主要从事鱼类黏膜免疫和病害防控的研究，阐明了以IgT为代表的鱼类黏膜免疫球蛋白的功能，揭示了病原诱导的鱼类黏膜免疫应答机制，为研制鱼类黏膜疫苗及抗病育种提供了基础。以第一或通讯（含并列）在Science Immunology、Cell Discovery、Nature Communications、PNAS、Reviews in Aquaculture、PLOS Pathogens、iScience、Journal of Immunology等发表论文50余篇。研究成果被Nature Reviews Immunology等以“研究亮点”（Research Highlights）进行评述。

代表性论文：

1.     Yongyao Yu#, Zhenyu Huang#, Weiguang Kong#, Fen Dong#, Xiaoting Zhang, Xue Zhai, Gaofeng Cheng, Mengting Zhan, Jiafeng Cao, Liguo Ding, Guangkun Han, Fumio Takizawa, Yang Ding, J. Oriol Sunyer*, Zhen Xu*. (2022) Teleost swim bladder, an ancient air-filled organ that elicits mucosal immune responses. Cell Discovery. 2022, 8:31.

2.     Jiafeng Cao#, Liguo Ding#, Qingchao Wang#, Guangkun Han, Dacheng Qin, Gaofeng Cheng, Zhaoran Dong, Qingjiang Mu, Weiguang Kong, Xia Liu, Yongyao Yu, Zhen Xu*. (2022) Conserved role of mTORC1 signaling in B cell immunity in teleost fish. Journal of Immunology. 2022, 209(6): 1095-1107.

3.     Xiaoting Zhang#, Yongyao Yu#, Haoyue Xu#, Zhenyu Huang, Xia Liu, Jiafeng Cao, Kaifeng Meng, Zhengben Wu, Guangkun Han, Mengting Zhan, Liguo Ding, Weiguang Kong, Nan Li, Fumio Takizawa, J. Oriol Sunyer, Zhen Xu*. (2021) Prevailing role of mucosal Igs and B cells in teleost skin immune responses to bacterial infection. Journal of Immunology. 2021, 206 (5): 1088-1101.

4.     Yongyao Yu#, Liguo Ding#, Zhenyu Huang#, Haoyue Xu#, Zhen Xu*. (2021) Commensal bacteria-immunity crosstalk shapes mucosal homeostasis in teleost fish. Reviews in Aquaculture. 2021, 13: 2322-2343. 

5.     Zhen Xu#, Fumio Takizawa#, Elisa Casadei, Yasuhiro Shibasaki, Yang Ding, Thomas J. C. Sauters, Yongyao Yu, Irene Salinas*, J. Oriol Sunyer*. (2020) Specialization of mucosal immunoglobulins in pathogen control and microbiota homeostasis occurred early in vertebrate evolution. Science Immunology. 2020, 5(44): eaay3254. (Cover Story)

6.     Yongyao Yu#, Weiguang Kong#, Haoyue Xu, Zhenyu Huang, Xiaoting Zhang, Liguo Ding, Shuai Dong, Guangmei Yin, Fen Dong, Wei Yu, Jiafeng Cao, Kaifeng Meng, Xia Liu, Yu Fu, Xuezhen Zhang, Yongan Zhang, J. Oriol Sunyer, Zhen Xu*. (2019) Convergent evolution of mucosal immune responses at the buccal cavity of teleost fish. iScience. 2019, 19: 821-835.

7.     Weiguang Kong#, Yongyao Yu#, Shuai Dong, Zhenyu Huang, Liguo Ding, Jiafeng Cao, Fen Dong, Xiaoting Zhang, Xia Liu, Haoyue Xu, Kaifeng Meng, Jianguo Su, Zhen Xu*. (2019) Pharyngeal immunity in early vertebrates provides functional and evolutionary insight into mucosal homeostasis. Journal of Immunology. 2019, 203(11): 3054-3067. 

8.     Yongyao Yu#, Weiguang Kong#, Yaxing Yin, Fen Dong, Zhenyu Huang, Guangmei Yin, Shuai Dong, Irene Salinas, Yongan Zhang, Zhen Xu*. (2018) Mucosal immunoglobulins protect the olfactory organ of teleost fish against parasitic infection. PLOS Pathogens. 2018, 14(11): e1007251.

9.     Zhen Xu, Fumio Takizawa, David Parra, Daniela Gomez, Louise von Gersdorff Jorgensen, Scott E. LaPatra, J. Oriol Sunyer*. (2016) Mucosal immunoglobulins at respiratory surfaces mark an ancient association that predates the emergence of tetrapods. Nature Communications. 2016, 7: 10728.

10. Zhen Xu#, David Parra#, Daniela Gomez#, Irene Salinas, Yongan Zhang, Louise von Gersdorff Jorgensen, Rasmus Demuth Heinecke, Kurt Buchmann, Scott LaPatra, J. Oriol Sunyer. (2013) Teleost skin, an ancient mucosal surface that elicits gut-like immune responses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2013, 110(32): 13097-13102.

欢迎有生物学、免疫学、水产养殖学背景的考生报考。