Ying Kong
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
8447 State Hwy 47, MREB #3107
Bryan,
Texas 77807
Phone: 979-436-0366
Fax: 979-436-0360
Email: ykong@medicine.tamhsc.edu
Education and Post-Graduate Training
Postdoctoral fellow, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 2007
Postdoctoral fellow, A&M University Health Science Center, 2011
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
My research interest is in the use of in vivo and ex vivo imaging tools to study tuberculosis (TB). TB is an infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It remains a leading public health problem worldwide. By using non-invasive real-time imaging technologies as laboratory tools to monitor TB process in small animals, infections can be visualized within individual animals over time, without requiring euthanasia to determine the location and quantity of bacteria. The bacterial numbers in the infection site is measured based on the level of imaging signal, rather than colony forming unit (CFU) on agar plates, so it raises working efficiency. Variability among animals can be controlled for, since non-invasive imaging allows each animal to be followed individually. It helps reducing number of experimental animals by obtaining data from numerous time points without having to sacrificing animals to sample tissues in the middle of observation, and thus reducing cost. This technology can complement classical anatomopathological examinations, helping to unravel the intricacies of TB. We have developed a novel in vivo whole animal imaging system to monitor Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, based on near infrared (NIR) fluorogenic substrates or ‘smart probes’ for mycobacterial β-lactamase. With this imaging system, we can monitor and quantify M. tuberculosis pulmonary infections in living animals. We are working on the second and third generations of these probes to improve sensitivity and specificity of this imaging system, and will use it to screen anti-TB therapy and vaccines. Successful completion of these studies will facilitate research on tuberculosis in many areas and provide novel tools that could ultimately be translated to the clinic.
Selected Publications
1. N. Mufti, Y. Kong*, J.D. Cirillo, and K.C. Maitland. "Fiber optic microendoscopy for preclinical study of bacterial infection dynamics." Biomed. Opt. Express, Vol. 2, Issue 5, pp. 1121-1134 (2011) (*Have contributed equally.) PMCID: PMC3087570, PMID:21559125
2. Y. Kong, A.R. Akin, K.P. Francis, N. Zhang, T.L. Troy, J. Rao, S.L.G. Cirillo, and J.D. Cirillo. "Whole body imaging of infection using fluorescence." Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 2011 May, Chapter 2: Microscopy and Imaging. Section C: Other Imaging Methods. 2C.3.1–2C.3.21.
3. Y. Kong, Y. Shi, M. Chang, A.R. Akin, K.P. Francis, N. Zhang, T.L. Troy, S.L.G. Cirillo, and J.D. Cirillo. "Whole body imaging of infection using bioluminescence." Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 2011 May, Chapter 2: Microscopy and Imaging. Section C: Other Imaging Methods 2C.4.1–2C.4.17.
4. Y. Feng, Y. Kong*, P.F. Barnes, F. Huang, P. Klucar, X. Wang, B. Samten, M. Sengupta, B. Machona, R. Donis, A.R. Tvinnereim, and H. Shams. "Exposure to cigarette smoke inhibits the pulmonary T cell response to influenza and Mycobacterium tuberculosis." Infect. Immun. 2011 January, 79 (1): 229-237. (*Have contributed equally.) PMID:20974820
5. Y. Kong and J.D. Cirillo. "Reporter enzyme fluorescence (REF) imaging and quantification of tuberculosis in live animals." Virulence, 2010 November/December, 1(6): 558-62. PMID: 21178505
6. Y. Kong, H. Yao, H. Ren, S. Subbian, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.C. Sacchettini, J. Rao, and J.D. Cirillo. "Imaging tuberculosis with endogenous β-lactamase reporter enzyme fluorescence in live mice." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., 2010 Jul 6;107(27):12239-44. PMCID: PMC2901431, PMID: 20566877
7. Y. Kong, S. Subbian, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo. "Application of optical imaging to study extrapulmonary spread by tuberculosis." Tuberculosis. 2009 S, S15-S17. PMID:20006298
8. P. Klucar, P.F. Barnes, Y. Kong, S.T. Howard, X. Pang, F. Huang, A.R. Tvinnereim, B. Samten, H. Shams. "Vaccination strategies to enhance local immunity and protection against Mycobacteriun tuberculosis." Vaccine. 2009 Mar 13;27(12):1816-24. PMCID: PMC2768422, PMID: 19402204
9. P. Klucar, P.F. Barnes, Y. Kong, B. Samten, A. Tvinnereim, R. Spallek, GT. Nepom, M. Singh, H. Shams. "Characterization of effector functions of human peptide-specific CD4+ T-cell clones for an intracellular pathogen." Hum Immunol. 2008 Aug;69(8):475-83. PMID: 18588932
10. Y. Kong, M.D. Cave, L. Zhang, B. Foxman, C.F. Marrs, J.H. Bates, and Z. Yang. "Association between Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing/W lineage strain infection and extrathoracic tuberculosis: insight from epidemiologic and clinical characterization of the three principal genetic groups of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates." J. Clin. Microbio. 2007 Feb;45(2):409-14. PMCID: PMC1829078, PMID: 17166963
11. Y. Kong, M.D. Cave, L. Zhang, B. Foxman, C.F. Marrs, J.H. Bates, and Z. Yang. "A population-based study of deletions in five different genomic regions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their possible clinical relevance." J. Clin. Microbio. 2006, Nov; 44(11):3940-6 PMCID: PMC1698370, PMID: 16957037
12. Y. Kong, M.D. Cave, D. Yang, L. Zhang, C.F. Marrs, B. Foxman, J.H. Bates, F. Wilson, L.N. Mukasa, and Z. Yang. "Distribution of insertion and deletion associated genetic polymorphisms among four Mycobacterium tuberculosis phospholipase C genes and associations with extra-thoracic tuberculosis: a population-based study." J. Clin. Microbio. 2005, Dec 43: 6048-6053. PMCID: PMC1317199, PMID: 16333097.
13. Z. Yang, D. Yang, Y. Kong, L. Zhang, C.F. Marrs, B. Foxman, J.H. Bates, F. Wilson, and M.D. Cave. "Clinical relevance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis plcD gene mutations." Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2005, June 171: 1436-1442. PMCID: PMC2718484, PMID: 15805187
14. Z. Yang, Y. Kong, F. Wilson, B. Foxman, A.H. Fowler, C.F. Marrs, M.D. Cave, and J.H. Bates. "Identification of risk factors for extrapulmonary tuberculosis." Clin Infect Dis. 2004, Jan 38(2):199-205. PMID: 14699451
