Research Focus

My research centers on the pathogenicity, infection and innate immune mechanisms of emerging animal diseases including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF). I also participate in the development of novel vaccines against emerging viral pathogens.

National New Veterinary Drug Certificates (4 certificates)

1. Bivalent Inactivated Vaccine against Porcine Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype O and A (Strain Re-O/MYA98/JSCZ/2013 + Re-A/WH/09). Class I, Certificate No. (2017)56, 2017, Rank 6.

2. Competitive ELISA Antibody Detection Kit for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype O. Class III, Certificate No. (2020)52, 2020, Rank 6.

3. Bivalent Synthetic Peptide Vaccine against Porcine Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype O and A (Peptides 2700+2800+MM13). Class III, Certificate No. (2018)71, 2018, Rank 10.

4. Bivalent Inactivated Vaccine against Porcine Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype O and A (Strain O/MYA98/BY/2010 + O/PanAsia/TZ/2011 + Re-A/WH/09). Class III, Certificate No. (2019)12, 2019, Rank 11.

Scientific & Technological Awards

1. Shennong Chinese Agricultural Science and Technology Award, Development and Application of Recombinant Bivalent Inactivated FMD Vaccine for Serotype O and A, 2020, Rank 9.

2. First Prize of Excellent New Industrial Products of Gansu Province, Bivalent Inactivated FMD Vaccine (Re-O/MYA98/JSCZ/2013-Re-A/WH/09), 2019, Rank 6.​

3. Excellent Team Award for Achievements Transformation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2020, Rank 5.

4. Outstanding Scientific and Technological Innovation Award, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Development and Application of Recombinant Bivalent Inactivated FMD Vaccine for Serotype O and A, 2020, Rank 9.

Funded Research Projects (Principal Investigator)

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program, No. 31402179)

2. Outstanding Youth Fund of Gansu Province (No. 17JR5RA323)

3. Sub-project of Major Science and Technology Project of Gansu Province (No. 20ZD7NA006)

4. National Key R&D Program of the 14th Five-Year Plan (No. 2021YFD1800100)

5. Sub-project of National Key R&D Program of the 14th Five-Year Plan (No. 2021YFD1800300)

6. Sub-project of National Key R&D Program of the 13th Five-Year Plan (No. 2018YFC0840400)

Publications

31 SCI papers published as first author, co-first author or co-corresponding author, including manuscripts in mBio, PLOS Pathogens, Journal of Virology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Immunology, etc.

1.Li D, Yang W, Li L, Li P, Ma Z, Zhang J, Qi X, Ren J, Ru Y, Niu Q, Liu Z, Liu X, Zheng H. African Swine Fever Virus MGF-505-7R Negatively Regulates cGAS-STING-Mediated Signaling Pathway. J Immunol. 2021;206(8):1844-1857. (First author)

2.Li D, Liu Y, Qi X, Wen Y, Li P, Ma Z, Liu Y, Zheng H, Liu Z. African Swine Fever Virus MGF-110-9L-deficient Mutant Has Attenuated Virulence in Pigs. Virol Sin. 2021;36(2):187-195. (First author)

3. Yang W#, Li D#, Ru Y, Bai J, Ren J, Zhang J, Li L, Liu X, Zheng H. Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus 3A Protein Causes Upregulation of Autophagy-Related Protein LRRC25 To Inhibit the G3BP1-Mediated RIG-Like Helicase-Signaling Pathway. J Virol. 2020;94(8):e02086-19. (Co-first author)

4. Li D, Yang W, Ren J, Ru Y, Zhang K, Fu S, Liu X, Zheng H. The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase TBK1 Mediates the Degradation of Multiple Picornavirus VP3 Proteins by Phosphorylation and Ubiquitination. J Virol. 2019;93(23):e01438-19. (First author)

5. Li D, Yang W, Ru Y, Ren J, Liu X, Zheng H. Thioredoxin 2 Negatively Regulates Innate Immunity to RNA Viruses by Disrupting the Assembly of the Virus-Induced Signaling Adaptor Complex. J Virol. 2020;94(7):e01756-19. (First author)

6. Li D, Fu S, Wu Z, Yang W, Ru Y, Shu H, Liu X, Zheng H. DDX56 inhibits type I interferon by disrupting assembly of IRF3-IPO5 to inhibit IRF3 nucleus import. J Cell Sci. 2019;133(5):jcs230409. (First author)

