​​​​Our laboratory investigates how microbial natural products shape biological interactions and how these mechanisms can be translated into sustainable solutions for agriculture and human health. We integrate metabolomics and imaging mass spectrometry, genome/transcriptome mining, and synthetic biology to connect chemical structure, biosynthesis, and function in real biological systems.
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A major focus is banana Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 (Foc TR4). We identify protective rhizosphere microbes, decode disease-suppressive metabolites, and design deployable microbial consortia and antivirulence strategies to reduce reliance on fungicides. In parallel, our in situ metabolomics platforms visualize chemical exchanges during microbial competition and plant infection. We also engineer biosynthetic pathways, including bacterial conjugated polyynes, to expand chemical diversity and enable scalable production.

Creativity is just connecting things