• HomeTalentPrincipal Investigator
    • Principal Investigator

    ZHONG JinPh.D.

    • Academic title：Principal Investigator
    • Discipline：Virology
    • Departments：Viral Hepatitis
    • Phone：86-21-54923143
    • E-mail：jzhong@siii.cas.cn
    • Mailing Address：Life Science Research Building, 320 Yueyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China
    Curriculum Vitae

    Academic Experience

    2007-present Professor, Principal Investigator, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, CAS. 

    2013-present Adjunct Professor, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University.

     

    Education and training

    2003-2007  Postdoctoral fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, USA

    2003 Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin, USA

    1997 M.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University, China.

    1994 B.S.,  Biochemistry, Sichuan University, China.

    Research Direction

    The main interest of my laboratory is to study RNA virus-host interactions at the molecular and cellular levels. One of major topics is hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV causes chronic hepatitis and more severe liver diseases. Great progress has been achieved in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in recent years. However, due to the lack of HCV vaccine, HCV infection remains a major worldwide public health problem and challenge. Meanwhile, as a highly variable RNA virus that causes persistent infection, HCV renders a good model to study virus-host interactions, which will yield valuable insight into understanding virology, cell biology and immunology of many other viruses. We aim at elucidating the molecular basis and physiological significance of virus-host interactions during HCV infection, as well as developing effective prophylactic HCV vaccine.

    In the last several years, my research interests have been expanded to other medically important emerging or re-emerging RNA viruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV), Lassa virus (LASV), Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV). We are developing crucial reverse genetics systems, and then using these tools to study virus-host interactions and to develop antivirals and vaccines against these emerging/re-emerging viruses.

    Research Progress

    Selected publications

    1.       Liu, C., Guo, M., Han, L., Lu, J., Xiang, X., Xie, Q., Nouhin, J., Duong, V., Tong, Y., Zhong, J. (2023) Construction and characterization of a new hepatitis C virus genotype 6a subgenomic replicon that is prone to render the sofosbuvir resistance. Journal of Medical Virology, 95(9):e29103.

    2.       Xing, Y., Chen, R., Li, F., Xu, B., Han, L., Liu, C., Tong, Y., Jiu,Y., *Zhong, J., Zhou, G. (2023) Discovery of a fused bicyclic derivative of 4-hydroxypyrrolidine and imidazolidinone as a new anti-HCV agent. Virology, 586, 91–104 (*co-corresponding author)

    3.       Wei, S., Liu, C., Du, L., Wu, B., Zhong, J., Tong, Y., Wang, S., OuYang, B. (2022) Identification of a novel class of cyclic penta-peptides against hepatitis C virus as p7 channel blockers. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal. 20, 5902-5910.

    4.       Leumi, S., Guo, M., Lu, J., Wang, Z., Gan, T., Han, L., Ngari, J., Tong, Y., Xiang. X., Xie, Q., Wang, L., Zhong, J. (2022) Identification of a novel replication-competent hepatitis C virus variant that confers the sofosbuvir resistance. Antiviral Research, 197, 105224.

    5.       Yuan, B., Peng, Q., Cheng, J., Wang, M., Zhong, J., Qi, J., Gao, GF., Shi, Y. (2022) Structure of the Ebola virus polymerase complex. Nature. 610(7931):394-401.

    6.       Yu, T. *, Yang, Q. *, Tian, F. *, Chang, H., Hu, Z., Yu, B., Han, L., Xing, QY., Jiu, Y., He, Y. Zhong, J. (2021) Glycometabolism regulates hepatitis C virus release. PLOS Pathogens. 17(7):e1009746.

    7.       Leumi, S., El Kassas, M., Zhong, J.  (2021) Hepatitis C virus genotype 4: A poorly characterized endemic genotype. J. Med. Virol. 93(11):6079-6088.

    8.       Xu, X., Peng, R., Peng, Q., Wang, M., Xu, Y., Liu, S., Tian, X., Deng, H., Tong, Y., Hu, X., Zhong, J., Wang, P., Qi, J., Gao, GF, Shi, Y. (2021) Cryo-EM structures of Lassa and Machupo virus polymerases complexed with cognate regulatory Z proteins identify targets for antivirals. Nat Microbiol. 6(7):921-931..

