Probing Life with Photons

My current research and long-term goal are devoted to functional microbiome imaging. It primarily focuses on the development and application of cutting-edge optical imaging technologies complemented with state-of-the-art multi-omics approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the host/microbe-microbe interactions that underpin microbiome-related human diseases.

My PhD research in Dr. Ji-Xin Cheng’s group focused on the development and application of label-free chemical imaging techniques to unveil hidden biomarkers in human diseases and human pathogens. Specifically, I achieved HbA1c quantification in single red blood cells using transient absorption microcopy as an innovative approach to diagnose type 2 diabetes (Dong et al, Science Advances 2019) and deciphered mechanism of action of gold standard antifungal drug, amphotericin B, using polarization-sensitive stimulated Raman scattering microscopy (Dong et al, Science Advances 2021). More recently, driven by my ingenue curiosity on a serendipitously observed photobleaching phenomenon under transient absorption microscope, I discovered two chromophores in human pathogens, staphyloxanthin and catalase, that are photo-sensitive and subject to photolysis (Dong et al, Advanced Science 2019; Hui#, Dong# et al, Advanced Science 2020; Dong et al, Advanced Science 2022; Dong et al, JCI Insight 2022). These findings have become breakthroughs for the field of drug-free antimicrobial phototherapy, and opened new translational opportunities for treating superbug infections (4 granted patents and a startup, Pulsethera, spun off for clinical translation and commercialization).

Seeking more microbiology questions and trainings, I joined Forsyth as a postdoc and switched my gear studying fundamental host/microbe-microbe interactions under the mentorship of Drs. Gary Borisy, Wenyuan Shi, and Xuesong He. By coupling optical imaging with multi-omics, I elucidated the role of intracellular lipid droplets in episymbiotic host-microbe interactions (Dong et al, The ISME Journal 2024) and developed host-derived transfer RNA fragments as a novel antimicrobial to target colorectal cancer-causing Fusobacterium nucleatum (Dong et al, manuscript under review 2024; Yang#, Dong# et al, The ISME Journal 2023). Since joining Forsyth, I have been particularly spearheading the development of an expansion microscopy-based multiplex CLASI-FISH approach for functional and structural imaging of microbiome atlas at single-cell level within complex communities (Dong et al, manuscript under review 2024). It has the potential as a paradigm-shifting tool for microbiome study as it can seamlessly integrate expansion-mediated functional imaging with CLASI-FISH-enabled biogeographic mapping.

“Seeing is believing” and “Discovery can be made by simply watching”. This was how Antonie van Leeuwenhoek trailblazed the microworld using his microscope and became the father of microbiology. This is also why modern optical imaging plays an indispensable role in understanding host/microbe-microbe interactions, particularly considering their spatial, temporal, functional, and molecular resolving power in a complex environment. Therefore, I am enthusiastic to become an independent scientist devoting my career to functional microbiome imaging. 

Awards/Recognitions

2024        Ned Lally Award (2nd place), Mini-Symposium for Young Investigators, 2024 IADR

2024        Susan Kinder Haake Travel Award, 2024 IADR Microbiology/Immunology Session

2024        QPC Lasers Young Investigator Best Paper Award, SPIE Photonics West

2023        Forsyth Pilot Grant, Forsyth Institute & Harvard School of Dental Medicine

2023        Session Chair on Biophotonics, PQE2023 Conference

2022-      NIH T90 Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIH

2022        Best Poster Award, 2022 Northeast Symposium on Biomedical Optics

2021        Forsyth Professional Development Program Grant, Forsyth Institute

2021        Forsyth Pilot Grant, Forsyth Institute & Harvard School of Dental Medicine

2018        SPIE Translational Research Award (1/300+ applications), SPIE

2018-      Committee Member, Photonics for Infections and Inflammatory Diseases, SPIE Photonics West conference

2017-      ~20 invited talks and seminars at national and international conferences/institutes