2017-present, Associate professor, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, CAS

2016-2017, Research assistant, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS
2011-2015, Postdoctoral fellow, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS

2010-2011, Research assistant, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS
2003-2009, Ph.D., Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University, SMMU)
1998-2002, B.S., Sichuan University (SCU)

We focus on host immune response and important RNA viral pathogens (such as HCV, EBOV and LASV). By novel cell-based infection models, we study the biological mechanisms of these RNA virus infections at the molecular and cellular levels, elucidating important scientific questions in virology, immunology, and cell biology. Our goal is to find better approaches and tools for preventing and treating viral infections. Based on our expertise and experience, we are interested in (1) developing novel infectious cell model (2) antivirals screening; (3) HCV and LASV vaccines development.

Selected publications

(1)  Chaolun Li, Mingzhe Gu, Lin Ha, Jie L, Xiaogang Xian, Qing Xi, Janin Nouhin, Veasna Duon, Yimin Tong^*, Jin Zhong^*; Construction and characterization of a new hepatitis C virus genotype 6a subgenomic replicon that is prone to render the sofosbuvir resistance; J Med Virol.2023 Sep;95(9). (^*Co-corresponding author)

(2)  Shukun Wei^#, Chaolun Liu^#, Linyu Du, Bin Wu, Jing Zhong, Yimin Tong^*, Shuqing Wang^*, Bo OuYang^*. Identification of a novel class of cyclic penta-peptides against hepatitis C virus as p7 channel blockers. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2022 Oct 28;20:5902-5910. (^*Co-corresponding author)

(3)  Shukun Wei^#, Xiaoyou Hu^#, Lingyu Du, Linlin Zhao, Hongjuan Xue, Chaolun Liu, James J Chou, Jin Zhong, Yimin Tong^*, Shuqing Wang^*, Bo OuYang^*; Inhibitor Development against p7 Channel in Hepatitis C Virus; Molecules. 2021 Mar 3;26(5):1350. (^*Co-corresponding author)

(4)  Yimin Tong^#; Gansheng Shi^#; Gaowei Hu; Xiaoyou Hu; Lin Han; Xiaofeng Xie; Yongfen Xu; Rong Zhang; Jing Sun^*; Jin Zhong^*; Photo-catalyzed TiO2 inactivates pathogenic viruses by attacking viral genome, Chenical Engineer Journal, 2021, 414(128788). (^#Co-first author)

(5)  Yimin Tong^*; Qingchao Li; Rui Li; Yongfen Xu; Yu Pan; Junqi Niu; Jin Zhong^*; A Novel Approach To Display Structural Proteins of Hepatitis C Virus Quasispecies in Patients Reveals a Key Role of E2 HVR1 in Viral Evolution, Journal of Virology, 2020, 94(17). (^*Co-corresponding author) 

(6)  Yimin Tong^*; Dimitri Lavillette; Qingchao Li; Jin Zhong^*; Role of Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein E1 in Virus Entry and Assembly, Frontiers in Immunology, 2018, 9: 0-1411. (^*Co-corresponding author)

(7)  Yimin Tong; Xiaojing Chi; Wei Yang; Jin Zhong^*; Functional Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Envelope Protein E1 Using a trans-Complementation System Reveals a Dual Role of a Putative Fusion Peptide of E1 in both HCV Entry and Morphogenesis, Journal of Virology, 2017, 91(7).

(8)  Yimin Tong ^#; Yongzhe Zhu^#; Xueshan Xia; Yuan Liu; Yue Feng; Xian Hua; Zhihai Chen; Hui Ding; Li Gao; Yongzhi Wang; Mark A Feitelson; Ping Zhao^*; Zhong-Tian Qi^*; Tupaia CD81, SR-BI, claudin-1, and Occludin support hepatitis C virus infection. Journal of Virology, 2011, 85(6): 2793-2802. (^#Co-first author)