Tzu Chi University

PC Soo Lab

Po-Chi Soo
https://sites.google.com/tcu.edu.tw/lmbt-tcu-twn/lmbt/dr-po-chi-soo

Research Field

Medicine
Introduction

Dr. Po-Chi Soo (蘇伯琦)

Laboratory of Medicine and Biotechnology

Tzu-Chi University

Title : Professor

EMAIL : pcsoo@mail.tcu.edu.tw

Tel : 2347 (Office) / 2333 (Lab)

Education

  • Ph.D., Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, 2002-2006 National Taiwan University, Medical College, Taiwan
  • Master, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, 1996-1998 National Taiwan University, Medical College, Taiwan
  • B.S., Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, 1992-1996 National Cheng Kung University, Medical College, Taiwan

Work Experiences

  • 08/2018-present Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University
  • 07/2011-07/2018 Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University
  • 08/2009-7/2011 Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University
  • 08/2007-07/2009 Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Yuan Ze University 

Professional Field

Molecular Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology, Biotechnology

Research interest

Four research topics are studying by our research group

  1. Study of biodegradable plastics
  2. Study of the biofilm formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae
  3. Development of methods to identify and kill pathogenic bacteria
  4. Study of the wo component signal transduction system in bacterial Serratia marcescens

Research Topics

1.Biodegradable plastics

We have developed a recombinant Escherichia coli containing the exogenous genes to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB, one member of Polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHA) which is one of several biodegradable and biocompatible polymers. We have published several genetic designs, such as using vgb to enhance PHB production, insertion of PHA synthesis genes and vgb into the chromosome to reduce antibiotic supplementation, construction of the PHA synthesis genes and vgb to be controlled by arabinose inducible promoter, and using prpE to increase the fraction of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) in polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV). We are also interested in a green material, 1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PD). We constructed the dhaD and dhaK double mutant in Klepsiella pneumoniae to avoid by-products accumulation during 1,3-propanediol production. The details have been published in papers and patented (listed in publications).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.Biofilm formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae

By screening the strong biofilm-producing mutants in K. pneumoniae, current work is investigating a genetic locus related to the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phophotransferase system (PTS).

 

3.Development of methods to identify and kill pathogenic bacteria

•We have developed a rapid multiplex nested PCR-ICT assay to directly and simultaneously identify pathogenic bacteriaMycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), and directly detect Legionellae and Legionella pneumophila from cooling tower water specimens. We have also reported a rapid method to identify MTBC based on easy purification using detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) and detection MTBC-specific secret protein using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). We also cooperate with other research groups to develop the endolysins with antibacterial activities. Details have been described in published papers and patented (listed in publications).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.The two-component signal transduction system in the bacterium Serratia marcescens

•S. marcescens swarms at 30⁰C but not at 37⁰C. Mutation in rssA or rssB, a paired two-component system resulting in precocious swarming phenotypes at 37⁰C. The rssA encodes sensor kinase. The expression of flhDC and synthesis of flagellum are significantly increased in the rssA mutant strain at 37⁰C. The phosphorylated RssB, the response regulator, directly binds to the upstream regions of flhDC and manA to repress their transcription. Overexpression of flhDC and manA lead to flagellum synthesis and serrawettin production, respectively, resulting in precocious swarming phenotypes at 37⁰C. Mutation in pirin gene also results in precocious swarming phenotypes at 37⁰C. The pirin gene plays a regulatory role in the process of pyruvate catabolism to acetyl coenzyme A through interaction with the PDH E1 subunit and inhibiting PDH enzyme complex activity in S. marcescens CH-1. The defect in a conserved dapA-nlpB genetic locus which is closely related to the synthesis of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan is also responsible for the aberrant swarming phenotype at 37⁰C. Further complementation and gene knockout studies showed that nlpB, which encodes a membrane lipoprotein, but not dapA, is specifically involved in swarming regulation. On the other hand, dapA but not nlpB is responsible for the determination of cell envelope architecture, regulation of hemolysin production, and cellular attachment capability. The details are published in papers (listed in publications).

 

 

 

Honor

Publications

1. Wen-Yih Jeng, Novaria Sari Dewi Panjaitan, Yu-Tze Horng, Wen-Ting Chung, Chih-Ching Chien and Po-Chi Soo* (2017, Dec). The negative effects of KPN00353 on glycerol kinase and microaerobic 1,3-propanediol production in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Frontier in Microbiology, 8:2441.

2. Horng YT, Wang CJ, Chung WT, Chao HJ, Chen YY, Soo PC* (2017, Jun). Phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system components positively regulate Klebsiella biofilm formation.. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. , doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2017.01.007. (Accepted).

