Eui-Hwan Chung, Ph.D (정의환)

• Affiliation: Department of Plant Biotechnology (graduate: primary) / Division of Biotechnology (undergraduate)
• Office: Life Sciences & Biotechnology West bldg. Rm 408
• Laboratory: Life Sciences & Biotechnology West bldg. Rm L411 Plant Immuno-Physiology Lab. (PIPL) & Rm L508 Plant Pharmacology Lab (Shared)
• Major Research Areas: Plant Immunity / Plant Pathogen Virulence / Plant-Pathogen Interaction / Plant Immune-Priming / Natural Products & Compounds

• Ph.D (2011): Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology (MCDB), Dept. of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), NC, USA
• B.S & M.S (2002): Plant Pathology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

• 2020.09 ~ Current: Assistant, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Biotechnology & Division of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• 2020.02 ~ 2020.07: Senior Scientist, Disease Trait Team, Crop Trait Discovery (CTD) Function, Syngenta Seeds, Syngenta Group, Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC, USA
• 2019.05 ~ 2020.01: Senior Scientist & Molecular Plant Pathologist, Bio-stress Trait (BT) Group, Syngenta Crop Protection, Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC, USA
• 2018.03 ~ 2019.05: Research Specialist (Permanent Position), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), University of North Carlina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
• 2016.03 ~ 2018.03: Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), University of North Carlina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
• 2016.03 ~ 2019.05: Research Professor, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
• 2011.05 ~ 2016.03: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA

• Streering committee chair, The Korean Society of Plant Pathology (KSPP): 2024~current
• Chair of Department of Horticulture & Bio-Technology, Graduate School of Life and Environment Science: 2023~current
• Associate editor, Journal of Plant Biology: 2025~current
• Guest associate editor, Frontiers in Plant Science: 2021~current
• Review editors, Frontiers in Plant Science: 2021~current
• The Plant Pathology Journal (Editor) / Plant Disease Report (Editor): 2021~2023
• The Korean Society of Plant Pathology (KSPP)
• The Korean Society of Molecular and Cellular Biology (KSMCB)
• The Korean Society of Plant Biology (KSPB)
• International Society of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction (Is-MPMI)
• American Society of Plant Biologists (ASBP)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

• Park DH, Kwak YS, Choi KH, Chung EH, Kim JS, Park JH, Kim DH, Lee JH (2026) Optimization of conventional extraction and multivariate metabolite profiling of soybean seeds (Glycine max L. Merrill) for enhanced isoflavones and antioxidant properties. Food Chemistry. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.148237 (online)
• Nguyen TTT, Le QT, Lee HK, Chung EH, Lee H (2025) CRY1-dependent DELLA accumulation via GA signaling compromixes salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Physiol Plant. 177(6):e70678. doi: 10.1111/ppl.70678.
• Kim W, Park Y, Son Y, Yoo N, Chung EH, Park W (2025) Rapid and selective disruption of photosystem I in toxic cyanabacteria protects aquatic ecosystem health. J Hazard Mater.  doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140736 (online)
• Lee H, Ko D, Kang H, Kim SH, El Kasmi F, Dangl JL, Chung EH (2025) BIK1-RIN4 complex linkes plant immunity and pathogen virulence. bioRxiv. doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.03.673898
• Kang JE, Kim H, Song K, Choi C, Kim YJ, Hwang DJ, Chung EH (2024) Arabidopsis WRKY55 transcription factor enhances soft rot disease with ORA59. The Plant Pathology Journal. 40(5):537-550
• Nguyen Q-M, Iswanto ABB, Kang H, Moon J, Phan KAT, Son GH, Suh MC, Chung EH, Gasmann W, Kim SH (2024) The processed C-terminus of AvrRps4 effector suppresses plant immunity via targeting multiple WRKYs. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology doi:10.111/jipb.13710
• Kim YJ, Chung EH, Kim KD (2024) Pythium aphanidermatum as a Novel Oomycete Pathogen Causing Leak on Potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Korea. Mycobiolgy doi:10.1080/12298093.2024.2373506
• Kang J, Yoon HM, Jung J, Yu S, Choi SY, Bae HW, Cho YH, Chung EH^*, Lee Y^* (2024) Pleiotropic effects of N-acylhomoserine lactone synthase ExpI on virulence, competition, and transmission in Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Pcc21. Pest Management Science, 80(2):687-697 ^*corresponding authors
• Yoo N, Kang JE, Kim DR, Lee H, Ko D, Kwak YS, Chung EH (2023) A natural cyclic peptide valinomycin enhances plant innate immunity. BioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2023.10.25.563898
• Kang J, Yoon HM, Jung J, Yu S, Choi SY, Bae HW, Cho YH, Chung EH^*, Lee Y^* (2023) Pleiotropic effects of N-acylhomoserine lactone synthase ExpI on virulence, competition, and transmission in Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Pcc21. Pest Management Science doi: 10.1002/ps.7797 ^*corresponding authors (On-line)
• Iakovidis M^*#, Chung EH^*#, Saile, SC^#, Sauberzweig E, El Kasmi F^*# (2023) The emerging frontier of plant immunit's core hubs. FEBS Journal 290(13): 3293-3491, State-of-the-Art Review / ^#equal contribution ^*corresponding authors

