Shanghai Institute of Material Medical Chinese Academy of Sciences

Biography

Prof. Zhong earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003, and subsequently pursued postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute. He is currently a principal investigator at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), dedicated to virology research. His work focuses on the molecular virology, cell biology, and innate immune responses of RNA viral pathogens responsible for major human infectious diseases, as well as the development of antiviral vaccines and therapeutics.

Prof. Zhong’s main research has been focused on positive-stranded RNA viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and dengue virus (DENV), as well as negative-stranded RNA viruses such as Ebola virus (EBOV) and Lassa virus (LASV). He has published more than 130 research papers in prestigious journals.

Currently, Prof. Zhong holds the positions of Chairman of the Virology Special Committee of the Shanghai Society for Microbiology, Vice Chairman of the Medical Virology Branch of the Shanghai Medical Association, and Standing Committee Member of the Medical Virology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. He also serves as a section editor, associate editor, or editorial board member for several academic journals, including hLife, Journal of Medical Virology, and Antiviral Research.

Education Experience：

1990.09-1994.07 B.S., Biochemistry, Sichuan University, China

1994.09-1997.07 M.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University, China

1997.08-2003.08 Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin, USA

Work Experience：

2003.09-2006.12 Postdoctoral fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, USA

2006.12-2023.07 Principal Investigator, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS

2013.01-present Adjunct Professor, ShanghaiTech University

2023.07-2025.12 Principal Investigator, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, CAS

2026.01-present Principal Investigator, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS

Research Directions

1. Virus-host interactions during RNA virus infection

2. Innate Immune sensing of RNA Viruses

3. Reverse genetics of RNA viruses

4. Development of antivirals for RNA viruses

5. Development of vaccines for RNA viruses

Grants & Research Projects

Achievements

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Social Titles

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Awards & Honors

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Publications

Selected Publications

1.Han, X., Rao, M., Chang, Y., Zhu, J., Cheng, J., Li, Y., Qiong, W., Ye, S., Zhang, Q., Zhang, S., Chen, L., Hou, F., *Zhong, J., Liu, J. (2025) ATP-dependent one-dimensional movement maintains immune homeostasis by suppressing spontaneous MDA5 filament assembly. Cell Research, doi: 10.1038/s41422-025-01183-8. Online ahead of print. (*co-corresponding author).

2.Ye, S., Liang, Y., Chang, Y., Lai, B., Zhong, J. (2025) Dengue Virus Replicative-Form dsRNA Is Recognized by Both RIG-I and MDA5 to Activate Innate Immunity. Journal of Medical Virology. 97(2):e70194. (corresponding author).

3.Xing, Y., Wen, Z., Mei, J., Huang, X., Zhao, S., *Zhong, J., Jiu,Y. (2025) Cytoskeletal vimentin directs cell-cell transmission of hepatitis C virus. Advanced Science, 12(3):e2408917. (*co-corresponding author).

4.Hu, X., Bai, X., Tian, F., Xing, Y., Shi, Y., Tong, Y., Zhong, J. (2024) A novel BSL-2 Lassa virus reverse genetics system modeling the complete viral life cycle. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 13:1, 2356149. (corresponding author).

5.Li, L., Gan, T., Ma, Z., Huang, Y., Zhong, J. (2024) Assessing risk of Bombali virus spillover to humans by mutagenesis analysis of viral glycoprotein. hLife, 2:32–42. (corresponding author).

6.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. (corresponding author).

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

8.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. (corresponding author).

9.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. (corresponding author).

10.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. Journal of Virology, 94(17):e00622-20. (corresponding author).

11.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. (corresponding author).

12.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. (corresponding author).

13.Tao, W., Gan T., Guo, M., X021-54923143u, Y., Zhong, J. (2017) Novel Stable Ebola Virus Minigenome Replicon Reveals Remarkable Stability of the Viral Genome. Journal of Virology, 91: 22 e01316-17 JVI spotlight. (corresponding author).

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

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

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