Dr Lihong Zhang
Research Fellow
L.Zhang@exeter.ac.uk
01392 259470
Environment and Sustainability Institute desk 85, 2.03
Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
Overview
Dr Lihong Zhang is a microbiologist focusing on bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in polluted environments, particularly the correlation between these and human health.
One of Dr Zhang’s major research foci is considering antibiotic resistant gene flow via mobile genetic elements, specifically among indigenous environments, animals, humans and micro-organisms.
Another of his research objectives is to quantify the prevalence and diversity of pathogens in polluted systems. This area uses molecular and cellular techniques and looks at bacterial and viral pathogens in human polluted aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Dr Zhang works with Dr William Gaze in collaboration with scientists within the UK, China, Canada and the EU.
Current research areas include:
- Identifying novel antibiotic resistance genes from environmental metogenomic libraries
- Characterising novel antibiotic resistance genes in term of activity, structure and origin
- Identify, quantify and characterise mobile genetic elements responsible for spreading antibiotics/biocides resistance in bacteria in clinic setting and in environments such as class 1 integron, transposons and plasmids
- Investigating selection, co-selection and cross-selection for antibiotic resistance genes by different antibiotics, by disinfectants and by heavy metals
- Prevalence and diversity of bacterial pathogens in coastal waters
Qualifications
PhD in molecular biology; MSc in microbial ecology; BSc in microbiology
Links
Research group links
Research
Research interests
Antimicrobial resistance
Microbial Ecology
Microbial evolutionary biology
Immunity and infection
Publications
Journal articles
Murray AK, Zhang L, Snape J, Gaze W (In Press). Comparing the selective and co-selective effects of different antimicrobials in bacterial communities. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
Zhang L, Murray AK, Gaze W (In Press). Novel clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes associated with sewage sludge and industrial waste streams revealed by functional metagenomic screening. Environment International
Hayes A, May Murray L, Catherine Stanton I, Zhang L, Snape J, Hugo Gaze W, Kaye Murray A (2022). Predicting selection for antimicrobial resistance in UK wastewater and aquatic environments: Ciprofloxacin poses a significant risk. Environ Int, 169 Abstract. Author URL.
Stanton IC, Murray AK, Zhang L, Snape J, Gaze WH (2020). Evolution of antibiotic resistance at low antibiotic concentrations including selection below the minimal selective concentration. Commun Biol, 3(1). Abstract. Author URL.
Sheridan PO, Raguideau S, Quince C, Holden J, Zhang L, Gaze WH, Mead A, Singer AC, Wellington EMH, Zhang L, et al (2020). Gene duplication drives genome expansion in a major lineage of Thaumarchaeota. Nature Communications, 11(1). Abstract.
Hayes A, Feil E, Kasprzyk-Horden B, Snape J, Zhang L, Gaze W, Murray A (2020). Investigating selection for antimicrobial resistance by non-antibiotic drugs (NADs). Access Microbiology, 2(7A).
Murray AK, Stanton IC, Wright J, Zhang L, Snape J, Gaze WH (2020). The ‘SELection end points in Communities of bacTeria’ (SELECT) Method: a Novel Experimental Assay to Facilitate Risk Assessment of Selection for Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment. Environmental Health Perspectives, 128(10).
Klümper U, Recker M, Zhang L, Yin X, Zhang T, Buckling A, Gaze W (2019). Selection for antibiotic resistance is reduced when embedded in a natural microbial community. Abstract.
Klumper U, Recker M, Zhang L, Yin X, Zhang T, Buckling A, Gaze W (2019). Selection for antimicrobial resistance is reduced when embedded in a natural microbial community. The ISME Journal
Andreani NA, Carraro L, Zhang L, Vos M, Cardazzo B (2019). Transposon mutagenesis in Pseudomonas fluorescens reveals genes involved in blue pigment production and antioxidant protection. Food Microbiology, 82, 497-503. Abstract.
Djenadi K, Zhang L, Murray AK, Gaze WH (2018). Carbapenem resistance in bacteria isolated from soil and water environments in Algeria. J Glob Antimicrob Resist, 15, 262-267. Abstract. Author URL.
