College of Public Health

Associate Professor
Environmental Health Sciences

Phone: 614-292-5546
Email: lee.3598@osu.edu

1841 Neil Ave.
406 Cunz Hall
Columbus, OH, 43210

Background

My main theme of research is microbial contamination in environments that leads to human exposure and its linkage to human health. I am focusing on understanding pathways of microbial transmission, microbial dynamics and interactions within microbial community in multi-temporal and spatial scales, and effects on gastrointestinal illness and cancers.  My lab has focused on several areas in water and food matrices (see Research Interests) and has studied enteric bacteria and viruses, cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, and antibiotic resistance using interdisciplinary approach, including metagenomic, metabolomic and geospatial tools. 

Research Interests

- Cyanobacteria and toxin ecology
- Health risks of cyanotoxins
- Microbiome in environments and hosts
- Water-food-climate nexus
- Microbial source tracking
- Wastewater reuse and public health impact
- Sustainable intervention of microbial contamination
- Environmental transmission of antibiotic resistance & reservoir
- Zoonotic pathogens: transmission pathways and impact on human health

Education

PhD, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michican
MS, Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
BS, Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Selected Publications

2016

Park, E, Mancl, K, Tuovinen, O, Bisesi, M, Lee, J. Ensuring safe reuse of residential wastewater: Reduction of microbes and genes using peat biofilter and batch chlorination in an on-site treatment system. Journal of Applied Microbiology. (Forthcoming)

Healy, J, Lee, S, Mouhaman, A, Garabed, R, Moritz, M, Piperata, P, Lee, J. 2016. Neighborhood diversity of potential pathogenic bacteria in drinking water from the city of Maroua, Cameroon. Journal of Water and Health. (Epub ahead of print, 2016 Feb 10)

Hu, C, Rea, C, Yu, Z, Lee, J, 2016. Relative importance of Microcystis abundance and diversity in determining microcystin dynamics in Lake Erie coastal wetland and downstream beach water. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 120(1):138-151

Hsu, T, Rea, C, Yu, Z, Lee, J. 2016. The prevalence and diversity of shiga toxin genes in Canada Geese and water in western Lake Erie region. Journal of Great Lakes Research. (Epub ahead of print, 2016 January 12)

Borherova, Z, Park, E, Holloran, K, Lee, J. Water quality changes shortly after low-head dam removal examined with cultural and microbial source tracking methods. River Research and Application. (In press)

Mrdjen, I, Lee, J. 2015. High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing Operations: Potential Impacts on Surface Water and Human Health. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 26(4):361-380.

Gorham, T, Lee, J, 2015. Pathogen loading from Canada geese feces in freshwater: potential risks to human health through recreational water exposure. Zoonoses and Public Health. 63:177-190.

2015

Lee, J, Tseng, K-H, Zhang, F, Lee, C, Marion, J, Liang, S, Shum, CK. 2016. From satellite to genes: An integrative approach to monitor and predict harmful cyanobacterial levels in Lake Erie beaches. Journal of Environmental Pollution and Human Health. 3(3):70-79.

Zhang, F, Liang, S, Shum, CK, Lee, J, 2015. Cyanobacteria Blooms and Non-alcoholic Liver Disease: Evidence from a County Level Ecological Study in the United States. Environmental Health. 14:41 http://www.ehjournal.net/content/14/1/41

Lee, C, Marion, J, Cheung, M, Lee, CS, Lee, J, 2015. Associations among Human-Associated Fecal Contamination, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Microcystin at Lake Erie Beaches. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 12:11466-11485.

Hsu, T-T D, Lee, J, 2015. Global Distribution and Prevalence of Arcobacter in Food and Water. Zoonoses and Public Health. doi: 10.1111/zph.12215 (Epub ahead of print).

Lee, S, Lee, J, 2015. A Review of Beneficial Bacteria in Hydroponic Systems: Types and Characteristics of Hydroponic Food Production Methods. Scientia Horticulturae. 195:206-215.

Marion, J, Burrowes, V, Lee, C, Lee, J. 2015. Changes in Microbial Water Quality Associated with an Extreme Recreational Water Event in Ohio, United States. Water Quality, Exposure, and Health. (Epub ahead of print)

Lee, S, Bohrerova, Z, Grewal, P, Lee, J. 2015. Enhancing plant productivity while suppressing biofilm growth in a windowfarm system using beneficial bacteria and ultraviolet irradiation. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 61:1-10

Rea, C, Bisesi, M, Mitsch, W, Andridge, R, Lee, J. 2015. Human Health-related Wetland Ecosystem services of avian-dense coastal wetlands. EcoHealth. 12:77-87.

Rosenblum, J, Bisesi, M, Castano, J, Tamkin, A, Ciotola, R, Lee, J, Martin, J. 2015. Influence of Seasonal Fluctuation and Loading Rates on Microbial and Chemical Indicators During Semi-Continuous Anaerobic Digestion. Environmental Technology. 36:10:1308-1318.

