RESEARCH FOCUS
Investigate the role of the microbiota in digestive system cancers, metabolic syndrome, and rare metabolic disorders, as well as their pathogenic mechanisms. Develop microbiota-centered biomarkers and intervention strategies.
Using the microbiota as the core, conduct multiomics and phenomics research on the mentioned diseases and their sub-healthy populations. Establish their digital avatars for disease prediction and prevention.
The research mentioned above aims to develop a precision health research and development ecosystem that encompasses industry, academia, and research. This will expand the value of research and innovation from basic to clinical, from laboratory to patient care in hospital wards, and from hospitals to the community.
Recent Paper Publications
| Publication Date | Author | Article Title | Abstract | Journal Name | SCI Impact Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 19, 2026 | Assistant Professor Cheng-Yen Kao and others | Emergence of conjugative metallo-β-lactamase-encoding plasmids in the Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex: First identification of IMP-8-MCR-9.1 in K. quasipneumoniae and VIM-1 in K. variicola in Taiwan | Among CRKpSC isolates, blaKPC was the most common (20.1%), followed by blaOXA-48 (3.4%), while blaIMP, blaNDM, and blaVIM were quite rare (≤1%), and only a very few strains carried multiple genes simultaneously. Only a few Kq and Kv strains carried metallo-β-lactamase genes, with pNCKUH114–1 plasmid carrying blaIMP-8 and mcr-9.1, and pNTUH73–1 carrying blaVIM-1, showing limited similarity to plasmids known in the database. These two plasmids could only be transferred to E. coli EC359, and under experimental conditions, they did not increase its pathogenicity to larvae. | Journal of Infection and Public Health | 4 |
| February 3, 2026 | Assistant Professor Cheng-Yen Kao and others | A combined genetic and phenotypic marker approach enables precise detection of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae and reveals associated traits of capsule overproduction and tellurite resistance | This study integrated gene and phenotypic analysis to compare carbapenem resistance and liver abscess-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. It found that five virulence genes (peg-344, iroB, iucA, prmpA, prmpA2) combined with a string test could effectively identify highly virulent strains (hvKp). Results showed that strains carrying all five genes, regardless of string test positivity, exhibited high virulence and capsule production. The LAKp group showed the most significant lethality and capsule formation, while CRcKp, lacking these genes, exhibited the lowest virulence. Long-term monitoring also revealed that the proportion of blood isolates carrying the five virulence markers was higher than that of urine isolates, indicating that these biomarkers can help improve the clinical detection and risk assessment of hvKp. | Microbiol Spectr | 3.8 |
| February 27, 2026 | Ting-Ting Chang and others | Inhibition of CCL4 prevents renal inflammation and fibrosis in acute kidney injury | This study explored the role of the chemokine CCL4 in acute kidney injury and found that inhibiting CCL4 can reduce renal inflammation and subsequent fibrosis, suggesting that CCL4 may be a potential therapeutic target for acute kidney injury complicated by renal fibrosis. | Clinical Science | 7.7 |
| March 18, 2026 | Ting-Ting Chang and others | CCL7 suppression alleviates vascular injury by blocking the CCR5/STAT1 signaling pathway in chronic kidney disease | This study investigated the role of the inflammatory chemokine CCL7 in the development of peripheral artery disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study found elevated CCL7 concentrations in the blood of CKD mice, accompanied by decreased blood flow in ischemic limbs and delayed wound healing. Inhibition or knockout of CCL7 promoted angiogenesis, increased capillary density, and improved blood flow and tissue repair, demonstrating a negative regulatory effect on angiogenesis. Further mechanistic studies indicated that CCL7 affects endothelial cell function by regulating the CCR5/STAT signaling pathway, thus potentially becoming an important therapeutic target for CKD-related vascular complications. | Life Sciences | 5.1 |
| March 24, 2026 | Li-Ling Wu and others | Nfil3 integrates circadian rhythm and microbial metabolite signaling to maintain gut-liver immune-metabolic homeostasis under high-fat diet stress | These results support Nfil3 as a key regulatory node linking the functional potential of the gut microbiota to immune and metabolic responses in metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MASLD). Although currently in preclinical research, this study provides a mechanistic framework illustrating how gut microbiota-related metabolic reprogramming influences host immune and metabolic homeostasis. Future research, combining circadian rhythm and metabolite hierarchy studies with human interventional trials, is needed to clarify the clinical significance of the microbiota-Nfil3 axis. | J Transl Med | 9.7 |
| April 2026 | Assistant Professor Cheng-Yen Kao and others | Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Pediatric ICU: Emergence of Newly Identified ST7120 and the First Report of ST792 in Taiwan | This study describes a year-long cluster of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a pediatric intensive care unit from September 2021 to August 2022, identifying a novel variant, ST7120, and the first case of ST792 in Taiwan, both associated with long-term colonization and invasive infection. Two of the infections originated from carbapenem-resistant ST7120 (one resulting in death), while the other was an ESBL-producing ST792 that led to severe neurological sequelae. This demonstrates that molecular epidemiological surveillance can be helpful in the early detection and containment of nosocomial infection outbreaks. | New Microbes New Infect | 5.4 |
| April 17, 2026 | Professor Chun-Ying Wu and others | Rapid electrochemical profiling of fecal short chain acids using esterification/dissociation fingerprints and artificial neural networks | This study developed a rapid and inexpensive method for detecting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in human feces, and incorporated artificial intelligence to improve analytical accuracy. The study found that this method can accurately measure important metabolites such as propionic acid and butyric acid even in complex fecal samples, with results almost identical to traditional GC-MS detection. Due to its fast detection speed and low equipment cost, it has the potential for future applications in large-scale health screening and long-term gut health monitoring. | Biosensors | 5.6 |
| May 8, 2026 | Professor Chun-Ying Wu and others | Intratumoral microbial networks as biomarkers for second primary oral cancer risk in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma | This study analyzed the microbial community of tumor samples from 28 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (8 of whom also had a second primary oral cancer). The results showed that the intratumoral microbial network could effectively distinguish whether a second primary oral cancer was present. Among them, the microbial community module with Prevotella pallens and P. scopos as its core was closely related to the risk of oral cancer, indicating that the intratumoral microbial community can serve as a biomarker for predicting the risk of a second primary cancer. | Sci Rep | 4.9 |
| July 2026 | Ting-Ting Chang and others | Xaliproden improves diabetic kidney disease through JNK-mediated renal tubular protection | This study found that Xaliproden can protect against renal tubular damage in diabetic nephropathy by modulating the JNK signaling pathway, providing a new potential drug target for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. | Biochemical Pharmacology | 5.6 |
| April 6, 2026 | Li-Ling Wu and others | Cumulative defined daily doses Enables Objective Assessment of Treatment Intensity and Outcome Prediction in IgG4-RD and Its subtypes | Different proliferative and fibrotic forms of IgG4-related diseases present with varying risks and treatment responses. Quantitative assessment of cDDD (cumulative defined daily dose) can objectively reflect treatment intensity and predict clinical outcomes. This approach helps advance staging-guided and precision treatment strategies for IgG4-related diseases. | Rheumatology | 4.7 |