7. Yi J, Peng J, Yang W, Zhu G, Ren J, Li D*, Zheng H*. Picornavirus 3C - a protease ensuring virus replication and subverting host responses. J Cell Sci. 2021;134(5):jcs253237. (Co-corresponding author)

8. Li D, Zhang J, Yang W, He Y, Ru Y, Fu S, Li L, Liu X, Zheng H. Poly (rC) binding protein 2 interacts with VP0 and increases the replication of the foot-and-mouth disease virus. Cell Death Dis. 2019;10(7):516. (First author)

9. Yang W, Ru Y, Ren J, Bai J, Wei J, Fu S, Liu X, Li D*, Zheng H*. G3BP1 inhibits RNA virus replication by positively regulating RIG-I-mediated cellular antiviral response. Cell Death Dis. 2019;10(12):946. (Co-corresponding author)

10. Peng J, Yi J, Yang W, Ren J, Wen Y, Zheng H*, Li D*. Advances in Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Proteins Regulating Host Innate Immunity. Front Microbiol. 2020;11:2046. (Co-corresponding author)

11. Fu SZ, Yang WP, Ru Y, Zhang KS, Wang Y, Liu XT, Li D*, Zheng HX*. DDX56 cooperates with FMDV 3A to enhance FMDV replication by inhibiting the phosphorylation of IRF3. Cell Signal. 2019;64:109393 (Co-corresponding author)

12. Li D, Wu PX, Liu HN, Feng T, Yang WP, Ru Y, Li P, Qi XL, Shi ZW, Zheng HX. A QP509L/QP383R-deleted African swine fever virus is highly attenuated in swine but does not confer protection against parental virus challenge. J Virol. 2022; 96(1):e0150021. (First author)

13. Li D, Zhang J, Yang WP, Li P, Ru Y, Li LL, Ran Y, Zheng HX. African swine fever virus protein MGF-505-7R promotes virulence and pathogenesis by inhibiting JAK1- and JAK2-mediated signaling. J Biol Chem. 2021; 297(5):101190. (First author)

14. Zhang J#, Li D#, Yang WP, Li LL, Zheng HX. Foot-and-mouth disease virus VP3 protein acts as a critical proinflammatory factor by promoting toll-like receptor 4-mediated signaling. J Virol. 2021; JVI0112021. (Co-first author)

15. Kang WF, Wang Y, Yang WP, Zhang J, Zheng HX, Li D. Research progress on the structure and function of G3BP. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:718548. (Co-corresponding author)

16. Wang Y, Kang W, Yang W, Zhang J, Li D*, Zheng H*. Structure of African swine fever virus and associated molecular mechanisms underlying infection and immunosuppression: A Review. Front Immunol. 2021;12:715582. (Co-corresponding author)

17. Li L, Yang W, Ma X, Wu J, Qin X, Cao X, Zhou J, Jin L, He J, Zheng H, Liu X, Li D*, Shang Y*. Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus N Protein Is a Critical Proinflammation Factor That Promotes MyD88 and NLRP3 Complex Assembly. J Virol. 2022;96(10):e0030922. (Co-corresponding author)

18. Ran Y#, Li D#, Xiong MG, Liu HN, Feng T, Shi ZW, Li YH, Wu HN, Wang SY, Zheng HX, Wang YY. African swine fever virus I267L acts as an important virulence factor by inhibiting RNA polymerase III-RIG-I-mediated innate immunity. PLOS Pathog. 2022 ;18(1):e1010270. (Co-first author)

19. Li D, Peng J, Wu J, Yi J, Wu P, Qi X, Ren J, Peng G, Duan X, Ru Y, Liu H, Tian H, Zheng H. African swine fever virus MGF-360-10L is a novel and crucial virulence factor that mediates ubiquitination and degradation of JAK1 by recruiting the E3 ubiquitin ligase HERC5. mBio. 2023 Aug 31;14(4):e0060623. (First author)

20. Peng G, Liu T, Qi X, Wang Y, Ren J, Peng J, Du X, Hu S, Wu S, Zhao Y, Li D#, Zheng H#. A genome-wide CRISPR screening uncovers that TOB1 acts as a key host factor for FMDV infection via both IFN and EGFR mediated pathways. PLOS Pathog. 2024;20(3):e1012104. (Co-first author)

21. Yang W, Li L, Zhang J, Wu J, Kang W, Wang Y, Ding H, Li D#, Zheng H#. SNX32 is a host restriction factor that degrades African swine fever virus CP204L via the RAB1B-dependent autophagy pathway. J Virol. 2024;98(1):e0159923. (Co-first author)

22. Wen Y, Duan X, Ren J, Zhang J, Guan G, Ru Y, Li D, Zheng H. African Swine Fever Virus I267L Is a Hemorrhage-Related Gene Based on Transcriptome Analysis. Microorganisms. 2024;12(2):400.

