(*: corresponding author; #: co-first author)

Broad-spectrum defensin antiviral peptide studies

1. Hanjun Zhao^#*, Kelvin K. W. To^#, Chuyuan Zhang, Hoiyan Lam, Zheng Peng, Xinjie Meng, Xiankun Wang, Jianpiao Cai, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Bingpeng Yan, Man Lung Yeung, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yuen*. A trifunctional peptide broadly inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in hamsters. Cell Discovery, 2022, 8(1):62. Ranking of journal in Cell Biology: 7/194; (2021IF:38.101, PMID: 35768416).
2. Hanjun Zhao^#*, Xinjie Meng, Zheng Peng, Hoiyan Lam, Chuyuan Zhang, Xinxin Zhou, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Richard Yi Tsun Kao, Kelvin K. W. To, Kwok-Yung Yuen*. Fusion-inhibition peptide broadly inhibits influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, including Delta and Omicron variants. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 2022, 11(1):926-937. Ranking of journal in Infectious Diseases: 8/94; (2021IF:19.568, PMID: 35259078).
3. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To, Hoiyan Lam, Xinxin Zhou, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Peng Zheng, Andrew C. Y. Lee, Jianpiao Cai, Wan-Mui Chan, Jonathan Daniel Ip, Chris Chung-Sing Chan, Man Lung Yeung, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Allen Wing Ho Chu, Shibo Jiang, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Cross-linking peptide and repurposed drugs inhibit both entry pathways of SARS-CoV-2. Nature Communications, 2021. 12,1517. Rank in Multidisciplinary Science: 6/73; (2021IF:17.694, PMID: 33750821).
4. Hanjun Zhao^#, Kelvin K. W. To^#, Kong-Hung Sze^#, Timothy Tin-Mong Yung, Mingjie Bian, Hoiyan Lam, Man Lung Yeung, Cun Li, Hin Chu, Kwok-Yung Yuen. A broad-spectrum virus- and host-targeting peptide against respiratory viruses including influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 4252. Rank in Multidisciplinary Science: 6/73; (2021IF:17.694, PMID: 32843628).
5. Hanjun Zhao, Jie Zhou, Ke Zhang, Dabin Liu, Vincent Kwok-Man Poon, Chris Chung-Sing Chan, Ho-Chuen Leung, Ng Fai, Yong-Ping Lin, Anna Jin-Xia Zhang, Dong-Yan Jin, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Bo-Jian Zheng. A novel peptide with potent and broad-spectrum antiviral activities against multiple respiratory viruses. Scientific Reports. 2016, 6:22008. DOI: 10.1038/srep22008. Rank in Multidisciplinary Science: 17/72; (2021IF:4.996, PMID: 26911565).

Nanoparticle defective interfering gene studies

1. Hanjun Zhao*, Chuyuan Zhang, Hoiyan Lam, Zheng Peng, Xinjie Meng, Lu Lu, Man Lung Yeung, Kin-Hang Kok, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kelvin K. W. To, Kwok-Yung Yuen*. Peptidic defective interfering gene nanoparticles against Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza A virus in vivo. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 2022, 7:226. Ranking of journal in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: 4/296; (2021IF:38.126)
2. Hanjun Zhao^#, Kelvin K. W. To^#, Hin Chu, Qiulu Ding, Xiaoyu Zhao, Cun Li, Huiping Shuai, Shuofeng Yuan, Jie Zhou, Kin-Hang Kok, Shibo Jiang, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Dual-functional peptide with defective interfering genes effectively protects mice against avian and seasonal influenza. Nature Communications, 2018, 9:2358. Rank in Multidisciplinary Science: 6/73; (2021IF:17.694, PMID: 29907765).

Influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 virulence studies

1. Hanjun Zhao*, Lu Lu, Zheng Peng, Lin-Lei Chen, Xinjin Meng, Chuyuan Zhang, Jonathan Daniel Ip, Wan-Mui Chan, Allen Wing-Ho Chu, Kwok-Hung Chan, Dong-Yan Jin, Honglin Chen, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Kelvin Kai-Wang To*. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant shows less efficient replication and fusion activity when compared with Delta variant in TMPRSS2-expressed cells. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 2021, 11(1):277-283. Ranking of journal in Infectious Diseases: 8/94; (2021IF:19.568).
2. Hanjun Zhao, Hin Chu, Xiaoyu Zhao, Shuofeng Yuan, Bo-Jian Zheng, Jie Zhou Kwok-Yung Yuen. Novel residues in avian influenza A virus PA protein affecting virulence in mammalian hosts. Virology, 2016, 498:1-8. Rank in Virology: 25/37; (2021IF:3.513).

