WORK EXPERIENCE：
10/2015-present：Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China.
10/2015-09/2016: Visiting scholar, University of Aberdeen, UK
07/2012-09/2015: Associated Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China.
10/2010-06/2012: Associated Professor in the School of Bioengeering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China.
07/2008-09/2010: Lecturer in the School of Bioengeering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China.
Research interests
Fungal genetics and biology, Molecular mechanism of fungal pathogenesis and morphogenesis.
Metarhizium acridum is an important entomopathogenic fungus. Conidium germination, appressorium formation and differentiation of pathogenic fungus on host cuticle determine successful colonization of a susceptible host. My research work is focused on the molecular mechanisms of M. acridum interactions with its host, Locust migratory. I participated in the project of the whole genome sequence of M. acridum. Moreover, several normalized cDNA libraries during M. acridum germinating, differentiating on locust wing, and proliferating in the host hemolymph have been constructed in our group. By now, I am conducting functional analysis of some genes related to fungal pathogenicity,cell wall organization and microcycle conidiation.
Courses
Enzyme engineering, Microbes around us
Major achievement
Publications：
[1] Li CC, Zhang QP, Xia YX*, Jin K*. MaAreB, a GATA transcription factor, is involved in nitrogen source utilization, stress tolerances and virulence in Metarhizium acridum. Journal of Fungi. 2021, 7(7): 512. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/jof7070512
[2] Wen ZQ, Tian HT, Xia YX*, Jin K*. MaPmt1, a protein O-mannosyltransferase, contributes to virulence through governing the appressorium turgor pressure in Metarhizium acridum. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 2020, 145: 103480. (WOS:000554939500001)
[3] Zhao TT, Wen ZQ, Xia YX*, Jin K*. The transmembrane protein MaSho1 negatively regulates conidial yield by shifting the conidiation pattern in Metarhizium acridum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2020, 104(9): 4005–4015. (WOS: 000526375600026)
[4] Zhang MG, Wei QL, Xia YX*, Jin K*. MaPacC, a pH-responsive transcription factor, negatively regulates thermotolerance and contributes to conidiation and virulence in Metarhizium acridum. Current Genetics. 2020, 66(2): 397–408. (WOS:000519454000013)
[5] Zhang JJ, Jiang H, Du YR, Keyhani NO, Xia YX*, Jin K*. Members of chitin synthase family in Metarhizium acridum differentially affect fungal growth, stress tolerances, cell wall integrity and virulence. PLoS Pathogens. 2019, 15(8): e1007964 (WOS:000488322100027)
[6] Zhao TT, Tian HT, Xia YX*, Jin K*. MaPmt4, a protein O-mannosyltransferase, contributes to cell wall integrity, stress tolerance and virulence in Metarhizium acridum. Current Genetics. 2019, 65(4): 1025–1040. (WOS:000475695500023)
[7] Gao PP, Jin K*, Xia YX*. The phosphatase gene MaCdc14 negatively regulates UV-B tolerance by mediating the transcription of melanin synthesis-related genes and contributes to conidiation in Metarhizium acridum. Current Genetics. 2020, 66(1): 141–153. (WOS:000513356600013)
[8] Gao PP, Li MC, Jin K*, Xia YX*. The homeobox gene MaH1 governs microcycle conidiation for increased conidial yield by mediating transcription of conidiation pattern shift-related genes in Metarhizium acridum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2019, 103(5): 2251–2262. (WOS:000461392700021)
[9] Zhang J, Wang ZL, Keyhani NO, Peng, GX, Jin K*, Xia YX*. The protein phosphatase gene MaPpt1 acts as a programmer of microcycle conidiation and a negative regulator of UV-B tolerance in Metarhizium acridum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2019, 103(3): 1351–1362. (WOS:000459105 000024)
[10] Du YR, Jin K*, Xia YX*. Involvement of MaSom1, a downstream transcriptional factor of cAMP/PKA pathway, in conidial yield, stress tolerances and virulence in Metarhizium acridum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2018, 102: 5611–5623. (WOS:000435334900021)
[11] Wei QL, Du YR, Jin K*, and Xia YX*. The Ste12-like transcription factor MaSte12 is involved in pathogenicity by regulating the appressorium formation in the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium acridum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2017, 101:8571–8584. (WOS:000415906900023)
