Qingjuan Zhu

Research focuses on fungal genetics, cell biology, and antifungal drug response, particularly in Candida pathogens such as C. albicans, C. glabrata, and multidrug-resistant C. auris. Investigates adaptation of fungal homeostatic networks to pharmacological stress through targeted genetic manipulation, multi-omics profiling, and quantitative microscopy. PhD work utilized CRISPR-Cas9, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to analyze trehalose biosynthesis and its impact on cell wall integrity and echinocandin susceptibility, published in Nature Communications 2026. Currently working on a project funded by an NNF Catalyst grant, collaborating with Van Dijck Lab and Wüstner Lab to explore sphingolipid-dependent mechanisms of polyene response, integrating genetics and fluorescence imaging to enhance treatment strategies for invasive candidiasis.

• Zhu, Q., Van De Velde, S., Wijnants, S., Carolus, H., Jacobs, S., Sofras, D., Vandecruys, P., Van Goethem, O., Feil, R., Vergauwen, R., Van Genechten, W., Van Den Ende, W., Rybak, J.M., Himmelreich, U., Lunn, J.E., Van Dijck, P. with Van Dijck, P. (corresp. author) (2025). Accumulation of Trehalose 6-Phosphate in Candidozyma auris results in Decreased Echinocandin Resistance and Tolerance. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 17 (1), Art.No. ARTN 311. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67022-x
• Zhu, Q., Wijnants, S., Feil, R., Van Genechten, W., Vergauwen, R., Van Goethem, O., Lunn, J.E., Van Ende, M., Van Dijck, P. with Van Dijck, P. (corresp. author) (2025). The stress-protectant molecule trehalose mediates fluconazole tolerance in Candida glabrata. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 69 (3). doi: 10.1128/aac.01349-24
• Zhu, Q., et al., Efficient Synthesis of Rebaudioside A Catalyzed by in vitro Coupling UDPGlycosyltransferase and Sucrose Synthase. (2020), MODER FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY.
• Li, J., Wang, S., Zhu, Q., Xu, D., Wang, Y., Zhang, X., Du, J., Chen, Q., Zhao, R., Hu, X., Liu, Y., Dewil, R., Gao, Q., van der Bruggen, B. with Liu, Y. (corresp. author), Gao, Q. (corresp. author), van der Bruggen, B. (corresp. author) (2025). L-arginine-enhanced PEI-based polyamide Nanofiltration membranes for efficient heavy metal ion removal. DESALINATION, 603, Art.No. ARTN 118680. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2025.118680
• Gao, Q., Zhu, Q., Zheng, J., Yuan, S., Wang, Y., Zhao, R., Liu, Y., Gui, X., Wang, C., Volodine, A., Jin, P., Van der Bruggen, B. with Jin, P. (corresp. author), Van der Bruggen, B. (corresp. author) (2022). Positively charged membranes for dye/salt separation based on a crossover combination of Mannich reaction and prebiotic chemistry. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, 440, Art.No. ARTN 129744. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129744
• Chen, M., Zeng, X., Zhu, Q., Wang, D., Han, S., Liang, S., Lin, Y. with Liang, S. (corresp. author), Lin, Y. (corresp. author) (2021). Effective synthesis of Rebaudioside A by whole-cell biocatalyst Pichia pastoris. BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 175, Art.No. ARTN 108117. doi: 10.1016/j.bej.2021.108117