EUNJEONG WON

Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, South Korea

Contact information: eunjeong.won@duke.edu

My research interests focus on epidemiology of candidemia in the scope of nationwide and further, and on understanding of antifungal resistance of Candida bloodstream isolates and their clinical significance, especially for mortality. In the Heitman lab, I will expand my research field into Cryptococcus species, characterizing clinical Cryptococcus isolates, regarding antifungal drug resistance, pathobiological traits, and genomic differences. In addition, I have a keen interest in exploring the interactions between these fungi and their human hosts.

Personal Interests: I enjoy listening to classical music and traveling.

Investment of parasite-related biotics reflecting the ‘Healthy Gut’ and their metabolic, immunologic mechanism of gut microbiome-tuning. National Research Foundation of Korea (2022.03-2027.02)

Development of multiplex molecular diagnostic reagents for invasive fungal infections and application of compact automated equipment for medical field diagnosis. Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (2023.04-2024.12)

Gut microbiota-related biomarkers reflecting prognosis in immunotherapy patients and development of a model for selective fecal microbiota transplantation. National Research Foundation of Korea (2019.07-2022.12)

Discovery of parasitic-derived biotics reflecting gut microbiota in patients with refractory diarrhea and validation of their efficacy in fecal microbiota transplantation. National Research Foundation of Korea (2019.03-2022.22)

Investigation of Aspergillus virulence using the Galleria mellonella model and development of a personalized treatment prediction model. National Research Foundation of Korea (2016.06-2019.05)

Park B, Suh E, Choi Y, Kim TY, Won EJ, Huh HJ, Sung H, Kim MN. Microbiological and clinical epidemiology of cryptococcosis in non-HIV Korean patients: 4-year collection. J Infect Public Health. 2025 Sep;18(9):102842. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102842. Epub 2025 May 26. PMID: 40466387.

Kim MJ, Yoo HM, Lee YJ, Jang HH, Shim SC, Won EJ, Kim TJ. Clonorchis sinensis excretory/secretory proteins ameliorate inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Parasit Vectors. 2025 Mar 4;18(1):85. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06677-3. PMID: 40038824; PMCID: PMC11881509.

Park B, Oh EH, Won EJ, Kang J, Jin D, Yoo C, Park J, Sung H, Kim MN. Detection of clinically relevant Candida species from positive blood cultures using a novel sample-to-answer molecular assay. Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 13;15(1):5417. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-90090-4. PMID: 39948356; PMCID: PMC11825868.

Won EJ, Kim KW, Chang EJ, Bae S, Jung J, Chong YP, Lee SO, Choi SH, Kim YS, Kim SH, Kim MJ. Initial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Hepatic Fascioliasis and Serological and Radiological Response After Triclabendazole Treatment. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Dec 31;112(3):577-580. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0162. PMID: 39742526; PMCID: PMC11884270.

Park B, Won EJ, Sung H, Kim MN. Performance validation of the BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel using simulated samples in low endemic regions. Parasites Hosts Dis. 2025 Feb;63(1):50-56. doi: 10.3347/PHD.24071. Epub 2025 Feb 25. PMID: 40045680; PMCID: PMC11895086.

Park S, Kim MJ, Lee YJ, Yu SM, Lee HI, Jin SH, Choi AR, Shim SC, Won EJ, Kim TJ. A Pilot Study on the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Tacrolimus in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Evidence from Human Samples and a Murine Model. Arch Rheumatol. 2025 Jun 23;40(2):189-196. doi: 10.5152/ArchRheumatol.2025.11154. PMID: 40757951; PMCID: PMC12260452.

Hwang IJ, Kwon YJ, Lim HJ, Hong KH, Lee H, Yong D, Won EJ, Byun SA, Lee GY, Kim SH, Song ES, Shin JH. Nosocomial transmission of fluconazole-resistant Candida glabrata bloodstream isolates revealed by whole-genome sequencing. Microbiol Spectr. 2024 Oct 3;12(10):e0088324. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00883-24. Epub 2024 Aug 20. PMID: 39162519; PMCID: PMC11448407.

Won EJ, Park K, Jeong YS, Kim J, Choi Y, Kim SH, Kim MN, Sung H. Evolution of bla_KPC Under the Pressure of Carbapenems and Ceftazidime/Avibactam in a Patient With Persistent Bacteremia Caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. J Korean Med Sci. 2024 Jul 1;39(25):e208. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e208. PMID: 38952349; PMCID: PMC11216904.

Won EJ, Lee YJ, Kim MJ, Kim TJ, Shin HJ, Kim TO, Kwon YS. Lower respiratory tract microbiota in patients with clinically suspected nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease according to the presence of gastroesophageal reflux. PLoS One. 2024 Aug 28;19(8):e0309446. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309446. PMID: 39196906; PMCID: PMC11355550.

