Associate Professor Justin Chu Jang Hann

Research Interest

Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies

Positive-strand RNA viruses encompass over one-third of all virus genera and include numerous human pathogens, such as dengue virus, West Nile virus, Enterovirus 71, Chikungunya virus, MERS and SARS CoV-2 coronaviruses and hepatitis C virus. Host factors participate in most, if not all steps of positive-strand RNA virus infection, including entry, viral gene expression, virion assembly and release. Moreover, host factors are targeted by positive-strand RNA viruses to modulate host gene expression and immune defenses. In our current study, SARS CoV-2, human Enterovirus 71, mosquito borne flaviviruses (Zika and Dengue) as well as Chikungunya virus are used as the virus models to decipher the interplay of essential host factors with positive-strand RNA viruses. Knowledge gained from these investigations has enabled us to facilitate the formulation of effective vaccine or therapeutic intervention against these medically important virus infections and possibly other pathogenic positive-strand RNA viruses.

High Content Imaging Platform Technology

We are also interested in the development of novel cellular and small animal-based imaging technologies to dissect host-pathogens interactions. High throughput and high content bio-imaging technology platforms are established for genomic and proteomic profiling as well as screening of anti-viral compound libraries.

Current Projects

• Human genome-wide siRNA screening platform for viral-host interactions
• High throughput anti-viral molecules screening platform
• Viral diagnostic approaches
• Immunopathogenesis of viral infection
• Nanotechnology as novel anti-viral therapy
• Next generation vaccine development

Recent Publications

1. Abdelbasset et al (2024) Differential contributions of fetal mononuclear phagocytes to Zika virus neuroinvasion versus neuroprotection during congenital infection. Cell 2024 Nov 6:S0092-8674(24)01210-8. http://doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.028. [JCR IF: 66.85(2 year 2021-2022)] (SJR 2023:Q1)
2. Lim TYM, Jaladanki CK, Wong YH, Yogarajah T, Fan H, Chu JJH (2024) Tanomastat exerts multi-targeted inhibitory effects on viral capsid dissociation and RNA replication in human enteroviruses. EBioMedicine 2024 Sep 2:107:105277. http://doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105277 [JCR IF: 11.205(2 year 2021-2022)] (SJR 2023:Q1)
3. Chen H, Phuektes P, Yeo LS, Wong YH, Lee RCH, Yi B, Hou X, Liu S, Cai Y, Chu JJH (2023) Attenuation of Neurovirulence of Chikungunya Virus by a Single Amino Acid Mutation in Viral E2 Envelope Protein. J Biomed Sci. 2024 Jan 17;31(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12929-024-00995-x. [JCR IF:11(2022)] (SJR:Q1)
4. Tan YW, Teo FMS, Ler SG, Alli-Shaik A, Nyo M, Chong CY, Tan NWH, Wang RYL, Gunaratne J, Chu JJH (2023) Potential relevance of salivary legumain for the clinical diagnostic of hand, foot, and mouth disease. J Med Virol. 2023 Nov;95(11):e29243.doi: 10.1002/jmv.29243. [JCR IF:12.7(2022)] (SJR:Q1)
5. Jayasinghe MK, Gao C, Yap G, Yeo BZJ , Vu LT, Tay DJW, Loh WX, Aw ZQ, Chen H, Phung DC , Hoang DV, Prajogo RC, Hooi L, Lim FQ, Pirisinu M, Mok CK, Lim KW, Tang SJ, Tan KS, Chow EKH, Chen L, Phan AT, Chu JJH, Le MT (2023) Red Blood Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Display Endogenous Antiviral Effects and Enhance the Efficacy of Antiviral Oligonucleotide Therapy. ACS Nano. 2023 Oct 18. https://doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06803. [JCR IF:17.1(2022)] (SJR: Q1)
6. Keng CT, Yogarajah T, Lee RCH, Muhammad IBH, Chia BS, Vasandani SR, Lim DS, Guo K, Wong YH, Mok CK, Chu JJH, Chew WL. (2023) AAV-CRISPR-Cas13 eliminates human enterovirus and prevents death of infected mice. EBioMedicine 2023 Jun 28;93:104682. https://doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104682. [JCR IF:11.1(2022)]
7. Wu KX, Yogarajah T, Loe MWC, Kaur P, Lee RCH, Mok CK, Wong YH, Phuektes P, Yeo LS, Chow VTK, Tan YW, Chu JJH (2023) The host-targeting compound peruvoside has a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2023.03.015.
8. Ju et al (2023) Infection with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 elicits broadly neutralizing and protective antibodies against omicron subvariants. Nature Immunology 2023 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01449-6.
9. Mok CK, Ng YL, Ahidjo BA, Aw ZQ, Chen HX, Wong YH, Lee RCH, Loe MWC, Liu J, Tan KS, Kaur P, Wang DY, Hao EW, Hou XT, Tan YW, Deng JG and Chu JJH (2023) Evaluation of In Vitro and In Vivo Antiviral Activities of Vitamin D for SARS-CoV-2 and Variants. Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3),925; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030925.
10. Li et al. (2022) Broadly neutralizing and protective nanobodies against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5 and diverse sarbecoviruses. Nature Communications 13, Article number: 7957. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35642-2.
11. Aw ZQ, Mok CK, Wong YH, Chen H, Mak TM , Lin RTP, Lye DC, Tan KS and Chu JJH (2022) Early pathogenesis profiles across SARS-CoV-2 variants in K18-hACE2 mice revealed differential triggers of lung damages. Frontiers in Immunology 13:950666. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.950666.
12. Fong YD, Chu JJH. (2022) Natural products as Zika antivirals. Medicinal Research Reviews 2022 May 20, https://doi.org/10.1002/med.21891.
13. Banerjee S, Chin WX, Chu JJH (2022). miR-573 rescues endothelial dysfunction during dengue infection under PPARγ regulation. Journal of Virology. 96(6):e0199621, https://doi.org/ 10.1128/jvi.01996-21.
14. Tan JK, Chen R, Lee RCH, Li F, Dai K, Zhou GC, Chu JJH (2022) Discovery of Novel Andrographolide Derivatives as Antiviral Inhibitors against Human Enterovirus A71. Pharmaceuticals. 15(2):115, https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15020115.
15. Shan et al. (2021) A Potent and Protective Human Neutralizing Antibody Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Frontiers in Immunology. 12:766821, https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.766821.
16. Tan YW, Chu JJH (2021). Protecting the most vulnerable from hand, foot, and mouth disease. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 21(3):308-309, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30452-7.
17. Ng YL, Salim CK, Chu JJH (2021). Drug repurposing for COVID-19: Approaches, challenges and promising candidates. Pharmacology Therapeutics. 228:107930, https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107930.
18. Coleman et al (2021) Viral Load of SARS-CoV-2 in Respiratory Aerosols Emitted by COVID-19 Patients while Breathing, Talking, and Singing. Clinical Infectious Diseases. ciab691, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab691.
19. Ho SX, Min N, Wong EPY, Chong CY, Chu JJH (2021). Characterization of oral virome and microbiome revealed distinctive microbiome disruptions in paediatric patients with hand, foot and mouth disease. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. 7(1):19, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-021-00190-y.