Renewable Product Technology 

1815 N University, Peoria, IL 61604

Contact: (309)-681-6078 

Fax: (309) 681-6040

Education

B.A. - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology - Boston University - 2013

Ph.D. - Biology - Washington University in St. Louis - 2021

Dr. Yunci Qi received his Ph.D. in 2021 from Washington University in St Louis, where he studied the biosynthesis of polycyclic tetramate macrolactam natural products in Streptomyces bacteria. He joined the USDA Agricultural Research Service as a postdoc at the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, LA, where he studied microbial contaminants in sugar production facilities. Dr. Qi joined National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, IL in 2024. His current research focuses on engineering bacterial strains and enzymes to increase productivity of useful oligosaccharides and an antibiotic adjuvant called tunicamycin.

Dr. Yunci Qi Google Scholar Page 

• Projects

  Antimicrobials for Biorefining and Agricultural Applications In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:439228

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Characterization of levan fructan produced by a Gluconobacter japonicus strain isolated from a sugarcane processing facility -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruni, G.O., Qi, Y., Terrell, E., Dupre, R.A., Mattison, C.P. 2024. Characterization of levan fructan produced by a Gluconobacter japonicus strain isolated from a sugarcane processing facility. Microorganisms. 12(1). Article 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010107.
    
  • Molecular cloning of bacterial exopolysaccharide forming enzymes in sugarcane processing and biological and agricultural applications-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Influence of oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides on enzymatic and microbial activity in sugarcane processing -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Terrell, E., Qi, Y., Bruni, G.O., Heck, E. 2023. Influence of oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides on enzymatic and microbial activity in sugarcane processing. Processes. 11(9). Article 2693. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092693.
    
  • Draft genomes of 17 bacterial isolates from Louisiana raw sugarcane factory juices and biofilms -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Qi, Y., Bruni, G.O. 2023. Draft genomes of 17 bacterial isolates from Louisiana raw sugarcane factory juices and biofilms. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 12(9). Article e00416-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00416-23.
    
  • Microbiome analysis of sugarcane juices and biofilms from Louisiana raw sugar factories -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Qi, Y., Bruni, G.O., Klasson, K.T. 2023. Microbiome analysis of sugarcane juices and biofilms from Louisiana raw sugar factories. Microbiology Spectrum. 11(3). Article e04345-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04345-22.
    
  • Recovery of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum plant extract using a solvent mixture, and its potential use as a nematicide -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Klasson, K.T., Qi, Y., Bruni, G.O., Watson, T.T., Pancio, B.T., Terrell, E. 2023. Recovery of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum plant extract using a solvent mixture, and its potential use as a nematicide. Life. 13(3). Article 724. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030724
    
  • Characterization of exopolysaccharides from dextran- and fructan-forming microorganisms from sugar crops-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Impact of hypochlorite, carbamate, and hop extract biocides on enzymatic processing aid activity-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Isolation and analysis of microbial contaminants from Louisiana raw sugarcane factories-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruni, G.O., Qi, Y., Klasson, K.T., Lima, I.M., Terrell, E. 2022. Isolation and analysis of microbial contaminants from Louisiana raw sugarcane factories. International Sugar Journal. 124(1485):530-538.