Lee HJ, Kim HJ, Choi SS, Choo HJ, Huh HJ, Won EJ. Evaluation of the Allplex^TM stx1/2/2a/2d Typing (ASTXT) assay for the diagnosis and typing of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025 Mar;111(3):116645. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116645. Epub 2024 Dec 3. PMID: 39653627.

Lee YJ, Li Z, Jang HH, Kim MJ, Saravanakumar K, Shim SC, Cho N, Won EJ, Kim TJ. Usenamine A: a potential therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis through its anti-inflammatory activity. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Dec 3;15:1456216. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1456216. PMID: 39691400; PMCID: PMC11650205.

Won EJ, Sung H, Kim MN. Clinical Characteristics of Candidemia Due to Candida parapsilosis with Serial Episodes: Insights from 5-Year Data Collection at a Tertiary Hospital in Korea. J Fungi (Basel). 2024 Sep 1;10(9):624. doi: 10.3390/jof10090624. PMID: 39330384; PMCID: PMC11433559.

Oh EJ, Jang HH, Park S, Lim HP, Yun KD, Jang W, Kim OS, Park C, Won EJ. Fretibacterium Species to Fusobacterium periodonticum Ratio as a Potential Biomarker of Periodontitis Based on Salivary Microbiome Profiling. Ann Lab Med. 2024 Nov 1;44(6):600-603. doi: 10.3343/alm.2024.0043. Epub 2024 Apr 22. PMID: 38644360; PMCID: PMC11375194.

Won EJ, Lee YJ, Kim MJ, Lee HI, Jang HH, Kim SH, Yoo HM, Cho N, Shim SC, Kim TJ. A potential role of protein extractions from Metagonimus yokogawai in amelionating inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Exp Parasitol. 2024 Apr;259:108718. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108718. Epub 2024 Feb 16. PMID: 38369180.

Park B, Park HW, Park HJ, Won EJ, Sung H, Kim MN. An Unexpected Encounter During a Screening Colonoscopy in a Medical Tourist: A Diagnosis of Hymenolepis nana Infection. Ann Lab Med. 2024 Nov 1;44(6):608-610. doi: 10.3343/alm.2024.0167. Epub 2024 Jul 22. PMID: 39034820; PMCID: PMC11375206.

Won EJ, Sung H, Kim MN. Changing Epidemiology of Clinical Isolates of Candida Species during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Data Analysis from a Korean Tertiary Care Hospital for 6 Years (2017-2022). J Fungi (Basel). 2024 Mar 2;10(3):193. doi: 10.3390/jof10030193. PMID: 38535202; PMCID: PMC10971515.

Won EJ, Park SJ, Jo U, Sung H, Choi EJ, Kim MN. Phaeohyphomycosis due to Pleurostomophora richardsiae in a Patient with a Hematological Malignancy. Mycobiology. 2023 Dec 27;51(6):468-470. doi: 10.1080/12298093.2023.2275500. PMID: 38179113; PMCID: PMC10763908.

Byun SA, Kwon YJ, Lee GY, Choi MJ, Jeong SH, Kim D, Choi MH, Kee SJ, Kim SH, Shin MG, Won EJ, Shin JH. Virulence Traits and Azole Resistance in Korean Candida auris Isolates. J Fungi (Basel). 2023 Sep 28;9(10):979. doi: 10.3390/jof9100979. PMID: 37888235; PMCID: PMC10607439.

Won EJ, Kim HJ, Lee YJ, Kim MJ, Lee HI, Jang HH, Kim SH, Kang JH, Park KJ, Shim SC, Jo S, Kim TH, Kim TJ. CCL20 inhibition for treating inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Dec 1;62(12):4000-4005. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead268. PMID: 37279731.

Won EJ, Kim SH, Byeon KH, Jeon CH, Kang SJ, Park JH, Kee SJ, Choi HW. Under-diagnosis of vector-borne diseases among individuals suspected of having Scrub Typhus in South Korea. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286631. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286631. PMID: 37267407; PMCID: PMC10237470.

Won EJ, Yi A, Ko YJ, Kim S, Kang SH, Park G, Jang SJ. Establishment of Korean Pediatric Reference Intervals for Estradiol using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Clin Biochem. 2023 Mar;113:52-58. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2023.01.004. Epub 2023 Jan 7. PMID: 36627011.

Won EJ, Yi A, Ko YJ. Analytical Performance Evaluation for Estradiol using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Clin Biochem. 2023 Mar;113:59-63. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2023.01.003. Epub 2023 Jan 7. PMID: 36627012.

