UNCG Research

New @uncg.edu JSNN faculty member Dr. Tianqi Song is the lead author on a publication in @Nature.com this month, on methods to power tiny molecular machines made of synthetic DNA. 🔬🧬 www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnolo...

Scaling up the production of fungal perylenequinones and investigating their biosynthesis through stable isotope labeling - Microbial Cell Factories Background Perylenequinones, such as hypocrellins and hypomycins, are fungal secondary metabolites with potential for pharmaceutical and industrial applications due to both their physical and biological properties. This study focused on their sustainable production. Additionally, stable isotope labeling was used to probe the biosynthesis of these compounds, demonstrating how sugars are likely incorporated into the perylenequinone scaffold. Methods Shiraia sp. (strain MSX60519; Shiraiaceae, Pleosporales) was cultivated under varying nutrient conditions to evaluate the production of perylenequinones, with sugars serving as primary carbon sources. Five metabolites were isolated (from oatmeal cultures) using environmentally friendly solvent-based techniques, and the process was further optimized to maximize yields. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS) were employed to detect, characterize, and quantify the major compounds. Furthermore, feeding experiments were performed using 13C-labeled glucose, with droplet probe mass spectrometry used to monitor stable isotope incorporation in situ. Results This study yielded three key findings. First, the production of perylenequinones was significantly enhanced by supplementing fermentation media with sugars, and disaccharides significantly enhanced the production of perylenequinones compared to monosaccharides. Optimizing sugar concentrations during the fermentation further influenced the profile of secondary metabolites. Second, stable isotope labeling experiments confirmed that sugars are the primary building blocks of perylenequinones, as noted by tracing 13C-labeling into ent-shiraiachrome A (1). Finally, a green, scalable, and sustainable strategy for producing these compounds on the gram scale was developed by optimizing fermentation conditions, refining purification methods, and improving extraction efficiency. Conclusion These findings provide critical insights into optimizing fermentation conditions for the scaled and sustainable production of perylenequinones. This approach offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly pipeline for harnessing these valuable compounds, paving the way for broader pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Graphical abstract

New publication alert!
microbialcellfactories.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Scaling up natural products is a pivotal goal in our lab. With scaled-up pure compounds, one can begin to test the various applications of fungal natural products
@uncgresearch.bsky.social

Groundbreaking donor milk findings could impact care for preterm infants worldwide | Research And Engagement The first comprehensive international study of donor human milk, led by Dr. Maryanne Perrin, reveals significant variations in nutritional composition, with important implications for how hospitals su...

🍼 A landmark international donor milk study led by @uncg.edu's Dr. Maryanne Perrin has important implications for how hospitals care for preterm babies. 👶

Learn more 👉 research.uncg.edu/news/donor-m...

@uncghhs.bsky.social

Undergraduates Reflect on the Impact of Their Summer Research | UNC Greensboro Even during summer, research continues to grow across UNCG – a garden in the park or a ginger plant and fungal sample in the lab. Students are also growing in knowledge, using these as springboards for independent research made possible by URSCO.

Greener chemistry. Pollinator-friendly rest stops. Medicinal plants.

UNCG students share how their summer research is making a real-world impact, thanks to a one-of-a-kind program.

Read more: https://www.uncg.edu/news/undergraduates-reflect-on-summer-research/?utm_campaign=UNCG+Social

AI Innovation Challenge | Innovate UNCG

Get ready for Innovate UNCG’s first-ever AI Innovation Challenge on Friday, Oct 24! 🧠 @uncg.edu students and faculty will pitch innovative AI solutions at Union Square for a chance to win cash prizes. 💰 Pitch proposals due Sat, Oct 4!

innovate.uncg.edu/uncg-ai-inno...

Strange and unusual odds to winning it or not when it comes to Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots As jackpots for Powerball and Mega Millions begin to swell, what are the odds of you actually winning it all?

ICYMI: What are your chances of winning the jackpot? 🎲 💰 @uncg.edu School of Education Associate Dean of Research Bob Henson spoke to @wxii.bsky.social to bust the myths about lottery odds and offered tips to improve your chances.

www.wxii12.com/article/lott...

Congrats to @uncg.edu Philosophy's Dr. Skillings, one of the authors on a publication in high impact journal Scientific Reports.

The study assesses whether Hawaiian mesophotic coral 🪸 reefs might serve as potential refuges for crabs 🦀 in cases of shallow reef destruction.

t.co/lV2HkEfwY9

New study finds ticks carrying Lyme disease moving into western NC | Research And Engagement Wasserberg lab study finds ticks carrying Lyme disease moving into more counties in western North Carolina – and a dramatic increase in their densities.

