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A/Prof Lifeng Fu

Associate Professor, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS)

Director, Laboratory of Chemical Drugs and Analysis Platform, IMCAS

Dr Lifeng Fu earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from China Agricultural University in 2009, followed by his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2016.

After completing his doctoral training, Lifeng joined CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology (CASPMI) in IMCAS as an Assistant Professor from 2016 to 2021, before being promoted to Associate Professor starting in 2021. He has also served as Director of the Laboratory of Chemical Drugs and Analysis Platform at the institute since 2020.

A dedicated antiviral drug research scientist, Lifeng leads comprehensive research covering high-throughput and high-content screening of antiviral agents, structural biology of novel antiviral targets and inhibitor-bound complexes, viral drug resistance mechanisms, and structure- and AI-driven novel antiviral drug development.

He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals including Nature Communications, PNAS, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and Journal of Virology. His research spans influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, natural product lead discovery and traditional Chinese medicinal bioactive compounds. He has served as corresponding author on multiple key studies targeting coronavirus proteases and antiviral natural products. His work combines structural virology, computational drug design, in vitro antiviral evaluation and natural product chemistry to advance novel therapeutic candidates against emerging viruses.

 

Publications

  1. Li, C.; Lv, X.; Cheng, C.;  Cheng, S.;  Li, Y.;  Bi, Y.;  Fu, L.;  Gao, G. F.; Li, X., Single-Dose Oral Influenza Antiviral Prodrug Enabled by Cholesterol Conjugation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2025, 68 (20), 21577-21586.
  2. Yuan, S.; Wang, J.; Sang, X.;  Xie, Y.;  Feng, Y.;  Poon Vincent, K.-M.;  Chan Chris, C.-S.;  Tsang Jessica, O.-L.;  Chik Kenn, K.-H.;  Zhou, J.;  Xu, Y.;  Han, P.;  Zheng, W.;  Fu, L.;  Huang Lina Sirui, M.;  Wu, M.;  An, J.;  Yuen, K.-Y.;  Qi, J.;  Huang, Z.; Chan Jasper, F.-W., Structure-guided discovery of a small molecule inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease with potent in vitro and in vivo antiviral activities. Journal of Virology, 2025, 99 (12), e01001-25.
  3. Wang, J.; Sang, X.; Zheng, W.;  Chan, J. F.-W.;  Zhou, J.;  Xu, Y.;  Han, P.;  Feng, Y.;  Fu, L.;  Tsang, J. O.-L.;  Yuan, S.;  Ciechanover, A.;  An, J.;  Yuen, K.-Y.;  Qi, J.; Huang, Z., Discovery of a potent covalent inhibitor that unusually distorts the catalytic dyad of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Journal of Virology, 2025, 99 (10), e00658-25.
  4. Tan, Y. H.; Yang, J. Y.; Wang, M.;  Peng, Q.;  Li, Y. Q.;  Fu, L. ;  Zhang, M. M.;  Wu, J.;  Yang, G. Y.;  Hipolito, C. J.;  Zhang, Y. M.;  Qi, J. X.;  Shi, Y.; Yin, Y. Z., Discovery of a Noncovalent Cell-Penetrating Bicyclic Peptide Inhibitor Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2024, 67 (22), 20258-20274.
  5. Kouam, A. F.; Mabou, F. D.; Fu, L.;  Koagne, R. R.;  Li, Y.;  Owona, B. A.;  Zeuko’o, E. M.;  Fepa, A. G. K.;  Galani, B. R. T.;  Reyes, F.;  Njayou, F. N.;  Moundipa, P. F.; Gao, G. F., Insights into the inhibition mechanisms of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV2 papain-like proteases by inhibitors from Crinum distichum: In vitro and in silico analysis. South African Journal of Botany, 2024, 165, 290-306.
  6. Jiang, H.; Chen, J.; Li, X.; Zhong, Y. T.; Kang, L. P.;  Wang, G.;  Yu, M.;  Fu, L.*; Wang, P*; Xu, H. Y.*, Systematic identification of chemical components in Fufang Shuanghua oral liquid and screening of potential active components against SARS-CoV-2 protease. Journal of Pharmaceutical And Biomedical Analysis, 2023, 223, 115118.
  7. Chen, J.; Zhou, X.; Fu, L.*; Xu, H.*, Natural Product-Based Screening for Lead Compounds Targeting SARS CoV-2 M(pro). Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023, 16 (5), 767.