Byun JH, Won EJ, Cho HW, Kim D, Lee H, Kim SH, Choi MJ, Byun SA, Lee GY, Kee SJ, Kim TY, Kim MN, Choi JY, Yong D, Shin JH. Detection and Characterization of Two Phenotypes of Candida parapsilosis in South Korea: Clinical Features and Microbiological Findings. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Jun 15;11(3):e0006623. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00066-23. Epub 2023 May 8. PMID: 37154762; PMCID: PMC10269542.

Won EJ, Choi MJ, Jeong SH, Kim D, Shin KS, Shin JH, Kim YR, Kim HS, Kim YA, Uh Y, Ryoo N, Park JS, Park KU, Byun SA, Lee GY, Kim SH, Shin JH. Nationwide Surveillance of Antifungal Resistance of Candida Bloodstream Isolates in South Korean Hospitals: Two Year Report from Kor-GLASS. J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Sep 22;8(10):996. doi: 10.3390/jof8100996. PMID: 36294562; PMCID: PMC9604804.

Won EJ, Jang HH, Park H, Kim SJ. A Potential Predictive Role of the Scalp Microbiome Profiling in Patients with Alopecia Areata: Staphylococcus caprae, Corynebacterium, and Cutibacterium Species. Microorganisms. 2022 Apr 21;10(5):864. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10050864. PMID: 35630309; PMCID: PMC9148078.

Chung MW, Kim MJ, Won EJ, Lee YJ, Yun YW, Cho SB, Joo YE, Hwang JE, Bae WK, Chung IJ, Shin MG, Shin JH. Gut microbiome composition can predict the response to nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients. World J Gastroenterol. 2021 Nov 14;27(42):7340-7349. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i42.7340. PMID: 34876793; PMCID: PMC8611200.

Won EJ, Choi MJ, Kim MN, Yong D, Lee WG, Uh Y, Kim TS, Byeon SA, Lee SY, Kim SH, Shin JH. Fluconazole-Resistant Candida glabrata Bloodstream Isolates, South Korea, 2008-2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Mar;27(3):779-788. doi: 10.3201/eid2703.203482. PMID: 33624581; PMCID: PMC7920659.

Kwon YJ, Won EJ, Jeong SH, Shin KS, Shin JH, Kim YR, Kim HS, Kim YA, Uh Y, Kim TS, Park JH, Lee J, Choi MJ, Byun SA, Kim SH, Shin JH. Dynamics and Predictors of Mortality Due to Candidemia Caused by Different Candida Species: Comparison of Intensive Care Unit-Associated Candidemia (ICUAC) and Non-ICUAC. J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Jul 24;7(8):597. doi: 10.3390/jof7080597. PMID: 34436136; PMCID: PMC8397010.

Lee YJ, Kim MJ, Jo S, Jin SH, Park PR, Park K, Song HC, Kim J, Kim JY, Shim SC, Kim TH, Hong SJ, Kang H, Kim TJ, Won EJ. Clonorchis sinensis-Derived Protein Attenuates Inflammation and New Bone Formation in Ankylosing Spondylitis. Front Immunol. 2021 Feb 25;12:615369. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.615369. PMID: 33717104; PMCID: PMC7947613.

Jo S, Won EJ, Kim MJ, Lee YJ, Jin SH, Park PR, Song HC, Kim J, Choi YD, Kim JY, Shim SC, Choi SH, Park YS, Kim TH, Kim TJ. STAT3 phosphorylation inhibition for treating inflammation and new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Aug 2;60(8):3923-3935. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa846. PMID: 33237331.

Kim MJ, Lee YJ, Kim TJ, Won EJ. Gut Microbiome Profiles in Colonizations with the Enteric Protozoa Blastocystis in Korean Populations. Microorganisms. 2021 Dec 24;10(1):34. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10010034. PMID: 35056483; PMCID: PMC8777631.

Lee YJ, Won EJ, Cho YC, Kim SH, Shin MG, Shin JH. Utility of an Automatic Vision-Based Examination System (AVE-562) for the Detection of Clonorchis sinensis Eggs in Stool. Ann Lab Med. 2021 Mar 1;41(2):221-224. doi: 10.3343/alm.2021.41.2.221. PMID: 33063684; PMCID: PMC7591289.

Yang HC, Won EJ, Kim MJ, Sung CM, Rhee JH, Nam KI. Intralymphatic Administration of Metagonimus yokogawai-Extracted Protein Attenuates Experimental Murine Allergic Rhinitis Model. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2021;182(5):381-387. doi: 10.1159/000511532. Epub 2020 Nov 11. PMID: 33176304.

Choi MJ, Won EJ, Joo MY, Park YJ, Kim SH, Shin MG, Shin JH. Microsatellite Typing and Resistance Mechanism Analysis of Voriconazole-Resistant Aspergillus flavus Isolates in South Korean Hospitals. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Jan 29;63(2):e01610-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01610-18. PMID: 30397064; PMCID: PMC6355573.