[12] Wang ZL#, Jin K#, Xia YX. Transcriptional analysis of the conidiation pattern shift of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum in response to different nutrients. BMC Genomics. 2016, 17: 586. (# equal contribution) (WOS:000381226400011)
[13] Jin K, Peng GX, Liu YC, Xia YX. The acid trehalase, ATM1, contributes to the in vivo growth and virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium acridum. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 2015, 77: 61-67. (WOS:000355241300007)
[14] Ma QS#, Jin K#, Peng GX, Xia YX. An ENA ATPase, MaENA1, of Metarhizium acridum influences the Na+-, thermo- and UV-tolerances of conidia and is involved in multiple mechanisms of stress tolerance. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 2015, 83: 68–77. (# equal contribution) (WOS:000362311600008)
[15] Peng GX#, Jin K#, Liu YC, Xia YX. Enhancing the utilization of host trehalose by fungal trehalase improves the virulence of fungal insecticide. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2015, 99(20):8611–8618. (# equal contribution) (WOS:000361493200025)
[16] Ming Y, Wei QL, Jin K*, and Xia YX*. MaSnf1, a sucrose non-fermenting protein kinase gene, is involved in carbon source utilization, stress tolerance and virulence in Metarhizium acridum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2014, 98: 10153–10164. (WOS:000345331700020)
[17] Jin K, Han LR, and Xia YX*. MaMk1, a FUS3/KSS1-type mitogen-activated protein kinase gene, is required for appressorium formation, and insect cuticle penetration of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 2014, 115(1): 68–75. (WOS:000329558800011)
[18] Jin K, Ming Y, and Xia YX*. MaHog1, a Hog1-type mitogen-activated protein kinase gene, contributes to stress tolerance and virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum. Microbiology-SGM. 2012, 158(12): 2987–2996. (WOS:000314005300010)
[19] Jin K, Zheng XL, and Xia YX*. Gene expression profiling via multigene concatemers. PLoS One. 2011, 6(1): e15711. (WOS:000286519500025)
[20] Gao Q#, Jin K#, Ying SH#, Zhang YJ#, Xiao GH#, Shang YF, Duan ZB, Hu X, Xie XQ, Zhou G, Peng G, Luo Z, Huang W, Wang B, Fang W, Wang S, Zhong Y, Ma LJ, St Leger RJ, Zhao GP, Pei Y, Feng MG*, Xia Y*, Wang C*. Genome sequencing and comparative transcriptomics of the model entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and M. acridum. PLoS Genetics. 2011, 7(1): e1001264. (# equal contribution) (WOS:000286653500003)
[21] Jin K, Luo ZB, Jiang XD, Zhang YJ, Zhou YH, and Pei Y*. Carbon catabolite repressor gene BbCre1 influences carbon source uptake but does not have a big impact on virulence in Beauveria bassiana. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 2011, 106(3): 400–406. (WOS:000287570800009)
[22] Jin K, Zhang YJ, Fang WG, Luo ZB, Zhou YH, and Pei Y*. Carboxylate transporter gene JEN1 from the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is involved in conidiation and virulence. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2010, 76(1): 254–263. (WOS:000272992800029)
[23] Jin K, Zhang YJ, Luo ZB, Xiao YH, Fan YH, Wu D, and Pei Y*. An improved method for Beauveria bassiana transformation using phosphinothricin resistance and green fluorescence protein fusion gene bar::egfp as a selectable and visible marker. Biotechnology Letters. 2008, 30(8): 1379–1383. (WOS:000256909200 011)
[24] Yang M, Jin K, and Xia YX*. MaFKS, a β-1,3-glucan synthase, is involved in cell wall integrity, hyperosmotic pressure tolerance and conidiation in Metarhizium acridum. Current Genetics. 2011, 57(4): 253–260. (WOS:00029297 7000004)
[25] Zhang J, Jin K, Xia, YX. Contributions of β-tubulin to cellular morphology, sporulation and virulence in the insect-fungal pathogen, Metarhizium acridum. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 2017, 103:16–24. (WOS:000404089000002)
[26] Cai ZJ, Peng GX, Cao YQ, Liu YC, Jin K and Xia YX*. Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase 1 from Metarhizium anisopliae: clone, expression and properties of the recombinant. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengeering. 2009, 107 (5): 499–505. (WOS:000267506000004)
Contact information
jinkai@cqu.edu.cn
