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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » People & Locations » Qijian Wei (Mei Mei)

Qijian Wei (Mei Mei)
Food and Feed Safety Research
Molecular Biologist

Phone: (504) 286-4394
Fax: (504) 286-4419

(Employee information on this page comes from the REE Directory. Please contact your front office staff to update the REE Directory.)


Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
Targeting the Aspergillus flavus p2c gene through host-induced gene silencing reduces A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination in transgenic maize Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Raruang, Y., Omolehin, O., Hu, D., Wei, Q., Promyou, S., Parekattil, L.J., Rajasekaran, K., Cary, J.W., Wang, K., Chen, Z.-Y. 2023. Targeting the Aspergillus flavus p2c gene through host-induced gene silencing reduces A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination in transgenic maize. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14:1150086. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1150086.
Small NRPS-like enzymes in Aspergillus sections Flavi and Circumdati selectively form substituted pyrazinone metabolites Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lebar, M.D., Mack, B.M., Carter Wientjes, C.H., Wei, Q., Mattison, C.P., Cary, J.W. 2022. Small NRPS-like enzymes in Aspergillus sections Flavi and Circumdati selectively form substituted pyrazinone metabolites. Frontiers in Fungal Biology. 3:1029195. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffunb.2022.1029195.
Resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize mediated by host-induced silencing of the Aspergillus flavus alkaline protease (alk) gene Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Omolehin, O., Raruang, Y., Hu, D., Han, Z.-Q., Wei, Q., Wang, K., Rajasekaran, K., Cary, J.W., Chen, Z.-Y. 2021. Resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in maize mediated by host-induced silencing of the Aspergillus flavus alkaline protease (alk) gene. The Journal of Fungi. 7(11):904. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110904.
Characterization of morphological changes within stromata during sexual reproduction in Aspergillus flavus Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Luis, J.M., Carbone, I., Payne, G.A., Bhatnagar, D., Cary, J.W., Moore, G.G., Lebar, M.D., Wei, Q., Mack, B., Ojiambo, P.S. 2020. Characterization of morphological changes within stromata during sexual reproduction in Aspergillus flavus. Mycologia. 112(5):908-920. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2020.1800361.
Host induced gene silencing targeting Aspergillus flavus aflM reduced aflatoxin contamination in transgenic maize under field conditions Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Raruang, Y., Omolehin, O., Hu, D., Wei, Q., Han, Z.-Q., Rajasekaran, K., Cary, J.W., Wang, K., Chen, Z.-Y. 2020. Host induced gene silencing targeting Aspergillus flavus aflM reduced aflatoxin contamination in transgenic maize under field conditions. Frontiers in Microbiology. 11:754. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00754.
The secondary metabolism of Aspergillus flavus: small molecules with diverse biological function - (Abstract Only)
Comparison of aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus at different temperatures and media: proteome analysis based on TMT Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, P., Chang, P.-K., Kong, Q., Shan, S., Wei, Q. 2019. Comparison of aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus at different temperatures and media: proteome analysis based on TMT. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 310:108313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108313.
Identification of a copper-transporting ATPase involved in biosynthesis of A. flavus conidial pigment Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chang, P.-K., Scharfenstein, L.L., Mack, B.M., Wei, Q., Gilbert, M.K., Lebar, M.D., Cary, J.W. 2019. Identification of a copper-transporting ATPase involved in biosynthesis of A. flavus conidial pigment. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 103:4889-4897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-019-09820-0.
Aspergillus flavus secondary metabolites and their roles in fungal development, survival and virulence - (Abstract Only)
Host-induced silencing of Aspergillus flavus genes to control preharvest aflatoxin contamination in maize - (Abstract Only)
Identification and functional analysis of the aspergillic acid gene cluster in Aspergillus flavus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lebar, M.D., Cary, J.W., Majumdar, R., Carter-Wientjes, C.H., Mack, B.M., Wei, Q., Uka, V., De Saeger, S., Diana Di Mavungu, J. 2018. Identification and functional analysis of the aspergillic acid gene cluster in Aspergillus flavus. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 116:14-23.
RNA interference-based silencing of the alpha-amylase (amy1) gene in Aspergillus flavus decreases fungal growth and aflatoxin production in maize kernels Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gilbert, M.K., Majumdar, R., Rajasekaran, K., Chen, Z.-Y., Wei, Q., Sickler, C.M., Lebar, M.D., Cary, J.W., Frame, B.R., Wang, K. 2018. RNA interference-based silencing of the alpha-amylase (amy1) gene in Aspergillus flavus decreases fungal growth and aflatoxin production in maize kernels. Planta. 247:1465–1473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2875-0.
The Aspergillus flavus homeobox gene, hbx1, is required for development and aflatoxin production Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cary, J.W., Harris-Coward, P.Y., Scharfenstein, L.L., Mack, B.M., Chang, P.-K., Wei, Q., Lebar, M.D., Carter-Wientjes, C.H., Majumdar, R., Mitra, C., Banerjee, S., Chanda, A. 2017. The Aspergillus flavus homeobox gene, hbx1, is required for development and aflatoxin production. Toxins. 9(10):315. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins9100315.
