Yingying Wu | Genetic Research | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Natural Scientist Awards

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yingying Wu | Genetic Research | Research Excellence Award

Research Director‌ | Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yingying Wu is a dedicated researcher whose work focuses on the genetic breeding of industrialized edible mushrooms and the synthetic biology of active natural products from macrofungi, contributing significantly to biotechnology, functional food development, and mushroom-based pharmaceutical innovation. Her research explores the improvement of mushroom strains to enhance production efficiency, nutritional composition, and bioactive properties valuable for human health. She has contributed to metabolic profiling studies of Cordyceps militaris, identifying optimal consumption periods to maximize functional health effects and sensory qu`ality, providing scientific foundations for promoting mushroom products as high-value nutraceuticals. Her work on the cloning, characterization, and functional analysis of novel fungal immunomodulatory protein genes, such as those found in Ganoderma leucocontextum, demonstrates the therapeutic potential of macrofungi-derived biomolecules in immune regulation and cancer-related cellular functions. Additionally, she has advanced understanding of reproductive biology and nuclear behavior in edible mushroom strains through studies on protoplast monokaryotization and asexual spore isolation in Flammulina filiformis, supporting efficient breeding technologies for industrial cultivation. By integrating molecular biology, metabolic analysis, and applied breeding strategies, she contributes to creating sustainable and innovative mushroom-derived products, strengthening the link between food technology and biomedical research. Her scientific outputs reflect meaningful contributions to both fundamental mycological research and practical industrial applications, positioning her as a promising leader in the field of macrofungi biotechnology, functional active compound discovery, and future health-focused bioindustries.

Profile:  Scopus  |  ORCID

Featured Publications

Wang, Y., Zhang, R., Li, Y., Wu, Y., Gong, M., Shao, Y., Wang, L., Li, W., & Zou, G. (2026). Metabolic profiles reveal the preferable consumption time of Cordyceps militaris dried products with the optimal health effects and flavors. Journal of Future Foods, 6(4), 642–655.

Yang, J., Jin, M., Zhang, L., Wu, Y., & Zhou, X. (2025). Characterization and functional analysis of a novel fungal immunomodulatory protein gene from Ganoderma leucocontextum in B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(11), 5063.

Wu, Y., et al. (2025). Nuclear partial segregation occurred in protoplast monokaryotization and asexual spore monosporous isolation of wild strains of Flammulina filiformis. Mycosystema.

 

Xu Zhao | Edible Mushroom Resources | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Natural Scientist Awards

Mr. Xu Zhao | Edible Mushroom Resources | Research Excellence Award

Associate Researcher | Institution of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Mr. Xu Zhao is a highly promising researcher whose work demonstrates strong innovation, technical depth, and industry relevance across edible fungi biotechnology, intelligent cultivation systems, and functional product development. His research focuses extensively on edible fungus genetic breeding, where he integrates modern molecular biology, genomics, gene editing, protoplast fusion, mutation breeding, and molecular marker–assisted strategies to develop specialized varieties suited for industrialized and intensive production. Through comprehensive collection and evaluation of domestic and international germplasm resources, he establishes trait-specific gene libraries, core germplasm repositories, and cultivation trait databases that support high-yield and high-quality breeding programs. In parallel, he advances the field of factory-scale edible fungi cultivation by designing intelligent equipment systems, IoT-based monitoring tools, and automated environmental control technologies for substrate preparation, inoculation, mycelial growth, fruiting management, harvesting, and preservation. His work in optimizing environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO₂ enables precise and efficient production models, supported by collaborations with industrial partners to promote technology integration and real-world application. Additionally, he contributes to the extraction and characterization of bioactive components from edible fungi, focusing on physicochemical properties, physiological functions, and pharmacological mechanisms. His efforts include development of advanced extraction processes, improvement of processing technologies, and exploration of new functional products spanning foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Although his citation record is still at an early stage, his research achievements demonstrate significant potential for advancing agricultural biotechnology, sustainable production systems, and the health product industry, positioning him as a strong emerging contributor to excellence in research.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Zhao, X. (n.d.). Research progress on nutritional components, functional active components, and pharmacological properties of Floccularia luteovirens.