About

The Molluscan Shellfish Aquaculture and Restoration (MSAR) Lab is part of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), located in Gainesville, Florida, and is led by Associate Professor Dr. Huiping Yang. The lab is committed to advancing the science and practice of molluscan shellfish aquaculture through innovative research, technology development, and ecological restoration.

Research topics

• Biology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Science
• Chemistry
• Composite material
• Genetics
• Fishery
• Virology
• Materials science

Selected publications

• Optimization and standardization for haemolymph isolation and immune-related parameter determinations in haemocytes of the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus)

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2026-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Impact of maternal lipopolysaccharide and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced infections on offspring cardiac development: Mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic alterations

  Genes & Diseases · 2025-10-09

  articleOpen access

  Maternal infections can have profound effects on embryonic heart development, yet the precise pathways through which these impacts manifest are still largely unexplored. This research explores the influence of maternal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [Poly(I:C)] on metabolic profiles and mitochondrial function of offspring. At embryonic day 16.5, pregnant female C57BL/6J mice received either LPS or Poly(I:C) treatment. Human induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) to evaluate the effects of various interventions on cardiomyocyte differentiation. mRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were performed to analyze metabolic alterations. The findings from mRNA sequencing indicated that both LPS and Poly(I:C) caused metabolic pathway disturbances in the offspring's heart, with differentially expressed genes enriched in lipid, energy, and amino acid metabolism. Additionally, untargeted metabolomics showed a notable elevation in polyunsaturated fatty acids following LPS or Poly(I:C) treatment. Moreover, both LPS and Poly(I:C) treatment significantly impaired mitochondrial function, increased reactive oxygen species, and heightened lipid peroxidation within offspring mouse hearts. Mitochondrial dysfunction was mitigated through the application of antioxidant agents, such as N-acetylcysteine and ferrostatin-1. During hiPSC-CM differentiation, Poly(I:C) treatment led to similar mitochondrial dysfunction, while LPS treatment had minimal effects on ATP levels and lipid peroxidation. These findings indicate that maternal infection impairs metabolic signaling and mitochondrial function in the developing heart, with oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation playing key roles in these effects.

  PublisherDOI

• PGA37 Overexpression Promotes Chloroplast Development in Arabidopsis Roots Through Direct Transcriptional Activation of GLK2, ARR13, and ARR21

  Plants · 2025-04-22 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Chloroplast biogenesis and development are essential processes in plants, profoundly influencing their growth, survival, and productivity. However, the transcription factors controlling chloroplast development, especially in roots, are poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that the ectopic expression of the seed-specific transcription factor Plant Growth Regulator 37 (PGA37) promotes chloroplast development in roots, causing root-greening. Using a steroid-inducible gene expression system and RNA-Seq, we identified 97 potential PGA37 target genes. Notably, PGA37 directly activates the transcription factor GOLDEN2-LIKE (GLK2), which governs chloroplast biogenesis. An overexpression of GLK2 replicated the root-greening phenotype observed in PGA37-overexpressing plants, while GLK2 mutation significantly reduced chlorophyll content and suppressed root-greening in PGA37-overexpressing seedlings. Furthermore, PGA37 directly binds to the promoters of type-B response regulators ARR13 and ARR21, thereby activating the cytokinin signaling pathway. Mutations in these regulators partially diminished chlorophyll accumulation in PGA37-overexpressing seedlings, suggesting that PGA37-regulated chloroplast development is partially mediated by the cytokinin signaling through ARR13 and ARR21. Taken together, we propose that PGA37 orchestrates chloroplast development by coordinately regulating transcription factors from various families, including GLK2, ARR13, and ARR21, positioning it as a key regulator of chloroplast development.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Incidence, Severity, and Pain Self-Efficacy of Low Back Pain in the Female Healthcare Professionals and Their Impact on Overall Quality of Life: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

  British Journal of Hospital Medicine · 2025-06-20

  article

  Aims/Background Female healthcare professionals are prone to experiencing high rates of non-specific low back pain (LBP), significantly impacting their performance and overall well-being. This multi-center, retrospective study aims to investigate the frequency and severity of non-specific LBP among female healthcare professionals. Additionally, it seeks to assess the relationship among patients' physical condition, self-belief attributes, and quality of life, providing a comprehensive understanding of this crucial occupational health concern. Methods After propensity score matching (PSM), 1200 female clinical nurses (Study Group 1) and 1200 female doctors (Study Group 2) employed at 6 grade-A tertiary hospitals in Chongqing between November 2021 and January 2024 were included in the study. Additionally, 1200 healthy female volunteers who underwent routine physical examinations during the same period were enrolled as the Control Group. The study assessed the relationship between the incidence of LBP and various factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, pain intensity, LBP-related disability, pain self-efficacy, and overall quality of life. By comparing these factors, the research sought to investigate their impact on the overall well-being of the subjects. Results Significant variations were observed in the prevalence of LBP across the three groups, with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 exhibiting higher rates than the Control Group (p < 0.001). Notable differences were found in the mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and pain self-efficacy questionnaire (psEQ) scores among the three groups (p < 0.001), with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 recording higher mean scores than the Control Group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the mean subjective symptoms, clinical signs, limitations in daily activities, and total Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) LBP scores among the three groups (p < 0.001), with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 yielding lower mean scores than the Control Group (p < 0.001). Additionally, significant differences were observed in the mean social function, emotional role, mental health, and total 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) scores among the three groups (p < 0.001), with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 showing lower mean scores than the Control Group (p < 0.001). The total JOA LBP scores and total psEQ scores showed positive correlations with the total SF-36 scores in the individual groups and the overall study cohort, while the VAS scores were negatively correlated with the total SF-36 scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion LBP occurs more frequently among female healthcare professionals than the general female population. Moreover, they experience more severe pain, greater functional limitations, and a more pronounced decrease in their quality of life. Despite these challenges, the unique occupational demands result in a higher pain self-efficacy among female medical care workers, which could help alleviate the negative impact of LBP on their quality of life.

