Research Interests:

· Development of epithelial organoid models for biomedical research

· Organoid-based investigation of virus-host interaction and viral pathogenesis

Dr Zhou focuses on organoid-based virus research, including human respiratory viruses (influenza viruses, highly pathogenic coronaviruses) and enteric viruses. she has led a team to establish the first organoid culture system of the human respiratory epithelium and bat intestinal epithelium. These organoid models usher in a suite of innovative tools for investigating virus-host interaction and viral pathogenesis, superior to most existing in vitro models. More importantly, these organoid models can be extensively utilized in multiple disciplines for studying human biology and pathology.

She has secured 9 competitive research grants in the capacity of PI, including CRF, GRF, and HMRF. She is the top 1% researcher worldwide by citations as ranked by Clarivate Analytics in 2021. https://hub.hku.hk/local/top1pc/top1pc.jsp?year=2021.Nature journals recently reported her organoid-based research of COVID-19 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41580-020-0258-4 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01395-z

Representative publications (# correspondence author).

1. Chiu MC, Li C, Liu X, Song W, Wan Z, Yu Y, Huang J, Chu H, Cai J, Kai-Wang To K, Yuen KY#, Zhou J#. Human nasal organoids model SARS-CoV-2 upper respiratory infection and recapitulate the differential infectivity of emerging variants. mBio (in press)

2. Zhao X, Li C, Chiu MC, Jiang S. Wang P, Zhou J#. Rock1 is a novel host dependency factor of human enterovirus A71: implication as a drug target. J Med Virol. 2022 Jul 5. doi: 10.1002/jmv.27975

3. Chiu MC, Cun Li, Xiaojuan Liu, Yifei Yu, Jingjing Huang, Zhixin Wan, Ding Xiao, Hin Chu, Jian-Piao Cai, Biao Zhou, Ko-Yung Sit, Wing-Kuk Au, Kenneth Kak-Yuen Wong, Gang Li, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Zhiwei Chen, Shibo Jiang, Hans Clevers#, Kwok-Yung Yuen#, Zhou J#. 2022. A bipotential organoid model of respiratory epithelium recapitulates high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Cell Discovery. 2022 Jun 17;8(1):57.

4. Wang D, Li C, Chiu MC, Yu Y, Liu X, Zhao X, Huang J, Cheng Z, Yuan S, Poon VK, Cai JP, Chu H, Chan JF, To KK, Yuen KY, Zhou J#. SPINK6 inhibits human airway serine proteases and restricts influenza virus activation. EMBO Mol Med. 2022 Jan 11;14(1):e14485.

5. Zhao X, Li C, Liu X, Chiu MC, Wang D, Wei Y, Chu H, Cai JP, Hau-Yee Chan, Kak-Yuen Wong K, Fuk-Woo Chan J, Kai-Wang To K, Yuen KY, Zhou J#. Human Intestinal Organoids Recapitulate Enteric Infections of Enterovirus and Coronavirus. Stem Cell Reports. 2021 Mar 9;16(3):493-504

6. Li C, Chu H, Liu X, Chiu MC, Zhao X, Wang D, Wei Y, Hou Y, Shuai H, Cai J, Chan JF, Zhou J#, Yuen KY#. Human coronavirus dependency on host heat shock protein 90 reveals an antiviral target. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Dec;9(1):2663-2672.

7. Zhou J#, Li C. Liu X, Chiu MC, Zhao X, Wang D, Wei Y, Lee A, Zhang AJ, Chu H, Cai JP, Yip CC, Chan IHY, Wong KKY, Tsang OTY, Chan KH, Chan JF, To KK, Chen H, Yuen KY#. Infection of bat and human intestinal organoids by SARS-CoV-2. Nature Medicine. 2020 Jul;26(7):1077-1083.

8. Zhao X, Chu H, Wong BH, Chiu MC, Wang D, Li C, Liu X, Yang D, Poon VK, Cai J, Chan JF, To KK, Zhou J#, Yuen KY. Activation of C-type lectin receptor and (RIG)-I-like receptors contributes to proinflammatory response in MERS coronavirus infected macrophages. J Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 28. pii: jiz483.