  8. Xu, H.; Li, S.; Liu, J.;  Cheng, J.;  Kang, L.;  Li, W.;  Zhong, Y.;  Wei, C.;  Fu, L.;  Qi, J.;  Zhang, Y.;  You, M.;  Zhou, Z.;  Zhang, C.;  Su, H.;  Yao, S.;  Zhou, Z.;  Shi, Y.;  Deng, R.;  Lv, Q.;  Li, F.;  Qi, F.;  Chen, J.;  Zhang, S.;  Ma, X.;  Xu, Z.;  Li, S.;  Xu, Y.;  Peng, K.;  Shi, Y.;  Jiang, H.;  Gao, G. F.; Huang, L., Bioactive compounds from Huashi Baidu decoction possess both antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects against COVID-19. PNAS, 2023, 120 (18), e2301775120.
  9. Hou B, Zhang YM, Liao HY, Fu L, Li DD, Zhao X, Qi JX, Yang W, Xiao GF, Yang L, Zuo ZY, Wang L, Zhang XL, Bai F, Yang L, Gao GF, Song H, Hu JM, Shang WJ, Zhou J. Target-Based Virtual Screening and LC/MS-Guided Isolation Procedure for Identifying Phloroglucinol-Terpenoid Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2. Journal of Natural Products,2022, 85(2):327-336.
  10. Fu L, Shao S, Feng Y, Ye F, Sun X, Wang Q, Yu F, Wang Q, Huang B, Niu P, Li X, Wong CCL, Qi J, Tan W, Gao GF. Mechanism of Microbial Metabolite Leupeptin in the Treatment of COVID-19 by Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs. mBio, 2021, e02220-02221.
  11. Zhu, L.; Li, X.;  Xu, H.;  Fu, L.;  Gao, G. F.;  Liu, W.;  Zhao, L.;  Wang, X.;  Jiang, W.; Fang, M., Multiple RNA virus matrix proteins interact with SLD5 to manipulate host cell cycle. Journal of General Virology, 2021, 102 (12), 001697.
  12. Bai Y, Ye F, Feng Y, Liao H, Song H, Qi J, Gao GF, Tan W, Fu L*, Shi Y*. Structural basis for the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease by the anti-HCV drug narlaprevir. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 2021, 6: 51.
  13. Peng Q, Peng R, Yuan B, Wang M, Zhao J, Fu L, Qi J, Shi Y. Structural Basis of SARS-CoV-2 Polymerase Inhibition by Favipiravir. The Innovation, 2021, 2: 100080.
  14. Wang P, Oladejo BO, Li C, Fu L, Zhang S, Qi J, Lv X, Li X. 2021. Structure-based design of 5′-substituted 1,2,3-triazolylated oseltamivir derivatives as potent influenza neuraminidase inhibitors. RSC Advances, 2021,11:9528-9541.
  15. Fu L, Ye F, Feng Y, Yu F, Wang Q, Wu Y, Zhao C, Sun H, Huang B, Niu P, Song H, Shi Y, Li X, Tan W, Qi J, Gao G. 2020. Both Boceprevir and GC376 efficaciously inhibit SARS-CoV-2 by targeting its main protease. Nature Communications, 2020, 11:4417.
  16. Bi Y, Li J, Li S, Fu G, Jin T, Zhang C, Yang Y, Ma Z, Tian W, Li J, Xiao S, Li L, Yin R, Zhang Y, Wang L, Qin Y, Yao Z, Meng F, Hu D, Li D, Wong G, Liu F, Lv N, Wang L, Fu L, Yang Y, Peng Y, Ma J, Sharshov K, Shestopalov A, Gulyaeva M, Gao GF, Chen J, Shi Y, Liu WJ, Chu D, Huang Y, Liu Y, Liu L, Liu W, Chen Q, Shi W. Dominant subtype switch in avian influenza viruses during 2016-2019 in China. Nature Communications, 2020, 11(1):5909.
  17. Xu Y, Peng R, Zhang W, Qi J, Song H, Liu S, Wang H, Wang M, Xiao H, Fu L, Fan Z, Bi Y, Yan J, Shi Y, Gao GF. Avian-to-Human Receptor-Binding Adaptation of Avian H7N9 Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin. Cell Report, 2019, 29(8):2217-2228.e5.
  18. Zhu L, Zhao W, Lu J, Li S, Zhou K, Jiang W, Duan X, Fu L, Yu B, Cai KQ, Gao GF, Liu W, Fang M. Influenza virus matrix protein M1 interacts with SLD5 to block host cell cycle. Cellular microbiology, 2019, 21(8):e13038.
  19. Fu, L.; Bi, .; Wu, Y.; Zhang, S.; Lv, X.; Qi, J.; Li, Y.; Lu, X.; Yan, J.; Gao, G. F.; Li X. Structure-based tetravalent zanamivir with potent anti-influenza activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2016, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00537.
  20. Wu, ; Gao, F.; Qi, J.; Bi, Y.; Fu, L.; Mohan, S.; Chen, Y.; Li, X.; Pinto, B. M.; Vavricka, C. J.; Tien, P.; Gao, G. F. Resistance to Mutant Group 2 Influenza Virus Neuraminidases of an Oseltamivir-Zanamivir Hybrid Inhibitor. Journal of Virology 2016, 90 (23):10693-10700.
  21. Bi, ; Xiao, H.; Chen, Q.; Wu, Y.; Fu, L.; Quan, C.; Wong, G.; Liu, J.; Haywood, J.; Liu, Y. Changes in the length of the neuraminidase stalk region impacts H7N9 virulence in mice. Journal of Virology, 2015, 90 (4):2142-2149.
  22. Wei, ; Lv, X.; Lü, Y.; Yang, G.; Fu, L.; Yang, L.; Wang, J.; Gao, J.; Cheng, S.; Duan, Q.; Jin, C.; Li, X., Glycosynthase with Broad Substrate Specificity – an Efficient Biocatalyst for the Construction of Oligosaccharide Library. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2013, 2012 (12), 2414-2419.
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