Publications

Peer-reviewed research and preprints

67+ Peer-reviewed
publications Google Scholar ORCID 0000-0002-3933-5794

Publications with Zhang, L. as corresponding author are marked with an asterisk.

2026

  1. Zhang, L., Ishii, S., Rothrock Jr., M.J., Oladeinde, A., & Li, X. (2026). Genomic insights into the evolution and adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes in poultry production systems. Food Research International, 232, 118941. DOI

  2. Jia, L., Fugate, H., Ye, X., Arick II, M.A., Hsu, C.Y., Evans, J.D., Robinson, K., Adhikari, P., & Zhang, L.* (2026). Genetic knockout of pagP in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli using CRISPR-Cas9/λ-Red system and growth characterization. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 35(2), 100679. DOI

  3. Wang, M., Ye, X., Hsu, C.Y., Fugate, H., Zhang, X., Adhikari, P.A., Fan, P., Elliott, K., Macklin, K., & Zhang, L.* (2026). Application of culturomics to explore the cultivable microbiota and enable targeted bacterial isolation from the ceca of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 105(4), 106527. DOI

  4. Thames, H.T., Pokhrel, D., Sukumaran, A.T., Dinh, T.T.T.N., Schilling, M.W., White, S., Ramachandran, R., Macklin, K., & Zhang, L.* (2026). Environmental stress modulates expression of biofilm-related genes in Salmonella. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 137(2), lxag018. DOI

  5. Ye, X., Fugate, H., Beck, C.N., Zhang, L., & Jia, L. (2026). Research note: Temporal and tissue-specific immune responses to Campylobacter jejuni colonization in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 105(4), 106561. DOI

  6. Ye, X., Hsu, C.Y., Jia, L., Magee, C., Leigh, S., Evans, J., Zhang, L., & Robinson, K. (2026). Development and validation of a multiplex TaqMan real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for selected pro-inflammatory immune-response gene expression in chickens. Poultry Science, 105(10), 107237. DOI

  7. Magee, E., Zhang, L., Shen, C., & Boltz, T. (2026). Analyzing Salmonella, Campylobacter, and generic Escherichia coli in feed ingredients and poultry feed samples obtained from commercial and integrated feed mills. Poultry Science, 105(10), 107370. DOI

  8. Muñoz, L.R., Escobar, C., Zhang, L., Jia, L., Bailey, M., Bourassa, D., Rochell, S., Chaves-Cordoba, B., Tashiguano, V., Quino, M., Adhikari, Y., Orellana, L., & Macklin, K.S. (2026). Effects of intermittent and continuous organic acids in water on antimicrobial activity, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and growth performance of Campylobacter jejuni challenged or unchallenged broilers. European Poultry Science, 90(1-2), 100022. DOI

  9. Lyte, J.M., Seyoum, M.M., Ayala, D., …, Zhang, L., …, & Proszkowiec-Weglarz, M. (2026). Best practices framework for using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in poultry microbiota research. Poultry Science, 105(9), 107275. DOI

2025

  1. Jia, L., Ye, X., Arick, M.A., Hsu, C.Y., Evans, J.D., Robinson, K., Adhikari, P., & Zhang, L.* (2025). Reverse vaccinology and host-pathogen analysis reveal pagP as a potential universal vaccine candidate against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in poultry. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 136(10), lxaf253. DOI

  2. Jia, L., Hsu, C.Y., Zhang, X., Schilling, M.W., Wamsley, K., Adhikari, P., & Zhang, L.* (2025). Differential expression of genes in fatty acid metabolism and inflammation pathways in Pectoralis major of broilers with woody breast myopathy. Avian Diseases, 69(3), 265-274. DOI

  3. Chaudhary, D., Poudel, S., Jia, L., Sukumaran, A.T., Zhang, X., Cheng, W.H., Kiess, A.S., Macklin, K.S., Hsu, C.Y., & Zhang, L.* (2025). Evaluation of different DNA extraction methods for the detection of Clostridium perfringens by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 34(4), 100600. DOI

  4. Ye, X., Hsu, C.Y., Jia, L., Zhang, X., Magee, C., Whitham, S., Leigh, S., Evans, J., Zhang, L., & Robinson, K. (2025). Dynamic immune response to Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli infection in broiler chickens: Insights into pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine regulation. Poultry Science, 104(6), 105029. DOI

