Team Details

Prof. XinZhong WU

Dr. XinZhong Wu obtained Bachelor and Master Degree in Medicine in Third Military Medical University of PLA (1983) and Chongqing University of Medical Sciences (1987). He received his PhD (Marine Biology) from Zhongshan University in 1995. Visiting scientist in University of Alberta, Canada from 2007 to 2008. Associate Research Professor, Research Professor in South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from 1996 to 2003. Presently Professor of College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University. He is a scientist of fish health field such as marine mollusc disease and mollusc and fish immunology. His present research interest focus on the immune mechanisms of mollusk models (oyster and abalone) and fish. Up to now, Dr. Wu has published more than 35 papers in international journals such as Molecular Immunology, Developmental and Comparative Immunology, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, J. of Biotechnology, J. of Invertebrate Pathology, Aquaculture, J. of Fish Diseases, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Fish Physiology and Biochemistry and so on, and more than 60 papers in Chinese journals. Dr. Wu has demonstrated his originality by studying systematically the rickettsia-like organism diseases and immune-related genes of marine mollusks. For example, he reported for the first time the rickettsia-like organisms (RLOs) in cultured pearl oyster Pinctada maxima and oyster Crassostrea ariakensis, and pathology, epizoology and developmental cycle of RLO from Pinctada maxima and RLO inclusion formation in Pinctada maxima and Crassostrea ariakensis. These achievements make Dr. Wu become a founder of mollusc diseases in China and have an international reputation. Dr. Wu’s important contributions to the understanding of innate immune responses of molluscs at molecular and cellular levels lead to international attention. They originally studied the mollusk (oyster) –pathogen (RLO) interactions at molecular levels. It is tempting to infer that a MAPK/CREB pathway may exist in oyster and contribute to the immune response for RLO. Another study provides important information about the signaling pathways involved in the host defense against RLO. They revealed that CasTRAIL induced a rapid increase in the phospho-ERK and phospho-p38 levels, which indicated that the MAPK pathway was involved in CasTRAIL-mediated signaling. In addition, CasTRAIL also showed an ability of anti-RLO infection which might be through the p38-MAPK activation pathway. They originally identified a CREB homologue in the marine bivalves and demonstrated firstly that C. ariakensis CREB was regulated at the protein level, instead of mRNA level, after RLO stimulation. They originally characterized the molecular diversity of tetraspanin of oyster. The study of gastropod immunobiology have played a role in revising our general concept of invertebrate defense to pathogens including more sophisticated and diversified responses beyond the production of limited repertoires of traditional pattern recognition molecules. Dr. Wu initially carried out a series of researches on abalone innate immunity with H. diversicolor supertexta as a model animal. For example, they identified RelNF-kB(Ab-Rel), histidine triad nucleotide binding protein, Rbx1,UBE2D family, Cytidine deaminase and a Ran molecule. Dr. Wu’s works have been recognized by lots of international citations. Dr. Wu also developed the researches of innate immunity against fish disease from two kinds of marine fish, yellow grouper (Epinephelus awoara) and large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea), for example DAD1, AIF-1, RGS16, bactericidal BPI, cytochrome P450s 4F7, Cytochrome c oxidase and DP1. One of important field, he has contributed ten patents in marine diseases and human marine drugs. He is now the Councilor of Asian Fisheries Society (2011-2013), the Councilor of Federation of Asian Biotech Association (FABA) (2006-), Member of Steering Committee of the World Oyster Society (WOS) (2007-), Councilor of the China Society of Fisheries (2005-), Councilor of the Chinese Society of Oceanography (2005-), etc. He was a Vice Chairperson and Secretary General, the Second International Symposium on Cage Aquaculture in Asia (CAA2) and Chairperson, the Second International Oyster Symposium (IOS2). He was a keynote Speakers in BioAsia 2007 and IOS2. He obtained the Merit Award presented by AFS in November 2007. One of the Editor-in Chief of Proceedings Book of CAA2.