We are living in a world where, to certain extent, human health depends on the game between microbes (both good and bad) and immunity of our bodies. Our research works fall within the general themes of microbe-host interactions including but not limited to microbe infections and host immunity.
Microbes are not visible but major causative agents (pathogens) of various infectious diseases and pose great threat to public health. We use approaches of bioinformatics to explore the genesis and divergence of microbes aimed at discovering microbial factors facilitating their adaptation to hosts and determining the pathogenicity. The values of such studies are highlighted by SARS-Cov-2 due to their rapid mutations and divergence, which causing waves of infections and enable them to escape host immunity and vaccination. Subsequently, we evaluate their public risks and elucidate the biological role of these microbial factors.
Immune system of our bodies helps us fight against diseases. Once stimulated by pathogens or other dangers, it activates immediately, synthesize and release large scale of molecules to recognize and tackle the problems. We are particularly attracted by molecules or factors participate in the bioprocess and the way how immune system senses dangers and signals transduct. We initiate an effort to discover molecules participate in the process with multi-disciplinary approaches including bioinformatics, omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, immunomics) and immunology. The biological functions of discovered potential factors are studied and validated by gene knock-in/out, ELISA, Co-IP etc. al. methods.
Structures of biomolecules are the basis for their functions and minor difference may change the world. We commit to determine the structures of key molecules responsible for diseases including but not limited to infectious disease. Based on structures, we seek to design and select antibodies (Fab, scFv, monobody, affibody, nanobody etc. al.) for immunotherapeutic with high affinity. The interaction between antibody and target protein are assessed by biophysical methods, which facilitates further optimization. Besides, we also focus on design novel vaccines for infectious and chronic diseases, especially universal vaccines.