​

• Kim H, Ahn YJ, Lee H, Chung EH, Segonzac C, Sohn KH (2023) Diversified host target families mediate convergently evolved effector recognition across plant species. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 74:102398 doi:10.1016/j.pbi.2023,102398
• Yu S, Kang J, Chung EH^*, Lee Y^* (2023) Disruption of the metC gene affects methionine biosynthesis in Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Pcc21 and reduces soft-rot disease. The Plant Pathology Journal, 39(1): 62-74, doi:10.5423/PPJ.OA.09/2022.0135 ^*corresponding authors
• Kang JE^*, Hwang S^*, Yoo N, Kim BS, Chung EH (2022) A resveratrol oligomer, hopeaphenol suppresses virulence activity of Pectobacterium atrosepticum via the modulation of the master regulator, FlhDC. Front Microbiol. 10:3389.doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.999522
• Lakovidis M^*#, Chung EH^*#, Salie SC^#, Sauberzweig E, El Kasmi F^*# (2022) The Emerging Frotiers of Plant Immunity's Core Hubs. The FEBS Journal doi: 10.1111/febs.16549 ^#equal contribution ^*corresponding authors
• Kang JE, Yoo N, Jeon BJ, Kim BS, Chung EH (2022) Resveratrol Oligomers, Plant-Produced Natural Products With Anti-virulence and Plant Immune-Priming Roles. Front Plant Sci. 13:885625. doi: 10.2289/fpls.2022.885625

​   * Global Plant Council Prize-Winning Research Topic

• Le QT, Truong HA, Nguyen DT, Lee YJ, Chung EH, Lee H (2022) Enhanced root growth of the Arabidopsis abi5 mutant under high salinity is associated with reduced NO levels in Arabidopsis seedlings. Research Square (Preprint) doi:org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-15511464/v1

• Choi S, Prokchorchik M. Lee H, Gupta R, Lee Y, Chung EH, Cho B, Kim MS, Kim ST, Sohn KH (2021) Direct acetylation of a conserved threonine of RIN4 by the bacterial effector HopZ5 or AvrBsT activates RPM1-dependent immunity in Arabidopsis. Mol Plant. 27:S1674-2052(21)0035-1
• Truong HA, Lee S, Trinh CS, Lee WJ, Chung EH, Hong SW, Lee H (2021) Overexpression of the HDA15 Gene Confers Resistance to Salt Stress by the Induction of NCED3, an ABA Biosynthesis Enzyme. Front Plant Sci. 30(12):640443

