Dr. Soon Dong Lee has made significant contributions to the field of microbiology, particularly in microbial taxonomy, antibiotic biosynthesis, and actinomycete research. His early research explored the biochemical relationships between methionine metabolism and tylosin biosynthesis in Streptomyces fradiae, advancing understanding of antibiotic production pathways in industrially important microorganisms. During his doctoral work, he conducted extensive studies on the classification and characterization of novel actinomycetes isolated from a gold mine cave in Kongju, Korea, contributing to the discovery and taxonomic differentiation of new microbial species with potential biotechnological applications. As a researcher at the Research Center for Molecular Microbiology, he focused on molecular mechanisms governing microbial diversity and secondary metabolite synthesis. His postdoctoral studies further deepened his expertise in microbial genetics and systematics, emphasizing the ecological and functional roles of actinomycetes in natural environments. Later, as a research associate at the University of Minnesota, he extended his investigations into plant-microbe interactions and microbial pathogenesis, integrating molecular microbiology with plant pathology. Through his multidisciplinary research, Dr. Lee has enhanced scientific understanding of microbial taxonomy, secondary metabolism, and the potential of actinomycetes in biotechnology and agriculture.
Featured Publications:
Kim, S. B., Lee, S. D., Kim, S. Y., Oh, H. H., Kang, S.-O., & Hah, Y. C. (1996). Numerical classification of actinomycetes isolated from volcanic soil. Journal of Microbiology, 34(2), 105–116.
Seong, C. N., Kim, Y. S., Baik, K. S., Lee, S. D., Hah, Y. C., Kim, S. B., & Goodfellow, M. (1999). Mycolic acid-containing actinomycetes associated with activated sludge foam. Journal of Microbiology, 37(2), 66–72.
Lee, S. D., Goodfellow, M., & Hah, Y. C. (1999). A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Catellatospora based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequences, including transfer of Catellatospora matsumotoense to the genus Micromonospora as Micromonospora matsumotoense comb. nov. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 178(2), 349–354.
Lee, S. D., Kim, E. S., & Hah, Y. C. (2000). Phylogenetic analysis of the genera Pseudonocardia and Actinobispora based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 182(1), 125–129.
Lee, S. D., Kang, S.-O., & Hah, Y. C. (2000). Hongia gen. nov., a new genus of the order Actinomycetales. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 50(1), 191–199.
Lee, S. D., Kang, S.-O., & Hah, Y. C. (2000). Catellatospora koreensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from a gold-mine cave. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 50(3), 1103–1111.
Lee, S. D., Kim, E. S., Roe, J.-H., Kim, J.-H., Kang, S.-O., & Hah, Y. C. (2000). Saccharothrix violacea sp. nov., isolated from a gold mine cave, and Saccharothrix albidocapillata comb. nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 50(3), 1315–1323.