9. Zhang K, Li C, Luo Y, Wen L, Yuen S, Wang D, Wong BH, Zhao X, Chiu MC, Ye Z, Sun Z, Zhao H, Zhang X, Hu M, Yang D, Shuai H, Wang Y, He J, Bose ME, Henrickson KJ, Huang J, Zheng BJ, Chu H, Zhou J#. Establishment of a lethal aged mouse model of human respiratory syncytial virus infection. Antiviral Res. 2018 Nov 29;161:125-133.

10. Zhou J, Wang Dong, Wong BH, Li Cun, Poon VK, Wen Lei, Zhao X, Chiu MC, Liu X, Ye Z, Yuan S, Sze K, Chan JF, Chu H, To KK, Yuen KY. Identification and characterization of GLDC as host susceptibility gene to severe influenza. EMBO Mol Med. 2018 Nov 28. pii: e9528.

11. Zhou J, Li C, Sachs N, Chiu MC, Wong BH, Chu H, Poon VK, Wang D, Zhao X, Wen L, Song W, Yuan S, Wong KK, Chan JF, To KK, Chen H, Clevers H, Yuen KY. Differentiated human airway organoids to assess infectivity of emerging influenza virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Jun 26;115(26):6822-6827.

12. Zhou J, Li C, Zhao G, Chu H, Wang D, Yan HH, Poon VK, Wen L, Wong BH, Zhao X, Chiu MC, Yang D, Wang Y, Au-Yeung RKH, Chan IH, Sun S, Chan JF, To KK, Memish ZA, Corman VM, Drosten C, Hung IF, Zhou Y, Leung SY, Yuen KY. Human intestinal tract serves as an alternative infection route for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Sci Adv. 2017 Nov 15;3(11):eaao4966

13. Wen L, Chu H, Wong BH, Wang D, Li C, Zhao X, Chiu MC, Yuan S, Fan Y, Chen H, Zhou J#, Yuen KY. Large-scale sequence analysis reveals novel human-adaptive markers in PB2 segment of seasonal influenza A viruses. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2018 Mar 29;7(1):47.

14. Yuan S, Wen L, Zhou J#. Inhibitors of Influenza A Virus Polymerase. ACS Infect Dis. 2018 Mar 9;4(3):218-223.

15. Hu M, Chu H, Zhang K, Singh K, Li C, Yuan S, Chow B. K. C., Song W, Zhou J#, Zheng BJ#. Amino acid substitutions V63I or A37S/I61T/V63I/V100A in the PA N-terminal domain increase the virulence of H7N7 influenza A virus. Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 25; 6:37800.

16. Yuan S, Chu H, Ye J, Singh K, Ye Z, Zhao H, Kao RY, Chow BK, Zhou J#, Zheng BJ#. Identification of a novel small-molecule compound targeting the influenza A virus polymerase PB1-PB2 interface. Antiviral Res. 2016 Nov 10;137:58-66.

17. Zhao H, Chu H, Zhao X, Shuai H, Wong BH, Wen L, Yuan S, Zheng BJ, Zhou J#, Yuen KY#. Novel residues in the PA protein of avian influenza H7N7 virus affect virulence in mammalian hosts. Virology. 2016 Aug 12;498:1-8.

18. Yuan S, Chu H, Singh K, Zhao H, Zhang K, Kao RY, Chow BK, Zhou J#, Zheng BJ#. A novel small-molecule inhibitor of influenza A virus acts by suppressing PA endonuclease activity of the viral polymerase. Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 9;6:22880.

19. Yuan S, Chu H, Zhao H, Zhang K, Singh K, Chow BK, Kao RY, Zhou J#, Zheng BJ#. Identification of a small-molecule inhibitor of influenza virus via disrupting the subunits interaction of the viral polymerase. Antiviral Res. 2016 Jan;125:34-42.

