Jing Han Ph.D.

Research Microbiologist — Division of Microbiology

Jing Han, Ph.D.
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov  

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 About  |  Publications 

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Background

Dr. Jing Han is a research microbiologist in the Division of Microbiology at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). Dr. Han received her Master of Science degree in veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine from China Agricultural University. Her research focused mainly on the development of an Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV) detection kit. Using the monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies that Dr. Han developed, an ALV detection kit was developed and has been commercialized in China and extensively used by poultry farms to detect virus antigens and antibodies in serum or egg samples. After receiving her Master of Science degree, Dr. Han attended Iowa State University to pursue her Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology. The focus of her research was on identification of novel mechanisms involved in the emergence and fitness of fluoroquinolone–resistant Campylobacter.

After earning her Ph.D., Dr. Han joined NCTR as a postdoctoral fellow and conducted research related to understanding the mechanisms that facilitate the spread and persistence of virulent and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Following her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Han joined the Public Health Laboratory of the Arkansas Department of Health as a microbiologist, where she conducted microbiological testing and interpretation of results, data analyses, and administrative duties. In 2015, Dr. Han rejoined NCTR as a research microbiologist where she served as a principal investigator on a project funded by FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products focusing on smokeless tobacco-associated microbiology. She also served as the principal investigator of several NCTR protocols that aims to develop improved databases for Salmonella virulence gene identification and plasmid characterization and to develop the analytical tools for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data analyses and characterizing potential targets for anti-virulence drug assessment.
 

Research Interests

Dr. Han’s main research interests are in the fields of antimicrobial resistance, pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens, and microbial characterization of FDA-regulated products. Her research projects at NCTR include:

• Genetic characterization of antimicrobial resistance and associated genetic factors in Salmonella serovars associated with food animals and invasive human infections
• Sequencing and functional analysis of plasmids isolated from multi-antimicrobial resistant bacteria
• Evaluation of the relative selective potential of antimicrobial agents to trigger the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors to susceptible Salmonella
• Investigation of microbial populations in different products by different approaches (culture-based, molecular, and bioinformatics approaches)
• Development of improved databases for Salmonella and E. coli virulence gene identification and plasmid characterization
• Development of the analytical tools for WGS data analyses
• Characterizing potential targets for anti-virulence drug assessment.
   

Professional Societies/National and International

American Society for Microbiology
Member
2007 – Present

MidSouth Conference on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Member
2017 – Present

Selected Publications

Genotypic Analyses of IncHI2 Plasmids from Enteric Bacteria.
Algarni S., Gudeta D., Han J., Nayak R., and Foley S.L. 
Scientific Reports. 2024, Volume 14, Article number: 9802. 

Infection Biology of Salmonella enterica.
Han J., Aljahdali N., Zhao S., Tang H., Harbottle H., Hoffmann M., Frye J.G., and Foley S.L. 
EcoSal Plus. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0001-2023.

Development of an Antimicrobial Resistance Plasmid Transfer Gene Database for Enteric Bacteria.
Algarni S., Foley S.L., Tang H., Zhao S., Gudeta D., Khajanchi B.K., Ricke S.C., and Han J. 
Frontiers in Bioinformatics. 2023, 3:1279359.

Investigation of Microorganisms in Cannabis after Heating in a Commercial Vaporizer.
Sopovski S.D., Han J., Stevens-Riley M., Wang Q., Erickson D.B., Oktem B., Vanlandingham M., Taylor C.L., and Foley S.L. 
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 2023, 12:1051272. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1051272.

Genomic Diversity, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Virulence Gene Profiles of Salmonella Serovar Kentucky Isolated from Humans, Food, and Animal Ceca Content Sources in the United States.
Tate H., Hsu C., Chen J., Han J., Foley S.L., Folster J., Watkins L.K.F., Reynolds J., Tillman G.E., Nyirabahizi E., and Zhao S. 
Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 2022, 19(8):509-521.

The Dynamics of the Antimicrobial Resistance Mobilome of Salmonella enterica and Related Enteric Bacteria.
Algarni S., Ricke S.C., Foley S.L., and Han J. 
Frontiers in Microbiology. 2022, 13:859854. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.859854.

Incompatibility Group I1 (IncI1) Plasmids: Their Genetics, Biology, and Public Health Relevance.
Foley S.L., Kaldhone P.R., Ricke S.C., and Han J.
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 2021, 85 (2).

Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Incompatibility Group FIB Positive Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Isolates from Food Animal Sources.
Aljahdali N., Khajanchi B.K., Weston K., Deck J., Cox J., Singh R., Gilbert J., Sanad Y., Han J., Nayak R., and Foley S.L.
Genes. 2020, 11(11), 1307. 

Whole Genome Sequences of 66 Incompatibility Group FIB Plasmid-carrying Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Isolates from Food Animal Sources.
Aljahdali N., Foley S.L., Han J., Sanad Y., Nayak R., and Khajanchi B.K.
Microbiol Resour Announc. 2020, 9:e01435-19.