  5. Adhikari, Y., Bourassa, D.V., Poudel, S., Bailey, M.A., Zhang, L., Buhr, R.J., & Macklin, K.S. (2025). Antimicrobial resistance pattern in Campylobacter strains isolated from both no-antibiotics-ever (NAE) and conventional broiler complexes: Genotypic and phenotypic characterization. Poultry Science, 104(10), 105516. DOI

  6. Ogundipe, T.T., Beitia, S., Zhang, L., Zhang, X., & Obe, T. (2025). Differences in microbial composition of litter and water line biofilm of broiler farms as influenced by water quality history. Poultry Science, 104(11), 105832. DOI

  7. Poudel, I., Calvert, A., Kiess, A.S., Zhang, L., & Adhikari, P.A. (2025). Effect of a Bacillus-based probiotic on fecal shedding and cecal colonization of Salmonella Enteritidis in laying hens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 34(2), 100532. DOI

  8. Rodewald, E.A., Jasek, B., Zhang, L., Roberts, S., Bortoluzzi, C., & Adhikari, P. (2025). Role of a Precision Biotic Fed to Dekalb White Laying Hens at Peak Production. Animals, 15(14), 2095. DOI

  9. Lyte, J.M., Seyoum, M.M., Ayala, D., …, Zhang, L., …, & Proszkowiec-Weglarz, M. (2025). Do we need a standardized 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis protocol for poultry microbiota research? Poultry Science, 104(7), 105242. DOI

  10. Huang, Y.C., Lu, H.Y., Zhang, L., …, & Cheng, W.H. (2025). Dietary selenium deficiency accelerates the onset of aging-related gut microbial changes in aged telomere-humanized mice. Aging Cell, 24(8), e70130. DOI

  11. Choi, J.W., Baek, S., Zhang, L., Bae, J.E., & Lee, S.G. (2025). Hot-Water Infusion as an Efficient and Sustainable Extraction Approach for Edible Flower Teas. Applied Sciences, 15(23), 12730. DOI

2024

  1. Poudel, S., Pokhrel, D., Zhang, X., Sukumaran, A.T., Adhikari, P., Kiess, A.S., Macklin, K.S., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Campylobacter jejuni from no antibiotics ever (NAE) broilers: prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and virulence genes analysis. Poultry Science, 103(12), 104380. DOI

  2. Jia, L., Arick, M.A., Hsu, C.Y., Peterson, D.G., Evans, J.D., Robinson, K., Sukumaran, A.T., Ramachandran, R., Adhikari, P., & Zhang, L.* (2024). High-throughput Oxford Nanopore sequencing-based approach for the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of large-scale avian Escherichia coli study in Mississippi. Poultry Science, 103(10), 104067. DOI

  3. Poudel, S., Zeng, X., Lin, J., Cheng, W.H., Sukumaran, A.T., Adhikari, P., Kiess, A.S., Macklin, K.S., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Recent advances and challenges in developing vaccines for Campylobacter jejuni: A Comprehensive Review. World Poultry Science Journal, 80(3), 767-790. DOI

  4. Pokhrel, D., Thames, H.T., Fugate, H., Dinh, T., Schilling, W., White, S., Ramachandran, R., Sukumaran, A.T., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Increase in Temperature Facilitates Campylobacter jejuni Biofilm Formation Under Both Aerobic and Microaerobic Incubation. Poultry Science, 103(6), 103753. DOI

  5. Isah, A.S., Ramachandran, R., Sukumaran, A.T., Kiess, A.S., Castañeda, C.D., Boltz, T., Macklin, K.S., Abdelhamed, H., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Construction and characterization of bioluminescent Salmonella Reading outbreak and non-outbreak Strains. Microbiology Spectrum, e01263-24. DOI

  6. Isah, A.S., Ramachandran, R., Sukumaran, A.T., Kiess, A.S., Castañeda, C.D., Boltz, T., Macklin, K.S., Abdelhamed, H., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Evaluating the vertical transmission potential of Salmonella Reading in broiler breeders. Poultry Science, 103(12), 104351. DOI

  7. Chaudhary, D., Poudel, S., Jia, L., Sukumaran, A.T., Zhang, X., Cheng, W.H., Kiess, A.S., Macklin, K.S., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Optimization of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of Clostridium perfringens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 34(2), 100513. DOI

  8. Jia, L., Arick, M.A., Hsu, C.Y., Peterson, D.G., Evans, J.D., Robinson, K., Adhikari, P., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Complete genome sequences of two avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from broilers exhibiting colibacillosis in Mississippi. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 13(6), e01020-23. DOI

