Xiangyang Shi


Postdoctoral Research associate
Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology
New York State Agriculture Experiment Station
Geneva, NY 14456

2006 Ph. D., Plant Pathology; Department of Plant Pathology, University of California-Riverside

1997 M. S.,Microbiology/Plant Pathology, Institute of Microbiology at Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Beijing Forestry University, China

E-mail:  xs59@cornell.edu

Host:  Harvey Hoch and Tom Burr

I am interested in relationships between plants and associated pathogenic bacteria. In earlier research I studied Dickeya dadantii (syn. Erwinia chrysanthemi), which exhibits the type III (hrp) secretion system.  I was a genomic gene annotator in the international contusium of D. dadantii genomic sequence project, and identified several hrpL up-regulated genes of D. dadantii 3937, including a DNA binding transcriptional regulatory protein yijC and unknown function yecF, suggesting that hrp-associated genes play an important role in plant-bacteria interactions.

The xylem-limited and non-flagellated plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which has no type III (hrp) secretion system, causes many plant diseases, including Pierce’s disease (PD) of grape. The rapidly respond to and survival in changing environments of xylem of plants via specific mechanisms is essential to X.  fastidiosa. In my previous researches, I have been studying the global regulatory pathways in X. fastidiosa, the virulence genes of X.  fastidiosa in the xylem sap of grapevine and citrus, and the host plant resistance and the biochemical mechanisms to X. fastidiosa.  My current research focuses on  the functional biology of X. fastidiosa (e.g. twitching motility, adhesion, and biofilm formation) in xylem sap using Nano- and microfabrication approaches.  A goal of the  research is to elucidate X.  fastidiosa-host grapevine interactions, and facilitate the discovery of natural compounds in xylem sap to suppress X. fastidiosa migration and biofilm formation within xylem of host plant, and to apply this new knowledge to the development of effective strategies for controlling of Pierce’s Disease.

2009-Present: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Plant Pathology Department, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University. The research focuses on X. fastidiosa movement and biofilm formation in the plant host grapevine with Nano- and microfabrication approaches, e.g. microfluidic 'artificial' chambers and microfluidic xylem tissue chambers.

2007-2008: Research Fellow, Plant Pathology Department, UC-Riverside. The identification of genetic factor that enable X. fastidiosa to cause Pierce’s disease (PD) of grapevine using host grape xylem fluid (sap), and the studying on host plant resistance and the biochemical mechanisms to X. fastidiosa in an agro-ecosystem of California. Also collaborated with Thomas Miller’s Laboratory on symbiotic control of Pierce’s Disease.

2001-2006: Graduate Research Assistant, Dept of Plant Pathology, UC-Riverside. In Noel T. Keen’s Laboratory, studied genomic wide identification of hrp-associated genes by hrp cluster functional cloning (GFP expression detection). In Donald A. Cooksey’s Laboratory, studied mutations of biofilm related-regulatory genes and analysis of the global regulatory pathways controlling virulence in X. fastidiosa via DNA microarray.

1997-2001: Adjunct Researcher, Forestry Pathology Research Group
Department of Forestry Resource and Environment, Beijing Forestry University, and Expert Editor, China Forestry Publishing House, China. In forestry pathology field, designed, edited and published books on the control of bacterial and fungal diseases of crops, ornamental, fruit and forests, and the National Forestry College Textbooks and National Forestry Vocational Education Textbooks.

1994-1997: Research Assistant, Lichen Group, Systematic Mycology & Lichenology Laboratory Institute of Microbiology at Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Developed the convenient method of extracting fungal genomic DNA from lichen, and studied the disjunction and distribution of species differentiation of Eastern Asian (Umbilicaria esculenta) and North American (U. mammulate) vicarious species via rRNA RFLP.

1993-1994: Visiting Scholar, Molecular Plant Pathology Lab, Department of Plant Pathology China Agriculture University. Study of induced resistance of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) to TMV by NS-13 Chemical Regent, and analysis of PR proteins during TMV infection and in mediating virus localization early in the hypersensitive response on tobacco.

1990-1994: Instructor/Plant Pathologist, Dept of Plant Pathology, Henan Agriculture University. Phytoplasmas Disease: study of epidemiology of witches broom on Jujube and Paulownia caused by MLO/phytoplasmas. Fungi Disease: identification of fungal pathogen Collectotrichum gloesperiodies pen.2 for ornamental tree, Pestalotiopsis cryptomeriae (Cooke) Sun. for Cedar, and Collectotrichum spp. for Chinese Date, etc., and controlling of fungal diseases via fungicide/culture practices. Microflora: study of succession of Epiphytic microflora populations on apple phylloplane under different ecological conditions in orchards. As an extension researcher, conducting the management strategies for controlling of fungal and phytoplasma (MLO) diseases on ornamentals, forestry, and crops in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China

2003-2006 Klotz Memorial Awards of Annual Meeting of The America Phytopathological Society, UC-Riverside

2003 Travel Reward of America Society for Microbiology Student Travel Awards Grant for 3rd ASM & TIGR Conference on Microbial Genomes, LA, U.S.A.

2002-2006 The Chancellor’s Fellowship Awards, UC-Riverside

1998-2002 The Honor Certificate for Expert Editor in China Forestry Publishing House, China

1998 The Honor Certificate for Certification of Young Editor Training Class by Science and Technology Publishing Employment Committee of National Publishing Worker Association, China

1997 Second Prize Award for “The National Spark Plant Scientific and Technological Award” for Study and Application of Induced Resistance of Paulownia to Witches’ Broom, China

1997 Honor Thesis for Master Degree in Forest Pathology major in Beijing Forestry University, China

1996-1997 Annual Scholarship Awards for Excellent Scholar at Beijing Forestry University, China

1995-1996 Annual Outstanding Group Leader in Youth Community League of Graduate Students in Beijing Forestry University, China

1996 Second Prize Award for “Province Science and Technology Progress Prize” for Study on Induced Resistance of Paulownia to Witches’ Broom, China

1995 Second Prize Award for National Scientific and Technological Advancement Award for Priority Programme for China’s Agenda 21 “Agricultural Comprehensive Development ofSustainable Agriculture in Real Ares in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain”, China

1994 Excellent Award for “Natural Scientific Outstanding Academic Thesis Award” for Study on Induced Resistance of Paulownia to Witches’ Broom. I. Resistance Induced by Inoculating the Pathogenic MLOs, China

2003-2004 Vice-Chairman of Associate of Asian Student and Scholar in Southern California

1997-2001 Editor for Forestry Books at Beijing Forestry Publishing House, China

1995-1997 Chairman of Graduate Student Association of Beijing Forestry University (GSA-BFU), China

1994-1997 Monitor of Graduate Student at Beijing Forestry University, China

1992-1994 Advisor for the undergraduate student in Plant Protection major at Henan Agriculture University (HAU), China

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

American Phytopathological Society (APS)

America Society for Microbiology (ASM)