Introduction

Dr. Tao Dong is a full professor in the School of Life Sciences at SUSTech. He obtained his BSc from Shandong University and PhD from McMaster University. He then moved to Boston for his postdoctoral training with John Mekalanos at Harvard Medical School, during which he received the prestigious Banting fellowship. He became an assistant professor in 2013 at the University of Calgary and was promoted to tenured associate and later full professor before he joined SUSTech.   

（https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3557-1850）

Research Interests：

◆Dr. Dong’s research is focused on understanding the molecular adaptation mechanisms that enable bacteria to survive in diverse natural and host environments, finding novel antimicrobials, and understanding how protein secretion systems function during host-pathogen interactions. 

Professional Experience：

◆2011-2013 Harvard Medical School, Postdoc

◆2013-2021 University of Calgary, Assistant to Full Professor

Educational Background：

◆1999-2003 Shandong University, BSc

◆2004-2010 McMaster University, PhD

Honors & Awards：

◆ Banting Fellowship.

◆ Canada Research Chair tier 2. 

Selected Publication：

(1)  Hersch, S. J.; Lam, L.; Dong, T. G. Engineered Type Six Secretion Systems Deliver Active Exogenous Effectors and Cre Recombinase. mBio 2021, 12 (4), 2021.05.11.443660. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01115-21.

(2)  Manera, K.; Caro, F.; Li, H.; Pei, T.-T.; Hersch, S. J.; Mekalanos, J. J.; Dong, T. G. Sensing of Intracellular Hcp Levels Controls T6SS Expression in Vibrio Cholerae. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2021, 118 (25), e2104813118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2104813118.

(3)  Hersch, S. J.; Watanabe, N.; Stietz, M. S.; Manera, K.; Kamal, F.; Burkinshaw, B.; Lam, L.; Pun, A.; Li, M.; Savchenko, A.; Dong, T. G. Envelope Stress Responses Defend against Type Six Secretion System Attacks Independently of Immunity Proteins. Nat. Microbiol. 2020, 5 (5), 706–714. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-0672-6.

(4)  Pei, T.-T.; Li, H.; Liang, X.; Wang, Z.-H.; Liu, G.; Wu, L.-L.; Kim, H.; Xie, Z.; Yu, M.; Lin, S.; Xu, P.; Dong, T. G. Intramolecular Chaperone-Mediated Secretion of an Rhs Effector Toxin by a Type VI Secretion System. Nat. Commun. 2020, 11 (1), 1865. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15774-z.

(5)  Stietz, M. S.; Liang, X.; Li, H.; Zhang, X.; Dong, T. G. TssA–TssM–TagA Interaction Modulates Type VI Secretion System Sheath-Tube Assembly in Vibrio Cholerae. Nat. Commun. 2020, 11 (1), 5065. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18807-9.

(6)  Liang, X.; Kamal, F.; Pei, T.-T.; Xu, P.; Mekalanos, J. J.; Dong, T. G. An Onboard Checking Mechanism Ensures Effector Delivery of the Type VI Secretion System in Vibrio Cholerae. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2019, 116 (46), 23292–23298. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1914202116.

(7)  Burkinshaw, B. J.; Liang, X.; Wong, M.; Le, A. N. H.; Lam, L.; Dong, T. G. A Type VI Secretion System Effector Delivery Mechanism Dependent on PAAR and a Chaperone–Co-Chaperone Complex. Nat. Microbiol. 2018, 3 (5), 632–640. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-018-0144-4.

(8)  Liang, X.; Moore, R.; Wilton, M.; Wong, M. J. Q.; Lam, L.; Dong, T. G. Identification of Divergent Type VI Secretion Effectors Using a Conserved Chaperone Domain. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2015, 112 (29), 9106–9111. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1505317112.