Education
Ph.D., Molecular Microbiology, May 1998
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,

Biography
Dr. Wen received his PhD in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 1998. He worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester Center for Oral Biology, Rochester, New York from 1998 to 2001 and as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida from 2001 to 2008. Dr. Wen joined the faculty at LSU Health Sciences Center in June 2008 as an Assistant Professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology and a secondary appointment in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology.

Research Interests
Dr. Wen’s research primarily focuses on molecular characterization of microbial biofilms and identification of novel targets for therapy and vaccine development against biofilm-associated diseases. In nature, bacteria exist in highly complex multiple-species communities, better known as biofilms. Due to their increased tolerance to host defense, antibiotic therapies and other antibacterial agents, biofilms are notoriously difficult to eliminate and are a source of many recalcitrant infections. A better understanding of the processes underlying biofilm formation and persistence should ultimately lead to the development of novel and effective therapeutic and preventive strategies for diseases (such as dental caries, periodontitis and cystic fibrosis) and conditions (e.g. medical devices associated infections) in which biofilm formation plays a prominent role. 

Currently, Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries, serves as the model organism. Major effort is directed, but not limited to (1) microbial cell-cell communication and its impact on establishment, persistence and competitiveness of S. mutans during growth in mixed-species consortia using continuously flowing, mixed-species biofilm models and confocal laser scanning microscopy; (2) identification of genes required for biofilm formation by S. mutans, including further characterization of BrpA, a glycoprotein with major roles in environmental stress response and formation of biofilms by S. mutans, focusing on the role and the underlying mechanism of BrpA in regulation of S. mutans pathogenicity and the potential for targeting BrpA in anti-caries strategy. In addition, Dr. Wen also works with the Xu Group in Dental Material Sciences on development of novel antibacterial dental composites and with the Liu Lab in LSU Agricultural Center on identification of novel anti-caries agent from natural plants.

Currently funded projects include “BrpA in modulation of Streptococcus mutans Virulence” and “Novel antibacterial fluoride-releasing dental materials”.

Research Interests--Keywords
Bacterial biofilms, Streptococcus mutans, bacterial cell-cell communication, virulence regulation, and dental caries.

Teaching Activities
Grand Dental Rounds, Cariology, Advanced Microbiology, Bacterial Pathogenesis, Research Methods, and Selected Tops on Biofilms and their Medical Implications

Selected Publications
J. P. Bitoun, A. H. Nguyen, Y. Fan, R. A. Burne, and Z. T. Wen.  2011.  Transcriptional repressor Rex is involved in regulation of oxidative stress response and biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. In press.

Wen, Z. T., A. H. Nguyen, J. P. Bitoun, J. Abranches, H. V. Baker, and R.A. Burne. 2011.  Transcriptiome analysis of LuxS-deficient Streptococcus mutans grown in biofilms.  Molec. Oral Microbiol.  26(1):2-17.

Wen, Z. T., D. Yates, S. J. Ahn and R. A. Burne.  2010.  Biofilm formation and virulence expression by Streptococcus mutans are altered when grown in dual-species model BMC Microbiol. 10:111.

Ahn, S. J., Z. T. Wen, and R. A. Burne. 2007. Effects of oxygen on virulence traits of Streptococcus mutans. J. Bacteriol. 189(23):8519:8527.

Wen, Z. T., H. V. Baker, and R. A. Burne. 2006.  Influence of BrpA on critical virulence attributes of Streptococcus mutans.  J. Bacteriol. 188(8):2983-2992.