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  8. Ohgew Kweon
  1. Science & Research (NCTR)

Ohgew Kweon Ph.D.

Staff Fellow — Division of Microbiology

ohgew kweon
Ohgew Kweon, Ph.D.
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov  

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 About  |  Publications  |  Lab Members

Background

Ohgew Kweon joined the Division of Microbiology at FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education fellow in 2002 where he carried out numerous studies addressing a variety of FDA issues with special emphasis on:

  1. Improving methods for environmental risk assessments of priority pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and drugs, by systems biology approaches
  2. Determining antimicrobial resistance and virulence mechanisms of microbial pathogens that may enter the food supply and clinical environments
  3. Using state-of-the-art molecular biological approaches to monitor interactions between human intestinal microbiota, antimicrobial agents, and food contaminants.

Dr. Kweon has co-authored more than 50 scientific publications including book chapters and review articles. His publications in Applied and Environmental Microbiology —“Dynamic Response of Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 to BP Deepwater Horizon Crude Oil (2015)” and “Detection of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria from commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks (2024)” — have been highlighted by Microbe (the monthly news magazine of the American Society for Microbiology, 2015) and ASM Press (2024).

He received the NCTR Outstanding Service Award in 2008, the NCTR Scientific Achievement Award for Excellence in Laboratory Science in 2015, and the NCTR Special Act Award in 2016.

Research Interests

Dr. Kweon’s primary research interest is bridging the gap between genome and phenome. Despite an excess of bacterial data including genome sequences and functional genomics data (e.g., ribonucleic acid sequencing and proteomic data), considerable knowledge gaps exist between genome and phenome that hinder efforts toward the treatment of diseases and practical biotechnological applications. Pleiotropy and epistasis of biological data are key factors for successful genome-phenome mapping, essential for a better understanding of the microbial world. Motivated by those concepts, Dr. Kweon’s research activities concern the development and application of systemic methods to address questions in the pleiotropic and epistatic complexity of biological data. Dr. Kweon and his colleagues have introduced a method called Network Based Functional Pan-Genomics which systematically integrates the three different types of concepts: network, pan-genomics, and functional genomics. This approach allowed for phenotype-related functional pan-genomic comparison in the mycobacterial phenotype network at the genus level, which discovered pleiotropy- and epistasis-dependent evolutionary trajectories of the “PAH-degrading” phenotype in the genus Mycobacterium (Kweon, et al., BMC Evol Biol. 2015). Dr. Kweon is also interested in AI-based meta-analysis of FDA-regulated products. He is particularly interested in using Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop automated tools for meta-analysis and data visualization. These tools can facilitate periodic updates that are not sustainable with manual methods. This approach is crucial for making informed regulatory decisions and ensuring public health protection.

Dr. Kweon specializes in high-throughput data analysis, protein structural analysis, and bioinformatics methods, as well as wet laboratory methods which generate genetic and functional genomics data. Currently, Dr. Kweon is working with several collaborators to develop computational tools for comparative genome analysis and enzyme identification/classification. Recently, Dr. Kweon and colleagues introduced CYPminer (v1), an automated cytochrome P450 identification, classification, and data analysis tool for genome data sets across kingdoms (Kweon, et al., BMC Bioinformatics. 2020) and CPGminer (v1), an interactive dashboard to explore genomic features and taxonomy of complete prokaryote genomes (Kim, et al., Microorganisms. 2023). Pleiotropy and epistasis are open concepts for all biology questions.
 

Professional Societies/National and International Groups

American Society for Microbiology
Member
2002 – Present

Arkansas Bioinformatics Consortium
Member
2016 – Present

Midsouth Computational Biology & Bioinformatics Society
Member
2016 – Present
 

Selected Publications

Detection of Anaerobic and Aerobic Bacteria From Commercial Tatoo and Permanent Makeup Inks.
Yoon S., Kondakala S., Foley S.L., Moon M.S., Huang M.-C.J., Periz G., Zang J., Katz L.M., Kim S.J., and Kweon O. 
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2024, e0027624. doi: 10.1128/aem.00276-24.