🚨 New @uncg.edu-led study finds ticks carrying Lyme disease are spreading into new counties in western NC – and their numbers are rising. 🕷️📈

UNCG Biology's Dr. Wasserberg headed the @uncg.edu, @ncstate.bsky.social, @appalachianstate.bsky.social study, funded by the CDC via NCDHHS.

t.co/sL2ixR0mSP

How N.C. professor finds bees that fight deadly mite Peeling back the comb on a new technology that’s finding bees who know how to fight.

ICYMI: In the news 🗞️ --> Scientists at the USDA say varroa mites are the leading cause of recent honeybee die-offs. At @uncg.edu, Dr. Kaira Wagoner has developed a new way to combat these pesticide-resistant pests. 🐝 Learn more at spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-...

The Science of Aging Well: Research Excellence Award - UNCG Research Magazine 2024 Research Excellence awardee Maher discusses what motivates aging adults to be physically active, new methods, mentorship, and more.

What drives us to move? 🏃👟

2024 @uncg.edu Research Excellence Award winner Dr. Jaclyn Maher discusses what motivates older adults to be physically active, new ways to understand why we get moving, mentorship, and more.

Find out more in UNCG Research Magazine 🔗 t.co/cGB0PcpZBb @uncghhs.bsky.social

Can Pilates Really Make My Muscles ‘Long and Lean’?

In the news 🗞️ --> Dr. Anne Brady in Kinesiology spoke to the @nytimes.com about how to increase muscle mass and strength 💪 @uncg.edu @uncghhs.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/w...

You can access this article through @uncglibraries.bsky.social: login.proxy180.nclive.org/login?url=ht...

Just nine minutes of exercise can improve children's academic performance, UNCG researcher finds | Research And Engagement UNCG researcher finds just nine minutes of exercises appropriate for a classroom setting can improve children's academic performance.

Did you know that just a small amount of #exercise can increase a kid's performance on testing? Check out this #research study by Kinesiology professor Dr. Eric Drollette. @uncgresearch.bsky.social
research.uncg.edu/news/exercis...

Shields Up: UNCG cybersecurity clinic outpaces first-year expectations - UNCG Research Magazine UNCG's new Google-funded cybersecurity clinic is protecting small businesses and non-profits from emerging online threats while preparing students for high-demand careers. It is close to reaching its ...

UNCG’s new Google-funded Cybersecurity Clinic is helping small businesses and nonprofits defend against emerging online threats – while preparing students for high-demand careers.🛡️💻

🔗https://researchmagazine.uncg.edu/2025-issue/shields-up-uncg-cybersecurity-clinic-exceeds-expectations/

@uncg.edu

Improving k-12 math education with instructional coaches | Research And Engagement Kochmanski at UNCG aims to improve instructional coaching for math teachers with new, highly competitive funding from the Gates Foundation.

Dr. Nicholas Kochmanski's work to improve instructional coaching for K-12 math teachers – a project with the potential to strengthen classrooms nationwide – has received highly competitive funding from @gatesfoundation.bsky.social‬. 📚✏️

🔗 research.uncg.edu/news/improvi... @uncg.edu‬

Africa and the Future of Global Research | Research And Engagement Let’s explore how Africa is shaping the future of global research! Join us for a compelling conversation with Dr. Elsie S. Kanza, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania. This talk will explore ...

Dr. Elsie S. Kanza, ambassador for the United Republic of Tanzania, will deliver a thought-provoking presentation about Africa and the future of global research at 2 P.M. that day in the Union Square Auditorium. 📣 @uncg.edu

research.uncg.edu/event/africa-and-the-future-of-global-research/

UNCG-Developed Engagement Platform Wins Research Impact Award | Research And Engagement Collaboratory®, the UNCG-developed platform for tracking higher education engagement has won the 2025 ARIS Impact Innovation Award.

Collaboratory®, a pioneering engagement-tracking platform developed at UNC Greensboro in 2011, has won the 2025 ARIS Impact Innovation Award for its innovative approaches to research engagement and translation.

Learn more: research.uncg.edu/news/uncg-de...
@uncgresearch.bsky.social

Libraries, For Your Health Dr. Noah Lenstra's "Let's Move in Libraries" initiative is inspiring libraries in America and around the world to boost healthy living in their communities, as part of the growing library health movem...

💪 Looking to get fit? Try your local library!📚

Dr. Noah Lenstra’s Let's Move in Libraries initiative is inspiring libraries across the U.S. and around the world to boost healthy living in their communities.

Learn more at 🔗 researchmagazine.uncg.edu/2025-issue/l...

UNCG brings gardening, local foods to early childhood | Research & Engagement UNCG program collaborates with teachers, parents, and students to create gardens at Guilford County child care centers, and connects them with local farmers, to promote healthy living from early child...

The @UNCG Farm to ECE program brings gardening and local foods to child care centers, to promote healthy living from early childhood onward.

It's just one of @uncghhs's EQuIPD programs supporting early child care educators in Guilford County!

research.uncg.edu/news/uncg-br...