Review articles

1. Chuyuan Zhang, Xinjie Meng, Hanjun Zhao*. Comparison of Cell Fusions Induced by Influenza Virus and SARS-CoV-2. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022, 23(13): 7365. Ranking of journal in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: 69/296; (2021IF:6.208).
2. Hanjun Zhao, Jie Zhou, Shibo Jiang, Bo-Jian Zheng. Receptor binding and transmission studies of H5N1 influenza virus in mammals. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 2013, 2(2): e85. Ranking of journal in Infectious Diseases: 8/94; (2021IF:19.568).

1. Hanjun Zhao, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Antiviral Peptides and Methods of Use Thereof. US63/293,995. (Application: 2021-12-27). Refer to PMID: 35768416.
2. Hanjun Zhao, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Viral Nucleic Acid, Molecules, and Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof. US63/283,101 (Application: 2021-11-24).
3. Hanjun Zhao, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Anti-viral Peptides and Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof. US63/150,141 (Application: 2021-2-17-P16). Refer to PMID: 35259078.
4. Hanjun Zhao, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Compositions of Anti-viral Peptides and/or Compounds and Methods and Use Thereof. PCT/CN2021/125649 (Application: 2021-10-22). Refer to PMID: 33750821.
5. Hanjun Zhao, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Compositions of Anti-viral Peptides and/or Compounds and Methods and Use Thereof. US63/104,312. (Application: 2020-10-22). Refer to PMID: 33750821. Refer to PMID: 33750821.
6. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Compositions of Antiviral Peptides and Methods of the Use Thereof. PCT/CN2021/078639 (Application: 2021-3-25). Refer to PMID: 32843628.
7. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Compositions of Antiviral Peptides and Methods of the Use Thereof. US62/991,407 (Application: 2020-3-18). Refer to PMID: 32843628.
8. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Nucleic Acid molecules and Dual-Functional Peptides Having Antiviral Activity and Delivery Activity, Compositions and Methods Thereof. EP19792753.6 (Application: 2020-10-17). Refer to PMID: 29907765.
9. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Nucleic Acid molecules and Dual-Functional Peptides Having Antiviral Activity and Delivery Activity, Compositions and Methods Thereof. PCT/CN2019/084612 (Application: 2019-04-26). Refer to PMID: 29907765.
10. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Nucleic Acid molecules and Dual-Functional Peptides Having Antiviral Activity and Delivery Activity, Compositions and Methods Thereof. US62/668,872 (Application: 2018-4-26). Refer to PMID: 29907765.
11. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Nucleic Acid molecules and Dual-Functional Peptides Having Antiviral Activity and Delivery Activity, Compositions and Methods Thereof. PCT/CN2019/084612 (Application: 2019-04-26). Refer to PMID: 29907765.
12. Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin K. W. To，Kwok-Yung Yuen. Nucleic Acid molecules and Dual-Functional Peptides Having Antiviral Activity and Delivery Activity, Compositions and Methods Thereof. US62/668,872 (Application: 2018-4-26). Refer to PMID: 29907765.
13. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides Having Activity of Inhibiting Infections of Respiratory Viruses and Use of the Same. EP2994481B1 (Grant: 2018-01-10). Refer to PMID: 26911565.
14. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides having activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses, use of the same and methods of preparing the same. KR101800951B1 (Grant: 2017-11-23). Refer to PMID: 26911565.
15. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides with inhibitory activity of the respiratory viral infection, its use, and its manufacturing method. JP6142077B2 (Grant: 2017-06-07).
16. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Method of preventively treating a subject at the risk of developing infections of a respiratory virus. US9822155B2 (Grant: 2017-11-21).
17. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides having activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses, use of the same and methods of preparing the same. MX346160B (Grant: 2017-03-08). Refer to PMID: 26911565.
18. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides having activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses, use of the same and methods of preparing the same. CA2910533C (Grant: 2018-07-31). Refer to PMID: 26911565.
19. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides having activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses, use of the same and methods of preparing the same. AU2014262324B2 (Grant: 2016-08-04). Refer to PMID: 26911565.
20. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides that inhibit viral respiratory infections, their use and methods of preparation. RU2639559C2 (Grant: 2017-12-21). Refer to PMID: 26911565.
21. Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Peptides Having Activity of Inhibiting Infections of Respiratory Viruses and Use of the Same. US9464123B2 (Grant: 2016-10-11).  Bojian Zheng, Hanjun Zhao. Active peptides and methods of preparation and application of inhibiting viral infection of respiratory. CN103554244B (Grant:2016-09-07).

We are looking for motivated individuals to join us as Research Assistant, MPhil, PhD students or Postdoctoral researchers. Interested candidates can send a cover letter detailing your research interests and CV to Dr. Zhao (hjzhao13@hku.hk).