A5008625579- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Liver Disease and Transplantation
- Gut microbiota and health
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Global Health Workforce Issues
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Burkholderia infections and melioidosis
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
University of Hong Kong
2016-2025
Queen Mary Hospital
2016-2025
Janssen (Germany)
2025
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2016-2024
University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital
2019-2024
Hospital Authority
2024
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
2022-2023
University of Rome Tor Vergata
2022
Creative Commons
2021
Cyberport
2021
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,...
BackgroundFace mask usage by the healthy population in community to reduce risk of transmission respiratory viruses remains controversial. We assessed effect community-wide control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).MethodsPatients presenting with symptoms at outpatient clinics or hospital wards were screened for COVID-19 per protocol. Epidemiological analysis was performed confirmed cases, especially persons acquiring during mask-off and...
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...
Abstract Objective: To describe the infection control preparedness measures undertaken for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 (previously known as 2019 novel coronavirus) in first 42 days after announcement of a cluster pneumonia China, on December 31, (day 1) Hong Kong. Methods: A bundled approach active and enhanced laboratory surveillance, early airborne isolation, rapid molecular diagnostic testing, contact tracing healthcare workers (HCWs) with unprotected exposure...
BackgroundIn late 2019, a novel human coronavirus – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China. This virus has caused global pandemic involving more than 200 countries. SARS-CoV-2 is highly adapted to humans and readily transmits from person-to-person.AimTo investigate the infectivity of under various environmental pH conditions. The efficacies laboratory inactivation methods home disinfectants against were investigated.MethodsThe residual dried form...
Abstract All hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants reported to infect humans belong the species Orthohepevirus A (HEV-A). The zoonotic potential of C (HEV-C), which circulates in rats and is highly divergent from HEV-A, unknown. We report a liver transplant recipient with caused by HEV-C infection. detected RNA multiple clinical samples antigen liver. complete genome isolate had 93.7% nt similarity an strain Vietnam. patient preexisting HEV antibodies, were not protective against Ribavirin was...
Abstract Background: The role of severe respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–laden aerosols in the transmission disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains uncertain. Discordant findings SARS-CoV-2 RNA air samples were noted early reports. Methods: Sampling close to 6 asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients with without surgical masks was performed sampling devices using sterile gelatin filters. Frequently touched environmental surfaces near 21 swabbed before daily disinfection....
Zika virus (ZIKV) is unique among human-pathogenic flaviviruses by its association with congenital anomalies and trans-placental sexual human-to-human transmission. Although the pathogenesis of ZIKV-associated neurological complications has been reported in recent studies, key questions on other clinical manifestations, non-vector-borne transmission potential animal reservoirs ZIKV remain unanswered. We systematically characterized differential cell line susceptibility 18 human 15 nonhuman...
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants causing human infection predominantly belong to HEV species A (HEV-A). C genotype 1 (HEV-C1) circulates in rats and is highly divergent from HEV-A. It was previously considered unable infect humans, but the first case of HEV-C1 recently discovered Hong Kong. The aim this study further describe features zoonosis Kong.We conducted a territory-wide prospective screening for over 31-month period. Blood samples 2,860 patients with abnormal liver function (n =...
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.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted largely by droplets or airborne aerosols. Despite being frequently found in the immediate environment and feces of patients, evidence supporting oral acquisition SARS-CoV-2 unavailable. Using Syrian hamster model, we demonstrate that severity pneumonia induced intranasal inhalation increases with virus inoculum. retains its infectivity vitro simulated human-fed-gastric fasted-intestinal fluid after h. Oral...
Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily an acute respiratory tract infection. Distinctively, a substantial proportion of COVID-19 patients develop olfactory dysfunction. Especially in young patients, loss smell can be the first or only symptom. The roles inflammatory obstruction clefts, cytokines affecting neuronal function, destruction neurons their supporting cells, and direct invasion bulbs causing dysfunction are uncertain. Methods We investigated location...
Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there are knowledge gaps about the severity, prevalence, etiology, and duration of OD COVID-19 patients.
Abstract Background Antibiotic treatment has a well-established detrimental effect on the gut bacterial composition, but effects fungal community are less clear. Bacteria in lumen of gastrointestinal tract may limit colonization and invasion. drugs targeting bacteria therefore seen as an important risk factor for infections induced allergies. However, antibiotic bacterial-fungal interactions, including disruption resilience compositions, were not investigated humans. We analysed stool...
The role of subclinical severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in perpetuating the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown because population seroprevalence data are absent. We aimed to establish sensitivity and specificity our enzyme immunoassay microneutralisation assay, SARS-CoV-2 Hong Kong before after pandemic, as well residents evacuated from Hubei province, China.We did a multicohort study hospital university Kong. evaluated assay with RT-PCR patients positive...
Abstract Background Post-vaccination myopericarditis is reported after immunization with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The effect of inadvertent intravenous injection this vaccine on the heart unknown. Methods We compared clinical manifestations, histopathological changes, tissue mRNA expression, and serum levels cytokine/chemokine troponin in Balb/c mice at different time points (IV) or intramuscular (IM) normal saline (NS) control. Results Although...
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is zoonotic and a major cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Recently, we identified novel HEV genotype 8 (HEV8) in Bactrian camels Xinjiang, China. However, the epidemiology, pathogenicity, potential HEV8 are unclear. Here, present prevalence China investigate its pathogenicity cross-species transmission cynomolgus macaques. Fresh fecal milk samples from collected four provinces/regions were screened for RNA by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). An...
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants belonging to Orthohepevirus species A (HEV-A) are the primary cause of human hepatitis E. However, we previously reported that C genotype 1 (HEV-C1), a divergent HEV variant commonly found in rats, also causes humans. Here, present clinical-epidemiological investigation HEV-C1 infections detected Hong Kong, with an emphasis on outcomes immunocompromised individuals.A surveillance system for detecting was established Kong. Epidemiological and clinical...
Abstract Monitoring population protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants is critical for risk assessment. We hypothesize that Hong Kong’s explosive Omicron BA.2 outbreak in early 2022 could be explained by low herd immunity. Our seroprevalence study using sera collected from January to December 2021 shows a very prevalence of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) ancestral virus among older adults. The age group-specific NAb generally correlates with the vaccination uptake rate, but adults...
Abstract Background The role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the pathogenesis testicular damage is uncertain. Methods We investigated virological, pathological, and immunological changes testes hamsters challenged by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 its variants with intranasal or direct inoculation using influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 as control. Results Besides self-limiting tract infection, challenge caused decrease sperm count, serum testosterone inhibin B at 4–7...