  PublisherDOI

• SLAMF9 activation by Akkermansia muciniphila-derived lipid LPE(16:0) drives IL-10+ B cell-mediated protection against ulcerative colitis

  Research Square · 2025-11-26

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cryopreservation of six tetraselmis species: Development of viability analysis and protocol application

  Cryobiology · 2025-11-25

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• The Extracellular Matrix Agrin Promotes Epicardial Cells Activation and Proliferation Post Myocardial Infarction in Mice

  Cell Biochemistry and Function · 2025-08-27 · 1 citations

  article

  The extracellular matrix protein (ECM) Agrin could facilitate cardiac regeneration and repair after myocardial infarction (MI), but its specific impacts on epicardial cells (EpiCs) remains unexplored. To investigate Agrin's influence on the activation and proliferation of EpiCs, we observed dynamic changes of Agrin in the heart of mice during developmental and injury periods. We also evaluated the effects of intramyocardial administration of Agrin post MI. We found that Agrin exhibited high expression in embryonic and neonatal myocardium and gradually decreased postnatally. Agrin treatment could stimulate EpiCs activation, proliferation, and migration post MI in mice. Agrin facilitated EpiCs' proliferation primarily by binding to the membrane receptor α-dystroglycan (α-DAG), with Yes-associated protein (YAP) acting as the intracellular transcriptional factor. Inhibiting the binding of Agrin to α-DAG resulted in reduced EpiCs proliferation and decreased YAP expression. Blocking YAP-TEAD activation also reduced the effects of Agrin on EpiCs proliferation. In addition, we also demonstrated that Agrin increased the survival rate of mice and improved heart function post MI. In conclusion, Agrin has the potential to promote EpiCs activation and proliferation, making it a promising candidate for heart repair post MI. The α-DAG-YAP axis is a crucial signaling pathway in Agrin-mediated EpiCs' activation, migration, and proliferation.

  PublisherDOI

• Lanthanide-Driven Li⁺/H⁺ Exchange for High Proton Conductivity in Li_13.9Sr_0.1Zn(GeO_4+δ)₄ Electrolyte for Proton-Conducting Ceramic Fuel Cells

  ACS Applied Energy Materials · 2025-09-07

  article

  Developing advanced electrolytes is crucial for intermediate-temperature proton-conducting ceramic fuel cells (IT-PCFCs). Li13.9Sr0.1Zn(GeO4+δ)4 is a lithium conductor exhibiting outstanding Li+ conductivity. Its nonframework and interstitial Li+ can be reversibly exchanged with H+, thereby creating migration pathways for H+ transport. This study utilizes a Li+/H+ ion-exchange strategy to convert the Li+ conductor Li13.9Sr0.1Zn(GeO4+δ)4 into a high-performance H+ electrolyte. Lanthanide doping is further employed to enhance the H+ conduction capability. Li13.8La0.1Sr0.1Zn(GeO4+δ)4 exhibits a proton conductivity of 0.067 S cm–1 at 600 °C, surpassing most state-of-the-art proton conductors reported in the literature, and enables the electrolyte-supported single cell to achieve a peak power density of 0.42 W cm–2. Structural and electrochemical characterization reveals that larger lanthanide ions effectively promote lattice expansion and Li+/H+ exchange, which directly correlates with improved electrochemical performance. The developed Li13.8La0.1Sr0.1Zn(GeO4+δ)4 electrolyte offers superior proton conductivity and long-term stability, highlighting its significant potential as a next-generation electrolyte for IT-PCFCs.

  PublisherDOI

• Immune function and transcriptome of hemocytes in northern quahogs Mercenaria mercenaria in response to acute salinity challenges

  Fish & Shellfish Immunology · 2025-07-31 · 1 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging for the assessment of renal injury in cirrhotic patients

  Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery · 2025-07-31 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Background: Renal dysfunction is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis, and early detection is crucial for timely intervention and treatment. Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) serves as a non-invasive imaging technique that provides valuable insights into tissue perfusion and diffusion changes, demonstrating significant superiority in assessing renal injury. This prospective study aimed to evaluate early renal injury in patients with cirrhosis using IVIM DWI and to explore the correlation of IVIM parameters with the severity of liver cirrhosis based on the Child-Pugh classification. Methods: ), and perfusion fraction (f) were derived from the bi-exponential model. In the control group, IVIM-derived parameters for both renal cortex and medulla were compared between right and left kidneys. Subsequently, IVIM-derived renal cortical and medullary parameters were compared between the cirrhotic and control groups. Additionally, within the cirrhotic group, IVIM-derived renal parameters were correlated with the Child-Pugh classification. Results: and f values in both cortical and medullary regions remained non-significant across Child-Pugh classification (all P>0.05). Conclusions: IVIM DWI non-invasively assesses early renal injury in cirrhotic patients, with reduced renal perfusion correlating with liver cirrhosis severity.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Feng Liu

  Fujian Provincial Hospital

  57 shared

• Qiang She

  Chongqing Medical University

  57 shared

• Feng Liu

  Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital

  57 shared

• Tianhua Xiong

  Dalian Medical University

  47 shared

• Dinghui Wang

  46 shared

• Jin Wang

  Stony Brook University

  45 shared

• Terrence R. Tiersch

  Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

  42 shared

• Bingquan Xiong

  Dalian Medical University

  39 shared