<Before KU>

• Prokchorchik M, Choi S, Chung EH, Won K, Dangl JL, Sohn KH (2020) A host target of a bacterial cysteine protease virulence effector plays a key role in convergent evolution of plant innate immune system receptors. New Phytol. 225(3): 1327-1342
• Redditt TJ*, Chung EH*, Karimi HZ*, Rodibaugh N, Zhang Y, Trinidad J, Kim JH, Zhou Q, Dangl JL, Mackey D, and Innes RW (2019) AvrRpm1 Functions as an ADP-Ribosyl Transferase to Modify NOI Domain-Containing Proteins, Including Arabidopsis and Soybean RPM1-Interacting Protein 4, The Plant Cell 31(11):2664-2681 *Equal contribution
• Wan L, Essuman K, Anderson RG, Sasaki Y, Monteiro F, Chung EH, Osborne Nishimura E, DiAntonio A, Milbrandt J, Dangl JL, and Nishimura MT (2019) TIR domains of plant immune receptors are NAD+-cleaving enzymes that promote cell death, Science Aug 23;365(6455):799-803
• Essuman K, Wan L, Summers, DW, Anderson RG, Sasaki Y, Mao X, Yim KY, Monteiro F, Chung EH, Osborne-Nishimura E, Dangl JL, Nishimura MT, DiAntonio A, and Milbrandt J (2019) Redefining the TIR domain: From Axon Degeneration to Innate Immunity and Beyond, The Journal of Immunology 202(1):64.1-64.1
• O’Neill EM, Mucyn TS, Patteson JB, Finkel OM, Chung EH, Baccile JA, Massolo E, Schroeder FC, Dangl JL, and Li B (2018) A New Bacterial Small Molecule Suppresses Plant Immune Response, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 115(41):E9514-E9522
• El-Kasmi F*, Chung EH*, Anderson RG, Li J, Wan Li, Eitas TK, Gao Z and Dangl JL (2017) Signaling from the plasma –membrane localized plant immune receptor RPM1 requires self-association of the full-length protein, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 114(35):E7385-E7394 *Equal contribution
• Tran DTN*, Chung EH*, Demar M, Schwab R, Dangl JL, Weigel D, Chae E (2017) Activation of a plant NLR through heteromeric association with an autoimmune risk variant of another NLR, Current Biology 27, 1148-1160 *Equal contribution
• Nishimura MT, Anderson RG, Cherkis KA, Law TF, Liu Q, Machius M, Nimchuk Z, Yang L, Chung EH, El-Kasmi F, Nishimura EO, Sondek J and Dangl JL (2017) RBA1, a TIR-only innate immune receptor, requires diverse self-association interfaces for function, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA E2053–E2062, doi:10.1073/pnas.1620973114
• Lee IH, Lee IC, Kim J, Kim JH, Chung EH, Kim HJ, Park SJ, Kim YM, Kang SK, Nam HG, Woo HR, and Lim PO (2016) NORE1/SAUL1 integrates temperature dependent defense programs involving SGT1b and PAD4 pathways and leaf senescence in Arabidopsis, Physiologia Plantarum, doi: 10:1111/ppl. 12434
• Chung EH, El-Kasmi F, He Y, Loher A and Dangl JL (2014) A Plant Phosphoswitch Platform Repeatedly Targeted by Type III Effector Proteins Regulates the Output of Both Tiers of Plant Immune Receptors, Cell Host & Microbe, doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2014.09.004
• Huang HS, Yoon BJ, Brooks S, Bakal R, Larsen RS, Wallace ML, Han JE, Chung EH, Zylka MJ, and Philpot B (2014) Snx14 regulates neuronal excitability, promotes synaptic transmission, and is imprinted in the brain of mice. PLoS ONE, 9(5):e98383. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098383
• Kim NH, Kim DS, Chung EH, and Hwang BK (2014) Pepper suppressor of the G2 allele of skp1 interacts with the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase 1 and type III effector AvrBsT and promotes the hypersensitive cell death response in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Plant Physiology 165:76-91
• He Y*, Chung EH*, Hubert DA, Tornero P, and Dangl JL (2012) Specific missense alleles of the Arabidopsis Jasmonic Acid co-receptor COI1 regulate innate immune receptor accumulation and function. PLoS Genetics 8(10): e1003018. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1003018 *Equal contribution
• Cherkis KA, Temple B, Chung EH, Sondek J and Dangl JL (2012) AvrRpm1 missense mutations weakly activate RPS2-mediated immune response in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS ONE 7(8): e42633. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042633
• Gao, Z, Chung EH, Eitas TK, and Dangl JL (2011) The plant intracellular innate immune receptor RPM1 is activated at, and functions on, the plasma membrane. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA. 108 (18), 7619-7624
• Chung EH. (2011) Mechanisms of Plant Immune Receptor RPM1 and its Associated Proteins in Disease Resistance, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA (Ph.D. Dissertation)
• Chung EH, da Cunha L, Wu A, Gao Z, Afzal A.J, Mackey D and Dangl JL (2011) Specific threonine phosphorylation of a host target mediated by two unrelated type III effector proteins results in activation of a host innate immune receptor in plants. Cell Host & Microbe 9(2): 125-136
• Jung EH, Jung HW, Lee SC, Han SW, Heu S, and Hwang BK (2004) Identification of a novel pathogen-induced gene encoding a leucine-rich repeat protein expressed in phloem cells of Capsicum annuum. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1676(3): 211-22
• Kim YJ, Jung EH, Hwang SH, Go SJ, and Hwang DJ (2004) AP2/EREBP transcription factors in Rice. The Plant Pathology Journal 20(1): 41-45
• Jung EH. (2002) Identification and Functional Analysis of a Novel Gene Encoding Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR) protein as a Molecular Marker for Microbial Perception in Capsicum annuum, Korea University, Seoul, Korea (M.S. Thesis)

