Liberal Arts and Sciences
Bai Lab
Led by Xiaofei Bai · Biology
What we study
The Bai Lab uses the tiny worm Caenorhabditis elegans to model rare human diseases by editing genes with CRISPR and watching cells with live imaging. They look for other genes that can fix (suppress) disease-causing mutations.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Worms (C. elegans)
- Coding helps
- Projects
- 4
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Identification of Genetic Suppressors for a Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy Type 2 (BSCL2) Pathogenic Variant in C. e
Finding genes that rescue the effects of a disease‑linked SEIPIN mutation in worms.
Mutation in F‑actin Polymerization Factor Suppresses Distal Arthrogryposis Type 5 (DA5) PIEZO2 Pathogenic Variant in Caenorhabditis elegans
Discovering actin‑related genes that counteract a PIEZO2 disease mutation.
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Loss of the seipin gene perturbs eggshell formation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Studies how removing the seipin gene disrupts eggshell formation in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, to understand what this gene does.
Project Genetic correction of the defective embryogenesis associated with de novo fatty acid synthesis
Using a temperature‑sensitive C. elegans mutant that dies as embryos, the lab screens for genes that rescue viability. The student performed mutagenesis screens, isolated 21 suppressor lines, sequenced genomes, and is now doing RNAi tests; future CRISPR work will create clean suppressor alleles.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 569
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Endogenous Expression of the Class I Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein PPIT-2 in Caenorhabditis elegans
2026 · PubMed
Maps where a lipid transfer protein is active in worms using a fluorescent marker.
- Loss of ptr-6 restores eggshell integrity and embryonic viability in Caenorhabditis elegans fatty acid synthase mutants
2026 · G3 Genes Genomes Genetics
Shows how restoring a gene called ptr-6 fixes egg shell problems in a worm model of fatty acid issues.
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- Initiation of Hybrid Polyketide–Nonribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis via Two Distinct Pathways in C. elegans
2026 · ACS Chemical Biology
Finds that two different pathways start the production of hybrid molecules in worm neurons.
- Analysis of Therapeutic Efficacy of Endoscopic Transethmoidal Ethmoidectomy Combined With Endoscopic Transnasal Frontal Sinusotomy in the Treatment of Refractory Frontal Sinusitis
2026 · Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
Tests whether combining two sinus surgeries helps treat post-surgery sinus infections in patients.
- High-glucose diets differentially modulate phosphatidylcholine metabolism and fecundity in Caenorhabditis elegans
2025 · Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Shows how high-glucose diets affect fat metabolism and fertility in worms.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Xiaofei Bai hasn't set up this page yet. You can also look them up in the UF directory (search “Xiaofei Bai”).