A5072256016- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- S100 Proteins and Annexins
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- HIV Research and Treatment
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Clusterin in disease pathology
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
Catholic University of America
2017-2025
University of America
2017-2022
Lanzhou University
2013-2017
Bacteriophages likely constitute the largest biomass on Earth. However, very few phage genomes have been well-characterized, tailed T4 genome being one of them. Even in T4, much remained uncharacterized. The classical genetic strategies are tedious, compounded by modifications such as cytosine hydroxylmethylation and glucosylation which makes DNA resistant to most restriction endonucleases. Here, using type-II CRISPR-Cas9 system, we report editing both modified (ghm-Cytosine) unmodified...
A “universal” platform that can rapidly generate multiplex vaccine candidates is critically needed to control pandemics. Using the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 as a model, we have developed such by CRISPR engineering of bacteriophage T4. pipeline was engineered incorporating various viral components into appropriate compartments phage nanoparticle structure. These include expressible spike genes in genome, and envelope epitopes surface decorations, nucleocapsid proteins...
Designing artificial viral vectors (AVVs) programmed with biomolecules that can enter human cells and carry out molecular repairs will have broad applications. Here, we describe an assembly-line approach to build AVVs by engineering the well-characterized structural components of bacteriophage T4. Starting a 120 × 86 nm capsid shell accommodate 171-Kbp DNA thousands protein copies, various combinations biomolecules, including DNAs, proteins, RNAs, ribonucleoproteins, are externally...
Following the deadly anthrax attacks of 2001, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that Bacillus anthracis Yersinia pestis cause plague, respectively, are two Tier 1 select agents pose greatest threat to national security United States. Both rapid death, in 3 6 days, exposed individuals. We engineered a virus nanoparticle vaccine using bacteriophage T4 by incorporating key antigens both B. Y. into one formulation. Two doses this provided complete protection against...
The regulation of pollen development and tube growth is a complicated biological process that crucial for sexual reproduction in flowering plants. Annexins are widely distributed from protists to higher eukaryotes play multiple roles numerous cellular events by acting as putative "linker" between Ca2+ signaling, the actin cytoskeleton membrane, which required growth. Our recent report suggested downregulation function Arabidopsis annexin 5 (Ann5) transgenic Ann5-RNAi lines caused severely...
An engineered viral vector of bacteriophage T4 linked to AAV delivers large payloads genes and proteins into human cells.
Restriction-modification (R-M) and CRISPR-Cas systems are two well-known defense mechanisms of bacteria. Both recognize cleave phage DNA at specific sites while protecting their own genomes. It is well accepted that T4 other phages have evolved counterdefense to protect genomes from R-M cleavage by covalent modifications, such as the hydroxymethylation glucosylation cytosine. However, it unclear whether genome modifications also provide broad protection against systems. Our results suggest...
According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 may have caused ~15-million deaths across globe and is still ravaging world. Another wave of ~100 million infections predicted in United States due emergence highly transmissible immune-escaped Omicron variants.
Bacteriophage T4 has enormous potential for biomedical applications due to its large size, capsid architecture, and high payload capability protein DNA delivery. However, it is not very easy genetically engineer genome heavily modified by cytosine hydroxymethylation glucosylation. The glucosyl hydroxymethyl (ghmC) of phage completely resistant most restriction endonucleases exhibits various degrees resistance CRISPR-Cas systems. Here, we found that the type V CRISPR-Cas12a system, which...
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and use them as replication factories to assemble progeny phages. Bacteria have evolved powerful defense mechanisms destroy the invading phages by severing their genomes soon after entry into cells.
A multivalent, rapidly deployable, mucosal vaccine platform is desperately needed to prevent acquisition and transmission of respiratory infections during epidemics pandemics. No such approved currently exists virtually all under investigation use infectious viruses that have safety concerns are not amenable for multivalent engineering. Herein, a non‐infectious biomaterial presented, the bacteriophage T4 nanoparticle endowed with unique features modular engineering, which exploited design...
Bioterrorism remains as one of the biggest challenges to global security and public health. Since deadly anthrax attacks 2001 in United States, Bacillus anthracis Yersinia pestis, causative agents plague, respectively, gained notoriety were listed by CDC Tier-1 biothreat agents. Currently, there is no FDA-approved vaccine against either these threats for mass vaccination protect general public, let alone a bivalent vaccine. Here, we report development single recombinant vaccine, triple...
Nucleoid Associated Proteins (NAPs) organize the bacterial chromosome within nucleoid. The interaction of NAP H-NS with DNA also represses specific host and xenogeneic genes. Previously, we showed that bacteriophage T4 early protein MotB binds to DNA, co-purifies H-NS/DNA, improves phage fitness. Here demonstrate using atomic force microscopy compacts multiple proteins at center complex. These complexes differ from those observed other NAPs, but resemble formed by NAP-like CbpA/Dps yeast...
A viral vector that can safely and efficiently deliver large diverse molecular cargos into cells is the holy grail of curing many human diseases.Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been extensively used but a very small capacity.The prokaryotic T4 capacity lacks natural mechanisms to enter mammalian cells.Here, we created hybrid by combining AAV one nanoparticle possesses advantages both.The 25 nm particles are attached 120 x 86 head through avidin-biotin cross-bridges using phage decoration...
Abstract A “universal” vaccine design platform that can rapidly generate multiplex candidates is critically needed to control future pandemics. Here, using SARS-CoV-2 pandemic virus as a model, we have developed such by CRISPR engineering of bacteriophage T4. pipeline were engineered incorporating various viral components into appropriate compartments phage nanoparticle structure. These include: expressible spike genes in genome, and envelope epitopes surface decorations, nucleocapsid...