Dr. Jun Lin
Associate Professor

Education

B.S., 1991. Microbiology, Fudan University,   P.R.China
M.S., 1994. Microbiology & Immunology, Fudan University,   P.R.China
Ph.D., 1998. Animal  Science, The Ohio State University
Postdoc  1999-2000. Bacterial Pathogenesis Pharmacology, Case Western
Reserve University
Postdoc   2000-2003. Animal Health/Food Safety, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University

Professional Interest: Infectious Diseases

My overall research goal is to study molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and drug resistance, which will reveal potential targets for development of novel intervention strategies and diagnostic tools against pathogens important in animal health and food safety/security. Currently, we are using both fundamental and contemporary approaches to study Campylobacter jejuni, the leading foodborne human pathogen causing enteritis in the United States and many other industrialized countries. The estimated cases of campylobacteriosis in the United States are more than 2 million per year. The medical and productivity costs resulting from C. jejuni infection are estimated at $1.5 to $8.0 billion dollars each year in the United States. Epidemiologic studies have revealed that poultry are the major reservoir of C. jejuni, and consumption of undercooked chickens or food contaminated by poultry products are responsible for the majority of human Campylobacter enteritis. Increasing evidence also indicates that antibiotic use in poultry selects for resistant strains of C. jejuni, posing a significant threat to public health. Thus, on-farm control of C. jejuni is urgently needed to reduce human exposure and the number of foodborne illness in the U.S. To this end, we have established following four research programs focused on Campylobacter pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance:

1. Characterization of multidrug efflux pump CmeABC and development of CmeABC-based intervention strategies against Campylobacter;
2. Development and molecular mechanisms of macrolide resistance in Campylobacter
3. Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) resistance in Campylobacter. Resistance of Campylobacter to both host defense peptides (e.g. defensins and cathelicidins) and the AMPs produced by commensal bacteria (designated as ‘bacteriocins’) are being examined using molecular and genomic approaches.
4. Molecular and antigenic characterization of ferric enterobactin assimilation systems in Campylobacter.

In addition to above research projects on Campylobacter, we have also established a collaborative and multidisciplinary research program focused on the role of intestinal microbiota in animal growth performance and human obesity.

Selected Publications:

• Lin, J. 2009. Novel approaches for Campylobacter control in poultry. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease (In Press).
• Lin, J., Y.Wang, and K. V. Hoang. 2009. Systematic identification of genetic loci required for polymyxin B resistance in Campylobacter jejuni using an efficient in vivo transposon mutagenesis system. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 6(2):173-185.
• Caldwell, D., Y. Wang, and J. Lin. 2008. Development, stability, and molecular mechanisms of macrolide resistance in Campylobacter jejuni. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52(11):3947-3954.
• Lin, J., M. Yan, O. Sahin, Y.J. Chang, S. Pereira, and Q. Zhang. 2007. Effect of macrolide on the emergence of erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter in chickens. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51:1678-1686.
• Yan, M., O. Sahin, J. Lin, and Q. Zhang. 2006. Role of the CmeABC efflux pump in the emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter under selection pressure. J.  Antimicb. Chemother. 58:1154-1159.
• Lin, J.,  and A. Martinez. 2006. Effect of efflux pump inhibitors on bile resistance and in vivo colonization of Campylobacter jejuni.  J. Antimicb. Chemother. 58:966-972.
• Martinez, A., and J. Lin. 2006. Effect of an efflux pump on the function of CmeABC efflux pump and antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter jejuni. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 3: 393-402. 
• Akiba, M., J. Lin, E. Barton, and Q. Zhang. 2006. Interaction of CmeABC and CmeDEF in conferring antimicrobial resistance and maintaining cell viability in Campylobacter jejuni. J. Antimicb. Chemother. 57:52-60.
• Lin, J., C. Cagliero, B. Guo, E. Barton,  M.C. Maurel, S. Payot, and Q. Zhang. 2005. Bile salts modulate expression of multidrug efflux pump CmeABC in Campylobacter jejuni. J. Bacteriol. 187:7417-7424.
• Lin, J., M. Akiba, O. Sahin, and Q. Zhang. 2005.  CmeR functions as a transcriptional repressor of the multidrug efflux pump CmeABC in Campylobacter jejuni.  Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49:1067-1075.

Personnel

Andree A. Clark, Research Associate I
Fuzhou Xu, Post-doctoral Research Associate
Nadia Fanta, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jennifer Hime, Undergraduate Research Associate
Ky Van Hoang, Ph.D. Degree Candidate - Current Student
Ximin Zeng, Ph.D. Degree Candidate - Current Student
Ad'Lynn Ensminger, M.S. - Previous Student
Caldwell, Dave, M.S. - Previous Student

Teaching

AS 620 - Topics in Microbial Pathogenesis (1-3)

AS 681 - Advanced Topics in Animal Health and Well-being (1-4) Recent advances and concepts, research techniques, and current problems associated with animal health and behavior. May be repeated.