Kun Liu, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Shandong University
Kun Liu graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2008 with a Bachelor's degree. He then pursued his Ph.D. in Microbiology at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), under the supervision of Prof. Ning-yi Zhou, where he focused on the microbial degradation pathways of aromatic compounds and earned his degree in 2013. Following this, he undertook postdoctoral research at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, CAS, where he further honed his expertise in microbial biotechnology.
He joined Li's Lab since 2015 and his current research interests lie in three main areas:
1. Biodegradation and Biocatalysis: Investigating microbial metabolic pathways and enzymes involved in the biotransformation of complex compounds and materials, which are inherently linked to biodegradation capabilities.
2. Deep-Sea Microbial Resources and Functional Genes: Exploring the unique microbial diversity and functional genes from extreme marine environments, aiming to discover novel biocatalysts with industrial significance.
3. Microbial Fermentation: The development of innovative fermentation processes and the optimization of microbial systems for the production of bio-based chemicals, enzymes, and other high-value products.
Education & Working Experience:
2024/09–Present: Associate Professor
2019/03–2024/08: Associate research professor, Shandong University
2017/09–2019/02: Associate research professor, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2015/07–2017/08: Postdoctoral Researcher, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2013/07–2015/06: Postdoctoral Researcher, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2008/09–2013/06, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D., Major: Microbiology
2004/09–2008/06, University of Science and Technology of China, Bachelor’s Degree, Major: Biotechnology
Major funding:
l National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program): 32370124, 2024/01–2027/12（国家自然科学基金 面上项目）
l Key R&D Program of Shandong Province, China: 2024CXGC010916, 2024/09–2027/08（山东省重大科技创新工程 子课题）
l National Key R&D Program of China: 2023YFC3403602, 2023/12–2028/11（国家重点研发计划 子课题）
l Key R&D Program of Shandong Province, China: 2022CXGC020712, 2022/10–2025/12（山东省重大科技创新工程 子课题）
l National Key R&D Program of China: 2019YFA0706901, 2019/12–2024/11（国家重点研发计划 子课题）
l Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Youth Program): ZR2019QC009, 2019/07–2022/06 （山东省自然科学基金 青年项目）
l China Postdoctoral Science Foundation: 2016M590669, 2016/05–2017/07（中国博士后基金）
l National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program): 31400028, 2015/01–2017/12（国家自然科学基金 青年项目）
l China Postdoctoral Science Foundation: 2014M551403, 2014/07–2015/12（中国博士后基金）
Publications：
1. Chen, J#.; Jia, Y.#; Sun, Y.#*; Liu, K.#; Zhou, C.; Liu, C.; Li, D.; Liu, G.; Zhang, C.; Yang, T.; Huang, L.; Zhuang, Y.; Wang, D.; Xu, D.; Zhong, Q.; Guo, Y.; Li, A.; Seim, I.; Jiang, L.; Wang, L.; Lee, S. M. Y.; Liu, Y.; Wang, D.; Zhang, G.; Liu, S.; Wei, X.; Yue, Z.; Zheng, S.; Shen, X.; Wang, S.; Qi, C.; Chen, J.; Ye, C.; Zhao, F.; Wang, J.; Fan, J.; Li, B.; Sun, J.; Jia, X.; Xia, Z.; Zhang, H.; Liu, J.; Zheng, Y.; Liu, X.; Wang, J.; Yang, H.; Kristiansen, K.; Xu, X.; Mock, T.*; Li, S.*; Zhang, W.*; Fan, G.* Global marine microbial diversity and its potential in bioprospecting. Nature 2024, 633 (8029), 371–379.
2. Zhang, G.; Du, J.; Zhang, C.; Zhao, Z.; Chen, Y.; Liu, M.; Chen, J.; Fan, G.; Ma, L.; Li, S.*; Liu, K.* Identification of a PET hydrolytic enzyme from the human gut microbiome unveils potential plastic biodegradation in human digestive tract. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2024, 283 (Pt 3), 137732.
