1. No category

A. Topics for 2-semester UG research project course
(BISC) LIFS 4970/4980 (BCB) LIFS 4971/LIFS 4981 (BIOT) LIFS 4973/ LIFS 4983
Faculty name
Dr. Karen Kit Yu CHAN
karenchan@ust.hk
Project
code
A001
Research topic
Remarks
1: Effect of climate change related stressors on early life stage of
marine invertebrate
2: Effect of microplastic on early life stage of marine invertebrate
3: Seasonal dynamic of zooplankton community in Port Shelter
4: Seasonal dynamic of carbonate chemistry of Hong Kong coastal
water: implications for ocean acidification
1: Post-transcriptional regulation of muscle stem cell activation
1-2 student
[A maximum of
three students
will be
accepted]
Prof. Nancy Y IP
A019
A020
1: Characterization of mutants with defect in controlling DNA
replication and ploidy
2: Characterization of tight junctional complex and its cytoplasmic
transduction molecules
3: Genetics of fan morphogenesis by genetic screen with KC62 or
derivatives
4: Verification of a global transcription factor to up and down
regulation of target gene via differential DNA binding
5: Identification of interacting components in transcriptional
machinery for body shape control
6: Genetic screening for mutants antagonizing BMP pathway activity
in C. elegans
7: In vitro evaluation of human disease mutation of a conserved gene
on its role in neural differentiation
8: Establishment of a gastropoda genetic model from molecular
biology to genetics
9: Optimization of culture condition for Convolutriloba for clonal
expansion
1: Characterization of familial Parkinson's disease linked gene
products
1: Molecular mechanisms that regulate surface delivery of epidermal
growth factor receptor
2: Molecular mechanisms that regulate surface delivery of Frizzled
receptors
1: Investigating the regulation of piezoelectrical protein prestin in the
outer hair cells
2: Function and Regulation of TMC1 protein in auditory hair cells
1: Pathophysiological basis of Alzheimer’s disease
Dr. Toyotaka ISHIBASHI
A021
1: Elucidating histone replacement mechanism in testes
1 or 2 semesters
toyotaka@ust.hk
Prof. Robert K M KO
A022
1:Yang-invigorating action of Chinese tonic herbs
bcrko@ust.hk
Dr. Stanley C K LAU
2 students, BCB
and BISC
ONLY
A023
1: Genetic and phenotypic attributes required for E. coli to grow and
reproduce in marine sediment
2: Effects of microcins on the growth and reproduction of E. coli
1: Functional and quantitative PTM proteomics and cell signaling
A002
A003
A004
Dr. Tom Hiu Tung
CHEUNG
tcheung@ust.hk
Prof. King Lau CHOW
bokchow@ust.hk
A005
A006
A007
A008
A009
A010
A011
A012
A013
A014
Dr. Kenny K CHUNG
bckchung@ust.hk
Dr. Yusong GUO
guoyusong@ust.hk
A015
A016
A017
Dr. Pingbo HUANG
bohuangp@ust.hk
scklau@ust.hk
Prof. Ning LI
boningl@ust.hk i
Dr. Chun LIANG
bccliang@ust.hk
Dr. Hongbin LIU
liuhb@ust.hk
A018
A024
A025
A026
A027
A028
A029
A030
Dr. Kai LIU
kailiu@ust.hk
A031
1 student
1-2 student
1 student
1 or 2 semesters
BCB ONLY
1: DNA replication initiation proteins in budding yeast
2: DNA replication initiation proteins in human cells
3: Lung cancer metastasis mechanisms.
1: Effect of temperature increase on the respiration rate of auto- and
heterotrophic microbial organisms
2: Effect of DOM and viruses on Achaea in estuarine and coastal
waters
1: Mechanisms of the conditioning lesion effect in dorsal root
ganglion neurons
1
A032
Dr. Ho Yi MAK
hym@ust.hk
Dr. Hyokeun PARK
hkpark@ust.hk
A033
A034
A035
A036
A037
A038
A039
Prof. Randy Y C POON
rycpoon@ust.hk
Prof. Robert Zhong QI
qirz@ust.hk
Prof. Peiyuan QIAN
boqianpy@ust.hk
Prof. Karl TSIM
botsim@ust.hk
A040
A041
A042
A043
1: Investigation of exocytosis of synaptic vesicles using FM 1-43 in
Huntington's disease mouse model.
