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David Wu

  • Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering

PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987

4003 Wegmans Hall
(585) 275-3552
Fax: (585) 273-1348
j.wu@rochester.edu


Selected Honors & Awards

Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2011)
Fellow, Society for Industrial Microbiology (2009)
Scientific Advisory Committee, New York State Foundation for Science, Technology & Innovation (2007)
Divisional Lecturer, American Society for Microbiology (2002)
Waksman Outstanding Educator Award, Society for Industrial Microbiology (2005)
Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (1999)
Visiting Professor, International Center of Biotechnology, Osaka University, Japan (1996)
Undergraduate Teaching Awards, University of Rochester (1989, 1991)

Courses

ChE 225: Thermodynamics
ChE 464: Biofuels
ChE 465: Sustainable Chemical Processes
ChE 469: Biotechnology & Bioengineering 

Recent Publications

Mahmood, R.T.; Asad, M.J.Asgher, M.Hadri, S.H.Gulfraz, M.Wu, J.H.D.Bhatti, M.I.Zaman, N.Ahmed, D., "First Report of using Response Surface Methodology for the Biodegradation of Single Azo Disperse Dyes by Indigenous Daedalea dickinsii-IEBL-2," Romanian Biotechnologyical Letters, 202025, 1, 1236-1245. DOI: 10.25083/rbl/25.1/1236.1245

Hadri, S.H.; Asad, M.J.; Hyder, M.Z.; Naqvi, S.M.S.;Mkhtar, T.; Zafar, M.; Shah, S.H.; Mehmood, T.T.; Wu, J.H.D., "Charaterization of a Novel Thermpohilic Endopolygalacturonase Produced by Bacillus Incendiaries IEB-8," NC State University-Peer Review, 2019 14, 2, 2873-2884.

Qiu, H.F.; Geng, A.; Zhu, D.C.; Le, Y.L.; Wu, J.; Chow, N.W.; Wu, J.H.D.; Sun, J.Z., "Purification and Characterization of the Hemocyanin (Hemo1) with Potential Lignin-Modification Activities from the Wood-Feeding Termite, Coptotermes Formosanus Shiraki," Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2015, 175, 2-687-697.

Le, Y.; Chen, H.; Zagursky, R.; Wu, J.H.D.; Shao, W., "Thermostable DNA Ligase-Mediated PCR Production of Circular Plasmid (PPCP) and its Application in Directed Evolution via In situ Error-Prone PCR" DNA Research,2013, 20, 4, 375-382.

Kuzin, I.; Sun, H. L.; Moshkani, S.; Mantalaris, A.; Wu, J.H.D.; Bottaro, A., "Long-term Immunologically Competent Human Peripheral Lymphoid Tissue Cultures in a 3D Bioreactor," Biotechnology. Bioengineering, 2011, 108, 1430-1440.

Newcomb, M.; Millen, J.; Chen, C.Y.; Wu, J.H.D., "Co-Transcription of the celC Gene Cluster in Clostridium Thermocellum," Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2011, 90, 2-625-634.

Sun, H. L.; Tsai, Y. C.; Pietrusz, J.; Nowak, I.; Dertinger, S.D.; Wu, J.H.D.; Chen, Y.C., "Response Kinetics of Radiation-induced Micronucleated Reticulocytes in Human Bone Marrow Culture," Mutat. Res.: Genet. Toxicol. Environ. Mutagen, 2010, 718, 38-43.

Research Overview

We are interested in bridging life science frontiers and engineering principles to address contemporary biological and biotechnological challenges with a focus on two broad areas. (1) Systems biology approach toward biofuels, where we study the structure-function relationship of the cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellum. The elegant and fascinating cellulosmal structure depicts a new mechanistic concept for biocatalysis and supramolecular organization. Engineering high efficiency cellulase molecules will have a significant impact on climate change. We are now studying the transcription network using the-state-of-art next-generation sequencing and proteomic approaches aiming at developing economically feasible cellulosic biofuels/chemicals processes. (2) Bone marrow and lymph node tissue engineering, where we have taken an engineering approach to culture murine and human marrow cells using a packed-bed bioreactor with artificial scaffolding. The cells grow in three-dimension, simulating the marrow structure. In sharp contrast to the traditional flask culture, which produces only two blood cell types, the bioreactor produces all cell types (granulocytes, erythrocytes, monocytes-macrophages, megakaryocytes, and lymphocytes). The bioreactor provides a novel model for marrow transplantation, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. We have extended the work to human lymph node and developed a lymph node model capable of mounting ex vivo immune responses against vaccines such as HIV.

Research Interests

  • Biofuels
  • Systems Biology
  • Genomics
  • Transcriptional Network
  • Biochemical Engineering
  • Fermentation
  • Biocatalysis
  • Bone Marrow Engineering
  • Lymphoid Tissue Engineering
  • Molecular Biology