    9.       Gan, T.*, Zhou, D. *, Huang, Y. *, Xiao, S., Ma, Z., Hu, X., Tong, Y., Yan, H. and Zhong, J. (2021) Development of a new reverse genetics system for Ebola virus. mSphere. 6, e00235-21. (*contributed equally)

    10.    He, Z.*, Ye, S. *, Xing, Y., Jiu, Y. and Zhong, J. (2021) UNC93B1 curbs cytosolic DNA signaling by promoting STING degradation. European Journal of Immunology. 51(7):1672-1685. (*contributed equally)

    11.    Tong, Y.*, Shi, G. *, Hu, G., Hu, X., Han, L., Xie, X., Xu, Y., Zhang, R., Sun, J. and Zhong, J. (2021) Photo-catalyzed TiO2 inactivates pathogenic viruses by attacking viral genome. Chemical Engineering Journal, 414, 1287. (*contributed equally).

    12.    Liang, Y. *, Zhang, G. *, Li, Q. *, Han, L., Hu, X., Guo, Y., Tao, W., Zhao, X., Guo, M., Gan, T., Tong, Y., Xu, Y., Zhou, Z., Ding, Q., Wei, W. and Zhong, J. (2021) TRIM26 is a critical host factor for HCV replication and contributes to host tropism. Science Advances, 7, eabd9732. (*contributed equally)

    13.    Tong, Y., Li, Q., Li, R., Xu, Y., Pan, Y., Niu, J., *Zhong, J., (2020) A novel approach to display structural proteins of HCV quasispecies in patients reveals a key role of E2 HVR1 in viral evolution. J. Virology, 94(17):e00622-20.

    14.    Guo, M., Ye, L., Yu, T., Han, L., Li, Q., Lou, P., Gan, T.,  Jin, X., Xiao, H., Meng, G., *Zhong, J., Xu, Y. (2020) IL-1β enhances anti-viral effect of IFN-α on HCV replication by negatively modulating ERK2 activation. ACS Infect Dis. 10;6(7):1708-1718. (*co-corresponding author)

    15.    Yi, C., Xia, J., He, L., Ling, Z., Wang, X., Yan, Y., Wang, J., Zhao, X., Fan, W., Sun, X., Zhang, R., Ye, S., Zhang, R., Xu, Y., Ma, L., Zhang, Y., Zhou, H., Huang, Z., Niu, J., Long, G., Lu, J., *Zhong, J., Sun, B. (2020) Junctional and somatic hypermutation-induced CX4C motif is critical for the recognition of a highly conserved epitope on HCV E2 by a human broadly neutralizing antibody. Cell Mol Immunol.  (*co-corresponding author)

    16.    Yang, J., Xu, Y., Yan, Y., Li, W., Zhao, L., Dai, Q., Li, Y., Li, S., *Zhong, J., Cao, R., Zhong, W. (2020) Small Molecule Inhibitor of ATPase Activity of HSP70 as a Broad-Spectrum Inhibitor against Flavivirus Infections. ACS Infect Dis. 6(5):832-843. (*co-corresponding author).

    17.    Guo, M., Lu, J., Gan, T., Xiang. X., Xu, Y., Xie, Q. and Zhong, J. (2019) Construction and characterization of Genotype-3 hepatitis C virus replicon revealed critical genotype-3-specific polymorphism for drug resistance and viral fitness. Antiviral Research, 171, 104612.

    18.    *Yan, Y., *Wang, X., Lou, P., Hu, Z., Qu, P., Li, D., Li, Q., Xu, Y., Niu, J., He, Y., #Zhong, J., Huang, Z. (2020) A nanoparticle-based HCV vaccine with enhanced potency. J. Infectious Diseases, 221(8):1304-1314. (*The first two authors contributed equally; # co-corresponding author).

    19.    Zhao, Y., Cao, X., Guo, M., Wang, X., Yu, T., Ye. L., Han, L., Hei, L., Tao. W., Tong Y., Xu, Y. and Zhong, J. (2018) Neuralized E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3 is an inducible antiviral effector to inhibit HCV assembly by targeting viral E1 glycoprotein. J. Virology, 92(21). JVI spotlight.

    20.    Tong, Y., Lavillette, D., Li, Q. and Zhong, J. (2018) Role of hepatitis c virus envelope glycoprotein E1 in virus entry and assembly. Front. Immunol. 9:1411.