The pathogenesis-related maize seed (PRms) gene plays a role in resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Majumdar, R., Rajasekaran, K., Sickler, C.M., Lebar, M.D., Musungu, B.M., Fakhoury, A.M., Payne, G.A., Geisler, M., Carter-Wientjes, C.H., Wei, Q., Bhatnagar, D., Cary, J.W. 2017. The pathogenesis-related maize seed (PRms) gene plays a role in resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination. Frontiers in Plant Science. 8:1758. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01758.
Fidelity of a simple Liberty leaf-painting assay to validate transgenic maize plants expressing the selectable marker gene, bar Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rajasekaran, K., Majumdar, R., Sickler, C., Wei, Q., Cary, J.W., Bhatnagar, D. 2017. Fidelity of a simple Liberty leaf-painting assay to validate transgenic maize plants expressing the selectable marker gene, bar. Journal of Crop Improvement. 31(4):628-636. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2017.1327913.
RNA sequencing of an nsdC mutant reveals global regulation of secondary metabolic gene clusters in Aspergillus flavus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gilbert, M.K., Mack, B.M., Wei, Q., Bland, J.M., Bhatnagar, D., Cary, J.W. 2016. RNA sequencing of an nsdC mutant reveals global regulation of secondary metabolic gene clusters in Aspergillus flavus. Microbiological Research. 182:150-161.
Transcriptome analysis of Aspergillus flavus reveals veA-dependent regulation of secondary metabolite gene clusters, including the novel aflavarin cluster - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cary, J.W., Han, Z., Yin, Y., Lohmar, J.M., Shantappa, S., Harris-Coward, P.Y., Mack, B.M., Ehrlich, K.C., Wei, Q., Arroyo-Manzanares, N., Uka, V., Vanhaecke, L., Bhatnagar, D., Yu, J., Nierman, W.C., Johns, M., Sorensen, D., Shen, H., De Saeger, S., Diana Di Mavungu, J., Calvo, A.M. 2015. Transcriptome analysis of Aspergillus flavus reveals veA-dependent regulation of secondary metabolite gene clusters, including the novel aflavarin cluster. Eukaryotic Cell. 14(10):983-997. doi: 10.1128/EC.00092-15.
An Aspergillus flavus secondary metabolic gene cluster containing a hybrid PKS-NRPS is necessary for synthesis of the 2-pyridones, leporins - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cary, J.W., Uka, V., Han, Z., Buyst, D., Harris-Coward, P.Y., Ehrlich, K.C., Wei, Q., Bhatnagar, D., Dowd, P.F., Martens, S., Calvo, A.M., Martins, J.C., Vanhaecke, L., Coenye, T., De Saeger, S., Diana Di Mavungu, J. 2015. An Aspergillus flavus secondary metabolic gene cluster containing a hybrid PKS-NRPS is necessary for synthesis of the 2-pyridones, leporins. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 81:88-97.
RNAi silencing of the 14 kDa trypsin inhibitor protein in maize and its effect on host resistance against Aspergillus flavus infection/aflatoxin production - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chen, Z.Y., Warburton, M.L., Hawkins, L.K., Wei, Q., Brown, R.L., Bhatnagar, D., Raruang, Y. 2016. Production of the 14 kDa trypsin inhibitor protein is important for maize resistance against Aspergillus flavus infection/aflatoxin. World Mycotoxin Journal. 9(2):215-228.
RNA interference-mediated control of Aspergillus flavus in maize - (Abstract Only)
RNA-seq analysis of an nsdC mutant in Aspergillus flavus - (Abstract Only)
Association with AflR in endosomes reveals new functions for AflJ in aflatoxin biosynthesis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ehrlich, K., Mack, B.M., Wei, Q., Li, P., Roze, L.V., Dazzo, F., Cary, J.W., Bhatnagar, D., Linz, J.E. 2012. Association with AflR in endosomes reveals new functions for AflJ in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Toxins. 4:1582-1600.
Functional and phylogenetic analysis of the Aspergillus ochraceoroseus aflQ (ordA) gene ortholog - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cary, J.W., Harris-Coward, P.Y., Ehrlich, K., Moore, G.G., Wei, Q., Bhatnagar, D. 2012. Functional and phylogenetic analysis of the Aspergillus ochraceoroseus aflQ (ordA) gene ortholog . Mycologia. 104(4):857-864.
Effects of laeA deletion on Aspergillus flavus conidial development and hydrophobicity may contribute to loss of aflatoxin production - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chang, P.-K., Scharfenstein, L.L., Ehrlich, K., Wei, Q., Bhatnagar, D., Ingber, B.F. 2012. Effects of laeA deletion on Aspergillus flavus conidial development and hydrophobicity may contribute to loss of aflatoxin production. Fungal Biology. 116:298-307.
Inverse correlation of ability to produce aflatoxin and aspergillus colonization of maize seed - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ehrlich, K., Wei, Q., Brown, R.L., Bhatnagar, D. 2011. Inverse correlation of ability to produce aflatoxin and aspergillus colonization of maize seed. Food and Nutrition Sciences. 2:486-489.
Increased Sensitivity of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Polyketide Synthase Mutants to UVB Light - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ehrlich, K., Wei, Q., Bhatnagar, D. 2010. Increased Sensitivity of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Polyketide Synthase Mutants to UVB Light. World Mycotoxin Journal. 3(3):263-270.
Development and refinement of a high-efficiency gene-targeting system for Aspergillus flavus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chang, P.-K., Scharfenstein, L.L., Wei, Q., Bhatnagar, D. 2010. Development and refinement of a high-efficiency gene-targeting system for Aspergillus flavus. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 81:240-246.
Application of microsatellite and RAPD fingerprints in the Florida sugarcane variety program - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Pan, Y.-B., Miller, J.D., Schnell, R.J., Richard Jr, E.P., Wei, Q. 2003. Application of microsatellite and RAPD fingerprints in the Florida sugarcane variety program. Sugar Cane International. March/April 2003:19-28.