Kwon YJ, Shin JH, Byun SA, Choi MJ, Won EJ, Lee D, Lee SY, Chun S, Lee JH, Choi HJ, Kee SJ, Kim SH, Shin MG. Candida auris Clinical Isolates from South Korea: Identification, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Genotyping. J Clin Microbiol. 2019 Mar 28;57(4):e01624-18. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01624-18. PMID: 30728190; PMCID: PMC6440790.

Won EJ, Shin JH, Lee YJ, Kim MJ, Kang SJ, Jung SI, Kim SH, Shin JH, Chai JY, Shin SS. Four Taeniasis saginata Cases Diagnosed at a University Hospital in Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 2019 Jun;57(3):313-318. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.313. Epub 2019 Jun 30. PMID: 31284357; PMCID: PMC6616169.

Won EJ, Jung BK, Song H, Kim MS, Kim HS, Lee KH, Kim MJ, Shin MG, Shin JH, Suh SP, Hong SJ, Sohn WM, Htoon TT, Tin HH, Chai JY. Molecular Diagnosis of Taenia saginata Tapeworm Infection in 2 Schoolchildren, Myanmar. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Jun;24(6):1156-1158. doi: 10.3201/eid2406.180217. PMID: 29774855; PMCID: PMC6004857.

Choi YJ, Kim YJ, Yong D, Byun JH, Kim TS, Chang YS, Choi MJ, Byeon SA, Won EJ, Kim SH, Shin MG, Shin JH. Fluconazole-Resistant Candida parapsilosis Bloodstream Isolates with Y132F Mutation in ERG11 Gene, South Korea. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Sep;24(9):1768-1770. doi: 10.3201/eid2409.180625. PMID: 30124412; PMCID: PMC6106402.

Won EJ, Shin JH, Kim SH, Choi MJ, Byun SA, Kim MN, Lee WG, Lee K, Uh Y, Shin MG, Suh SP. Antifungal susceptibilities to amphotericin B, triazoles and echinocandins of 77 clinical isolates of cryptic Aspergillus species in multicenter surveillance in Korea. Med Mycol. 2018 Jun 1;56(4):501-505. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myx067. PMID: 28992138.

Byun SA, Won EJ, Kim MN, Lee WG, Lee K, Lee HS, Uh Y, Healey KR, Perlin DS, Choi MJ, Kim SH, Shin JH. Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) Genotypes of Candida glabrata Bloodstream Isolates in Korea: Association With Antifungal Resistance, Mutations in Mismatch Repair Gene (Msh2), and Clinical Outcomes. Front Microbiol. 2018 Jul 13;9:1523. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01523. PMID: 30057573; PMCID: PMC6053515.

Won EJ, Choi MJ, Shin JH, Park YJ, Byun SA, Jung JS, Kim SH, Shin MG, Suh SP. Diversity of clinical isolates of Aspergillus terreus in antifungal susceptibilities, genotypes and virulence in Galleria mellonella model: Comparison between respiratory and ear isolates. PLoS One. 2017 Oct 9;12(10):e0186086. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186086. PMID: 29016668; PMCID: PMC5633196.

Won EJ, Kim SH, Kee SJ, Shin JH, Suh SP, Chai JY, Ryang DW, Shin MG. Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay Targeting Eight Parasites Customized to the Korean Population: Potential Use for Detection in Diarrheal Stool Samples from Gastroenteritis Patients. PLoS One. 2016 Nov 18;11(11):e0166957. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166957. PMID: 27861635; PMCID: PMC5115832.

Choi MJ, Won EJ, Shin JH, Kim SH, Lee WG, Kim MN, Lee K, Shin MG, Suh SP, Ryang DW, Im YJ. Resistance Mechanisms and Clinical Features of Fluconazole-Nonsusceptible Candida tropicalis Isolates Compared with Fluconazole-Less-Susceptible Isolates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2016 May 23;60(6):3653-61. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02652-15. PMID: 27044550; PMCID: PMC4879413.

Won EJ, Shin JH, Choi MJ, Lee WG, Park YJ, Uh Y, Kim SY, Lee MK, Kim SH, Shin MG, Suh SP, Ryang DW. Antifungal susceptibilities of bloodstream isolates of Candida species from nine hospitals in Korea: application of new antifungal breakpoints and relationship to antifungal usage. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 23;10(2):e0118770. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118770. PMID: 25706866; PMCID: PMC4338005.

Won EJ, Shin JH, Kim MN, Choi MJ, Joo MY, Kee SJ, Shin MG, Suh SP, Ryang DW. Evaluation of the BD Phoenix system for identification of a wide spectrum of clinically important yeast species: a comparison with Vitek 2-YST. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2014 Aug;79(4):477-80. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2014.05.011. Epub 2014 May 21. PMID: 24952986