Profile for Xinhui Li

Xinhui Li

Professor

Microbiology

Specialty area(s)

My research interests lie in the area of food microbiology, with the focus on antibiotic resistance in food chain and inactivation of foodborne viruses. I am currently accepting M.S. and undergraduate research students.

Current courses at UWL

Mic 230 Fundamentals of Microbiology, Mic 380 Food Microbiology, MIC 427/527 Industrial and Fermentation Microbiology, FNS 410 Food Safety

Education

Ph.D., the Ohio State University, 2011
M.Sc., South China University of Technology, 2007
B.Eng., South China University of Technology, 2004

Career

Professional history

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Delaware, Aug. 2011-Jan. 2015

Research and publishing

Research Interests:

1. Inactivation of foodborne viruses
2. Mitigation of antibiotic resistance in the food chain

Recent Grants:

USDA, NIFA Grant: Assessment of antibiotic resistance in fresh vegetables from farm to fork, ($199,958, 08/01/2022-07/31/2026).

WiSys-Ignite Grant: Evaluation of the antibacterial and antiviral Properties of ZnO/Graphene nanocomposite thin-Films (key personnel, $50,000 shared with the PI, 07/01/2021-08/31/2022).

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grant: Hybrid training for quality assurance and food safety programs designed for small-scale food processors and distributors ($49,844, 09/01/2020-08/31/2025).

Selected recent publications (*:undergraduate student, ^: graduate student):

Moon SH, Yang X, Kim J, Leighton E, Jun SR, DiCaprio E, Gale C*, Chen S, Li X, Huang E. Comprehensive analyses of carbapenem-resistant and ESBL-producing bacteria in fresh vegetables and their resistome in the United States. 2026. Food Res. Int. 28:119552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119552.

Grachan TJ*, McLaughlin RW, Lawson PA, Li X. Stenotrophomonas testudinis sp. nov., isolated from the faecal material of a painted turtle living in the wild. 2026. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 76:007159. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.007159.

Mariano A, Zhang Z, Ornelas V, Li X, Li YO, Yang X. Development of a corn protein-based novel antimicrobial chloramine coating for agricultural water disinfection. 2025. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 18:102460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102460.

Leighton EA, Gale, CN*, Huang, E., Yang, X., DiCaprio, E.L., Li, X. A multidrug-resistant extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacter hormaechei strain from mixed sprouts. 2024. Curr Microbiol. 81:131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-024-03663-3.

Huang, E., Yang, X., Leighton, E., Li, X. Carbapenem resistance in the food supply chain. 2023. J Food Prot. 86:100108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100108.

Li X, McLaughlin RW, Grover NA*. Characterization of antibiotic-resistant Stenotrophomonas isolates from painted turtles living in the wild. 2023. Curr Microbiol. 80:93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03193-4.

Moon SH, Udaondo Z, Abram KZ, Li X, Yang X, DiCaprio EL, Jun SR, Huang, E. Isolation of AmpC-and extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales from fresh vegetables in the United States. 2022. Food Control. 132:108559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108559

Moon SH, Udaondo Z, Li X, Yang X, Jun SR, Huang E. Isolation and characterisation of carbapenemase-producing and polymyxin B-resistant Enterobacter bugandensis from a vegetable. 2021. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 26:264-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2021.07.013

Zhou Y, Li X, Yan H. Genotypic characteristics and correlation of epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in healthy pigs, diseased pigs, and environment. 2020. Antibiotics (Basel). 9:839. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120839

Recker JD^, Li X. Evaluation of copper alloy surfaces for inactivation of Tulane virus and human noroviruses. 2020. J Food Prot. 83:1782-1788. http://doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-19-410

News

Research in the Rotunda UWL students sharing their outstanding research

Kudos

published

Xinhui Li, Microbiology, co-authored the article "Comprehensive analyses of carbapenem-resistant and ESBL-producing bacteria in fresh vegetables and their resistome in the United States" in Food Research International and was accepted for publication by Elsevier. Chelsea Gale, a former biology student, is also a co-author of the article.

Submitted on: June 18

published

TJ Grachan, biology student, and Xinhui Li, Microbiology, co-authored the article "Stenotrophomonas testudinis sp. nov., isolated from the faecal material of a painted turtle living in the wild" in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, which was accepted for publication by Microbiology Society.

Submitted on: June 18

served

Heather Walder, Archaeology & Anthropology; Kristin Koepke, CATL; Astrid Lorena Ochoa Campo, Global Cultures & Languages; Melissa Weege, Health Professions; Rachel Funk-Johnson, Management; Jeff Baggett, Mathematics & Statistics; Xinhui Li, Microbiology; Tesia Marshik, Psychology; and Tori Svoboda, Student Affairs Administration; served as UWL representatives at the Universities of Wisconsin event, Faculty College. Faculty College was held May 28-31 in Elkhart Lake, WI. The theme was "Rethinking/Redesigning Student Assignments" and Ashley Finley of AAC&U was the guest presenter.

Submitted on: June 4, 2024

named

Astrid Lorena Ochoa Campo, Global Cultures & Languages; Rachel Funk-Johnson, Management; and Xinhui Li, Microbiology; were named teaching fellows at the Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars Program on Jan. 17. The program is supported by the Universities of Wisconsin Office of Professional and Instructional Development. They will represent UWL during the 2024/2025 program.

Submitted on: Mar. 12, 2024

awarded

Xinhui Li, Microbiology, received the award for "Assessment of antibiotic resistance in fresh vegetables from farm to fork" from USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Li is a co-investigator on this two-year, $200,000, grant.

Submitted on: Feb. 24, 2022