Lili Zhao

Dr. Lili Zhao

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 September 2021 in Food Science & Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LZLili Zhao
Lili Zhao
SRShili Ruan
Shili Ruan
XYXiangke Yang
Xiangke Yang
QCQiling Chen
Qiling Chen
KSKan Shi
Kan Shi
YSYangbo Song
Yangbo Song
This study used litchi (Heiye) wine and distilled spirit as raw experimental materials to analyze the volatile aroma compounds. Qualitative and quantitative determination of aromatic components was studied using stir bar sportive extraction (SBSE) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results indicated that a total of 128 different types of aroma compounds were observed, which belonged to six chemical groups, including 39 esters, 16 alcohols, 16 acids, 22 terpenes, 17 aldehydes and ketones, and 18 other compounds. In particular, esters were the highest among all six categories and represented approximately 52% of the total flavor component content in litchi distilled spirit. The odor activity values (OAVs) revealed 22 types of aroma compounds with OAVs >1 in this test. It is possible that the produced litchi distilled spirit had a stronger varietal character due to the increased concentrations and OAVs of β‐damascenone, linalool, ethyl butyrate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl caproate, trans‐rose oxide, and cis‐rose oxide. Taking the OAVs into account, we evaluated the characteristic aromas for litchi wine and litchi distilled spirit.

23 May 2018 in International Journal of Food Science and Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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LZLili Zhao
Lili Zhao
LXLinlin Xue
Linlin Xue
BLBinbin Li
Binbin Li
QWQingling Wang
Qingling Wang
BLBaokun Li
Baokun Li
QFQinglu Fan
Qinglu Fan

22 January 2026 in Frontiers in Microbiology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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KLKe Lu
Ke Lu
KSKan Shi
Kan Shi
YYYuxin Yuan
Yuxin Yuan
YLYuanyuan Liu
Yuanyuan Liu
CMChuangyi Miao
Chuangyi Miao
LZLili Zhao
Lili Zhao
Introduction: Owing to its remarkable capacity to modify the aroma profile of wine, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ( L. plantarum ) derived from wine has emerged as a potential starter for malolactic fermentation. However, the inadequate acid resistance of this bacterium severely restricts its application. In some bacterial species, GlnR is considered a universal transcriptional regulator in response to acid stress. Methods: In this study, we determined the function of GlnR in the acid resistance of L. plantarum for the first time. RT-qPCR and yeast one-hybrid assays revealed a direct regulatory correlation between GlnR and genes associated with the glutamate metabolic pathway. Metabolomics analysis via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and fermentation studies confirmed that GlnR affected γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. Results: The growth and survival rate of the knockout strain XJ25-Δ glnR were significantly lower than those of the wild-type strain XJ25. GlnR can directly bind to the promotor regions of the genes glnA , gadB , and glms1 , thereby upregulating gadB transcription while downregulating glnA and glms1 transcription, directing the increased metabolic flux toward GABA synthesis. Discussion: We present evidence that GlnR plays a vital role in the glutamate metabolic pathway and is a positive transcriptional regulator that can control the acid resistance of L. plantarum XJ25. Although GlnR interacts with glnA , gadB , and glms1 , additional studies are warranted to determine how this interaction affects its acid resistance.

1 December 2025 in Foods
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LZLili Zhao
Lili Zhao
MCMengrong Chen
Mengrong Chen
CFChunjing Fu
Chunjing Fu
TPTao Pan
Tao Pan
QCQiling Chen
Qiling Chen
Microorganism employs sophisticated strategies to adapt to acidic environments, with transcription factors occupying pivotal nodes within their hierarchical regulatory networks. In this study, we performed functional characterization of the AraR transcription factor LP_RS14895 via integrated multiomics approaches. RNA sequencing revealed 40 acid-responsive targets that were enriched in pathways related to pentose/glucuronate interconversions and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. A genome-wide binding analysis via DAP-seq identified 1279 interaction sites and the most significantly enriched motif is “ARCCMATMAHC”. The results revealed that AraR plays a crucial role in regulating acid tolerance and metabolizable sugar (including arabinose, glucose, fructose, ribose, mannose, and trehalose). Overall, these findings offer mechanistic insights into microbial stress responses and provide a valuable method for addressing inhibitory processes of carbohydrate metabolizability under high-acid conditions.

21 March 2026 in Minerals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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RLRuyan Li
Ruyan Li
HCHe Chang
He Chang
PPPing Pan
Ping Pan
LZLili Zhao
Lili Zhao
Yinxian SongYinxian Song
Yinxian Song
WYWeikang Yang
Weikang Yang
Elemental migration and enrichment are important processes influencing tea plant growth and the assembly of rhizosphere bacterial communities within the rock–soil–plant continuum. This study explores how soil parent materials (granite, quartz schist, and sericite schist) are potentially associated with these processes and their observed associations with the elemental composition of tea leaves. Exploratory statistical analyses revealed distinct, lithology-specific biogeochemical patterns that serve as a foundation for hypothesis generation. In granite soils, chlorite correlated with the mobility of Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mg, and Na, coinciding with shifts in the relative abundances of Verrucomicrobia, Armatimonadetes, and Chloroflexi. In quartz schist, kaolinite exhibited notable correlations with the dynamics of Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, and As, which were statistically linked to Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Complex mineral–microbe interactions were observed in sericite schist soils, where clay minerals (e.g., chlorite, illite) were closely associated with the migration of multiple elements (Pb, K, Ca, Cd, As, Al, Fe, Zn), paralleling structural variations in communities of Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria. Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and manganese (Mn) showed bioaccumulation tendencies in tea leaves across all lithologies, with an enrichment capacity order of Ca > K > Mn > Mg > Na > Al. Exploratory Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis suggested that the migration of K, Ca, Cu, Zn, and Hg corresponded most closely with their soil concentrations. Manganese (Mn) exhibited a mineral-associated trend, with kaolinite content as a potential correlate, while cadmium (Cd) migration was statistically linked to the relative abundance of Armatimonadetes. These findings highlight potential candidate relationships between mineralogy, microbes, and elemental mobility rather than confirming causal mechanisms, emphasizing the need for further validation in larger or experimental datasets.

26 November 2025 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
LZLili Zhao
Lili Zhao
MCMengrong Chen
Mengrong Chen
CFChunjing Fu
Chunjing Fu
TPTao Pan
Tao Pan
QCQiling Chen
Qiling Chen
Microorganism employs sophisticated strategies to adapt to acidic environments, with transcription factors occupying pivotal nodes within their hierarchical regulatory networks. In this study, we performed functional characterization of the AraR transcription factor LP_RS14895 via integrated multiomics approaches. The results revealed the pivotal role of AraR in acid tolerance and carbohydrate utilization (including arabinose, glucose, fructose, ribose, mannose, and trehalose). RNA sequencing revealed 40 acid-responsive targets that were enriched in pathways related to pentose/glucuronate interconversions and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. A genome-wide binding analysis via DAP-seq identified 1,279 interaction sites; the results highlighted the most significantly enriched motif, “ARCCMATMAHC”. These findings suggest that AraR plays a crucial role in regulating sugar metabolism and acid adaptation, offering mechanistic insights into microbial stress responses and providing a valuable method for addressing inhibitory processes of carbohydrate utilization under high-acid conditions.