Wing Yui Ngan

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology · Department of Evolutionary Theory

Insertion sequences (ISs) are mobile pieces of DNA that are widespread in bacterial genomes. IS movements typically involve (i) excision of the IS element, (ii) cutting of target site DNA, and (iii) IS element insertion. This process generates a new copy of the IS element and a short duplication at the target site. It has been noted that, for some...

I nsertion S equences (ISs) are mobile pieces of DNA that are widespread in bacterial genomes. IS movements typically involve (i) excision of the IS element, (ii) cutting of the target site DNA, and (iii) IS element insertion. This process generates a new copy of the IS element, as well as a short duplication at the target site. It has been noted t...

The complement of tRNA genes within a genome is typically considered to be a (relatively) stable characteristic of an organism. Here, we demonstrate that bacterial tRNA gene set composition can be more flexible than previously appreciated, particularly regarding tRNA gene copy number. We report the high-rate occurrence of spontaneous, large-scale,...

The rate and accuracy of translation hinges upon multiple components - including transfer RNA (tRNA) pools, tRNA modifying enzymes, and rRNA molecules - many of which are redundant in terms of gene copy number or function. It has been hypothesized that the redundancy evolves under selection, driven by its impacts on growth rate. However, we lack em...

The complement of tRNA genes within the genome is typically regarded as a stable characteristic of an organism. Here we demonstrate that bacterial tRNA gene set composition can be more flexible than previously appreciated, particularly regarding tRNA gene copy number. We report the spontaneous, high-rate occurrence of large-scale, tandem duplicatio...

The rate and accuracy of translation hinges upon multiple components – including transfer RNA (tRNA) pools, tRNA modifying enzymes, and rRNA molecules – many of which are redundant in terms of gene copy number or function. It has been hypothesized that the redundancy evolves under selection, driven by its impacts on growth rate. However, we lack em...

The possibility of breaking down cellulose-rich food waste through biofilm engineering was investigated. Six previously isolated strains from naturally degrading fruits and vegetables, screened for biofilm-forming ability and cellulolytic activity, were selected to enrich a biocarrier seeding microbial consortium. The food waste model used in this...

In this study, a phylogenic analysis was performed on pathogens previously identified in Hong Kong wet markets' cutting boards. Phylogenetic comparisons were made between phylotypes obtained in this study and environmental and clinical phylotypes for establishing the possible origin of selected bacterial species isolated from wet market cutting boa...

In recent years, much attention has been directed towards the integration of dark fermentation process into a biorefinery concept to enhance the energetic gains, thereby improving the competitiveness of this process. The volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from dark fermentative H2-producing processes serve as precursors for the microbial synthesis of a br...

The presence of antibiotics such as erythromycin, even in trace amounts, has long been acknowledged for negatively impacting ecosystems in freshwater environments. Although many studies have focused on the impact of antibiotic pollution at a macroecological level, the impact of erythromycin on microecosystems, such as freshwater biofilms, is still...

Accessing food through wet markets is a common global daily occurrence, where fresh meat can be purchased to support an urbanizing world population. Similar to the wet markets in many other metropolitan cities in Asia, Hong Kong wet markets vary and are characterized by differing hygiene routines and access to essential modern technologies. The lac...

Abstract In recent years, most biofilm studies have focused on fundamental investigations using multispecies biofilm models developed preferentially in simulated naturally occurring low-nutrient medium than in artificial nutrient-rich medium. Because biofilm development under low-nutrient growth media is slow, natural media are often supplemented w...

Hong Kong's wet markets play a crucial role in the country's supply of safe, fresh meat to satisfy the dietary needs of its population. Whilst food safety regulations have been introduced over the past few years to maintain the microbial safety of foods sold from these wet markets, it remains unclear whether the hygiene maintenance that is performe...

Contaminants in freshwater environments, as well as the associated negative impacts on agricultural produce, have emerged as a critical theme of the water-energy-food nexus affecting food safety and irrigation management. Agricultural produce exposed to irrigation with questionable freshwater can internalize and concentrate pollutants. However, the...

Millions every day purchase their raw meat in wet markets around the globe, especially in Hong Kong city, where modern and a traditional way of living is made possible. While food hygiene standards in Hong Kong have more recently focused on the safety of meat sold in these wet markets, the hygienic surface level of wooden cutting boards used for pr...