LIQUN ZHANG, PHD
*** ********** ******, ****** ****, NC 27517 ■ 919-***-**** ■ abocpb@r.postjobfree.com
Accomplished researcher in respiratory virology and vector development with a record of
high-impact publications in leading scientific journals. Broad experience and knowledge in
respiratory epithelial cell biology with masterful technical skills. Extensive expertise in
respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV, PIV3, PIV5, influenza virus, and AAV), human airway
epithelium, and animal studies (e.g., mice, hamsters, and non-human primates). Proven
success in applying innovative approaches to diverse challenges. Experienced manager of
complex research projects and high-performance research teams.
ACHIEVEMENTS
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Discovered key mechanisms for virus-mediated
cytopathology
Respiratory virology
Developed the most efficient gene transfer vectors
Virus-based vectors
targeting human airways
Respiratory epithelial cell biology
Therapeutically corrected the bioelectric defects of
cystic fibrosis lung disease by gene transfer
Molecular biology
Generated novel adeno-associated virus (AAV)
Drug discovery
variants with improved airway tropism
Project management
Obtained research grants from NIH and CF
Foundation
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2002 - present
CF/Pulmonary Research & Treatment Center
Research Scientist
Project: To investigate the mechanisms of infection of common respiratory viruses including
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV) type 3, PIV5, Sendai virus,
and influenza virus.
Outcome: Identified the ciliated epithelial cells as the main target cell type for RSV, PIV3, and PIV5
infection and replication. Discovered the regulated epithelial cell shedding as the main
mechanism for virus-mediated cytopathology. Performed preclinical testing of anti-viral
drugs/compounds. Assessed the attenuation phenotypes of viral vaccine candidates.
These results improved the understanding of viral infections in human airways and built
the foundation for treating these viral diseases.
Project: To develop recombinant viral vectors for gene delivery to human respiratory airways.
Outcome: Generated replication-competent viral vectors (based on RSV and PIV3) expressing GFP
and/or CFTR genes with reverse genetics and demonstrated for the first time that these
vectors transduced intact human airway epithelium at an efficiency sufficient to fully
correct the bioelectric defect in CF epithelium. A biomarker for non-invasive quantification
of gene transfer in the airways was developed and proved to be sensitive and
quantitative in animal models (e.g., non-human primates). These studies bring us a step
closer to the reality of gene-based therapy for CF and other airway diseases.
Project: To improve adenovirus-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene transfer to airways (in
Liqun Zhang, PhD Page 2 of 4
collaboration with Dr. R. Jude Samulski, UNC Gene Therapy Center).
Outcome: Generated and perfected the state-of-the-art 3D model of human airway epithelia under
air-liquid interface (ALI). Performed in vitro evolution with AAV DNA-shuffling library and
generated novel AAV variants with improved airway tropism than any known AAV
serotypes. The novel AAV variants were further validated in vivo in mouse noses.
Project: To identify new viruses in diseased human lungs.
Outcome: (Underway) Using a metagenomic approach, the goal is to assess the whole viral milieu
in the lungs of CF, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other patients, to
identify new pathogenic viruses infecting human lungs.
Accomplishments:
Developed high-impact research projects and obtained grant funding from NIH and CF
Foundation (grant writing, budget preparation, animal and human subject research
compliance). Managed research projects and laboratory personnel (study design,
troubleshooting, reporting, supervision, and performance evaluations). Established long-
term collaborations with renowned world experts in respiratory virology.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Postdoc University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis
Supervisors: Richard C. Boucher, MD & Raymond J. Pickles, PhD
PhD University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland
Major: Human genetics
Adviser: Rong-Fong Shen, PhD
BS Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Major: Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy
North American Cystic Fibrosis Association
PUBLICATIONS
(peer-reviewed papers)
Zhang L*, Collins PL, Lamb RA, Pickles RJ. Comparison of differing cytopathic effects in human airway
epithelium of parainfluenza virus 5 (W3A), parainfluenza virus type 3, and respiratory syncytial virus.
Virology. 2011 Dec 5;421(1):67-77. Epub 2011 Oct 8. PMID: 21986028; PMCID: PMC3208758.