2: Calculation of fusion mode of single synaptic vesicles using
quantum dot labelled vesicles
3. Investigation of optimal markers for mitochondria using
aggregation-induced emission(AIE)
4. Measuring morphology changes of dendritic spines using
fluorescent light-inducible proteins
5. Measuring movement of single synaptic vesicles in live neurons
6. Mechanism of Single Histone Methylation using Fluorescence
Resonance Energy Transfer
1: Characterisation of the effects of novel ant-mitotic drug candidates
on cancer cell lines
2: The role of MASTL (Greatwall kinase) in DNA damage
1: Molecular and cell biology of cytoskeletal organization
A046
1: Development of secondary metabolite fingerprinting database of
marine bacteria using UPLC-MS and MS-MS
1: Development of Chinese medicine as health food products in Hong
Kong.
2: Quality control of Chinese herbs: chemical and biological
analyses.
1: Heavy metal pollution monitoring in Pearl River Estuary.
A047
1: Chromosome integrity mutants in dinoflagellates
A044
A045
Prof. Wenxiong WANG
wwang@ust.hk
Prof. Joseph T Y WONG
botin@ust.hk
2: Non-visual functions of the intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin
retinal ganglion cells
1: Identification of a diet that reduces fat storage in C. elegans
Description:
The dinoflagellates not only have genome sizes up to 80-100 times
that of human beings (up to 250 vs 3 pg of haploid genome size),
they are also devoid of detectable-nucleosomes and their
chromosomes are apparently quasi-condensed throughout the cell
cycle. Why do they have so much DNA is still a mystery; one
hypothesis of non-coding domains being “structural” support to the
coding domains
A048
We recently demonstrated resilience of dinoflagellates to DNA
damage agents. The present project aims to isolate and characterize
dinoflagellate mutants with different genome sizes. The project will
involve cell biological and molecular techniques in the generation
and monitoring of dinoflagellate lines. The resulting lines of
dinoflagellates will help to delineate the possible loss of genomic
DNA on the resulting dino-chromosomes. Students will receive
training in the culture of algae, microscopy, cell biological and
molecular biological techniques, which will also be involved in the
characterization of the isolated mutants.
2: Minicircles – chloroplast genomes of dinoflagellates
Description:
Replication of organelle genomes has to be regulated in relation to
the replication of the nuclear genome for faithful passage to the
daughter cells. Counter to the large (>120 kb) organelle DNA found
in other photosynthetic organisms, the chloroplast genomes of many
dinoflagellates are found in the nuclear genome and in multiple
circular DNA approximately 2 kb in sizes. Such “minicircles”, while
mostly unigenic, carry from none to two open reading frames of
chloroplast genes. These dinoflagellates’ minicircles probably
represent the penultimate reduction of the plastid genomes, before the
total integration into the nuclear genomes. We previously reported
the involvement of rolling circle intermediates in the replication of
minicircles. Taking advantages of semi-synchronized dinoflagellate
cells, changes of minicircle dosage directly in response to a light/dark
regime will be studied. How and why was the plastid genome
BISC only
BISC and
ENVS only, up
to 4 students
BISC and
ENVS only, up
to 4 students
2
fragmented and nuclear transferred? Is it correlated with the
dinoflagellate genomes being permanently condensed?
How will these minicircles behave in response to inhibitors of plastid
replication ?
Dinoflagellates are amazing group of organisms for many other
reasons: Dinoflagellates are also the primary producer of the coral
reef community (as symbiotic zooxanthallae) and major causative
agents of red tides and many natural products (e.g. Omega-3,
Dinoflagellates are also the sister group to many major human
parasites,
including
Plasmodium
(malaria)
and
Toxoplasma.(Toxoplasmosis).
http://wordsinmocean.com/2013/01/08/5-reasons-why-dinoflagellates
-are-friggin-awesome/
Dr. Wan Keung WONG
bcwkrw@ust.hk
Prof. Yung Hou WONG
boyung@ust.hk
Prof. Zhenguo WU
bczgwu@ust.hk
Prof. Jun XIA
jxia@ust.hk
Prof. Hannah Hong XUE
hxue@ust.hk
Dr. Yan YAN
yany@ust.hk
Dr. Qinglu ZENG
zeng@ust.hk
Prof. Mingjie ZHANG
mzhang@ust.hk
Prof. Guang ZHU
gzhu@ust.hk
Dr. Danny Leung (New
Faculty)
leung.dcy@gmail.com
Prof. David K
BANFIELD
bodkb@ust.hk
Prof. David K
BANFIELD
bodkb@ust.hk
A049
A050
A051
A052
A053
A054
A055
A056
A057
A058
A059
A060
A061
A062
A063
A064
A065
A066
A067
A068
A069
A070
A071
A072
https://www.dsm.com/markets/foodandbeverages/en_US/products/nu
tritional-lipids/life-dha.html
1: Expression of valuable proteins in Escherichia coli
2: Expression of valuable proteins in Bacillus subtilis
3: Demystifying the mechanisms for intein-extein cleavages
1: Regulation of tumorigenesis by G protein signaling
2: Structure and function of Nm23 metastasis suppressors
1:The role of MST3 in muscle differentiation and muscle stem cell
regulation
2: The role of PI3K in regulation of muscle stem cells
1: Protein trafficking and its role in diseases such as diabetes
2: Molecular mechanism of synapse formation, function and autism
1: GABAA receptor structure, function and genetics
2: The application of bioinformatics
3: Human Genome and diseases
1: Genetic screening for factors regulating growth control
2: Genetic screening for factors regulating tissue morphogenesis
1: Isolation of bacteriophages infecting cyanobacteria
2. Gene expression of infected cyanobacteria
1: Biochemical characterizations of gene products related to autisms
and schizophrenia.