3. Hsin-Chih Lai, Yu-Tze Horng, Pen-Fang Yeh, Jann-Yuan Wang, Chin-Chung Shu, Chia-Chen Lu, Jang-Jih Lu, Jen-Jyh Lee, Po-Chi Soo* (2016, Nov). The assessment of host and bacterial proteins in sputum from active pulmonary tuberculosis. Journal of microbiology, 54(11), 761-767.

4. Jun-Ren Sun, Wen-Yih Jeng, Cherng-Lih Perng, Ya-Sung Yang, Po-Chi Soo, Yen-Sen Chiang and Tzong-Shi Chiueh (2016, Jul). Single amino acid substitution Gly186Val in AdeS restores tigecycline susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii. The journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 71(6), 1488-1492.

5. Yu-Tze Horng, Po-Chi Soo* (2015, Dec). The Molecular Mechanism and WHO-endorsed Diagnosis of Rifampicin Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences , 27 (4):115-124 .

6. Meng-Jiun Lai, Chih-Chin Liu, Shinn-Jong Jiang, Po-Chi Soo, Meng-Hsuan Tu, Jen-Jyh Lee, Ying-Huei Chen and Kai-Chih Chang (2015, Oct). Antimycobacterial Activities of Endolysins Derived From a Mycobacteriophage, BTCU-1. Molecules, 20(10), 19277-90.

7. Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Ai-Ti Chen, Shih-Chieh Yang, Kai-Chih Chang, Jen-Jyh Lee, Wen-Ping Peng (2015, Sep). Validation of nanodiamond-extracted CFP-10 antigen as a biomarker in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in broth culture media.. Tuberculosis, 95(5), 620-624.

8. Yu-Tze Horng, Wen-Yih Jeng, Yih-Yuan Chen, Che-Hung Liu, Horng-Yunn Dou, Jen-Jyh Lee, Kai-Chih Chang, Chih-Ching Chien and Po-Chi Soo* (2015, Mar). Molecular analysis of codon 548 in the rpoB gene involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to rifampicin. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy , 59(3), 1542-1548.

9. Ming-Li Liou, Po-Chi Soo, Siao-Ru Ling, Han-Yueh Kuo, Chuan Yi Tang, Kai-Chih Chang (2014, Aug). The sensor kinase BfmS mediates virulence in Acinetobacter baumannii. Journal of microbiology, immunology, and infection , 47(4), 275-281.

10. Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Yung-Lin Chang, Wei-Wen Tsai, Wen-Yih Jeng, Chia-Chen Lu, Hsin-Chih Lai (2014, Jan). ManA is regulated by RssAB signaling and promotes motility in Serratia marcescens. Research in microbiology, 165(1), 21-29.

11. Shu JC, Soo PC, Chen JC, Hsu SH, Chen LC, Chen CY, Liang SH, Buu LM, Chen CC (2013, Nov). Differential regulation and activity against oxidative stress of Dps proteins in Bacillus cereus. International Journal of Medical Microbiology, 303(8), 662-673.

12. Y.-T. Horng, C.-C. Chien, C.-T. Huang, Y.-H. Wei, S.-Y. Chen, J.C.-W. Lan, P.-C. Soo* (2013, Sep). Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) with co-expressed propionate permease (prpP), Beta-ketothiolase B (bktB), and propionate-CoA synthase (prpE) in Escherichia coli . Biochemical Engineering Journal, 78(15), 73-79.

13. Meng-Jiun Lai, Po-Chi Soo, Nien-Tsung Lin, Anren Hu, You-Jie Chen, Li-Kuang Chen, Kai-Chih Chang (2013, Aug). Identification and characterisation of the putative phage-related endolysins through full genome sequence analysis in Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978.. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 42(2), 141-148.

14. Po-Chi Soo, Chun-Chieh Tseng, Siao-Ru Ling, Ming-Li Liou, Chih-Chin Liu, Huei-Jen Chao, Teng-Yi Lin, Kai-Chih Chang (2012, Dec). Rapid and sensitive detection of Acinetobacter baumannii using loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Journal of Microbiological Methods , 15;92(2), 197-200.

15. Po-Chi Soo, Ching-Jen Kung, Yu-Tze Horng, Kai-Chih Chang, Jen-Jyh Lee, and Wen-Ping Peng (2012, Sep). Detonation nanodiamonds for rapid detection of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in broth culture media.. Analytical Chemistry, 84(18), 7972-7978.

