CEE Seminar: Ecology and Biotechnological Potentials of Heterotrophic Fungus-like Marine Protists

Engineering Lecture Hall (ELH) 110
Guangyi (David) Wang, Ph.D.

Professor and Associate Dean
Tianjin Univeresity, China

Abstract: The Labyrinthulomycetes are a group of heterotrophic unicellular fungus-like protists with ubiquitous presence in the ocean. They recently have been found to be an important player in the marine carbon cycling in diverse marine ecosystems and have long been recognized for their potential in producing high-valued bioproducts (e.g. polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs]). Our studies reveal diverse communities of this interesting group of unicellular marine protists in the coastal water of China. They display dynamic community structure and intriguing complementary interactions with bacterioplankton, suggesting their significant ecological function in coastal ecosystems. Study of cultural diversity identified a handful of strains with capabilities to produce high-yield DHA (Docosahexenoic Acid). Further strain selection and biological engineering strategies have been applied to significantly improve their production yield of DHA. This talk will focus on the ecology of Labyrinthulomycetes protists and biotechnological applications of some strains in industrial production of DHA.

Bio: Wang received his Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of California, Davis in 2000, and thereafter joined Jay D. Keasling’s research group as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2003, he joined University of Hawaii at Manoa as an associate professor of oceanography. In 2010, he joined Peking University at Shenzhen as aDistinguished Professor and established Peking University Key Engineering Laboratory for Algal Biofuel and Biotechnology. In 2013, Wang joined Tianjin University as a Distinguished Professor and established The University Center for Marine Environmental Ecology as the founding director. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers, chaired numerous sessions or panels for international conferences, and delivered numerous invited talks and lectures. Wang served as the PI or co-PI of U.S. federal research grants totaling over $7 million (UH Manoa) and has been serving as the PI of Chinese (Central and Provincial) Governmental Grants with a total of over ¥35 million.