C. Julie Chang

Dr. C. Julie Chang is a Full-Time Faculty Researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles specializing in molecular microbiology with over 15 years of expertise in bacterial pathogenesis and oral biofilm development. Her work focuses on the role of bacterial cell surface virulence factors in polymicrobial interactions during periodontitis, utilizing biochemical and genetic approaches to study Gram-positive pathogens.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan, 1984
• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1994

Chang's research integrates protein biochemistry and engineering to innovate therapeutic treatments for oral diseases. She investigates sortase-mediated pilus assembly mechanisms in pathogens like Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Fusobacterium nucleatum, revealing how bacterial surface structures drive biofilm formation and host tissue destruction in periodontitis. Her work bridges fundamental molecular mechanisms with clinical applications for dental disease prevention.

Analysis of her 35+ publications shows consistent focus on Gram-positive bacterial surface assembly, with recent work expanding into oxidative stress defense systems and polymicrobial virulence networks. Key trends include structural characterization of sortase enzymes, identification of novel virulence determinants, and development of therapeutic strategies targeting bacterial adhesion mechanisms.

Scientific Awards:

Chang has supervised numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers while managing laboratory operations for the Ton-That research group. She has led collaborative projects resulting in high-impact publications in journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with research funded through institutional grants focused on oral bacterial pathogenesis. Her laboratory employs biochemical, genetic, and structural methodologies to dissect bacterial surface assembly pathways critical for polymicrobial biofilm development in the oral cavity.