Professor

Dr. Zhao received his BS degree in Animal Science from Anhui Agricultural University, China. He then moved to Nanjing Agricultural University of China to complete his MS degree in Animal Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry under the mentorship of Hang Zhengkang.  After working as a Research Associate in Beijing Institute of Nutritional Resources for 4 years, He went the University of Alberta, Canada to complete his PhD in Molecular Nutritional Physiology, with John Kennelly as his advisor.  Dr. Zhao had his post-doctoral training at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, USA in Takami Oka’s laboratory before becoming a Research Scientist at American Registry of Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, DC. In 2001, Dr. Zhao moved to Vermont as an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont where he progressed through the ranks to become Professor.

The research in Dr. Zhao’s laboratory focuses on lactation physiology and metabolism. The current specific research areas include, but not limited to: i) antioxidation in the mammary gland, and ii) glucose uptake and utilization in bovine mammary gland. The pathology of breast cancer and mastitis is also a research interest in Dr. Zhao’s laboratory. The overall aims of Dr. Zhao’s research are to improve milk production efficiency and animal health in dairy cows and to prevent and treat breast cancer in humans.

Publications

2022-2019

1. Luyi Jiang, Huizeng Sun, Fengfei Gu, Jin He, Fengqi Zhao, and Jianxin Liu*. (2022). Blood neutrophil extracellular traps: A novel target for the assessment of mammary health in transition dairy cows. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 13:131. Doi: 10.1186/s40104-022-00782-4

2. Pengfei Hou; Wenting Dai; Yanshan Jin; Fengqi Zhao; Jianxin Liu, Hongyun Liu*. (2022). Maternal exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) depresses lactation capacity in mice. Science of The Total Environment 837, 1 September 2022, 155813. Doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155813

3. Lu-Yi Jiang, Hui-Zeng Sun, Ruo-Wei Guan, Fushan Shi, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jian-Xin Liu*. (2022). Formation of blood neutrophil extracellular traps increases the mastitis risk of dairy cows during the transition period. Frontiers in Immunology, 13:880578. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.880578.

4. Fengfei Gu, L. Y. Jiang, Diming Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu. (2022). Supplementation with N-carbamoylglutamate during the transition period improves the functions of neutrophils and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 105:5786–5795. doi: 10.3168/jds.2021-21159

5. Caihong Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu*. (2022). The ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 mediates the regulation of PepT2 by mTORC1 in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Animal Nutrition 10:12-18. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2021.11.008

6. Ratan K. Choudhary*, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2022). Stem cells in mammary health and milk production. Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy 17, No. 3.

7. Miaomiao Zhou, Lianbin Xu, Feng-Qi Zhao*, and Hongyun Liu*. (2021). Regulation of milk protein synthesis by free and peptide-bound amino acids in dairy cows. Biology 10, 1044. doi: 10.3390/biology10101044

8. Miyuki Takashima, Christian Lalonde, Laura Olszanski, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2021). Localized and systemic inflammation mediators in a murine acute mastitis model. Journal of Inflammation Research 14:4053–4067. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S313799

9. Fengfei Gu, Luyi Jiang, Linyu Xie, Diming Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Jianxin Liu. (2021). Supplementing N-carbamoylglutamate in late gestation increases newborn calf weight by enhanced placental expression of mTOR and angiogenesis factors genes in dairy cows. Animal Nutrition 7 (4):981-988. Doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2021.05.007

10. Erin M. Shangraw, Ricardo O. Rodrigues, Ratan K. Choudhary, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Thomas B. McFadden*. (2021). Hypogalactia in mammary quarters adjacent to LPS-infused quarters is associated with transcriptional changes in immune genes. Journal of Dairy Science 104(8):9276-9286. doi: 10.3168/jds.2020-20048

11. Yongxin Li, Juanjuan Shao, Pengfei Hou, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Hongyun Liu*. (2021). Nrf2-ARE signaling partially attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced mammary lesions via regulation of oxidative and organelle stresses, but not inflammatory response in mice. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2021, Article ID 8821833, 14 pages. DOI: 10.1155/2021/8821833

12. Jie Cai, Diming Wang, Shulin Liang, Jinrong Peng, Fengqi Zhao, and Jianxin Liu*. (2020). Excessive supply of glucose elicits an NF-κB2-dependent glycolysis in lactating goat mammary glands. FASEB Journal 34:8671–8685. DOI: 10.1096/fj.201903088R

