Zhongguo Xiong

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  3. Zhongguo Xiong
Associate Professor - School of Plant Sciences, BIO5 Institute, Undergraduate Microbiology Program
zxiong@email.arizona.edu, Marley 341F
520-621-9869 / 520-621-9916 (Lab)
Website

Educational Background

  • North Carolina State University, Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Kansas State University, Ph.D.
  • University of Florida, M.S.
  • China Agircultural University, Post-Baccalaureate
  • Huazhong Agricultural University, B.S.

Research Interests

  • My research program aims to understand the intricate interplays between viruses and their plants hosts during infection and pathogenesis. Areas of research interests include gene expression and replication of RNA and DNA viruses, mechanisms of plant resistance to viral infections and resistance-breaking by RNA viruses, recombination and evolution of RNA viruses, and pathogenomics studies using the state-of-the-art resequencing microarray and high-throughput sequencing technologies

Selected Publications

Mwatuni, F.M., Nyende, A.B., Njuguna, J., Xiong, Z., Machuka, E., Stomeo, F., 2020. Occurrence, genetic diversity, and recombination of maize lethal necrosis disease-causing viruses in Kenya. Virus Res. 286. doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198081.
Yu, N.T., Cai, Z.Y., Xiong, Z., Yang, Y., Liu, Z.X., 2020. Complete genomic sequence of Noni mosaic virus (NoMV) associated with a mosaic disease in Morinda citrifolia L. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 156, 1005-1014
Park, H. J., Wang, W., Curlango-Rivera, G., Xiong, Z., Lin, Z., Huskey, D. A., Hawes, M. C., VanEtten, H. D., and Turgeon, B. G. (2019). A DNase from a Fungal Phytopathogen Is a Virulence Factor Likely Deployed as Counter Defense against Host-Secreted Extracellular DNA. mBio 10 (2) e02805-18; DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02805-18
Yu, N. T., Xie, H. M., Zhang, Y. L., Wang, J. H., Xiong, Z., Liu, Z. X., 2019. Independent modulation of individual genomic component transcription and a cis-acting element related to high transcriptional activity in a multipartite DNA virus. BMC Genomics 20, DOI: 10.1186/s12864-12019-15901-12860
Yu, N. T., Zhang, Y. L., Xiong, Z., Qu, L., Liu, Z. X., 2019. A simplified method for the simultaneous detection of Nervous necrosis virus and iridovirus in grouper Epinephelus spp. Acta Virologica 63, 80-87.
Yokomi R., Selvaraj V., Maheshwari Y., Chiumenti M., Saponari M., Giampetruzzi A., Weng Z., Xiong Z., Hajeri S. (2018). Molecular and biological characterization of a novel mild strain of citrus tristeza virus in California. Arch Virol. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-3799-5.
Wen, F., Curlango-Rivera, G., Huskey, D. A., Xiong, Z., and Hawes, M. C. (2017) Visualization of extracellular DNA released during border cell separation from the root cap. American Journal of Botany. 104, 970–978.
Shi, S., Zhang, X., Mandel, M. A., Zhang, P., Zhang, Y., Ferguson, M., Amuge, T., Rounsley, S., Liu, Z., and Xiong, Z. (2017). Variations of five eIF4E genes across cassava accessions exhibiting tolerant and susceptible responses to cassava brown streak disease. PLOS ONE, 12(8), e0181998. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181998
Hawes, M., Allen, C., Turgeon, B.G., Curlango-Rivera, G., Tran, T.M., Huskey, D.A., Xiong, Z., 2016. Root Border Cells and Their Role in Plant Defense. Annual Review of Phytopathology 54, 143-161.
Curlango-Rivera, G., Gunawardena, U., Wen, F., Zhao, X., Xiong, Z., and Hawes MC. (2016) Roots: Contribution to the Rhizosphere. eLS 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0002335.pub3
Shi, S., Mandel, M. A., and Xiong, Z. (2015) Two amino acids of cassava novel cap-binding proteins critical for their interaction with Cassava brown streak virus VPg. Phytopathology 105, s127-s127.
Kremer, K. R., Shi, S., and Xiong, Z. (2015) A reliable and highly sensitive, digital PCR-based assay for early detection of citrus Huanglongbing. Phytopathology 105, s76-s76
Yu, N., Zhou, P., Wang, J., Liu, Z., and Xiong, Z. (2015) Diversity and recombination of DNA-U3 of Banana bunchy top virus. Phytopathology 105, S155-S155.
Cui, B., Zhen, Y., Xiang, B., and Xiong, Z. (2015) Profiling virus infection using small RNA sequencing data: A case study of virome from a small-holder farm. Phytopathology 105, s32-s32.
Wen, F., Brigham, L., Curlango-Rivera, G., Xiong, Z., and Hawes, M. C. (2014) Altered growth and root tip morphology in Pisum sativum L. in response to altered expression of a border cell specific gene. Plant Soil. 377,179–187.