Recalls of Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Inks in the United States and a Follow-Up Microbiological Survey of Inks with a Previous Recall History. 
Yoon S., Kondakala S., Moon M.S., Huang M.J., Periz G., Foley S.L., Kweon O., and Kim S.J.
Front Public Health. 2023, 11:1279884. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1279884.

CPGminer: An Interactive Dashboard to Explore the Genomic Features and Taxonomy of Complete Prokaryotic Genomes.
Kim J., Yoon S., Kondakala S., Foley S.L., Hart M., Baek D.H., Wang W., Kim S.K., Sutherland J.B., Kim S.J., and Kweon O.
Microorganisms. 2023, 11(10):2556. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11102556.

Microbiological Survey of 47 Permanent Makeup Inks Available in the United States.
Yoon S., Kondakala S., Nho S.W., Moon M.S., Huang M.C.J., Periz G., Kweon O., and Kim S.
Microorganisms. 2022, 10(4):820. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10040820. PMID: 35456870

Phylogenetically Diverse Bacteria Isolated from Tattoo Inks, an Azo Dye-Rich Environment, Decolorize a Wide Range of Azo Dyes.
Nho S.W., Cui X., Kweon O., Jin J., Chen H., Moon M.S., Kim S.J., and Cerniglia C.E.
Annals of Microbiology. 2021, 71, 35.

Pragmatic Strategy for Fecal Specimen Storage and the Corresponding Test Methods for Clostridioides difficile Diagnosis.
Nho S.W., Kim M., Kim S.J., Foley S.L., Nayak R., Kweon O., and Cerniglia C.E. 
Pathogens. 2021, 10(8):1049. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10081049.

Microbial Contamination of Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Inks Marketed in the US: A Follow-Up Study.
Nho S.W., Kim M., Kweon O., Kim S.J., Moon M.S., Periz G., Huang M.J., Dewan K., Sadrieh N.K., and Cerniglia C.E. 
Lett Appl Microbiol. 2020, 71(4):351-358. doi: 10.1111/lam.13353. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

CYPminer: An Automated Cytochrome P450 Identification, Classification, and Data Analysis Tool for Genome Data Sets Across Kingdoms.
Kweon O., Kim S.J., Kim J.H., Nho S.W., Bae D., Chon J., Hart M., Baek D.H., Kim Y.C., Wang W., Kim S.K., Sutherland J.B., and Cerniglia C.E.
BMC Bioinformatics. 2020, 21(1):160. doi: 10.1186/s12859-020-3473-2.

An Update on the Genomic View of Mycobacterial High-Molecular-Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation.
Kweon O., Kim S.J., and Cerniglia C.E.
Aerobic Utilization of Hydrocarbons, Oils, and Lipids (book chapter). 2019, 623-638.

Microbiological Survey of Commercial Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Inks Available in the United States.
Nho S.W., Kim S.J., Kweon O., Howard P.C., Moon M.S., Sadrieh N.K., and Cerniglia C.E.
J Appl Microbiol. 2018, 124(5):1294-1302. doi: 10.1111/jam.13713. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Intrinsic Resistance of Burkholderia cepacia Complex to Benzalkonium Chloride.
Ahn Y., Kim J., Kweon O., Kim S., Jones R., Woodling K., Gamboa da Costa G., LiPuma J., Hussong D., Marasa B. and Cerniglia C.
MBio. 2016, 7(6). pii: e01716-16. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01716-16.

Novel Insights into Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation Pathways Using Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Approaches.
Kweon O., Kim S.J., Sutherland J.B., and Cerniglia C.E.
Microbial Biodegradation: From Omics to Function and Application (book chapter). 2016, 143-166.

Dynamic Response of Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 to BP Deepwater Horizon Crude Oil.
Kim S., Kweon O., Sutherland J., Kim H., Jones R., Burback B., Graves S., Psurny E., and Cerniglia C.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2015, 81(13):4263-4276. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00730-15. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

Comparative Functional Pan-Genome Analyses to Build Connections Between Genomic Dynamics and Phenotypic Evolution in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolism in the Genus Mycobacterium.
Kweon O., Kim S., Blom J., Kim S., Kim B., Baek D., Park S., Sutherland J., and Cerniglia C.
BMC Evol Biol. 2015, 15:21. doi: 10.1186/s12862-015-0302-8.
 
