On May 12, 2023, Prof. Mingzhou Chen from Wuhan University delivered an academic presentation titled "Molecular mechanism of RNA virus infection and pathogenesis" at the Lihu Campus of Shenzhen University. Prof. Mingzhou Chen was invited by Prof. Xinchun Chen from the School of Basic Medical Science, Shenzhen University Medical School, to help mark the 40th-anniversary celebrations of Shenzhen University. These celebrations involved a series of 800 academic activities, with this being the 720th, and the 73rd lecture of the Shenzhen University Medicine Forum.

In his lecture, Prof. Chen outlined the advances made by his group over the past 10 years within the theme of the "Molecular Mechanisms of Human Parainfluenza Virus Infection and Pathogenesis". First, Prof. Chen explained his interest in analyzing the mechanisms of viral replication and interactions with the host, and identifying multi-target antiviral short peptides or small molecule inhibitors. His specific research focuses on two major scientific issues: (i) Finding the precise site of viral RNA synthesis, its composition, and the molecular mechanism of its function; and (ii) understanding the detailed processes and mechanisms of viral particle assembly and release. In this context, Prof. Chen has focused his research on human parainfluenza virus, which is a non-influenza-respiratory virus for which no effective vaccine or drug is available. Later in his talk, Prof. Chen introduced the significant discoveries made over the past decade in this area, including clarifying: How replicative organelles (ROs) of human parainfluenza virus form in cells; the dynamic fusion mechanism of viral ROs; how the negative regulator waveform protein Vimentin mediates ROs; and the ROs that inhibit the formation of antiviral stress particles. Finally, Prof. Chen discussed some of his unpublished data on how the RAB11-FIP2 complex regulates viral RNP transport and germination, and outlined his development of a YT-DRI short peptide that mediates broad-spectrum antiviral effects and improves the antiviral strategy of peptide RBD. These findings were met with great enthusiasm and aroused active discussion among the students and faculty members.

Brief introduction of the Speaker

Professor. Ming-Zhou Chen, PhD. is the Vice Dean of the School of Life Sciences and Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Virology at Wuhan University, China. He is a recipient of the National Outstanding Youth Fund, a member of the "New Century Talents" program of the Ministry of Education, a Distinguished Professor of the "Chutian Scholars" program of Hubei Province, and a Distinguished Professor of the "Luo Jia Scholars" program of Wuhan University. His main research interests include dissecting the molecular mechanisms of RNA virus infection and pathogenesis and developing novel vaccines. He has hosted National Science Foundation of China and Hubei Innovation Group projects. Over the past 5 years, he has published >32 papers as the corresponding author, in Cell Host & Microbe, PLoS Pathogens, Protein & Cell, Autophagy, Cell Reports, Journal of Virology and other international journals. He is a member of the American Society of Virology, American Society of Microbiology and Chinese Society of Microbiology, the Executive Director of the Hubei Biological Engineering Society, and an editorial board member for the Journal of Virology and Chinese Virology (English version).