Pornsukarom, S, Patchanee, P, Erdman, M, Cray, PF, Wittum, T, Lee, J, Gebreyes, W. 2015. Comparative phenotypic and genotypic analyses of Salmonella Rissen that originated from Thailand and the United States food animal sources. Zoonoses and Public Health. 62:2:151-158.

2014

Marion, J, Lee, C, Lee, CS, Lemeshow, S, Wang, Q, Buckley, T, Saif, L, Lee, J. 2014. Integrating Bacterial and Viral Water Quality Assessment to Predict Swimming-Associated Illness at a Freshwater Beach. PLoS One.9(11):e112029.

Healy, J, Mouhaman, A, Lee, S, Garabed, R, Moritz, M, Piperata, B, Tien, J, Bisesi, M, Lee, J. 2014. Muddying the Waters: A New Area of Concern for Drinking Water Contamination in Cameroon. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 11:12454-12472.

Lee, CS, Lee, C, Marion, JW, Wang, Q, Saif, L, Lee, J. 2014. Occurrence of Human Enteric Viruses at Freshwater Beaches during Swimming Season and Its link to Water Inflow. Science of the Total Environment. 472:757-766.

Lutz, JK, Crawford, JM, Wilkins III, JR, Lee, J, van-Balen, J, Nava-Hoet, RC, Hoet, AE. 2014. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Public Transportation Vehicles (buses): Another Piece to the Epidemiologic Puzzle. American Journal of Infection Control. 42:12:1285-1290.

Ge, C, Lee, C, Li, J, Kleinhenz, M, Gardner, D, Lee, J. 2014. Impact of extreme weather events and phytopathogen infection on internalization of Salmonella Typhimurium in lettuce. International Journal of Food Microbiology.168-169:24-31.

Ge, C, Rymut, S, Lee, C, Lee, J. 2014. Salmonella internalization in mung bean sprouts and pre- and post-harvest intervention methods in a hydroponic System. Journal of Food Protection. 77:5:752-757.

Ciotola, R, Martin, J, Tamkin, A, Castano, J, Rosenblum, J, Bisesi, M, Lee, J. 2014. The Influence of Loading Rate and Variable Temperatures on Microbial Communities in Anaerobic Digesters. Energies. 7:785-803.

Park, E, Lee, C, Bisesi, M, Lee, J. 2014. Efficiency of Peracetic acid in inactivating bacteria, virus and spores measured with ATP bioluminescence, qPCR, and culture-based methods. Journal of Water and Health. 12:1:13-23.

2013

Rosenblum, J, Castano, Juan, Lee, J, Martin, J, Bisesi, M. 2013. The impact of inoculums-substrate ratios on microbial levels during psychrophilic anaerobic digestion. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering A2:625-636.

Ciotola, R, Martin, J, Castano, J, Lee, J, Michel, F. 2013. Microbial Community Response to Seasonal Temperature Variation in a Small-Scale Anaerobic Digester. Energies. 6:5182-5199.

B. Layton, Y. Cao, D. Ebentier, K. Hanley, L. Van De Werfhorst, D. Wang, T. Madi, R. Whitman, M. Byappanahalli, E. Ballesté, W. Meijer, A. Schriewer, Stefan Wuertz, R. Converse, R. Noble, S. Srinivasan, J. Rose, C. S. Lee, J. Lee, J. Shields, J. Stewart, G. Reischer, A. Farnleitner, C. Sinigalliano, R. Rodrigues, S. Lozach, M. Gourmelon, L. Peed, O. Shanks, J. Jay, T. Holden, A. Boehm, J. Griffith. 2013. Performance of human fecal-anaerobe-associated PCR-based assays in a multi-laboratory method evaluation study. Water Research. 47(18):6897-6908.

Lee CS, Lee J. 2013. Application of host-specific source tracking tools for rapid identification of fecal contamination in fresh produce by human and livestock. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 93:5:1089-1096.

Lutz J, Crawford J, Hoet A, Wilkins J, Lee J. 2013. Comparative performance of contact plates, electrostatic wipes, swabs, and a novel sampling device for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus on environmental surfaces. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 115:1:171-178.

Park S, Balasubramaniam VM, Sastry S, Lee J. 2013. Pressure-ohmic thermal sterilization: a feasible approach for the inactivation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Geoacillus stearothermophilus spores. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies.19:115-123.