16. Chih-Ching Chien, Hsiu-Hsiung Li, Po-Chi Soo, Shan-Yu Chen, Yu-Hong Wei, Wen-Ming Chen (2012, Jan). Effects of Different Substrate Composition on Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate by Recombinant Escherichia coli. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology , 166, 796-804.

17. Horng YT, Chien CC, Wei YH, Chen SY, Lan JC, Sun YM, Soo PC*. (2011, May). Functional cis-expression of phaCAB genes for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by Escherichia coli. . Letters in Applied Microbiology , 52(5), 475-483.

18. Meng-Jiun Lai, Nien-Tsung Lin, Anren Hu, Po-Chi Soo, Li-Kuang Chen, Long-Hui Chen, Kai-Chih Chang (2011, Apr). Antibacterial activity of Acinetobacter baumannii phage ϕAB2 endolysin (LysAB2) against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. . Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology , 90(2), 529-539.

19. Chih-Ching Chien, Chian-Chiao Hong, Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Hong Wei, Shan-Yu Chen, Mei-Ling Cheng, Yi-Ming Sun. (2010, Dec). Functional expression of phaCAB genes from Cupriavidus taiwanensis strain 184 in Escherichia coli for polyhydroxybutyrate production. . APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY., 162(8):2355-64.

20. Yu-Tze Horng, Kai-Chih Chang, Yen-Ni Liu, Hsin-Chih Lai, Po-Chi Soo* (2010, Jun). The RssB/RssA two-component system regulates biosynthesis of the tripyrrole antibiotic, prodigiosin, in Serratia marcescens. . International Journal of Medical Microbiology, Volume 300, Issue 5,P 304-312.

21. Horng YT, Chang KC, Chou TC, Yu CJ, Chien CC, Wei YH, Soo PC* (2010, Apr). Inactivation of dhaD and dhaK abolishes by-product accumulation during 1,3-propanediol production in Klebsiella pneumoniae.. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Apr. (37): 707-716 .

22. Horng YT, Chang KC, Chien CC, Wei YH, Sun YM, Soo PC*. (2010, Feb). Enhanced polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production via the coexpressed phaCAB and vgb genes controlled by arabinose P promoter in Escherichia coli. Lett Appl Microbiol. 50(2):158-67.

23. Soo PC, Horng YT, Chang KC, Wang JY, Hsueh PR, Chuang CY, Lu CC, Lai HC. (2009, Oct). A simple gold nanoparticle probes assay for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from clinical specimens.. Mol Cell Probes, 23(5):240-6.

24. Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Ying-Hsien Fu, Chia-Chen Lu, Hsin-Chih Lai (2008, Jul). A potential acyltransferase regulates swarming in Serratia marcescens.. Biochem Biophys Res Commun., 371(3):462-7.

25. Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Jun-Rong Wei, Jwu-Ching Shu, Chia-Chen Lu, and Hsin-Chih Lai (2008, Apr). Regulation of swarming motility and flhDC(Sm) expression by RssAB signaling in Serratia marcescens.. Journal of Bacteriology, 190(7):2496-504.

26. Shang-Chen Hsieh, Chia-Chen Lu,Yu-Tze Horng, Po-Chi Soo, Yung-Lin Chang, Yu-Huan Tsai, Chuan-Sheng Lin, Hsin-Chih Lai (2007, Oct). The bacterial metabolite 2,3-butanediol ameliorates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats.. Microbes and Infection, 9(12-13):1402-9.

27. Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Meng-Jiun Lai, Jun-Rong Wei, Shang-Chen Hsieh,Yung-Lin Chang, Yu-Huan Tsai, and Hsin-Chih Lai (2007, Jan). Pirin regulates pyruvate catabolism through interaction with the pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit and modulating pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Journal of Bacteriology, 189(1) P.109-P.118.

28. Jun-Rong Wei, Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Shang-Chen Hsieh, Yu-Huan Tsai,Simon Swift, Helen Withers, Paul Williams, Hsin-Chih Lai (2006, Sep). Regulatory roles of spnT, a novel gene located within transposon TnTIR.. Biochem Biophys Res Commun., 348(3):1038-46.

29. Yu-Tze Horng, Po-Chi Soo, Bin-Jon Shen, Yu-Li Hung, Kai-Yin Lo, Hsun-Pi Su,Jun-Rong Wei, Shang-Chen Hsieh, Po-Ren Hsueh, Hsin-Chih Lai (2006, Jun). Development of an improved PCR-ICT hybrid assay for direct detection of Legionellae and Legionella pneumophila from cooling tower water specimens.. Water Research, 40(11):2221-2229.

