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Justin J.H. Chu
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Justin J.H. Chu BSc (Hons), PhD

Assistant Professor

Tel: +65 6516 3278
Email: miccjh@nus.edu.sg


Research Interest

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 SARS coronavirus 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, human Enterovirus 71, Dengue virus and 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 will facilitate formulation of effective vaccine or therapeutic intervention against these medically important virus infections and possibly other pathogenic positive-strand RNA viruses.

Bio-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 or high content bio-imaging technology platforms are also established for the screening of anti-viral compound libraries.
 
Representative Publications

Lim ME, Lee YL, Zhang Y and Chu JJH (2011). Photodynamic inactivation of viruses using upconversion nanoparticles.  Biomaterials (In press)

Low JSY, Wu KX, Chen KCY, Ng MML and Chu JJH (2011). Narasin, a novel antiviral compound that inhibits dengue virus protein expression. Antiviral Therapy, 16(8): 1203‑1218.

Hussain MK and Chu JJH (2011). Insights into the interplay between chikungunya virus and its human host.  Future Virology, 6(10): 1211‑1223.

Leong JYS, Ng MML and Chu JJH (2011). Replication of Alphaviruses ‑ A Review on the Entry Process of Alphaviruses into Cells. Advances in Virology, Article ID No. 249640.

Ong SP and Chu JJH (2011). An update on the host factors contributing to vascular leakage during dengue virus infection. (Invited Editorial) Future Virology, 6(2): 135-138 (Invited Editorial).

Hussain KM, Leong KL, Ng MM and Chu JJH (2011). The essential role of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the infectious entry of human Enterovirus 71. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286(1):309-321. 

Wu KX, Ng MM and Chu JJH (2010). Developments towards antiviral therapies against Enterovirus 71. Drug Discov Today, 15(23-24):1041-1051.

Chia PY, Ng ML and Chu JJH (2010). Chikungunya fever: A review of a re-emerging mosquito-borne infectious disease and the current status. Current Research, Technology and Education Topics in Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology. (1): 597-606.

Chen KCY, Ong HM and Chu JJH (2010). Morphogenesis of Human Enterovirus 71: An Electron Microscopy Analysis Coupled with Immunogold Labelling Techniques. Microscopy: Science, Technology, Applications and Education, (1): 66-74.  

Chen JC, Chia PY, Ng ML and Chu JJH (2010). Antiviral Immunotherapy for mosquito-borne flaviviruses: a review of current status. Immunology, Endocrine and metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 10(1), 31-42.  

Ang F, Wong AP, Ng L and Chu JJH (2010). Small interference RNA profiling reveals the essential role of human membrane trafficking genes in mediating the infectious entry of dengue virus. Virology Journal, 7:24 

Ho PS, Ng ML, Chu JJH (2010). Establishment of one-step SYBR green-based real time-PCR assay for rapid detection and quantification of chikungunya virus infection. Virology Journal 7:13.

Azlinda, BA, Leong KW, Ng ML, CHU JJH and Garcia-Blanco MA (2009) The polypyrimidine tract binding protein is required for efficient dengue virus propagation and associates with the viral replication machinery. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284: 17021-17029.

Low JSY, Chen CK, Wu K, Ng ML and Chu JJH (2009) Antiviral Activity of Emetine Dihydrochloride against Dengue Virus Infection. Journal of Antivirals and Antiretrovirals, 1(1): 062-071.

Lee YL, Ng ML, Zhang Y and Chu JJH (2009).  Novel photodynamic therapy of emerging and re-emerging medically important viruses. Asia Pacific Biotechnology, 13(3), 24-27.  

Chen JC, Ng ML and Chu JJH (2009).  Molecular Profiling of T-Helper genes in mediating immunopathogenesis of dengue virus infection. Virology Journal, 5:165. 

Ong SP, Chu JJH and Ng ML (2008). Inhibition of West Nile virus replication in cells stably transfected with vector-based shRNA expression system. Virus Research, 135(2): 292-297. 

Hwang YC, Chu JJH, Yang PL, Chen W and Yates MV (2008).  Rapid identification of inhibitors that interfere with poliovirus replication using a cell-based assay.  Anti-Viral Research, 77(3): 232-236. 

Chu JJH and Ng ML (2008).  Interplay of viral and host cellular factors in West Nile virus replication and pathogenesis.  Future Virology, 3(1), 17-23.

Chu JJH and Yang PL (2007) c-Src protein kinase inhibitors block the assembly and maturation of dengue virus. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 104:3520-3525

Chu JJH, Chiang CC and Ng ML (2007) Immunization of West Nile virus envelope glycoprotein domain III induced specific immune responses and protection against West Nile infection. J. Immunol. 178:2699-2705

Chin JF,Chu JJH and Ng ML (2007) The envelope glycoprotein domain III of Dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2 inhibit virus entry. Microbes and Infect. 9:1-6

Ong SP, Choo BGH, Chu JJH and Ng ML (2006) A vector-based small interfering RNA against West Nile virus infection.  Anti-Viral Research, 72:216-223

Chu JJH, Leong PWH and Ng ML (2006) Analysis of the endocytic pathway mediating the infectious entry of mosquito-borne flavivirus West Nile into Aedes albopictus mosquito cells. Virol. 349:463-475

Lee JWM, Chu JJH and Ng ML (2006) Quantifying the specific binding between West Nile virus envelope domain III protein and the cellular receptor αVβ3 integrin. J. Biol. Chem. 281:1352-1360
 
Chu JJH, Leong PWH and Ng ML (2005) Characterization of plasma membrane associated proteins from Aedes Albopictus mosquito (C6/36) cells that mediate West Nile virus binding and infection. Virol. 339:249-260

Chu JJH, Rajamanomani R, Li, J, Bhuvanakanathan R, Lescar J and Ng ML. (2005) Inhibition of West Nile virus entry using a recombinant domain III from envelope glycoprotein. J. Gen. Virol. 86:405-412

Chu JJH and Ng ML (2004) Interaction of West Nile virus with αVβ3 integrin mediates virus entry into cells. J. Biol. Chem. 279:54533-54541

Chu JJH and Ng ML (2004) Infectious entry of West Nile virus occurs through a clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. J. Virol. 78:10543-10555

Current Projects:

i-arrow Human genome-wide siRNA screening platform for viral-host interactions
i-arrow High throughput anti-viral molecules screening platform
i-arrow Viral diagnostic approaches
i-arrow Immunopathogenesis of viral infection
i-arrow Nanotechnology as novel anti-viral therapy
i-arrow Receptor usage and entry mechanism(s) of RNA viruses

Lab Members:

i-arrow Chen Huixin (Research Executive)
i-arrow Chen Caiyun, Karen (Laboratory Officer)
i-arrow Koh Guat Nee, June (Laboratory Technologist)
i-arrow Lee Ching Hua, Regina (Laboratory Officer)
i-arrow Chen Jincheng (PhD Graduate student)
i-arrow Khairunnisa' Binte Mohamed Hussain (PhD Graduate student)
i-arrow Wu Kanxing (PhD Graduate student)
i-arrow Parveen Kaur (Honours Year Student)
i-arrow Shirley Lam (Honours Year Student)
i-arrow Tan Ter Yong (Honours Year Student)
   
   
   
       

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