Source: Interfolio F180
Jiang Zhu
Scripps Research Joint Appointments
Research Focus
We combine computational and experimental approaches to address critical questions in biomedical research. The hypotheses generated through reasoning and modeling are validated experimentally in our laboratory and through collaborations. The goal of our research is provide innovative solutions to disease prevention and therapeutics.
Antibody discovery and vaccine design. We develop next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and computational tools to facilitate antibody discovery, B-cell repertoire analysis, and vaccine evaluation. By combining scFv phage library and 900bp long-read NGS, we identify functional antibodies for diverse viral targets such as HIV-1, RSV, and ZIKA. Using unbiased repertoire analysis, we investigate the developmental pathways of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) during natural infection and monitor the vaccine-induced B-cell response in animal and human trials. Structural modeling and nanoparticle engineering are employed to design novel immunogens for vaccine development.
Optical control of neural circuits. We develop novel strategies and engineer protein devices for the optical control of signaling pathways and neural circuits implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. We are particularly interested in genetically-encoded optical control of ion channels such as glutamate receptors and calcium channels, which play critical roles in our nervous system and other body functions. We engineer and optimize photo-active proteins such as LOV2, PYP, and PHR-CIBN to facilitate the light control of these complex molecular machines.
Structure-function study of molecular complexes. We develop and apply computational tools to study macromolecular assemblies such as viruses, enzyme complexes, transporters, and ion channels. One of our major focuses is to develop a computational platform for building and refining atomic structures of these complexes using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) density map and other structural measurements (e.g. smFRET) as experimental constraints.
For interested postdoctoral candidates , please send your application package to Dr. Zhu by email. Prior experience in structural biology, immunology, vaccine research, and oncology will be a big plus.
Education
Ph.D. (Computational Biology), University of Science and Technology of China, 2002B.S. (Biology), University of Science and Technology of China, 1998
Professional Experience
2017-2017 Associate Professor, Immunology and Microbial Science (IMS), Scripps Research2013-2017 Assistant Professor, Immunology and Microbial Science (IMS), Scripps Research
2013-2017 Assistant Professor (Joint Appointment), Integrative Structural and Computational Biology (ISCB), Scripps Research
2009-2013 Staff Scientist, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
2002-2009 Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University
Awards & Professional Activities
2012 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Merit Award for Vaccine Development2011 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Merit Award for Vaccine Development
2010 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Merit Award for Vaccine Development
Selected Publications
Alkutkar, T.; Chaudhary, A.; He, L.; Kosviner, E.; Kumar, S.; Lin, X.; Ngo, T.; Ozorowski, G.; Sou, C.; Stanfield, R. L.; Ward, A. B.; Wilson, I. A.; Zhu, J.
Author Correction: Single-component multilayered self-assembling nanoparticles presenting rationally designed glycoprotein trimers as Ebola virus vaccines
. Nature Communications 2022.[View]
Zhu, J.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Sou, C.; Paynter, J.; Ngo, T.; He, L.; Fourfouris, T.; Abraham, C. Mechanism of a COVID-19 nanoparticle vaccine candidate that elicits a broadly neutralizing antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 variants.. Science advances 2021, 7, eabj3107.
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Zhu, J.; Zhang, L.; Wilson, I. A.; Ward, A. B.; Sou, C.; Shapero, B.; Ozorowski, G.; Ngo, T.; Lin, X.; Kumar, S.; He, L.; Crispin, M.; Copps, J.; Allen, J. D. Neutralizing Antibodies Induced by First-Generation gp41-Stabilized HIV-1 Envelope Trimers and Nanoparticles.. mBio 2021, 12, e0042921.
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He, L.; Chaudhary, A.; Lin, X.; Sou, C.; Alkutkar, T.; Kumar, S.; Ngo, T.; Kosviner, E.; Ozorowski, G.; Stanfield, R. L.; Ward, A. B.; Wilson, I. A.; Zhu, J. Single-component multilayered self-assembling nanoparticles presenting rationally designed glycoprotein trimers as Ebola virus vaccines. 2021, 12, 2633.
He, L.; Lin, X.; Wang, Y.; Abraham, C.; Sou, C.; Ngo, T.; Zhang, Y.; Wilson, I. A.; Zhu, J. Single-component, self-assembling, protein nanoparticles presenting the receptor binding domain and stabilized spike as SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. 2021, 7.
Chen, F.; Tzarum, N.; Lin, X.; Giang, E.; Velázquez-Moctezuma, R.; Augestad, E. H.; Nagy, K.; He, L.; Hernandez, M.; Fouch, M. E.; Grinyó, A.; Chavez, D.; Doranz, B. J.; Prentoe, J.; Stanfield, R. L.; Lanford, R.; Bukh, J.; Wilson, I. A.; Zhu, J.; Law, M. Functional convergence of a germline-encoded neutralizing antibody response in rhesus macaques immunized with HCV envelope glycoproteins. 2021, 54, 781-796.e4.