Zhang, Y., Yu, N., Huang, Q., Yin, G., Guo, A., Wang, X, Xiong, Z., and Liu, Z. (2014). Complete genome of Hainan Papaya ringspot virus using small RNA deep sequencing. Virus Genes 48, 502-508.
Acosta-Leal, R., and Xiong, Z. (2013) Interference among co-infecting variants and fitness tradeoff condition the emergence of resistance breaking variants of Potato virus Y. Virology. 437, 39-47. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042682212005934
Curlango-Rivera, G., Pew, T., VanEtten, H. D., Xiong, Z., Yu, N. –T., Hawes, M. C. (2013) Measuring Root Disease Suppression in Response to a Compost Water Extract. Phytopathology. 103, 255-260
Yu, N.-T., Zhang, Y.-L., Feng, T. –C., Wang, J.-H., Kulye, M., Yang, W.-J., Lin, Z. -S., Xiong, Z., and Liu, Z. –X. (2012) Cloning and sequence analysis of two banana bunchy top virus genomes in Hainan. Virus Gene DOI:10.1007/s11262-012-0718-9.
Hawes, M. C., Curlango-Rivera, G., Xiong, Z, and Kessler, J. (2012). Roles of root border cells in plant defense and regulation of rhizosphere microbial populations by extracellular DNA 'trapping'. Plant and Soil 355, 1-15.
Zhang, S.-Y., Gong, D., Wu, Y.-P., Yu, N.-T., Liu, Z.-X., and Xiong, Z. (2012) First report of Chilli ringspot virus in China. Plant Diease DOI:10.1094/PDIS-11-11-0922.
Gong, D., Wang, J.-H., Lin, Z.-S., Zhang, S.-Y., Zhang, Y.-L., Yu, N.-T., Xiong, Z., and Liu, Z.-X. (2011) Genomic sequencing and analysis of Chilli ringspot virus, a novel potyvirus. Virus Gene 43:439-44.
Hawes, M. C. Curlango-Rivera, G., Wen, F., White, G. A., VanEtten, H. D., and Xiong, Z. (2011) Extracellular DNA: the tip of root defenses. Plant Science 106, 741-745.
Acosta-Leal, R., Duffy, S., Xiong, Z., Hammond, R. W., and Elena, S. F. (2011) Advances in plant virus evolution: Translating evolutionary insights into better disease management. Phytopathology 101: 1136-1148. DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-01-11-0017
Wen, F., White, G. J., VanEtten, H. D., Xiong, Z, and Hawes, M. C. (2009). Extracellular DNA is required for root tip resistance to fungal infection. Plant Physiology 151(2), 820-829.
Weng, Z., and Xiong, Z. (2009). Three discontinuous loop nucleotides in the 3 ' terminal stem-loop are required for Red clover necrotic mosaic virus RNA-2 replication. Virology 393, 346-354.
Acosta-Leal, R., and Xiong, Z. (2008). Complementary functions of two recessive R-genes determine resistance durability of tobacco 'Virgin A Mutant' (VAM) to Potato virus Y. Virology 379, 275-283.
Lu, Y. W., Shen, W. T., Zhou, P., Tang, Q. J., Niu, Y. M., Peng, M., and Xiong, Z. (2008). Complete genomic sequence of a Papaya ringspot virus isolate from Hainan Island, China. Archives of Virology 153, 991-993.
Weng, Z., Barthelson, R., Gowda, S., Hilf, M. E., Dawson, W. O., Galbraith, D. W., and Xiong, Z. (2007). Persistent infection and promiscuous recombination of multiple genotypes of an RNA virus within a single host generate extensive diversity. PLoS ONE 2, e917.
Weng, Z., Barthelson, R., Gowda, S., Hilf, M. E., Dawson, W. O., Galbraith, D. W., and Xiong, Z. (2007). Promiscuous recombination of multiple genotypes of Citrus tristeza virus generates extensive diversity. Phytopathology 97, S121-S122.
Wang, J., Liu, Z., Niu, S., Wang, D., Peng, M., Weng, Z., and Xiong Z. 2006. Natural occurrence of Chilli veinal mottle virus on Capsicum chinense in China. Plant Disease 90: 377
Xiong, Z., Barthelson, R., Weng, Z., and Galbraith, D. W. 2006. Designing and testing of a Citrus tristeza virus resequencing microarray. Proceedings of the International Organization of Citrus Virologists 16, 11-22.
Li, C., Kaszubinski, S., Shi, S., Zorba, D., Nair, A., Xiong, Z., 2019. Net charges at the N-terminus of capsid protein interfere with Potexvirus systemic movement. Phytopathology 109, 107-107
Yu, N., Liu, F., Ji, X., Wang, J.H., Xiong, Z., Liu, Z., 2019. Full-length infectious clones of Banana bunchy top virus. Phytopathology 109, 186-187.
Zhang, X., Shi, S., Wu, Y., Zhang, C., Chen, B., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., Yu, N., Liu, Z., Xiong, Z., 2019. Editing of plant eIF4E genes for potyviral resistance. Phytopathology 109, 49-49.
Yu, N., Cochran, A., Trinh, S., Wen, F., VanEtten, H., Hawes, M.C., Xiong, Z. (2018). Battles in the outer space: Extracellular DNases secreted by Pectobacterium carotovorum and its host plants. Phytopathology 108, 11-11.

Teaching Responsibilities

  • MIC205A: General Microbiology

Research Areas

  • Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Systems Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Plant Protection and Pathology

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