UNCG is using input driven research to support service members on and off the battlefield The institute identifies three pillars critical to supporting service members and their families, with each one tailored to their individual experience.

Great video on @wxii.bsky.social 🗞️ about @uncg.edu's new Institute for the Convergence of Optimized Methods for Military Advances and National Defense, iCOMMAND 🛡️

www.wxii12.com/article/univ...

UNCG-Developed Engagement Platform Wins Research Impact Award | Research & Engagement Collaboratory®, the UNCG-developed platform for tracking higher education engagement has won the 2025 ARIS Impact Innovation Award.

We're so pleased to share that Collaboratory®, the pioneering higher education engagement-tracking platform developed at @uncg.edu, won the 2025 ARIS Impact Innovation Award.The award recognizes novel approaches to research engagement and translation.

research.uncg.edu/news/uncg-de...

“Be able to communicate your research in an effective way, and that does not mean using all the fancy terminology. Be able to put it in simple terms in a simple way that still gets your message across. It’s having a conversation.”

- Kaela Pena '25 in Dr. Ader's lab took 1st in STEM at the Expo

Wellness on a Budget: How sensory spaces can support the mental health of students and teachers - School Construction News Sensory spaces are designed to stimulate or soothe the senses to facilitate relaxation and create a sense of calm.

In the news 🗞️ -> @uncg.edu's Interior Architecture's Dr. Amanda Gale and alum Lisa Williams's study on the impact of multi-sensory spaces on student stress and anxiety in School Construction News

schoolconstructionnews.com/2025/06/10/w...

2025 Fellowship Recipient Announced – North Carolina Humanities North Carolina Humanities has awarded a 2025 summer Fellowship to Dr. Amy Vetter, Professor at UNC Greensboro for her research project “The Writing Lives of Teens.” This research project explores seve...

Congrats to Dr. Amy Vetter in @uncg.edu Teacher Education and Higher Education on receiving a 2025 NC Humanities summer Fellowship for her work investigating the writing habits of teens. ✒️

nchumanities.org/2025-fellows...

NICER team group photo at the second retreat, showing researchers gathered together, reflecting collaboration and progress in energy research.

Grateful for a productive and energizing second #NICER retreat! Exciting research progress, meaningful collaboration, and a team truly coming together to drive impact. #NatureInspiredSolutions #EnergyResearch ⚡️🌱✨🔋☀️

States of repair: The role(s) of state government in shaping urban highway removal in New York state Cities across the U.S. are now reconfiguring and/or removing urban highways to enhance quality of life, promote economic development, and address the severe racial and economic disparities and envi...

The role of state government in urban highway removal: congrats to @uncg.edu's Dr. John Stehlin in Geography, Environment, and Sustainability & his colleague Dr. Lemir Teron at @howard.edu on their new pub in the Journal of Urban Affairs.

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

UNCG School of Nursing Dean Debra Barksdale stands next to the School of Nursing's staircase

UNCG's Dr. Hemali Rathnayake stands next to a battery tester

ICYMI 📣: @uncg.edu faculty Dr. Hemali Rathnayake in Nanoscience and Dean Debra Barksdale at the School of Nursing were honored by the Triad Business Journal as two of their 2025 Outstanding Women in Business. 🏆

www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...

www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2...

In the news 🗞️ --> Dr. Sandra Shultz and her newly patented device to help prevent ACL injuries in female athletes on @myfox8.com

myfox8.com/spotlight/go...

@uncg.edu @uncghhs.bsky.social

NC works to expand availability of donor breast milk as demand rises Premature birth rates and health benefits drive a statewide push to boost breast milk donations and increase hospital and outpatient access.

In the news 🗞️ --> Dr. Maryanne Perrin discusses human milk banking with @nchealthnews.bsky.social

www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2025/05/20/n...

@uncg.edu @uncghhs.bsky.social

For Goldwater Scholar, Solutions to Antibiotic Resistance Could Stem from Trees | UNC Greensboro Wofford collected beech tree samples to look for a weapon against highly contagious, antibiotic resistant viruses commonly known as "superbugs."

Janae Wofford is joining the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Going into her senior year, with the help of a Goldwater Scholarship, Wofford will study an American Beech tree which may provide answers to deadly “superbugs.”

Read more: www.uncg.edu/news/goldwat...

Opportunity to grow - UNCG Research Magazine When she became interested in nutrition and sustainability, Johleen Gourdine decided to give college a second try. Now she’s graduating with uncommon nutrition research experience and plans to pursue ...

When she became interested in nutrition & sustainability 🥗 🌱, @uncg.edu undergrad Jahleen Gourdine decided to give college a second try. Now, she’s graduating with uncommon research experience and plans to pursue a master’s degree. researchmagazine.uncg.edu/2025-issue/o... @uncghhs.bsky.social