  9. Jia, L., Hsu, C.Y., Zhang, X., Li, X., Schilling, M.W., Peebles, E.D., Kiess, A.S., Wamsley, K.G.S., & Zhang, L.* (2024). Changes in gene expression in the intestinal mucus of broilers with woody breast myopathy. Poultry Science, 103(3), 103398. DOI

  10. Joseph, J., Magee, C., Jia, L., Zhang, L., Adhikari, P., & Ramachandran, R. (2024). Phenotypic virulence characterization of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler breeders with colibacillosis in Mississippi. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 135(5), lxae032. DOI

2023

  1. Poudel, S., Jia, L., Arick, M.A., Hsu, C.Y., Thrash, A., Sukumaran, A.T., Adhikari, P., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2023). In silico prediction and expression analysis of vaccine candidate genes of Campylobacter jejuni. Poultry Science, 102(5), 102592. DOI

  2. Pokhrel, D., Thames, H.T., Zhang, L., Dinh, T., Schilling, M.W., White, S., Ramachandran, R., & Sukumaran, A.T. (2023). Aerotolerance and multi-locus sequence typing of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from commercial broiler processing plants. Foods, 12(17), 3305. DOI

  3. Thames, H., Pokhrel, D., Willis, E., Rivers, O., Dinh, T.T.N., Zhang, L., Schilling, M.W., Ramachandran, R., White, S., & Sukumaran, A.T. (2023). Salmonella biofilm formation under fluidic shear stress on different surface materials. Foods, 12(9), 1918. DOI

  4. Ovi, F., Nabors, H., Jia, L., Zhang, L., & Adhikari, P. (2023). A compilation of virulence-associated genes with uniquely high prevalence in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). Journal of Applied Microbiology, 134(3), 1-20. DOI

  5. Joseph, J., Jennings, M., Barbieri, N.L., Zhang, L., Adhikari, P., & Ramachandran, R. (2023). Characterization of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler breeders with colibacillosis in Mississippi. Poultry, 2(1), 24-39. DOI

2022

  1. Poudel, S., Li, T., Chen, S., Zhang, X., Cheng, W.H., Sukumaran, A.T., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2022). Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular characterization of Campylobacter isolated from broilers and broiler meat raised without antibiotics. Microbiology Spectrum, 10(3), e0025122. DOI

  2. Jia, L., Hsu, C.Y., Zhang, X., Li, X., Schilling, M.W., Peebles, E.D., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2022). Effects of dietary bacitracin or Bacillus subtilis on the woody breast myopathy-associated gut microbiome of Eimeria spp. challenged and unchallenged broilers. Poultry Science, 101(8), 101960. DOI

  3. Jia, L., Zhang, X., Li, X., Schilling, W., Peebles, E.D., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2022). Internal organ and skeletal muscle development in commercial broilers with woody breast myopathy. Poultry Science, 101(9), 102012. DOI

  4. Jia, L., Zhang, X., Li, X., Schilling, W., Peebles, E.D., Kiess, A.S., Zhai, W., & Zhang, L.* (2022). Bacitracin, Bacillus subtilis, and Eimeria spp. challenge exacerbates woody breast incidence and severity in broilers. Poultry Science, 101(1), 101512. DOI

  5. Poudel, S., Li, T., Arick, M.A., Hsu, C.Y., Thrash, A., Sukumaran, A.T., Adhikari, P., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2022). Complete genome sequences of four Campylobacter jejuni isolated from retail chicken and broiler feces. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 11(10), e00898-22. DOI

  6. Poudel, S., Tabler, G.T., Lin, J., Zhai, W., & Zhang, L.* (2022). Riboflavin and Bacillus subtilis effects on growth performance and woody-breast of Ross 708 broilers with or without Eimeria spp. challenge. Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 64(3), 443-461. DOI

  7. Pokhrel, D., Thames, H.T., Zhang, L., Dinh, T.T.N., Schilling, W., White, S.B., Ramachandran, R., & Sukumaran, A.T. (2022). Roles of aerotolerance, biofilm formation, and viable but non-culturable state in the survival of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry processing environments. Microorganisms, 10(11), 2165. DOI

