Rong mu, Ph.D. (she/her)

  • Senior Research Associate, Integrative Biosciences, School of Dentistry

Biography

Dr. Mu attained her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from New Mexico State University, after which she pursued postdoctoral training at esteemed institutions such as San Diego State University and Oregon Health and Science University. As a senior research associate in Wu lab since 2020, her research interests revolve around the exploration of the biological function of bacterial second messengers, particularly c-di-AMP, through in vitro and in vivo studies using a fly model. Additionally, she is dedicated to investigating the mechanisms underlying the regulation of second messenger production in bacteria through the utilization of RNA profiling and protein-protein interaction strategies.

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • Ph.D., 2011, New Mexico State University

Areas of interest

  • microbiology and molecular biology

Publications

Selected publications

  • Mu, R., Anderson, D., Merritt, J., Wu, H., & Kreth, J. (2021). Post-translational modification of Streptococcus sanguinis SpxB influences protein solubility and H2O2 production. Molecular Oral Microbiology, 36(5), 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1111/OMI.12348
  • Redanz, S., Treerat, P., Mu, R., Redanz, U., Zou, Z., Koley, D., Merritt, J., & Kreth, J. (2020). Pyruvate secretion by oral streptococci modulates hydrogen peroxide dependent antagonism. ISME Journal, 14(5), 1074–1088. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-020-0592-8
  • Mu, R., Shinde, P., Zou, Z., Kreth, J., & Merritt, J. (2019). Examining the Protein Interactome and Subcellular Localization of RNase J2 Complexes in Streptococcus mutans. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 2150. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02150
  • Deng L, Mu R, Weston TA, Spencer BL, Liles RP, Doran KS. 2018. Characterization of a two-component system transcriptional regulator, LtdR, that impacts group B streptococcal colonization and disease. Infection and Immunity. 86:e00822-17. Doi:10.1128/IAI.00822-17.
  • Lazzarin M, Mu R, Fabbrini M, et al. Contribution of pilus type 2b to invasive disease caused by a Streptococcus agalactiae ST-17 strain. BMC Microbiology. 2017; 17:148. doi :10.1186/s12866-017-1057-8.
  • Rong Mu, Andrew S. Cutting, Yvette Del Rosario, Nicholas Villarino, Lara Stewart, Thomas A. Weston, Kathryn A. Patras, Kelly S. Doran. Identification of CiaR Regulated Genes That Promote Group B Streptococcal Virulence and Interaction with Brain Endothelial Cells. 2016 PLoS ONE 11(4): e0153891. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153891.
  • Mu R, Kim BJ, Paco C, Del Rosario Y, Courtney HS, Doran KS. Identification of a Group B Streptococcal Fibronectin Binding Protein, SfbA, That Contributes to Invasion of Brain Endothelium and Development of Meningitis. Infection and Immunity. 2014 Jun; 82(6):2276-86.
  • Seo HS, Mu R, Kim BJ, Doran KS, Sullam PM. Binding of Glycoprotein Srr1 of Streptococcus agalactiae to Fibrinogen Promotes Attachment to Brain Endothelium and the Development of Meningitis. 2012; PLoS Pathogens 8(10): e1002947. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1002947.

Publications