A5028624613- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- interferon and immune responses
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Circular RNAs in diseases
- RNA modifications and cancer
University of Hong Kong
2016-2025
University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital
2020-2025
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
2021-2025
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2015-2025
HKU-Pasteur Research Pole
2022-2023
Queen Mary Hospital
2017-2023
LFB (United States)
2023
Health Sciences Centre
2007
University of Calgary
2007
Chinese Academy of Sciences
2003-2004
An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with a novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Affected patients were geographically linked local wet market as potential source. No data on person-to-person or nosocomial transmission have been published to date.
A mysterious outbreak of atypical pneumonia in late 2019 was traced to a seafood wholesale market Wuhan China. Within few weeks, novel coronavirus tentatively named as (2019-nCoV) announced by the World Health Organization. We performed bioinformatics analysis on virus genome from patient with 2019-nCoV infection and compared it other related genomes. Overall, has 89% nucleotide identity bat SARS-like-CoVZXC21 82% that human SARS-CoV. The phylogenetic trees their orf1a/b, Spike, Envelope,...
Abstract Background A physiological small-animal model that resembles COVID-19 with low mortality is lacking. Methods Molecular docking on the binding between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) of common laboratory mammals and receptor-binding domain surface spike protein SARS-CoV-2 suggested golden Syrian hamster an option. Virus challenge, contact transmission, passive immunoprophylaxis studies were performed. Serial organ tissues blood harvested for histopathology, viral load titer,...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported from China in January, 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is efficiently transmitted person to and, months, has caused more than 82 000 laboratory-confirmed cases of disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 2800 deaths 46 countries. The total number surpassed that the 2003 severe (SARS-CoV). Although both COVID-19 (SARS) manifest as pneumonia, associated with apparently efficient transmission, fewer diarrhoea, increased mental confusion, a lower...
Waning immunity occurs in patients who have recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it remains unclear whether true re-infection occurs.Whole genome sequencing was performed directly on respiratory specimens collected during 2 episodes of COVID-19 a patient. Comparative analysis conducted to differentiate persistent viral shedding. Laboratory results, including RT-PCR Ct values and serum Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) IgG, were analyzed.The second episode...
Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging that has resulted in more than 000 laboratory-confirmed cases including over 145 deaths. Although SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV share a number of common clinical manifestations, appears to be highly efficient person-to-person transmission frequently causes asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections. However, the underlying mechanisms confer these viral characteristics high transmissibility infection...
Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is believed to be mostly transmitted medium- large-sized droplets, although airborne transmission may possible in healthcare settings involving aerosol-generating procedures. Exposure droplets can theoretically reduced surgical mask usage. However, there a lack of experimental evidence supporting usage for prevention COVID-19. Methods We used well-established golden...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is capable of inducing a storm proinflammatory cytokines. In this study, we show that the SARS-CoV open reading frame 3a (ORF3a) accessory protein activates NLRP3 inflammasome by promoting TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3)-mediated ubiquitination apoptosis-associated speck-like containing caspase recruitment domain (ASC). and its ORF3a were found to be potent activators pro-IL-1β gene transcription maturation, 2 signals required...
Lipids play numerous indispensable cellular functions and are involved in multiple steps the replication cycle of viruses. Infections by human-pathogenic coronaviruses result diverse clinical outcomes, ranging from self-limiting flu-like symptoms to severe pneumonia with extrapulmonary manifestations. Understanding how lipids may modulate pathogenicity remains poor. To this end, we utilized human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) as a model comprehensively characterize host cell lipid response...
Novel reassortant avian influenza H7N9 virus and pandemic 2009 H1N1 (H1N1pdm) cause human infections, while H7N2 swine mainly infect birds pigs, respectively. There is no robust in vitro model for assessing the infectivity of emerging viruses humans. Based on a recently established method, we generated long-term expanding 3D airway organoids which accommodate four types epithelial cells: ciliated, goblet, club, basal cells. We report differentiation conditions increase ciliated cell numbers...
Viruses are obligate intracellular microbes that exploit the host metabolic machineries to meet their biosynthetic demands, making these pathways potential therapeutic targets. Here, by exploring a lipid library, we show AM580, retinoid derivative and RAR-α agonist, is highly potent in interrupting life cycle of diverse viruses including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus influenza A virus. Using click chemistry, overexpressed sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) shown...
The COVID-19 pandemic is the third outbreak this century of a zoonotic disease caused by coronavirus, following emergence severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 20031 and Middle East (MERS) 20122. Treatment options for coronaviruses are limited. Here we show that clofazimine—an anti-leprosy drug with favourable safety profile3—possesses inhibitory activity against several coronaviruses, can antagonize replication SARS-CoV-2 MERS-CoV range vitro systems. We found molecule, which has been...
Coronavirus tropism is predominantly determined by the interaction between coronavirus spikes and host receptors. In this regard, coronaviruses have evolved a complicated receptor-recognition system through their spike proteins. Spikes from highly related can recognize distinct receptors, whereas of distant employ same cell-surface molecule for entry. Moreover, broad range molecules in addition to receptors thereby augment attachment or The receptor Middle East respiratory syndrome...
Clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vary from asymptomatic virus shedding, nonspecific pharyngitis, to pneumonia with silent hypoxia and respiratory failure. Dendritic cells macrophages are sentinel for innate adaptive immunity that affect the pathogenesis severe acute syndrome (SARS) Middle East (MERS). The interplay between SARS-CoV-2 these cell types remains unknown. We investigated infection host responses monocyte-derived dendritic (moDCs) (MDMs) infected by...
Wildtype mice are not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Emerging variants, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and P.3, contain mutations in spike that has been suggested associate with an increased recognition of mouse ACE2, raising the postulation these variants may have evolved expand species tropism wildtype potentially other murines. Our study evaluated this possibility substantial public health importance.
The in vivo pathogenicity, transmissibility, and fitness of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant are not well understood. We compared these virological attributes this new concern (VOC) with those Delta (B.1.617.2) a Syrian hamster model COVID-19. Omicron-infected hamsters lost significantly less body weight exhibited reduced clinical scores, tract viral burdens, cytokine chemokine dysregulation, lung damage than Delta-infected...
Abstract Understanding the factors that contribute to efficient SARS-CoV-2 infection of human cells may provide insights on transmissibility and pathogenesis, reveal targets intervention. Here, we analyze host viral determinants essential for in both lung epithelial ex vivo tissues. We identify heparan sulfate as an important attachment factor infection. Next, show sialic acids present ACE2 prevent spike/ACE2-interaction. While SARS-CoV is substantially limited by acid-mediated restriction...
SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529.1 (Omicron BA.1) emerged in November 2021 and quickly became the predominant circulating variant globally. Omicron BA.1 contains more than 30 mutations spike protein, which contribute to its altered virological features when compared ancestral or previous variants. Recent studies by us others demonstrated that is less dependent on transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), efficient cleavage, fusogenic, adopts an propensity utilize plasma membrane endosomal pathways for...
The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) is an essential enzyme for the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses thus a target coronavirus drug discovery. Nearly all inhibitors 3CLpro reported so far are covalent inhibitors. Here, we report development specific, noncovalent 3CLpro. most potent one, WU-04, effectively blocks replications in human cells with EC50 values 10-nM range. WU-04 also inhibits SARS-CoV MERS-CoV high potency, indicating that it pan-inhibitor showed anti-SARS-CoV-2...