Evaluation of Incompatibility Group I1 (IncI1) Plasmid-Containing Salmonella enterica and Assessment of the Plasmids in Bacteriocin Production and Biofilm Development.
Kaldhone P.R., Carlton A., Aljahdali N., Khajanchi B.K., Sanad Y., Han J., Deck J., Ricke S.C., and Foley S.L.
Front. Vet. Sci. 2019.

Impact of Co-Carriage of IncA/C Plasmids with Additional Plasmids on the Transfer of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella enterica Isolates.
Han J., Pendleton S.J., Deck J., Singh R., Gilbert J., Johnson T.J., Sanad Y.M., Nayak R., and Foley S.L.
Int. J. Food Microbiol. 2018, 271:77-84.

Evaluation of the Genetics and Functionality of Incompatibility 1 (IncI1) Plasmids from Salmonella enterica.
Kaldhone P.R., Han J., Deck J., Khajanchi B., Nayak R., Foley S.L., and Ricke S.C.
Foodborne Path. Dis. 2018, 15(3):168-176.

Cj1199 Affect the Development of Erythromycin Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni Through Regulation of Leucine Biosynthesis.
Hao H., Li F., Han J., Foley S.L., Dai M., Wang X., Wang Y., Huang L., Sun Y., Liu Z., and Yuan Z.
Front. Microbiol. 2017, 8:16.

Bacterial Populations Associated with Smokeless Tobacco Products.
Han J., Sanad Y., Deck J., Sutherland J.B., Li Z., Walters M.J., Duran N., Holman M.R., and Foley S.L.
Appl Enivron Microbiol. 2016, 82(20):6273-6283.

Evaluation of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Isolates From Humans and Chicken- and Egg-associated Sources.
Han J., Gokulan K., Barnette D., Khare S., Rooney A.W., Deck J., Nayak R., Stefanova R., Hart M.E., and Foley S.L.
Foodborne Path Dis. 2013, 10(12):1008-1015.

The Contribution of ArsB to Arsenic Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni.
Shen Z., Han J., Wang Y., Sahin O., and Zhang Q.
PLOS ONE. 2013, 8(3):e58894.

Impact of Plasmids, Including Those Encoding VirB4/D4 type IV Secretion Systems on Salmonella enterica Serovar Heidelberg Virulence in Macrophages and Epithelial Cells.
Gokulan K., Han J., Khare S., Rooney A.W., Lynne A.M., and Foley S.L.
PLOS ONE. 2013, 8(10):e77866.

DNA Sequence Analysis of Multidrug Resistance Encoding Plasmids from Salmonella enterica Serotype Heidelberg Isolates.
Han J., Lynne A.M., David D.E., Tang H., Xu J., Nayak R., Kaldhone P., Logue C.M., and Foley S.L.
PLOS ONE. 2012, 7(12):e51160.

Genetic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovars Isolated from Dairy Cattle in Wisconsin.
Marrero-Ortiz R., Han J., Lynne A.M., Stemper M.E., David D.E., Nayak R., and Foley S.L.
Food Res Int. 2012, 45(2):962-967.

A Fluoroquinolone Resistance Associated Mutation in GyrA Affects DNA Supercoiling in Campylobacter jejuni.
Han J., Wang Y., Sahin O., Shen Z., Guo B., Shen J., and Zhang Q.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2012, 2:21.

Sequencing of Plasmids from a Multi-antimicrobial Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Dublin Strain.
Han J., Lynne A.M., David D.E., and Foley S.L.
Food Res Int. 2012, 45(2):931-934.

Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Isolates from Food Animals in the U.S.
Louden B.C., Haarman D., Han J., Foley S.L., and Lynne A.M.
Food Res Int. 2012, 45(2):968-972.

Comparison of Salmonella enterica Serovar Heidelberg Isolates From Human Patients With Those From Animal and Food Sources.
Han J., David D., Deck J., Lynne A.M., Kaldhone P., Nayak R., Stefanova R., and Foley S.L.
J Clin Microbiol. 2011, 49(3):1130-33.

Evaluation of a Virulence Factor Profiling In the Characterization of Veterinary Escherichia coli.
David D., Lynne A.M., Han J., and Foley S.L.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2010, 76(22):7509-7513.

Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter: Emergence, Transmission and Persistence.
Luangtongkum T., Jeon B., Han J., Plummer P., Logue C.M., and Zhang Q.
Future Microbiol. 2009, 4(2):189-200.

Key Role of Mfd in the Development of Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni.
Han J., Sahin O., Barton Y.W., and Zhang Q.
PLOS Pathog. 2008, 4(6):e1000083.

Lab Members

Danielle Sopovski, M.S.
Support Scientist 

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• Contact Information: Jing Han; (870) 543-7121

• Expertise: Approach; Domain; Technology & Discipline; Toxicology