13. Erin M. Shangraw, Ricardo O. Rodrigues, Monica C. Witzke, Ratan K. Choudhary, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Thomas B. McFadden*. (2020). Intramammary lipopolysaccharide infusion provokes time-dependent local and systemic effects on milk components in lactating bovine mammary glands. Journal of Dairy Science 103:7487–7497. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-18022

14. Alexander Jonathan Spitzer, Qing Tian, Ratan Choudhary, and Feng-Qi Zhao*. (2020). Bacterial endotoxin induces oxidative stress and reduces milk protein expression and hypoxia in the mammary gland. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Volume 2020, Article ID 3894309, 16 pages. DOI: 10.1155/2020/3894309

15. Caihong Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu*. (2020). Short communication: The essential role of N-glycosylation in the transport activity of bovine PepT2. Journal of Dairy Science 103:6679–6683. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16858

16. Chang Ma, Ya-Jing Liu, Shao-Shuai Liu, Crystal L Lévesque, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jing-Dong Yin, and Bing Dong*. (2020). Branched chain amino acids alter fatty acid profile in colostrum of sows fed a high fat diet. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 11:9. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0423-9

17. Qiong Chen, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, Haiyan Wang, and Hongyun Liu*. (2020). Partially delivered methionyl-methionine dipeptide during pregnancy enhances mammogenesis and lactation performance over free methionine by activating the PI3K-AKT signaling in methionine-deficient mice. Journal of Nutrition 2020 May 1; 150(5):1186-1195. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa005.

18. Jie Cai, Diming Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Shulin Liang, Ruowei Guan, Shixin Lin, and Jianxin Liu*. (2020). AMPK-mTOR pathway is involved in glucose-modulated amino acid sensing and utilization in the mammary glands of lactating goats. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 2020 Feb 14; 11:32. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-020-0434-6.

19. Wen-Ting Dai, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu*. (2020). ASCT2 is involved in SARS-mediated β-casein synthesis of bovine mammary epithelial cells with methionine supply. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 68(46):13038-13045. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b03833

20. Wenting Dai, Fengqi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu*. (2019). Seryl-tRNA synthetase is involved in methionine stimulation of β-casein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells. British Journal of Nutrition 123(5):489-498. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114519002885.

21. Qiong Chen, Caihong Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu. (2019). Effects of methionine partially replaced by methionyl-methionine dipeptide on intestinal function in methionine-deficient pregnant mice. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 103(5):1610-1618. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13126

22. Caihong Wang, Yalu Sun, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu*. (2019). Functional characterization of peptide transporters in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 67 (1), 213-219. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05637

23. Yixuan Zou, Juanjuan Shao, Yongxin Li, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu*. (2019). Protective Effects of Inorganic and Organic Selenium on Heat Stress in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2019, Article ID 1503478, 10 pages. DOI: 10.1155/2019/1503478

24. Dimin Wang, Jie Cai, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Jianxin Liu*. (2019). Short communication: Low‐quality rice straw forage increases the permeability of mammary epithelial tight junctions in lactating dairy cows. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 99, 2037-2041. DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9330

25. Qingbiao Xu, Hongyun Liu, Fengqi Zhao, Yueming Wu*, Xinbei Huang, Zhixuan Liu, and Jianxin Liu*. (2019). Mechanism of peptide absorption in the isolated forestomach epithelial cells of dairy cows. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 99 (1), 100-108. Epub: May 23, 2018. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.9148

2017-2018:

Xiujuan Lin, Shanshan Li, Yixuan Zou, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu. (2018). Effects of lysine supplementation on lysine absorption and utilization and protein synthesis and degradation in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Nutrition, in press

Qiong Chen, Wen-Ting Dai, Ya-Lu Sun, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jian-Xin Liu, and Hong-Yun Liu. (2018). Methionyl-methionine dipeptide improves reproductive performance over free methionine in mice. Nutrients, 10, 1190; doi:10.3390/nu10091190

Caihong Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu. (2018). Dipeptide (methionyl-methionine) transport and its effect on β-casein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 49(2):479-488. doi: 10.1159/000492987

Wenting Dai, Quanjuan Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jianxin Liu, and Hongyun Liu. (2018). Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of the mammary gland of dairy cows fed different-quality forages reveal regulatory mechanisms of milk production. BMC Genomic 19, 403 (18 pages). DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4808-5