20. Cheng Z*, Zhou J*, To KK, Chu H, Li C, Wang D, Yang D, Zheng S, Hao K, Bossé Y, Obeidat M, Brandsma CA, Song YQ, Chen Y, Zheng BJ, Li L, Yuen KY. Identification of TMPRSS2 as a Susceptibility Gene for Severe 2009 Pandemic A(H1N1) Influenza and A(H7N9) Influenza. J Infect Dis. 2015 Oct 15;212(8):1214-21.

21. Zhou J, Chu H, Chan JF, Yuen KY. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection: virus-host cell interactions and implications on pathogenesis. Virol J. 2015 Dec 22;12(1):218.

22. Cheng Z, Chu H, Fan Y, Li C, Song YQ, Zhou J#, Yuen KY. PExFInS: An Integrative Post-GWAS Explorer for Functional Indels and SNPs. Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 27;5:17302.

23. Chen Y*, Zhou J*, Cheng Z, Yang S, Chu H, Fan Y, Li C, Wong BH, Zheng S, Zhu Y, Yu F, Wang Y, Liu X, Gao H, Yu L, Tang L, Cui D, Hao K, Bossé Y, Obeidat ME, Brandsma CA, Song YQ, To KK, Sham PC, Yuen KY, Li L. Functional variants regulating LGALS1 (Galectin 1) expression affect human susceptibility to influenza A(H7N9). Sci Rep. 2015 Feb 17;5:8517.

24. Zhou J, Chu H, Li C, Wong BH, Cheng ZS, Poon VK, Sun T, Lau CC, Wong KK, Chan JY, Chan JF, To KK, Chan KH, Zheng BJ, Yuen KY. Active replication of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and aberrant induction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in human macrophages: implications for pathogenesis. J Infect Dis. 2014 May 1;209(9):1331-42.

25. Chu H*, Zhou J*, Wong BH, Li C, Cheng ZS, Lin X, Poon VK, Sun T, Lau CC, Chan JF, To KK, Chan KH, Lu L, Zheng BJ, Yuen KY. Productive replication of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in monocyte-derived dendritic cells modulates innate immune response. Virology. 2014 Apr;454-455:197-205.

26. Zhou J, To KK, Dong H, Cheng ZS, Lau CC, Poon VK, Fan YH, Song YQ, Tse H, Chan KH, Zheng BJ, Zhao GP, Yuen KY. A functional variation in CD55 increases the severity of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus infection. J Infect Dis. 2012 Aug 15;206(4):495-503.

27. Zhou J, Tan T, Tian Y, Zheng B, Ou JH, Huang EJ, Yen TS. Krüppel-like factor 15 activates hepatitis B virus gene expression and replication. Hepatology. 2011; 54(1):109-21.

28. Zhou J, Smith DK, Lu L, Poon VK, Ng F, Chen DQ, Huang JD, Yuen KY, Cao KY, Zheng BJ. A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in IFNAR1 affects susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Viral Hepat. 2009 Jan;16(1):45-52.

29. Zhou J, Chen DQ, Poon VK, Zeng Y, Ng F, Lu L, Huang JD, Yuen KY, Zheng BJ. A regulatory polymorphism in interferon-gamma receptor 1 promoter is associated with the susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Immunogenetics. 2009 Jun;61(6):423-30.

30. Zhou J, Huang JD, Poon VK, Chen DQ, Chan CC, Ng F, Guan XY, Watt RM, Lu L, Yuen KY, Zheng BJ. Functional dissection of an IFN-alpha/beta receptor 1 promoter variant that confers higher risk to chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2009 Aug;51(2):322-32.

31. Zhou J, Lu L, Yuen MF, Lam TW, Chung CP, Lam CL, Zhang B, Wang S, Chen Y, Wu SH, Poon VK, Ng F, Chan CC, Jiang S, Yuen KY, Zheng BJ. Polymorphisms of type I interferon receptor 1 promoter and their effects on chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2007 Feb;46(2):198-205.

Joining our team:

We are looking for motivated young scientists to join us as post-doctoral fellows, MPhil/PhD students, or research assistants. Interested candidates please send a cover letter and CV to Dr Zhou (jiezhou@hku.hk).