(*corresponding author)
Li W, Zhang L, Wu Z, Pickles RJ, Samulski RJ. AAV-6 mediated efficient transduction of mouse lower
airways. Virology. 2011 Sep 1;417(2):327-33. Epub 2011 Jul 14. PMID: 21752418; PMCID:
PMC3163804.
Johnson JS, Gentzsch M, Zhang L, Ribeiro CM, Kantor B, Kafri T, Pickles RJ, Samulski RJ. AAV exploits
subcellular stress associated with inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum expansion, and misfolded proteins
in models of cystic fibrosis. PLoS Pathog. 2011 May;7(5):e1002053. Epub 2011 May 19. PMID:
21625534; PMCID: PMC3098238.
Liqun Zhang, PhD Page 3 of 4
Okada SF, Zhang L, Kreda SM, Abdullah LH, Davis CW, Pickles RJ, Lazarowski ER, Boucher RC.
Coupled nucleotide and mucin hypersecretion from goblet-cell metaplastic human airway epithelium. Am
J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 Aug;45(2):253-60. Epub 2010 Oct 8. PMID: 20935191; PMCID:
PMC3175555.
Zhang L*, Limberis M, Thompson C, Antunes MB, Luongo C, Wilson JM, Collins PL, Pickles RJ. α-
Fetoprotein gene delivery to the nasal epithelium of nonhuman primates by human parainfluenza viral
vectors. Hum Gene Ther. 2010 Dec;21(12):1657-64. Epub 2010 Nov 3. PMID: 20735256; PMCID:
PMC2999572. (*corresponding author)
Feature Cover in Human Gene Therapy, December 2010, Volume 21, Number 12.
Kwilas AR, Yednak MA, Zhang L, Liesman R, Collins PL, Pickles RJ, Peeples ME. Respiratory syncytial
virus engineered to express the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator corrects the
bioelectric phenotype of human cystic fibrosis airway epithelium in vitro. J Virol. 2010 Aug;84(15):7770-
81. Epub 2010 May 26. PMID: 20504917; PMCID: PMC2897634.
Feature Cover in Journal of Virology, November 2010, Volume 84, Issue 21.
Li W, Zhang L, Johnson JS, Wu Z, Grieger JC, Xiao P-J, Drouin LM, Agbandje-McKenna M, Pickles RJ,
and Samulski RJ. Generation of novel AAV variants by directed evolution for improved CFTR delivery to
human ciliated airway epithelium. Mol Ther. 2009 Dec;17(12):2067-77. Epub 2009 Jul 14. PMID:
19603002; PMCID: PMC2801879.
Kwilas S, Liesman RM, Zhang L, Walsh E, Pickles RJ, and Peeples ME. Respiratory syncytial virus
grown in vero cells contains a truncated attachment protein that alters its infectivity and dependence on
glycosaminoglycans. J Virol. 2009 Oct;83(20):10710-8. Epub 2009 Aug 5. PMID: 19656891; PMCID:
PMC2753119.
SPOTLIGHT: Featured article of significant interest selected by the editors.
Zhang L, Button B, Gabriel SE, Burkett S, Yan Y, Skiadopoulos MH, Dang YL, Vogel LN, McKay T,
Mengos A, Boucher RC, Collins PL, Pickles RJ. CFTR delivery to 25% of surface epithelial cells restores
normal rates of mucus transport to human cystic fibrosis airway epithelium. PLoS Biol. 2009
Jul;7(7):e1000155. Epub 2009 Jul 21. PMID: 19621064; PMCID: PMC2705187.
SYNOPSIS: Meadows R. Engineered common cold virus helps cultured cystic fibrosis tissues
clear mucus. PLoS Biol. 2009 Jul;7(7):e1000155. PubMed PMID: 20076750; PMCID:
PMC2704862.
Feature Cover in PLoS Biology July 2009, Issue 7(7).
Limberis MP, Vandenberghe LH, Zhang L, Pickles RJ, and Wilson JM. Transduction efficiencies of novel
AAV vectors in mouse airway epithelium In vivo and human ciliated airway epithelium in vitro. Mol Ther.