Sinigalliano C, J. Ervin, L. Van De Werfhorst, D. Wang, D. Wanless, L, J. Bartkowiak, B. Layton, M. Raith, A. Schriewer, K. Goodwin, J. Lee, C. Lee, A. Boehm, R. Noble, P. Holden, J. Jay, S. Wuertz, M. Byappanahalli, M. Sadowsky, W. Meijer, M. Gourmelon, J. Griffith, J. SantoDomingo. 2013. A multi-laboratory comparative assessment on the performance of seabird-host-specific microbial source tracking PCR assays targeting Catellicoccus marimammalium. Water Research. (in press)

Lee C, Marion J, Lee J. 2013. Development and application of a quantitative PCR assay targeting Catellicoccus marimammalium for assessing gull-specific fecal contamination at Lake Erie beaches. Science of the Total Environment. 454-455:1-8.

Ge C, Bohrerova Z, Lee J. 2013. Inactivation of internalized Salmonella Typhimurium in lettuce and green onion using combination of ultraviolet C irradiation and chemical disinfectants. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 114:5:1415-1424

Ge C, Lee C, Lee J. 2013. Localization of Viable Salmonella Typhimurium Internalized through the Surface of Green Onion during Pre-harvest. Journal of Food Protection. 76(4):568–574.

Cheung MY, Liang S, Lee J. 2013. Toxin-producing Cyanobacteria in Freshwater: A Review of their Problems, Impact on Drinking Water Safety, and Efforts for Protecting Public Health. Journal of Microbiology. 51:1:1-10.

Agidi S, Vedachalam S, Mancl K, Lee J. 2013. Rapid determination of fecal bacteria in an onsite wastewater reuse system with human-specific IMS/ATP and qPCR. Journal of Environmental Management. 115:167-174.

2012

Rosenblum J, Ge C, Bohrerova Z, Yousef A, Lee, J. 2012. Ozonation as a Clean Technology for Fresh Produce Industry and Environment: Sanitizer Efficiency and Wastewater Quality. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 113:4:837-845.

Lee C, Agidi S, Marion J, Lee J. 2012. Arcobacter in Lake Erie beach waters: an emerging gastrointestinal pathogen linked with human-associated fecal contamination. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 778:16:5511-5519.

Ratphitagsanti W. Park E, Lee CS, Wu R-Y. A, Lee J. 2012. High-throughput detection of spore contamination in food packages and food powers using tiered approach of ATP bioluminescence and real-time PCR. LWT-Food Science & Technology. 46:1:341-348.

Ge C, Lee C, Lee J. 2012. The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Salmonella Internalization in Lettuce and Green Onion. Food Research International. 45:2:1118-1122. 2012.

Ge C, Lee CS, Yu Z, Lee J. 2012. Comparison of Bacterial Profiles of Fish between Storage Conditions at Retails Using DGGE and Banding Pattern Analysis: Consumer’s Perspective. Food and Nutrition Sciences. 3:2:190-200.

Marion J, Lee J, Wilkins J, Lemeshow S, Lee C, Waletzko E, Buckley T. 2012. In Vivo Phycocyanin Flourometry as a Rapid Screening Tool for Predicting Elevated Microcystin Concentrations at Inland Beaches. Environmental Science &Technology. 46:8:4523-4531.

2011

Lutz, J, Lee, J. 2011. Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in swimming Pools and Hot Tubs. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 8:554-564.

Lee, CS, Marion, J, Lee, J. 2011. A Novel genetic marker for the rapid detection of Bacteroides fragilis in beach water as a human-specific fecal indicator. Journal of Water and Health. 9:2:253-264. 2011.

Lee CS, Wetzel K, Wozniak D, Buckley T, Lee J. 2011. Development of a real-time PCR assay targeting the gyrB gene for rapid detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water and aerosols. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 111: 4: 893-903. 2011.

Deininger RA, Lee J, Clark R. 2011. Rapid detection of bacteria in drinking water and water contamination case studies. Frontiers of Earth Science. 5:4: 378-389.

2010

Lee J, Lee CS, Hugnnin KM, Maute CJ, Dysko RC. 2010. Bacteria from drinking water supply and their fate in gastrointestinal tracts of germ-free mice: a phylogenetic comparison study. Water Research. 44:17:5050-5058.

Lee, J, Deininger, RA. 2010. Real-time determination of the efficacy of residual disinfection to limit wastewater contamination in a water distribution system using filtration-based luminescence. Water Environment Research. 82:5:475-478.

Lee, J, Deininger, RA. 2010. Rapid detection of enterococci in marine beach water by immunomagnetic capture and bioluminescence and its comparison with conventional methods. Journal of Environmental Health. 72:9:8-13.

Marion, J, Lee, J, Lemeshow, S, Buckley, T, 2010. Association of gastrointestinal illness and recreational water exposure at an inland U.S. beach. Water Research. 44:16:4796-4804.

Lee, CS, Lee, J. 2010. Evaluation of new gyrB-based real-time PCR system for the detection of B. fragilis as an indicator of human-specific fecal contamination. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 82:3:311-318.

Wetzel, K, Lee, J, Lee, CS, Binkley, M. 2010. Comparison of microbial diversity of edible flowers and basil grown with organic versus conventional methods. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 56:11:943-951.