23. Li D, Ren J, Zhu G, Wu P, Yang W, Ru Y, Feng T, Liu H, Zhang J, Peng J, Tian H, Liu X, Zheng H. Deletions of MGF110-9L and MGF360-9L from African swine fever virus are highly attenuated in swine and confer protection against homologous challenge. J Biol Chem. 2023;299(6):104767. (First author)

24. Ren J#, Li D#, Zhu G, Yang W, Ru Y, Feng T, Qin X, Hao R, Duan X, Liu X, Zheng H. Deletion of MGF-110-9L gene from African swine fever virus weakens autophagic degradation of TBK1 as a mechanism for enhancing type I interferon production. FASEB J. 2023;37(6):e22934. (Co-first author)

25. Wu J, Yang W, Li L, Wu J, He J, Ru Y, Ren J, Wang Y, Zheng H, Shang Y, Li D. Plasminogen activator urokinase interacts with the fusion protein and antagonizes the growth of Peste des petits ruminants virus. J Virol. 2024;98(4):e0014624.

26. Xu L, Ren J, Li L, Wang M, Zhu G, Zheng H, Zeng Q, Shang Y, Li D. Vimentin inhibits peste des petits ruminants virus replication by interaction with nucleocapsid protein. Virology. 2024;595:110056.​

27. Wu P-X, Yang W-P, Feng T, Zhang J, Zhu G-Q, Du X-G, Ru Y, Zhao Y-F, Wu S, Li D*, Zheng H-X*. African swine fever virus I177L induces host inflammatory responses by facilitating the TRAF6-TAK1 axis and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. J Virol. 2025;99(4):e0208024. (Co-corresponding author)

28. Li D, Li S, Sun Y, Dong H, Li Y, Zhao B, Guo D, Weng C, Qiu HJ. Poly(C)-binding protein 1, a novel N(pro)-interacting protein involved in classical swine fever virus growth. J Virol. 2013;87(4):2072-80. (First author)

29. Li D, Dong H, Li S, Munir M, Chen J, Luo Y, Sun Y, Liu L, Qiu HJ. Hemoglobin subunit beta interacts with the capsid protein and antagonizes the growth of classical swine fever virus. J Virol. 2013;87(10):5707-17. (First author)

30. Li D, Yang W, Yang F, Liu H, Zhu Z, Lian K, Lei C, Li S, Liu X, Zheng H, Shu H. The VP3 structural protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus inhibits the IFN-β signaling pathway. FASEB J. 2016;30(5):1757-66. (First author)
31. Li D, Wei J, Yang F, Liu HN, Zhu ZX, Cao WJ, Li S, Liu XT, Zheng HX, Shu HB. Foot-and-mouth disease virus structural protein VP3 degrades Janus kinase 1 to inhibit IFN-γ signal transduction pathways. Cell Cycle. 2016;15(6):850-60. (First author)

Authorized National Invention Patents (16 patents total; 12 patents with me as the second inventor)

1. Zheng HX, Li D, Yang WP, Ren JJ, Ru Y, Hao RZ, Zhang KS, Tian H, Yang F, Liu XT. Application of TBK1 as E3 ubiquitin ligase. Patent No. ZL201910401904.8, Granted 2020-05-15.

2. Zheng HX, Li D, Yang WP, Zhang J, Ru Y, Hao RZ, Zhang KS, Tian H, Cao WJ, Liu XT. Application of MG132 as vaccine production enhancer and stabilizer. Patent No. ZL201910399786.1, Granted 2020-05-15.

3. Zheng HX, Li D, Zhang J, Yang WP, Li LL, Ru Y, Tian H, Zhang KS, Yang F, Liu XT. Construction method and application of TLR4 gene knockdown porcine alveolar macrophage cell line. Patent No. ZL201910871910.X, Granted 2020-06-12.