2009 Feb;17(2):294-301. Epub 2008 Dec 9. PMID: 19066597; PMCID: PMC2835069.
Bukreyev A, Marzi A, Feldmann F, Zhang L, Yang L, Ward JM, Dorward DW, Pickles RJ, Murphy BR,
Feldmann H, Collins PL. Chimeric human parainfluenza virus bearing the Ebola virus glycoprotein as the
sole surface protein is immunogenic and highly protective against Ebola virus challenge. Virology. 2009
Jan 20;383(2):348-61. Epub 2008 Nov 17. PMID: 19010509; PMCID: PMC2649782.
Tarran R, Button B, Picher M, Paradiso AM, Ribeiro CM, Lazarowski ER, Zhang L, Collins PL, Pickles
RJ, Fredberg JJ, and Boucher RC. Normal and cystic fibrosis airway surface liquid homeostasis: The
effects of phasic shear stress and viral infections. J Biol Chem. 2005 Oct 21;280(42):35751-9. Epub 2005
Aug 8. PMID: 16087672; PMCID: PMC2924153.
Das S, Palmer OP, Leight WD, Poston AN, Zhang L, Pickles RJ, Randell SH, Buchman CA. Cytokine
amplification by respiratory syncytial virus infection in human nasal epithelial cells. Laryngoscope. 2005
May;115(5):764-8. Erratum in: Laryngoscope. 2005 Nov;115(11):2076. PMID: 15867636.
Zhang L, Bukreyev A, Thompson CI, Watson B, Peeples ME, Collins PL, and Pickles RJ. Infection of
Liqun Zhang, PhD Page 4 of 4
ciliated cells by human parainfluenza virus type 3 in an in vitro model of human airway epithelium. J Virol.
2005 Jan;79(2):1113-24. PMID: 15613339; PMCID: PMC538579.
Mellow TE, Murphy PC, Carson JL, Noah TL, Zhang L, and Pickles RJ. The effect of respiratory syncytial
virus on chemokine release by differentiated airway epithelium. Exp Lung Res. 2004 Jan-Feb;30(1):43-
57. PMID: 14967603.
Zhang L*, Peeples ME, Boucher RC, Collins PL, and Pickles RJ. Respiratory syncytial virus infection of
human airway epithelial cells is polarized, specific to ciliated cells, and without obvious Cytopathology. J
Virol. 2002 Jun;76(11):5654-66. PMID: 11991994; PMCID: PMC137037. (*corresponding author)
Zhang L, Xiao H, Schultz RA, and Shen R-F. Genomic organization, chromosomal localization, and
expression of the murine thromboxane synthase gene (Tbxas1). Genomics. 1997 Nov 1;45(3):519-28.
PMID: 9367676.
Shen RF, Baek SJ, Lee KD, Zhang L, Fleischer T. Genomic organization and regulation of the human
thromboxane synthase gene. Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Leukot Res. 1995;23:137-9. PMID:
7732819.
Shen R-F, Zhang L, Baek SJ, Tai H-H, and Lee K-D. The porcine thromboxane synthase-encoding
cDNA: sequence, mRNA expression and enzyme production in Sf9 insect cells. Gene. 1994 Mar
25;140(2):261-5. PMID: 8144035.
Zhang L, Chase MB, and Shen R-F. Molecular cloning and expression of murine thromboxane synthase.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993 Jul 30;194(2):741-8. PMID: 7688225.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
The IX International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections, Hong Kong.
Title: Are we using the right cells? Studies of respiratory viruses with an in vitro model of well-
differentiated airway epithelia.
The VII International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
Title: Exploiting respiratory virus tropism for ciliated epithelial cells for the development of gene transfer
vectors as biological tools and potentially therapeutic strategies.
th
The American Society of Gene Therapy 7 Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
Title: Parainfluenza virus-mediated delivery of CFTR to ciliated cells corrects the CF bioelectrical chloride
secretory defect and restores the regulation of airway surface liquid depth and mucus transport to cyctic
fibrosis airway epithelium.
th
The 16 Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Title: Recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 3 (hPIV3) infects human ciliated airway epithelium via
the apical surface.
th
The 15 Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Orlando, FL.
Title: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects ciliated cells of airway epithelium via the lumenal
membrane.