2021-present, Assistant Professor/Associate Professor, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, CAS
2019-2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS
2015-2019, Ph.D., Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS
2012-2015, M.S., School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University

In the process of successfully infecting and invading host cells, pathogenic microorganisms form complex and precise pathogenic mechanisms. Our research focuses on using the original epigenetic gene editing technology as a means to study the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that mediate pathogenic microorganisms' immune escape, multi-pathway infection, and parasite drug resistance during malaria infection. Special attention is paid to the study of the regulatory mechanisms of epigenetic modifications of DNA methylation, and on this basis, we will explore new targets for the development of new malaria vaccines and antimalarial drugs, and explore new strategies for malaria prevention and control.

1. The regulatory mechanism of the interaction between parasite infection and host environment;

2. DNA methylation and the epigenetic regulators in eukaryotic pathogenic microorganisms, like 4mC, 5mC, 5hmC, 6mA et.al;

Selected publications:

1.       Tang, T., Xu, Y., Cao, L., Tian, P., Shao, J., Deng, Y., Zhou, H.*, Xiao, B.*, 2021. Ten-Year Molecular Surveillance of Drug-Resistant Plasmodium spp. Isolated From the China-Myanmar Border. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 11, 733788.

2.       Xiao, B., Yin, S., Hu, Y., Sun, M., Wei, J., Huang, Z., Wen, Y., Dai, X., Chen, H., Mu, J., Cui, L., Jiang, L.*, 2019. Epigenetic editing by CRISPR/dCas9 in Plasmodium falciparum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 116, 255-260.

3.       Zhang, C.#, Xiao, B.#, Jiang, Y.#, Zhao, Y.#, Li, Z., Gao, H., Ling, Y., Wei, J., Li, S., Lu, M., Su, X.Z., Cui, H.*, Yuan, J.*, 2014. Efficient editing of malaria parasite genome using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. mBio 5, e01414-01414.

4.       Liang X, Boonhok R, Siddiqui FA, Xiao B, Li X, Qin J, Min H, Jiang L, Cui L, Miao J. A Leak-Free Inducible CRISPRi/a System for Gene Functional Studies in Plasmodium falciparum. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Jun 29;10(3):e0278221.

5.       Xiao, B., Huang, Z., Jiang, L.*, 2022. Prospects and reflections on the research and development of next-generation malaria vaccines. Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi 33, 555-556.

6.       Shi, M., Xiao B., Jiang L.* 2021. Research progress on the expression regulation of var genes in Plasmodium falciparum. CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES, 2021, 39(6): 719-724.

7.       Zhou, Y., Xiao, B., Jiang, N., Sang, X., Yang, N., Feng, Y., Jiang, L., Chen, Q.*, 2018. Expression and functional analysis of the TatD-like DNase of Plasmodium knowlesi. Parasit Vectors 11, 629.

8.       Zhang, C., Gao, H., Yang, Z., Jiang, Y., Li, Z., Wang, X., Xiao, B., Su, X.Z., Cui, H.*, Yuan, J.*, 2017. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated sequential editing of genes critical for ookinete motility in Plasmodium yoelii. Mol Biochem Parasitol 212, 1-8