We develop and apply a multiplex FISH imaging technology termed "CLASI-FISH" to study microbiome atlas and microbial interactions in complex communities. Currently, I am spearheading the development of next-generation multiplex FISH probes for high-throughput whole-mount imaging and the integration of expansion microscopy-mediated functional imaging with microbiome altas as primary aims of my recent K99/R00. Representative publications:

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 121(48), e2411617121 (2024). [Link]

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. New multiplex FISH probes, in prepration (2025).

We develop and apply label-free chemical imaging technologies, including spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, and transient absorption microscopy, to study biomarkers of human diseases including diabetes, cancers, and infectious diseases. Representative publications:

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. Science Advances 7(2), eabd5230 (2021). [Link]

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. Science Advances 5(5), eaav0561 (2019). [Link]

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. Advanced Science 6(11), 1900030 (2019). [Link]

We study host/microbe-microbe interactions (e.g., Actinomyces with its epibiont parasite, TM7x) through array of strategies spanning from basic molecular microbiology techniques, transcriptomic/genomic analysis, to super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, and Raman imaging/spectroscopy. Representative publications:

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. International Journal of Oral Science, 17(1), 1-13 (2025). [Link]

• Pu-Ting Dong et al. The ISME Journal 18(1), wrad034 (2024). [Link]

•  Mengdi Yang#, Pu-Ting Dong# et al. The ISME Journal 17(6), 880-890 (2023). [Link]

Driven by my ingenue curiosity on a serendipitously observed photobleaching phenomenon, we discovered two chromophores in human pathogens, staphyloxanthin and catalase, as the underlying molecular targets of antimicrobial photohterapy that are subject to photolysis. These findings have become breakthroughs for the field, and opened new translational opportunities to combat superbug infections. Representative publications:

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. Advanced Science 9(10), e2104384 (2022). [Link]

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. JCI Insight 7(10), 153079 (2022). [Link]

•  Pu-Ting Dong et al. Advanced Science 6(11), 1900030 (2019). [Link]

•  Jie Hui#, Pu-Ting Dong# et al. Advanced Science 7(6), 1903117 (2020). [Link]