Pleiotropic and Epistatic Behavior of a Ring-Hydroxylating Oxygenase System in the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolic Network from Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1.
Kweon O., Kim S., Kim D., Kim J., Kim H., Ahn Y., Sutherland J., and Cerniglia C.
J Bacteriol. 2014, 196(19):3503-3515. doi: 10.1128/JB.01945-14. Epub 2014 Jul 28.

Functional Robustness of a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolic Network Examined in a Nida Aromatic Ring-Hydroxylating Oxygenase Mutant of Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR 1.
Kim S., Song J., Kweon O., Holland R., Kim D., Kim J., Yu L., and Cerniglia C.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012, 78(10):3715-3723. doi: 10.1128/AEM.07798-11. Epub 2012 Mar 9.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolic Network in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1.
Kweon O., Kim S., Holland R., Chen H., Kim D., Gao Y., Yu L., Baek S., Baek D., Ahn H., and Cerniglia C.
J Bacteriol. 2011, 193(17):4326-4337. doi: 10.1128/JB.00215-11. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

Substrate Specificity and Structural Characteristics of the Novel Rieske Nonheme Iron Aromatic Ring-Hydroxylating Oxygenases Nidab and Nida3b3 from Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1.
Kweon O., Kim S., Freeman J., Song J., Baek S., and Cerniglia C.
MBio. 2010, 1(2). pii: e00135-10. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00135-10.

Proteomic Applications to Elucidate Bacterial Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolic Pathways.
Kim S., Kweon O., and Cerniglia C.
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2009, 12(3):301-309. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2009.03.006. Epub 2009 May 4. Review.

ClassRHO: A Platform for Classification of Bacterial Rieske Non-Heme Iron Ring-Hydroxylating Oxygenases.
Baek S., Kweon O., Kim S., Baek D., Chen J., and Cerniglia C.
J Microbiol Methods. 2009, 76(3):307-309. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2008.11.003. Epub 2008 Nov 28.

A New Classification System for Bacterial Rieske Non-Heme Iron Aromatic Ring-Hydroxylating Oxygenases.
Kweon O., Kim S., Baek S., Chae J., Adjei M., Baek D., Kim Y., and Cerniglia C.
BMC Biochem. 2008, 9:11. doi: 10.1186/1471-2091-9-11.

A Polyomic Approach to Elucidate the Fluoranthene-Degradative Pathway in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1.
Kweon O., Kim S., Jones R., Freeman J., Adjei M., Edmondson R., and Cerniglia C.
J Bacteriol. 2007, 189(13):4635-4647. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Complete and Integrated Pyrene Degradation Pathway in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 Based on Systems Biology.
Kim S., Kweon O., Jones R., Freeman J., Edmondson R., and Cerniglia C.
J Bacteriol. 2007, 189(2):464-472. Epub 2006 Nov 3.

Molecular Characterization of Cytochrome P450 Genes in the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degrading Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1.
Brezna B., Kweon O., Stingley R., Freeman J., Khan A., Polek B., Jones R., and Cerniglia C.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2006, 71(4):522-32. Epub 2005 Nov 30.
Erratum in: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2006, 72(6):1340.

Molecular Cloning and Expression of Genes Encoding a Novel Dioxygenase Involved in Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation in Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1.
Kim S., Kweon O., Freeman J., Jones R., Adjei M., Jhoo J., Edmondson R., and Cerniglia C.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006, 72(2):1045-1054.
 

Lab Members

Contact information for all lab members:
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov  

Seong-Jae Kim, Ph.D.
Staff Fellow

Soumana Daddy-Gaoh, Ph.D.
Biologist
 

Contact Information
Ohgew Kweon
(870) 543-7121
Expertise
Expertise
Approach
Domain
Technology & Discipline
Toxicology
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