2021

  1. Zhang, X. & Zhang, L. (equal contribution), Li, X., White, S., Campbell, Y.L., Ruiz, A.A., To, K.V., Zhai, W., & Schilling, M.W. (2021). Cecal microbiota contribute to the development of woody breast myopathy. Poultry Science, 100(6), 101124. DOI

  2. Li, T., Castañeda, C.D., Miotto, J., McDaniel, C., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2021). Effects of in ovo probiotic administration on the incidence of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in broilers and an evaluation on their virulence and antimicrobial resistance properties. Poultry Science, 100(3), 100903. DOI

  3. Fancher, C.A., Thames, H.T., Colvin, M.G., Smith, M., Easterling, A., Nuthalapati, N., Zhang, L., Kiess, A., Dinh, T.T.N., & Sukumaran, A.T. (2021). Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms. Microbiology Spectrum, 9(3), e00834-21. DOI

  4. Fancher, C.A., Thames, H.T., Colvin, M.G., Zhang, L., Nuthalapati, N., Kiess, A., Dinh, T.T.N., & Sukumaran, A.T. (2021). Prevalence and molecular characteristics of Clostridium perfringens in ‘no antibiotics ever’ broiler farms. Poultry Science, 100(11), 101414. DOI

  5. Poudel, S., Zhang, L., Tabler, G.T., Lin, J., & Zhai, W. (2021). Effects of riboflavin and Bacillus subtilis on internal organ development and intestinal health of Ross 708 male broilers with or without coccidial challenge. Poultry Science, 100(4), 100973. DOI

Earlier Publications (2013–2020)

Selected publications. Full publication list available upon request.

  1. Li, T., Castañeda, C.D., Arick, M., Hsu, C.Y., Kiess, A.S., & Zhang, L.* (2020). Complete genome sequence of multidrug-resistant avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strain APEC-O2-MS1170. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 23, 401-403. DOI

  2. Fancher, C.A., Zhang, L., Kiess, A.S., Adhikari, P.A., Dinh, T.T.N., & Sukumaran, A.T. (2020). Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens: Challenges in No Antibiotics Ever Broiler Production and Potential Solutions. Microorganisms, 8(10), 1533. DOI

  3. Zhang, L., Zhu, J.H., Zhang, X., & Cheng, W.H. (2019). The Thioredoxin-Like Family of Selenoproteins: Implications in Aging and Age-Related Degeneration. Biological Trace Element Research, 188(1), 189-195. DOI

  4. Zhang, L., Zeng, H., & Cheng, W.H. (2018). Beneficial and paradoxical roles of selenium at nutritional levels of intake in healthspan and longevity. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 127, 3-13. DOI

  5. Zhang, L., Liu, C., Li, D., Zhao, Y., Zhang, X., Zeng, X., Yang, Z., & Li, S. (2013). Antioxidant activity of an exopolysaccharide isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum C88. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 54, 270-275. DOI

  6. Li, S., Zhao, Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, X., Huang, L., Li, D., Niu, C., Yang, Z., & Wang, Q. (2012). Antioxidant activity of Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from traditional Chinese fermented foods. Food Chemistry, 135(3), 1914-1919. DOI

Conference Presentations (Selected)

2025

  • Jia, L., …, & Zhang, L.* Pangenome analysis reveals distinct evolutionary clusters and transmission patterns of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. PSA Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC.

  • Wang, M., …, & Zhang, L.* Genomic characterization of bacterial isolates from broiler chicken cecal microbiota. PSA Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC.

  • Fugate, H., …, & Zhang, L.* Assessment of pagP gene function in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli pathogenicity. IPSF, Atlanta, GA.

2024

  • Jia, L., …, & Zhang, L.* High-throughput multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for a large-scale avian E. coli study in Mississippi. IPSF, Atlanta, GA.

  • Pokhrel, D., …, & Zhang, L.* Genomic analysis of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from commercial broiler processing plants. IPSF, Atlanta, GA.

Invited Presentations

  • Zhang, L. (2025). Identification of novel antigens for a universal vaccine against avian colibacillosis. MPA Poultry Health Seminar, Jackson, MS.

  • Zhang, L. (2023). Use of comparative genomics and in vitro screening approach for the identification of vaccine candidates for food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. IPPE Research TECHTalk, Atlanta, GA.

Data & Code

We are committed to open science. Genome sequences are deposited in NCBI:

Resource Description
NCBI GenBank Complete genome sequences of APEC and C. jejuni isolates
ORCID 0000-0002-3933-5794

For reprints or collaboration inquiries, contact us.

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