1: DNA replication at telomere
2: Structure-function of telomerase
3: Structure-function mammalian pre DNA replication complex
1: Delineating epigenetic mechanisms in melanoma
2: Discovery of active repetitive elements at specific developmental
stages
1: Using yeast to study protein trafficking at the ER-Golgi interface
2: Using the regenerative flat worm (planarian) to investigate the
nature of learning and memory
BISC and
BIOT only
BCB only
1 quota and
BCB only
Updated on 28
May 2015
Updated on 28
May 2015
B. Topics for 1-semester Capstone course – UG Research project
2015-2016
(BISC) LIFS4960 (BCB) LIFS 4961 (BIOT) LIFS 4963
Faculty name
Project
code
Research topic
Remarks
Dr. Kenny K CHUNG
bckchung@ust.hk
Prof. Karl HERRUP
herrup@ust.hk
Dr. Toyotaka ISHIBASHI
B001
1 or 2 semesters
B002
1: Characterization of familial Parkinson's disease linked gene
products
1: Control of cell number in the brain - from conception to death
B003
1: Elucidating histone replacement mechanism in testes
Group project:
5 students
1 or 2 semesters
3
toyotaka@ust.hk
Prof. Ning LI
boningli@ust.hk
B004
1: From calcium code to PTM code
C. Topics for 1-semester Capstone course – UG Literature review
2015-2016
(BISC) LIFS4960 (BCB) LIFS 4961 (BIOT) LIFS 4963
Faculty name
Project
code
Topic for Literature review
Dr. Karen Kit Yu CHAN
karenchan@ust.hk
C001
1: Thermal tolerance of marine invertebrates: latitude difference and
adaptation potential
2: Effect of hypoxia on ecological interactions
3: Size matter? Effect of size on swimming speed and fluid
disturbance of zooplanktons
1: Epigenetic regulation of somatic stem cells
2: Stem cell ageing
C002
C003
Dr. Tom Hiu Tung
CHEUNG
tcheung@ust.hk
Prof. King Lau CHOW
bokchow@ust.hk
C004
C005
C006
C012
1: Molecular regulation of symbiosis : cross talk and gene
integration, the genetics of convergence into one
2: Triparental inheritance : historical build up and practical
implementation, social impact
3: Taming of the wolf : domestication and natural selection of
devastating diseases
4: Selection of social behaviors : the match of environment, the
adapted phenotype, the machinery and the pace of change
5: The connection of lives : human, worm, bacteria and mental
disorder
6: Creation of a code : the possibility of embedded message in
DNA sequence
1: Factors that contribute to neurodegenerative disorders
C013
C014
C015
C016
C017
C018
1: Molecular mechanisms that regulate clathrin-mediated endocytosis
2: Organization of the Golgi apparatus
1. Development of the auditory hair cells
2. Physics of the hearing process
1: Biomarkers of neurodegeneration
1: Transcription regulation through nucleosomes
C019
1: Biochemical basis of diseases
C020
1: Are swimmers in public beaches in HK sufficiently protected from
waterborne diseases? A critical review of the water quality
monitoring methods and water quality criteria adopted by the HK
government.