Feng-Qi Zhao, Yogi Misra, Da-Biao Li, Marilyn P Wadsworth, David Krag, Donald Weaver, Joseph Tessitore, Da-Wei Li, Guo Zhang, Qing Tian, and Katie Buss. (2018). Differential expression of Oct3/4 in human breast cancer and normal tissues. International Journal of Oncology 52, 2069-2078. DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4341

2016:

Bo Wang, Feng-Qi Zhao, Bao-Xing Zhang, and Jian-Xin Liu. (2016). Insufficient supply of glucose causes reduced lactose synthesis in lactating dairy cows fed rice straw replacing alfalfa hay. Journal of Animal Science 94(11), 4771-4780. doi: 10.2527/jas2016-0603

Xiaolu Jin, Kai Wang, Lan Liu, Hongyun Liu, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Jianxin Liu. (2016). Activation of Nrf2-ARE signaling by tert-butylhydroquinone attenuates acute heat stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Dairy Science 99, 9094-9103. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-11031

Huawei Zeng, Suzanne L Ishaq, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Andre-Denis G Wright. (2016). Colonic inflammation accompanies an increase of β-catenin signaling and Lachnospiraceae/Streptococcaceae in the hind gut of high-fat diet-fed mice. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 35, 30-36. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.05.015

Emily A. Lounsbury, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Karen M. Lounsbury. (2016). Adipose tissue hypoxia: effects on metabolism and insulin sensitivity (review). Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences 6(3), 488. doi: 10.4172/2155-9600.1000488

Shun Kitaoka, Anthony Morielli, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2016). Regulation of glucose transport by insulin/IGF-like signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. FEBS Open Bio 6, 576-585. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.12068

Xi Qian, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2016). Regulatory role of Oct proteins in the mammary gland (invited review). BBA - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms 1859, 812-819. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.03.015

2015:

Xiaolu Jin, Kai Wang, Hongyun Liu, Fuliang Hu, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Jianxin Liu. (2015). Protection of bovine mammary epithelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative cell damage by resveratrol. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Volume 2016, Article ID 2572175, 15 pages. doi:10.1155/2016/2572175

Jian-Xiang Yang, Cai-Hong Wang, Qing-Biao Xu, Feng-Qi Zhao, Jian-Xin Liu, and Hong-Yun Liu. (2015). Methionyl-methionine promoted milk protein synthesis in bovine mammary gland explants by enhancing intracellular substrate availability and activating JAK2-STAT5 and mTOR-mediated signaling pathways. Journal of Nutrition 145 (8), 1748-1753. doi:10.3945/jn.114.208330

2014:

Xi Qian, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2014). Recent major advances in regulation of milk protein gene expression (Review). Critical ReviewsTM in Eukaryotic Gene Expression 24(4), 357-378. doi:10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.2014012215

Xi Qian, Jana Kraft, Yingdong Ni, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2014). Production of recombinant human proinsulin in the milk of transgenic mice. Scientific Reports 4, 6465; doi:10.1038/srep06465

Yong Shao, Theresa L. Wellman, Karen M. Lounsbury, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2014). Differential regulation of GLUT1 and GLUT8 expression by hypoxia in mammary epithelial cells. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 307, R237-R247. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00093.2014

Ke Zhao, Hong-Yun Liu, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Jian-Xin Liu. (2014). Short communication: Protein kinase C regulates glucose uptake and mRNA expression of GLUT1 and GLUT8 in lactating bovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Dairy Science, 97, 4329-4332. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-7848

Ke Zhao, Hong-Yun Liu, Miao-Miao Zhou, Feng-Qi Zhao, and Jian-Xin Liu. (2014). Insulin stimulates glucose uptake via a PI3-K-linked signaling pathway in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Dairy Science, 97, 3660每3665. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-7773

Yong Shao, and Feng-Qi Zhao. (2014). Emerging evidence of the physiological role of hypoxia in mammary development and lactation (invited review). Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 5,9.

Feng-Qi Zhao. (2014). Biology of glucose transport in the mammary gland (invited review). Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 19(1), 3-17.

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

Lactation Physiology, Molecular Genetics

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
  • M.S., Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
  • B.S., Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China

Contact

Email:

feng-qi.zhao@uvm.edu

Phone:
  • 802-656-0786
Office Location:

211 Terrill Building

Office Hours:

Upon Request