Moore
• US patent No. 8,716,002 (issued on May 6, 2014) Reengineering bacteria for ethanol production. L.P. Yomano, S.W. York, S. Zhou, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram.
• US patent No. 8,426,191 (issued on April 23, 2013) Materials and methods for efficient lactic acid production. S. Zhou, L.O. Ingram, KT Shanmugam, L. Yomano, T.B. Grabar and J. Moore
• US patent No. 8,383,374 (issued on Feb. 26, 2013) Materials and methods for efficient production of acetate and other products. Thomas B. Causey, L.O. Ingram, K.T. Shanmugam and S. Zhou
• EPO patent No. 1760156 (issued on Dec. 19, 2012) Materials and methods for efficient lactic acid production. S. Zhou, L.O. Ingram, KT Shanmugam, L. Yomano, T.B. Grabar and J. Moore
• Chinese patent No. CN1912107 B (issued on Nov. 14, 2012) Materials and methods for efficient lactic acid production. S. Zhou, L.O. Ingram, KT Shanmugam, L. Yomano, T.B. Grabar and J. Moore
• Japanese patent No. 4,991,205 (issued on May 11, 2012) Materials and methods for efficient lactic acid production. S. Zhou, L.O. Ingram, KT Shanmugam, L. Yomano, T.B. Grabar and J. Moore
• US patent No. 7,977,075 (issued on July 12, 2011) Materials and methods for efficient production of acetate and other products. Thomas B. Causey, L.O. Ingram, K.T. Shanmugam and S. Zhou