Zhongtian Xu

Dr. Zhongtian Xu


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 February 2024 in Cell Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ZYZihang Yang
Zihang Yang
JDJuan Du
Juan Du
XTXiaoxiang Tan
Xiaoxiang Tan
HZHehong Zhang
Hehong Zhang
LLLulu Li
Lulu Li
Zongtao SunZongtao Sun
Zongtao Sun
Lysine acetylation is a dynamic post-translational modification of proteins. Extensive studies have revealed that the acetylation modulated by histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs) plays a crucial role in regulating protein function. However, there has been limited focus on how HDACs regulate jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis in plants. Here, we uncover that the protein stability of OsLOX14, a critical enzyme involved in JA biosynthesis, is regulated by a histone deacetylase, OsHDA706, and is hindered by a viral protein. Our results show that OsHDA706 deacetylates OsLOX14 and enhances the stability of OsLOX14, leading to JA accumulation and an improved broad-spectrum rice antiviral defense. Furthermore, we found that the viral protein P2, encoded by the destructive rice stripe virus, disrupts the association of OsHDA706-OsLOX14, promoting viral infection. Overall, our findings reveal how HDAC manipulates the interplay of deacetylation and protein stability of a JA biosynthetic enzyme to enhance plant antiviral responses.

8 April 2024 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZZZe-Long Zhang
Ze-Long Zhang
XWXiaojing Wang
Xiaojing Wang
JLJia-Bao Lu
Jia-Bao Lu
HLHai-Bin Lu
Hai-Bin Lu
ZYZhuang-Xin Ye
Zhuang-Xin Ye
HHHai-Jian Huang
Hai-Jian Huang
Communication between insects and plants relies on the exchange of bioactive molecules that traverse the species interface. Although proteinic effectors have been extensively studied, our knowledge of other molecules involved in this process remains limited. In this study, we investigate the role of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) from the rice planthopper Nilaparvata lugens in suppressing plant immunity. A total of three miRNAs were confirmed to be secreted into host plants during insect feeding. Notably, the sequence-conserved miR-7-5P is specifically expressed in the salivary glands of N. lugens and is secreted into saliva, distinguishing it significantly from homologues found in other insects. Silencing miR-7-5P negatively affects N. lugens feeding on rice plants, but not on artificial diets. The impaired feeding performance of miR-7-5P-silenced insects can be rescued by transgenic plants overexpressing miR-7-5P. Through target prediction and experimental testing, we demonstrate that miR-7-5P targets multiple plant genes, including the immune-associated bZIP transcription factor 43 (OsbZIP43). Infestation of rice plants by miR-7-5P-silenced insects leads to the increased expression of OsbZIP43 , while the presence of miR-7-5P counteracts this upregulation effect. Furthermore, overexpressing OsbZIP43 confers plant resistance against insects which can be subverted by miR-7-5P. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which herbivorous insects have evolved salivary miRNAs to suppress plant immunity, expanding our understanding of cross-kingdom RNA interference between interacting organisms.

1 June 2019 in Fish & Shellfish Immunology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PWPing Wang
Ping Wang
Zhanying ZhangZhanying Zhang
Zhanying Zhang
ZXZhongtian Xu
Zhongtian Xu
BGBaoying Guo
Baoying Guo
ZLZhi Liao
Zhi Liao
PQPengzhi Qi
Pengzhi Qi

15 September 2025 in iMetaMed
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
XLXiaofan Lu
Xiaofan Lu
KLKailai Li
Kailai Li
ZLZongcheng Li
Zongcheng Li
ALAnqi Lin
Anqi Lin
LZLong Zhao
Long Zhao
YGYing Ge
Ying Ge
Biomedical research data visualization faces several challenges, including insufficient expertise and fragmented methodologies, which severely limit research efficiency and result quality. FigureYa is a standardized visualization framework composed of 317 modular R/python scripts, rather than a standalone software or desktop application. It covers key domains such as expression profiling, immune analysis, survival analysis, and single‐cell data visualization. Based on the concept of “replace data and use,” FigureYa significantly lowers the technical threshold, allowing researchers to generate high‐quality charts without requiring an extensive programming background. Compared to generic online R code snippets, FigureYa offers rigorously developed, thoroughly validated, and biologically contextualized visualization modules originally written by the author team. Each script includes version‐matched environments, example datasets, and detailed annotations, providing clear advantages in automation, reproducibility, and scientific professionalism, thereby providing a standardized visualization solution for complex biomedical data. This innovative tool optimizes research time allocation, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerates scientific discovery and clinical translation, and provides robust data visualization support for biomedical research.

5 April 2024 in Archives of Virology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
YGYangwei Gao
Yangwei Gao
ZXZhongtian Xu
Zhongtian Xu
Ping LiPing Li
Ping Li
XHXiaodi Hu
Xiaodi Hu
JCJianping Chen
Jianping Chen
YLYiyuan Li
Yiyuan Li

9 December 2024 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
WLWeifang Liang
Weifang Liang
YZYuhang Zhou
Yuhang Zhou
ZXZhongtian Xu
Zhongtian Xu
YLYiyuan Li
Yiyuan Li
XCXinyu Chen
Xinyu Chen
YYYong Yang
Yong Yang
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is the causative agent of rice bacterial blight (RBB), resulting in substantial harvest losses and posing a challenge to maintaining a stable global supply. In this study, Xoo strains isolated from Shaoxing, Quzhou, and Taizhou, where RBB occurred most frequently in Zhejiang Province in 2019, were selected as the subjects of research. Three isolated pathogenic bacteria of ZXooS (from Shaoxing), ZXooQ (from Quzhou), and ZXooT (from Taizhou) were all identified as novel Xoo strains. These novel strains demonstrate greater virulence compared to Zhe173, the previous epidemic Xoo strain from Zhejiang Province. Subsequent genomic sequencing and analysis revealed that there existed significant differences in the genome sequence, especially in effector genes corresponding to some known rice resistance (R) genes between the novel strains and Zhe173. The sequence alignment of avirulent genes (effector genes) indicated that nucleic and amino acid sequences of AvrXa5, AvrXa7, AvrXa10, and AvrXa23 in the novel strains varied prominently from those in Zhe173. Interestingly, it seemed that only the genome of ZXooQ might contain the AvrXa3 gene. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis of 61 Xoo strains revealed that the novel strains were situated in a distinct evolutionary clade separate from Zhe173. These results here suggest that the emergence of novel Xoo strains may lead to resistance loss of some R genes used in commercial rice varieties, potentially serving as one of the factors leading to RBB resurgence in Zhejiang Province, China.