    21.    Liang, Y., Cao, X., Ding, Q., Zhao, Y., He, Z., Zhong, J. (2018) Hepatitis C virus NS4B induces the degradation of TRIF to inhibit TLR3-mediated interferon signaling pathway. PLOS Pathogens. 14(5):e1007075.

    22.    Li, Q., Tong Y., Xu, Y., Niu, J., Zhong, J. (2018) Genetic Analysis of Serum-derived Defective Hepatitis C Virus Genomes Revealed Novel Viral Cis-Elements for Virus Replication and Assembly. J. Virology, 92(7). pii: e02182-17.

    23.    *Wang, X., *Yan, Y., Gan, T., Yang, X., Li, D., Zhou, D., Sun, Q., Huang, Z., Zhong, J. (2019) A trivalent HCV vaccine elicits broad and synergistic polyclonal antibody response in mice and rhesus monkey. Gut, 68(1):140-149. (*The first two authors contributed equally).

    24.    *Tao, W., *Gan T., Guo, M., Xu, Y., Zhong, J. (2017) Novel Stable Ebola Virus Minigenome Replicon Reveals Remarkable Stability of the Viral Genome. J. Virology, 91: 22 e01316-17 (*The first two authors contributed equally). JVI spotlight.

    25.    Li, D., Wang, X., von Schaewen, M., Tao, W., Zhang, Y., Heller, B., Hrebikova, G., Deng, Q., Sun, Q., #Ploss, A., #Zhong, J., #Huang, Z. (2017) Immunization with a subunit hepatitis C virus vaccine elicits pan-genotypic neutralizing antibodies and intra-hepatic T-cell responses in non-human primates. J. Infectious Diseases, 215(12):1824-1831 (#corresponding author).

    26.    *Cao, R., *Xu, Y., Zhang, T., Yang, J., Yuan, Y., Hao, P., Shi, Y., #Zhong, J., #Zhong, W. (2017) Pediatric drug nitazoxanide: a potential choice for control of Zika. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 4(1):ofx009 (*The first two authors contributed equally; #corresponding author).

    27.    Tong, Y., Chi, X., Yang, W., Zhong, J. (2017) Functional analysis of 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. J. Virology, 91:7 16 e02468-16

    28.    Hei, L. and Zhong, J. (2017) LGP2 plays an essential role in HCV infection-induced interferon responses. Hepatology, 65(5):1478-1491.

    29.    *Yan, Y., *He, Y., Boson, B., Wang, X., Cosset, F.L., Zhong, J. (2017) A point mutation in the N-terminal amphiphathic helix α0 in NS3 promotes HCV assembly by altering core localization to ER and facilitating virus budding. J. Virology, 91(6). pii: e02399-16 (*The first two authors contributed equally).

    30.    *Tao, W., *Gan T., Lu, J., Zhong, J. (2017) A Profiling Study of a Newly Developed HCVcc Strain PR63cc’s Sensitivity to Direct-acting Antivirals. Antiviral Research, 139:18-24 (*The first two authors contributed equally).

    31.    Li, D., von Schaewen, M., Wang, X., Tao, W., Zhang, Y., Li, L., Heller, B., Hrebikova, G., Deng, Q., #Ploss, A., #Zhong, J., #Huang, Z. (2016) Altered glycosylation patterns increase immunogenicity of a subunit HCV vaccine inducing neutralizing antibodies which confer protection in mice. J. Virology, 90:10486-10498 (#corresponding author).

    32.    Xu, Y., and Zhong, J. (2016) Innate immunity against hepatitis C virus. Current Opinion in Immunology. 42:98-104.

    33.    Li, D., Huang, Z. and Zhong, J. (2015) Hepatitis C virus vaccine development: old challenges and new opportunities. National Science Review, 2 (3): 285.

    34.    Xiang, Y., Tang, J., Tao, W., Cao, X., Song, B. and Zhong, J. (2015) Identification of cholesterol-25-hydroxylase as a novel host restriction factor as a part of primary innate immune responses against hepatitis C virus infection. J. Virology, 89:6805–6816.