4. Zheng HX, Li D, Li LL, Yang WP, Zhang J, Ru Y, Peng JL, Zhang KS, Tian H, Yang F, Liu XT. Application of FMDV 3D protein as cellular TLR3 pathway activator. Patent No. ZL201910839428.8, Granted 2021-03-06.

5. Zheng HX, Li D, Zhao YF, Liu TR, Peng GC, Yang F, Tian H, Feng T, Qi XL, Du XG, Zhang KS, Guo JH, Wu S. Construction method and application of TOB1 knockout monoclonal cell line. Patent No. ZL202010522276.1, Granted 2021-06-18.

6. Zheng HX, Li D, Dang W, Zhang KS, Liu HN, Shen CC, Feng T, Li P, Qi XL, Zhang J, Liu YQ, Tian H, Ru Y, Yang F, Cao WJ, He JJ, Liu ZJ, Zhang W, Guo JH, Yin H, Sun Y, Liu XT. Construction of multi-gene deletion attenuated African swine fever virus strain and its application as vaccine. Patent No. ZL202110450549.0, Granted 2022-02-18.

7. Zheng HX, Li D, Li P, Qi XL, Zhang KS, Ru Y, Yang JF, Tian H, Yang F, Shen CC, Liu ZJ, Wu S, Dang W, Yin H, Liu XT. Attenuated African swine fever virus strain lacking innate immune inhibitory gene and its application. Patent No. ZL202110253372.5, Granted 2021-09-10.

8. Zheng HX, Li D, Feng T, Yang WP, Dang W, Ru Y, Liu HN, Liu YJ, Tian H, Qi XL, Zhang KS, Yang F, Sun Y, Liu XT. Construction of gene-deleted attenuated African swine fever virus strain and its application as vaccine. Patent No. ZL202110248651.2, Granted 2022-08-23.

9. Zheng HX, Yang WP, Li D, Li P, Ru Y, Qi XL, Shen CC, Peng JL, Yi JM, Tian H, Zhang KS, Yang F, Qin XD, Feng T. Vector for conditional gene knockout and conditional gene knockout method. Patent No. ZL202110300094.4, Granted 2022-03-08.

10. Zheng HX, Li D, Li LX, Yang WP, Tian H, Ru Y, Zhu GQ, Ren JJ, Yang F, Zhang KS, Yang B. Novel application of EGTA for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202110293021.7, Granted 2021-12-21.

11. Zheng HX, Li D, Yi JM, Peng JL, Yang WP, Zhang J, Ru Y, Tian H, Yang F, Liu YJ, Lu BZ, Zhang KS. Novel application of manganese chloride or composition containing manganese chloride for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202110442715.2, Granted 2022-02-08.

12. Zheng HX, Peng JL, Li D, Yang WP, Zhang J, Ren JJ, Yi JM, Ru Y, Tian H, Qin XD, Feng T, Yang F, Zhang KS. Novel application of sodium selenite or composition containing sodium selenite for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202110442796.6, Granted 2022-04-08.

13. Zheng HX, Li D, Wu PX, Li LX, Yang WP, Zhang J, Zhu GQ, Ru Y, Tian H, Qin XD, Feng T, Yang F, Zhang KS. Novel application of potassium iodide or composition containing potassium iodide for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202110442821.0, Granted 2022-01-14.

14. Zheng HX, Li D, Wu PX, Wang YY, Ran Y, Yang WP, Zhang J, Ru Y, Tian H, Yang F, Zhang KS, Liu YJ. Novel application of ML-60218 for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202110291059.0, Granted 2021-12-28.

15. Li D, Zheng HX, Song DM, Duan XH, Zhang J, Ren JJ, Wen Y, Zhou YL, Wu JH, Tian H, Ru Y, Yang Y, Lu BZ, Qin XD. Application of anti-inflammatory agent 35 in preparation of drugs for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202410826570.X, Granted 2025-02-14.
16. Li D, Zheng HX, Wu JH, Duan XH, Ren JJ, Zhang J, Zhou YL, Tian H, Wen Y, Ru Y, Yang Y, Lu BZ. Application of compound DCVC in preparation of drugs for preventing or treating African swine fever. Patent No. ZL202410826572.9, Granted 2025-02-14.