• Hanbitsa in BRIC (Research articles & highly cited research article): https://www.ibric.org/myboard/read.php?Board=hbs_treatise&id=24084&ttype=1&idauthorid=15945
• KU Knowledge (쿠날): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNvtvpsQnew

• I. How do plants regulate the first immunity (PAMPs -triggered immunity), and what are genetic requirements for this process?
• II. How do plant pathogens suppress the first layer of plant immune responses for successful colonization and infection?
• III. How do plants recognize pathogen infection and activate the second immunity (Effector-triggered immunity)?
• IV. Natural products for pathogen virulence suppression and plant immune priming
• V. Plant-Pathogen-Environment Interaction
• Current Research Funding

<TEACHING>

- Graduate courses: Department of Plant Biotechnology

• Advanced Molecular Plant Immuno-Physiology
• Plant-Pathogen Interaction
• Advanced Plant Bacteriology
• Plant Disease Resistance
• Molecular & Physiological Plant Pathology
• Seminar in Plant Biotechnology I
• Seminar in Plant Biotechnology II
•  
• - Graduate courses: Department of Horticulture & Bio-Technology
• Horticultural Plant Disease
• Plant Pathology

- Undergraduate courses: Division of Biotechnology

Introduction of Plant Medicine (Best lecture award 2022 spring / Lecture award 2021 spring, 2023 spring, 2024 spring)

Plant Virology (Lecture award 2020 fall)

Plant Bacteriology & Lab (Best lecture award 2023 fall / Lecture award 2024 fall)

General Biology & Practice (Plant section)

Basic Experiment in Biotechnology (Plant Biotechnology-related section)

The World of Bioscience

<2025 Birthday, birthday, and birthday = party, party, and party >

<2025 Harin's farewell>

Harin is moving to Max Planck Institute for his Ph.D on March! Best luck on your new journey!

<2025 K-MPMI International Symposium at SNU>

With GNU Plant Immunity Lab for one lab in two locations!!!

<2025 Sping PIPL>

<2024 Korean Society of Plant Pathology (KSPP) spring conference>

<OPEN LAB DAY>

supported by BK21 FOUR program! We are open for you all!!!

<2023 Korean Society of Plant Pathology (KSPP) fall international conference>

One lab, two locations (KU-PIPL & GNU-PIL)!!! Phonenix, Jeju

<The 33rd International Conference on Arabidopsis Research>

The first lab participation in the international conference abroad, ICAR2023, Chiba, Japan!

<2023.05.24: Nayeon's Master Thesis Defense>

She's DONE! Not yet DONE?! She will join PIPL as a Ph.D student! Congrats!!!

<2023 Korean Society of Plant Pathology (KSPP) spring conference>

with Profs. Kee Hoon Sohn (SNU), Sang Hee Kim (GNU), Hyong Woo Choi (ANU), and lab members

<2023 Spring PIPL>

Welcome Harin and farewell to Ji Eun!!!