3. Qiu, Z.#; Liu, X.#; Yu, J.; Zhao, Y.; Zhao, G.-R.; Li, S.; Liu, K.*; Du, L.*; Ma, L.* Efficient conversion of aromatic and phenylpropanoid alcohols to acids by the cascade biocatalysis of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases. Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology 2024, 9, 187–195.
4. Tang, D.; Zheng, X.; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, C.; Chen, C.; Chen, Y.; Du, L.*; Liu, K.*; Li, S*. Engineered Microbial Consortium for De Novo Production of Sclareolide. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72 (36), 19977–19984.
5. Zhang, C.; Zhang, G.; Chen, Y.; Zheng, S.; Du, J.; Zhao, Z.; Zhao, Y.; Wang, N.; Chen, C.; Gao, Z.*; Li, S*.; Liu, K*. Sphingobacterium tenebrionis sp. nov., isolated from intestine of mealworm. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 2024, 74 (7).
6. Chi, X.*; Zhao, Z.; Han, Q.; Yan, H.; Ji, B.; Chai, Y.; Li, S.; Liu, K.* Insights into autotrophic carbon fixation strategies through metagenomics in the sediments of seagrass beds. Mar. Environ. Res. 2023, 188, 106002.
7. Liu, K.; Gao, W.; Xu, W.; Liu, H.* Deep-sea microorganisms acquired during Jiaolong expedition. The Innovation Life 2023, 1, 100029.
8. Liu, K.; Xu, Z.; Zhao, Z.; Chen, Y.; Chai, Y.; Ma, L.; Li, S.* A dual fluorescence assay enables high-throughput screening for poly(ethylene terephthalate) hydrolases. ChemSusChem 2023, 16, e202202019.
9. Ma, L.; Li, F.; Zhang, X.; Chen, H.; Huang, Q.; Su, J.; Liu, X.; Sun, T.; Fang, B.; Liu, K.; Tang, D.; Wu, D.; Zhang, W.; Du, L.; Li, S.* Development of MEMS directed evolution strategy for multiplied throughput and convergent evolution of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Sci. China. Life. Sci. 2022, 65, 550–560.
10. Liu, K.; Li, S.* Biosynthesis of fatty acid-derived hydrocarbons: perspectives on enzymology and enzyme engineering: perspectives on enzymology and enzyme engineering. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 2020, 62, 7–14.
11. Li, Z.; Du, L.; Zhang, W.; Zhang, X.; Jiang, Y.; Liu, K.; Men, P.; Xu, H.; Fortman, J. L.; Sherman, D. H.; Yu, B.; Gao, S.; Li, S.* Complete elucidation of the late steps of bafilomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces lohii. J. Biol. Chem. 2017, 292, 7095–7104.
12. Chi, X.-Q.; Liu, K.; Zhou, N.-Y.* Effects of bioaugmentation in para-nitrophenol-contaminated soil on the abundance and community structure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2015, 99, 6069–6082.
13. Liu, K.; Xu, Y.; Zhou, N.-Y.* Identification of a specific maleate hydratase in the direct hydrolysis route of the gentisate pathway. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2015, 81, 5753–5760.
14. Liu, K.; Liu, T. T.; Zhou, N.-Y.* HbzF catalyzes direct hydrolysis of maleylpyruvate in the gentisate pathway of Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIMB 9867. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2013, 79, 1044–1047.
15. 赵之怡; 张国强; 刘琨*; 李盛英*. 聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯水解酶研究进展. 生物工程学报 2023, 39, 1998–2014.
16. 钟贝芬; 杜磊; 李众; 张伟; 张兴旺; 李菁; 黄淑兰; 胡翔*; 李盛英; 刘琨*. 基于细胞色素P450单加氧酶介导的4-甲酚氧化降解途径的天麻素生物合成. 湖南师范大学自然科学学报 2018, 41, 33–40.