Leonard AFC, Zhang L, Balfour AJ, Garside R, Hawkey PM, Murray AK, Ukoumunne OC, Gaze WH (2018). Exposure to and colonisation by antibiotic-resistant E. coli in UK coastal water users: Environmental surveillance, exposure assessment, and epidemiological study (Beach Bum Survey). Environ Int, 114, 326-333. Abstract. Author URL.
Murray AK, Zhang L, Yin X, Zhang T, Buckling A, Snape J, Gaze W (2018). Novel Insights into Selection for Antibiotic Resistance in Complex Microbial Communities. mBio
Murray AK, Zhang L, Yin X, Zhang T, Buckling A, Snape J, Gaze WH (2018). Novel Insights into Selection for Antibiotic Resistance in Complex Microbial Communities. Abstract.
Zhang L (2018). Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp. nov. a member of the Staphylococcus intermedius Group (SIG). International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Amos GCA, Ploumakis S, Zhang L, Hawkey PM, Gaze WH, Wellington EMH (2018). The widespread dissemination of integrons throughout bacterial communities in a riverine system. ISME Journal, 12(3), 681-691. Abstract.
Furness LE, Campbell A, Zhang L, Gaze WH, McDonald RA (2017). Wild small mammals as sentinels for the environmental transmission of antimicrobial resistance. Environ Res, 154, 28-34. Abstract. Author URL.
Cleary DW, Bishop AH, Zhang L, Topp E, Wellington EMH, Gaze WH (2016). Long-term antibiotic exposure in soil is associated with changes in microbial community structure and prevalence of class 1 integrons. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 92(10). Abstract. Author URL.
Salimraj R, Zhang L, Hinchliffe P, Wellington EMH, Brem J, Schofield CJ, Gaze WH, Spencer J (2016). Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Rm3, a Subclass B3 Metallo-β-Lactamase Identified from a Functional Metagenomic Study. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 60(10), 5828-5840. Abstract. Author URL.
Leonard AFC, Zhang L, Balfour AJ, Garside R, Gaze WH (2015). Human recreational exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria in coastal bathing waters. Environment International, 82, 92-100. Abstract.
Lee J, Murray A, Bendall R, Gaze W, Zhang L, Vos M (2015). Improved detection of Staphylococcus intermedius group in a routine diagnostic laboratory. J Clin Microbiol, 53(3), 961-963. Abstract. Author URL.
Amos GC, Gozzard E, Carter CE, Mead A, Bowes MJ, Hawkey PM, Zhang L, Singer AC, Gaze WH, Wellington EMH, et al (2015). Validated predictive modelling of the environmental resistome. ISME Journal, 9(6), 1467-1476. Abstract.
Amos GCA, Gozzard E, Carter CE, Mead A, Bowes MJ, Hawkey PM, Zhang L, Singer AC, Gaze WH, Wellington EMH, et al (2015). Validated predictive modelling of the environmental resistome. ISME J, 9(6), 1467-1476. Abstract. Author URL.
Amos GCA, Zhang L, Hawkey PM, Gaze WH, Wellington EM (2014). Functional metagenomic analysis reveals rivers are a reservoir for diverse antibiotic resistance genes. Veterinary Microbiology, 171(3-4), 441-447. Abstract.
Leonard AFC, Zhang L, Balfour AJ, Garside R, Gaze WH (2014). Human recreational exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria in coastal bathing waters. Environment International Abstract.
Gaze WH, Zhang L, Abdouslam NA, Hawkey PM, Calvo-Bado L, Royle J, Brown H, Davis S, Kay P, Boxall ABA, et al (2011). Impacts of anthropogenic activity on the ecology of class 1 integrons and integron-associated genes in the environment. ISME J, 5(8), 1253-1261. Abstract. Author URL.
Byrne-Bailey KG, Gaze WH, Zhang L, Kay P, Boxall A, Hawkey PM, Wellington EMH (2011). Integron prevalence and diversity in manured soil. Appl Environ Microbiol, 77(2), 684-687. Abstract. Author URL.
Gaze WH, Morgan G, Zhang L, Wellington EMH (2011). Mimivirus-like particles in acanthamoebae from Sewage Sludge. Emerg Infect Dis, 17(6), 1127-1129. Author URL.