2: Population genetics of Escherichia coli in two highly contrasting
but interconnected habitats: animal body and the external
environment
1: Cancer prevention
2: Cancer therapy
1: Long term trend of seawater pH in Hong Kong waters
2: Microorganisms in ballast water (global issue or Hong Kong
problem)
1: Mechanisms of the conditioning lesion effect in dorsal root
ganglion neurons
2: Non-visual functions of the intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin
retinal ganglion cells
1: Development of technologies for editing invertebrate genomes
2: Strategies for combating parasitic nematodes
1: Sake: history, biochemistry, and style
2: BioArt: aesthetics, techniques, and ethics
C007
C008
C009
C010
C011
Dr. Kenny K CHUNG
bckchung@ust.hk
Dr. Yusong GUO
guoyusong@ust.hk
Dr. Pingbo HUANG
bohuangp@ust.hk
Prof. Nancy Y IP
Dr. Toyotaka ISHIBASHI
toyotaka@ust.hk
Prof. Robert K M KO
bcrko@ust.hk
Dr. Stanley C K LAU
scklau@ust.hk
C021
Dr. Chun LIANG
bccliang@ust.hk
Dr. Hongbin LIU
liuhb@ust.hk
Dr. Kai LIU
kailiu@ust.hk
C022
C023
C024
C025
C026
C027
Dr. Ho Yi MAK
hym@ust.hk
Prof. Randy Y C POON
rycpoon@ust.hk
C028
C029
C030
C031
Remarks
[A maximum
of four
students will be
accepted]
BCB students
ONLY
2 students,
BCB and BISC
ONLY
4
Prof. Robert Zhong QI
qirz@ust.hk
Prof. Peiyuan QIAN
boqianpy@ust.hk
Prof. Karl TSIM
botsim@ust.hk
Prof. Wenxiong WANG
wwang@ust.hk
Prof. Zilong WEN
zilong@ust.hk
Prof. Joseph T Y WONG
botin@ust.hk
Prof. Yung Hou WONG
boyung@ust.hk
Prof. Zhenguo WU
bczgwu@ust.hk
Prof. Jun XIA
jxia@ust.hk
Prof. Hannah Hong XUE
hxue@ust.hk
Dr. Yan YAN
yany@ust.hk
Dr. Qinglu ZENG
zeng@ust.hk
Prof. Mingjie ZHANG
mzhang@ust.hk
Prof. Guang ZHU
gzhu@ust.hk
Dr. Danny Leung (New
Faculty)
leung.dcy@gmail.com
Prof. David K BANFIELD
bodkb@ust.hk
C032
C033
C034
C035
1: Molecular insights into the control of human brain size
2: Functional genomics of cancer metastasis
3: Genetics and cell biology of human gender
1: Biological adaptation of deep-sea organisms to ultra-high pressure
C036
C037
1: Current market for Chinese medicine in Hong Kong and China.
2: Safety of Chinese medicine: what can we do to control that in
Hong Kong market.
1: heavy metal pollution in Pearl River Estuary.
C038
BISC only
C039
1: The development and function of regulatory T cells
C040
2: The role of SCL in normal hematopoiesis and lymphoid leukemia
C041
1: 5-hydroxymethyluracil in dinoflagellates
C042
2: Life-history stages in dinoflagellates
References
Leung, S.K. and Wong, J.T.Y. (2009) The Replication of Plastid Minicircles
Involves Rolling Circle Intermediates. Nucleic Acids Research 37: 1991-2002.
Moreau H., Géraud M.L., Bhaud Y., Soyer-Gobillard M.O. (1998) Cloning,
characterization and chromosomal localization of a repeated sequence in a
dinoflagellate : Crypthecodinium cohnii Biecheler. Internatl. Microbiol.1:35-43.
C043
1: Orphan G protein-coupled receptors
C044
C045
C046
C047
C048
C049
C050
C051
C052
C053
C054
C055
C056
C057
C058
2: G protein-coupled receptors in liver cancer
(1: Regulation of muscle regeneration by the immune system
2: Regulation of brown fat cells
1: The molecular mechanisms of learning and memory
2: Autism: gene and disease
1: Bioinformatic applications in integrated data mining
2: Chinese herbal medicine with CNS activities
3: GABAA receptor structure, function and genetics
1: Growth control during animal development
2: Tissue morphogenesis during animal development
1: Bacteriophage genomics
2. Metabolism of cyanobacteria
1: Why mutations of certain genes can cause psychiatric disorders to
a selected portion of people.
1: Structure-functional study of pre DNA replication complex
2: Structure-functional study of telomere repeat binding factors
C059
1: Three dimensional organization of chromatin in the nucleus.
C060
2: Epigenetics in transcriptional regulation.
C061
The role of the human microbiota in aging
C062
The role of the Golgi in cancer development
C063
The next generation of antibiotics
BCB only
BCB only
Updated on 28
May 2015
Updated on 28
May 2015
Updated on 28
May 2015
5