Wei Zhang, PhD
Titles
Education
MS, Purdue University
Major: Computer Science
PhD, Purdue University
Major: Structural Biology
MS, Chinese Academy of Science
Major: Biophysics
BS, Nankai University
Major: Biophysics
Biography
Research Summary
We use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and three-dimensional reconstruction methods to study the structural information of enveloped viruses including alphaviruses and retroviruses during the virus life cycle. Specifically we are interested in the molecular mechanism of membrane fusion driving by the viral fusion proteins at the low pH condition. We also study retrovirus assembly and maturation by examining localization and arrangement of Gag polyproteins in the immature viruses and the molecular feature of capsid cores in the mature virus particles. In addition, we develop methods that facilitate cryo-EM, cryo-ET sample preparation, data collection, image processing and data interpretation. We aim to address questions related to structure and function relationship through depicting the atomic details of key viral proteins during a number of significant biological processes.
Grants and Patents
Grants and Patents
Selected Grants
Award: HIV Gag Lattice Morphology and Particle Biogenesis
Principal Investigators: Mansky, Louis M and Mueller, Joachim
Co-Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Inst of Allergy & Infect Dis
Award Dates: 2023 – 2028
Award: Imaging of HTLV-1 by cryo-CLEM
Principal Investigators: Mansky, Louis M and Mueller, Joachim
Co-Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIDCR
Award Dates: 2023 – 2025
Award: Structural Mechanisms of Alphavirus Membrane Fusion
Principal Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Co-Investigator: Navaratnarajah, Chanakha
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Inst of Allergy & Infect Dis
Award Dates: 2022 – 2027
Award: Midwest AViDD Center
Principal Investigators: Harris, Reuben
Co-Investigator: Li, Fang
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Inst of Allergy & Infect Dis
Award Dates: 2022 – 2025
Award: Cryo-ET Guided Single Particle Reconstruction of HIV
Principal Investigators: Zhang, Wei and Mansky, Louis M
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Inst of Allergy & Infect Dis
Award Dates: 2020 – 2023
Award: HIV Gag lattice morphology and particle biogenesis
Principal Investigators: Mansky, Louis M and Mueller, Joachim
Co-Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NIGMS NATL INST OF GENERAL
Award Dates: 2017 – 2023
Award: HTLV-1 Particle Analysis and Gag Interactions
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Louis M
Co-Investigators: Mueller, Joachim and Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NIGMS NATL INST OF GENERAL
Award Dates: 2012 – 2023
Award: Capturing Alphavirus Pre-Fusion Intermediates on a TEM Grid
Principal Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Inst of Allergy & Infect Dis
Award Dates: 2015 – 2018
Award: Transmission Electron Microscope in the Academic Health
Principal Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Center for Research Resources
Award Dates: 2010 – 2012
Award: Structural Studies of Alphavirus Membrane Fusion In Situ
Principal Investigator: Zhang, Wei
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Inst of Allergy & Infect Dis
Award Dates: 2009 - 2012