    35.    *Cao, X., *Ding, Q., Lu J., Tao, W., Huang, B., Zhao, Y., Niu, J., Liu, Y.J. and Zhong, J. (2015) MDA5 Plays a Critical Role in Interferon Response during Hepatitis C Virus Infection. J. Hepatology. 62:771–778 (*The first two authors contributed equally) .

    36.    *Chen, W., *Xu, Y., Li, H., Tao, W., Xiang, Y., Huang, B., Niu, J., #Zhong, J. and #Meng, G. (2014) HCV Genomic RNA Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Human Myeloid Cells. PLoS One, 9(1):e84953 (*The first two authors contributed equally; #corresponding author).

    37.    Lu, J., Xiang, Y., Tao, W., Li, Q., Wang, N., Gao, Y., Xiang, X., Xie, Q., and Zhong, J. (2014)  A novel strategy to develop robust infectious hepatitis C virus cell culture system directly from a clinical isolate. J. Virology, 88, 1484-1491.

    38.    *Xu, Y., *Li, H., Chen, W., Yao, X., Xing, Y., Wang, X., #Zhong, J. and #Meng, G. (2013) Mycoplasma hyorhinis Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Promotes Migration and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells. PLoS One, 8(11): e77955 (*The first two authors contributed equally; #corresponding author).

    39.    *Qi, Y., *Xiang, Y., Wang, J., Qi, Y., Li, J., #Niu, J., and #Zhong, J. (2013) Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Infection by Polyoxometalates. Antiviral Research, 100(2), 392-398 (*The first two authors contributed equally; #corresponding author).

    40.    Lu, J., Tao, W., Li, R., Xiang, Y., Zhang, N., Xiang, X., #Xie, Q., and #Zhong, J. (2013) Construction and characterization of infectious hepatitis C virus chimera containing structural proteins directly from genotype 1b clinical isolates. Virology, 443(1), 80-88 (#corresponding author).

    41.    *Ding, Q., *Cao, X., Lu J., Huang, B., Liu, Y.J., Kato, N., Shu, H., and Zhong, J. (2013) Hepatitis C virus NS4B blocks the interaction of STING and TBK1 to evade host innate immunity. J. Hepatology. 59(1):52-58 (*The first two authors contributed equally).

    42.    Kang, X., Chen, X., He, Y., Guo, D., Guo, L., #Zhong, J., #Shu, H. (2013) DDB1 is a cellular substrate of NS3/4A protease and required for hepatitis C virus. Virology, 435(2), 385-394 (#corresponding author).

    43.    Ding, Q., Huang, B., Lu, J., Liu, Y.J., and Zhong, J. (2012) Hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease blocks IL-28 production. European J. Immunology, 42, 2374-82.

    44.    He, Y., Weng, L., Li, R., Li, L., Toyoda, T., and Zhong, J. (2012) The N-terminal helix ？0 of hepatitis C virus NS3 protein dictates the subcellular localization and stability of NS3/NS4A complex. Virology, 422, 214-223.

    45.    Li, R., Qin, Y., He, Y., Tao, W., Zhang, N., Tsai, C., Zhou, P., Zhong, J. (2011) Production of hepatitis C virus lacking the envelope-encoding genes for single-cycle infection by providing homologous envelope proteins or vesicular stomatitis virus glycoproteins in trans. J.Virology,85, 2138-2147.

    46.    Xiang, X., Lu, J., Dong, Z., Zhou, H., Tao, W., Guo, Q., Zhou, X., #Xie, Q., #Zhong, J. (2011) Viral Sequence Evolution in Chinese Genotype 1b Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Experiencing Unsuccessful Interferon Treatment. Infect. Genet. Evol., 11, 382-390 (#corresponding author).

            47.  Tao, W., Xu, C., Ding, Q., Li, R., Xiang, Y., Chung, J., and Zhong, J. (2009) A Single Point Mutation in E2 Enhances Hepatitis C Virus Infectivity and  

            Alters Lipoprotein Association of Viral Particles. Virology, 395, 67–76.

    Laboratory Members

    Principal Investigator: ZHONG Jin, Professor

    Associate Professor: TONG Yimin, Ph.D.

    Research Assistant: MA Ziyue

     

    Copyright © Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Address: Life Science Research Building 320 Yueyang Road, Xuhui District, 200031
    Tel：86-21-5492 3020Fax：86-21-5492 3044Email：kefachu@siii.cas.cn