30. Soo PC, Horng YT, Hsueh PR, Shen BJ, Wang JY, Tu HH, Wei JR, Hsieh SC, Huang CC, Lai HC (2006, Mar). Direct and Simultaneous Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by Rapid Multiplex nested PCR-ICT assay. Journal of Microbiological Methods.. Journal of Microbiological Methods., 66(3):440-448.

31. Jun-Rong Wei, Yu-Huan Tsai, Yu-Tze Horng, Po-Chi Soo, Shang-Chen Hsieh, Po-Ren Hsueh,Jim-Tong Horng, Paul Williams, and Hsin-Chih Lai (2006, Feb). A mobile quorum sensing system in Serratia marcescens.. J. Bacteriol., 188(4):1518-1525.

32. Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Po-Ren Hsueh, Bin-Jon Shen, Jann-Yuan Wang,Hui-Hsin Tu, Jun-Rong Wei, Shang-Chen Hsieh, Chien-Chung Huang,Hsin-Chih Lai (2005, Sep). Characterization of the dapA-nlpB genetic locus involved in regulation of swarming motility, cell envelope architecture, hemolysin production and cell attachment ability in Serratia marcescens.. Infection and Immunity, 73(9):6075-6084.

33. Jun-Rong Wei, Yu-Huan Tsai, Po-Chi Soo, Yu-Tze Horng, Shang-Chen Hsieh,Shen-Wu Ho, and Hsin-Chih Lai (2005, Aug). Biochemical characterization of RssA-RssB, a two-component signal transduction system regulating swarming behavior in Serratia marcescens.. J. Bacteriol., 187(16):5683-5690.

34. Hsin-Chih Lai, Po-Chi Soo, Jun-Rong Wei, Wen-Ching Yi, Shwu-Jen Liaw,Yu-Tze Horng, Shi-Ming Lin, Shen-Wu Ho, Simon Swift, and Paul Williams (2005, May). The RssAB Two-Component signal transduction system in Serratia marcescens regulates swarming motility and cell envelope architecture in response to exogenous saturated fatty acids.. J. Bacteriol., 187(10):3407-3414.

35. Yu-Tze Horng, Su-Chen Deng, Mavis Daykin, Po-Chi Soo, Jun-Rong Wei, Kwen-Tay Luh, Shen-Wu Ho, Simon Swift, Hsin-Chih Lai and Paul Williams (2002, Sep). The LuxR family protein SpnR functions as a negative regulator of N-acylhomoserine lactone-dependent quorum sensing in Serratia marcescens.. Mol. Microbiol, 45(6):1655-1671.

36. Sunny Ang, Yu-Tze Horng, Jwu-Ching Shu, Wen-Chin Yi, Hsin-Chih Lai, Kwen-Tay Luh, Simon Swift, Po-Chi Soo, Jia-Hurng Liu, Shen-Wu Ho (2001, Mar). The role of RsmA in the regulation of swarming motility in Serratia marcescens.. J. Biomed. Sci., 8(2):160-169.

37. Liu JH, Lai MJ, Ang S, Shu JC, Soo PC, Horng YT, Yi WC, Lai HC, Luh KT, Ho SW, Swift S (2000, Nov). Role of flhDC in the expression of the nuclease gene nucA, cell division and flagellar synthesis in Serratia marcescens.. J. Biomed. Sci., 7(6):475-483.

38. Yi WC, Hsiao S, Liu JH, Soo PC, Horng YT, Tsai WC, Lai HC, Teng LJ, Hsueh PR, Hsieh RF, Luh KT, Ho SW (1998, Sep). Use of fluorescein labelled antibody and fluorescence activated cell sorter for rapid identification of Mycobacterium species.. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun, 250(2):403-408.

 

Patents

  1. A method to produce polyhydroxyvalerate by recombinant Escherichia coli (Application Number：100135702, Application Patent Number：201315809, Issue Date: 2013.04.16)
  2. A method for the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by using recombinant Escherichia coli (Application number：100103238, Application Patent Number : 201231664, Issue Date: 2012.08.01)
  3. Probe for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and method using the same (Application number：098122884 Application Patent Number : 201102436, Issue Date : 2011.01.16)
  4. Detecting device (Patent number：M374057, Issue Date : 2010.02.11)
Educational Background

Education

  • Ph.D., Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, 2002-2006 National Taiwan University, Medical College, Taiwan
  • Master, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, 1996-1998 National Taiwan University, Medical College, Taiwan
  • B.S., Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, 1992-1996 National Cheng Kung University, Medical College, Taiwan