<2022 Winter>

Joint Christmas party with KUCEP (Prof. Jongyun Kim) and KU lab (Prof. Kang Mo Ku)

<2022 Fall>

Fall mountain hiking with PIPL and friends.

<2022 Spring>

PIPL spring mountain hiking

<2021 Winter>

Joint Christmas party with KUCEP (Prof. Jongyun Kim)

<2021 Fall>

First PIPL picture and mountain hiking.

• <Current PIPL>
• Eui-Hwan CHUNG, Ph.D (PI: ewanchung@korea.ac.kr)
•  - Current Topic: BOTHERING PIPL!
•  
• Nayeon YOO, M.Sc (Ph.D course: nayeon981127@korea.ac.kr)
•   - Current Topic: Plant Immune Priming & Natural Compounds
•  
• Huiwon LEE, B.Sc (Integrated Ph.D-M.Sc course: sdds987@korea.ac.kr)
• - Current Topic: Plant NLR receptor function & Plant Innate Immuniy
•  
• Dohee KO, B.Sc (Integrated Ph.D-M.Sc course: rosa1210@korea.ac.kr)
• - Current Topic: Plant RLCKs/NOI protein fuction & Plant Innate Immunity
•  
• Yae-Eun LEE, M.Sc (Ph.D course: scbt5062@korea.ac.kr)
• - Current Topic: Microbes-derived natural compounds & function; plant innate immunity
•  
• Sungjun KIM, B.Sc (Master course: sjty97@naver.com)

- Current Topic: Microbes-derived natural products & function

• Kangtoe LEE, B.Sc (Integrated M.S-B.S course: twingtoe@korea.ac.kr)

- Current Topic: Plants-derived natural compounds & biochemical synthesis

•  
• Jumi KIM, B.Sc (Integrated Ph.D-M.Sc course: tc727901@naver.com)

- Current Topic: Plant innate immunity & pathogen effector function

• Ina Jeon, Ms. (Undergraduate intern: ena0831@naver.com)

- Current Topic: Beneficial microbes for plant defense-growth trade off

<PIPL Family>

Yae-Eun Lee, M.Sc (2024.03-2025.08: current Ph.D course at PIPL)

Sumin Kim, M.Sc (2023.09-2025.08)

Seoyoung SHIN (Ungraduate intern: 2024 winter, currently at Ajou Medical School)

Jaewoo KIM (Undergraduate intern: 2024 winter)

Sukwon LEE (Undergraduate intern: 2024 winter, BK21 FOUR mentor-mentee program)

Harin Kim, M.Sc (2023.03-2025.02, current Ph.D course at ZMPB, University of Tuebingen)

Nayeon YOO, M.Sc (2021.09-2023.08, current Ph.D course at PIPL)

Jieun KANG, Ph.D (Research Professor: 2021.03-2023.02, current Research Associate at Michigan State University)

Byeong Jun JEON, Ph.D (Honorary PIPL member / Plant Pharmacology Lab: 2022-2021, current research associate at KIST)

• Jihee MOON (Undergraduate intern: 2023 fall semester)
• Hojin CHO (Undergraduate intern: 2023 fall semester, currently at Seoul National University)
• Kangtoe LEE (Undergraduate intern: 2023 summer, currently at PIPL, Integrated M.S-B.S course)
• Hyunjin KWON (Undergraduate intern: 2023 winter)
• Sungjoon KIM (Undergraduate intern: 2022 PIPL & Lab of Plant Pharmacology, current M.S course at PIPL)
• Sungyong KIM (Undergraduate intern: 2022 winter)
• Donghyun KWAK (Undergraduate intern: 2021 winter, currently at LG-Chem)
• Changsoon KIM (Undergraduate intern:2021 winter, currently at LG-Chem)
• Juhyung HA (Undergraduate intern: 2021 winter)
• Junsung PARK (Undergraduate intern: 2021 summer, currently at Samsung BIOEPIS)
•  

• Now, we wait for undergraduate interns, graduate students, and post-docs as new family members at PIPL (Plant Immuno-Physiology Lab)!!!

• "Contact: Prof. Eui-Hwan Chung at ewanchung@korea.ac.kr"
•