Wenchun Fan

Dr. Wenchun Fan

Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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23 July 2020 in Nature Microbiology
Verified
Journal Article
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SPStephanie Pfaender
Stephanie Pfaender
KMKatrina B. Mar
Katrina B. Mar
EMEleftherios Michailidis
Eleftherios Michailidis
AKAnnika Kratzel
Annika Kratzel
IBIan N. Boys
Ian N. Boys
VTVolker Thiel
Volker Thiel

1 July 2016 in Virus Research
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Wenchun FanWenchun Fan
Wenchun Fan
SQSuhong Qian
Suhong Qian
PQPing Qian
Ping Qian
LXLi Xiangmin
Li Xiangmin

15 August 2017 in Journal of Virology
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Journal Article
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SQSuhong Qian
Suhong Qian
Wenchun FanWenchun Fan
Wenchun Fan
TLTingting Liu
Tingting Liu
MWMengge Wu
Mengge Wu
HZHuawei Zhang
Huawei Zhang
PQPing Qian
Ping Qian
Seneca Valley virus (SVV) is an oncolytic RNA virus belonging to the Picornaviridae family. Its nucleotide sequence is highly similar to those of members of the Cardiovirus genus. SVV is also a neuroendocrine cancer-selective oncolytic picornavirus that can be used for anticancer therapy. However, the interaction between SVV and its host is yet to be fully characterized. In this study, SVV inhibited antiviral type I interferon (IFN) responses by targeting different host adaptors, including mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS), Toll/interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF), and TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator (TANK), via viral 3C protease (3C pro ). SVV 3C pro mediated the cleavage of MAVS, TRIF, and TANK at specific sites, which required its protease activity. The cleaved MAVS, TRIF, and TANK lost the ability to regulate pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-mediated IFN production. The cleavage of TANK also facilitated TRAF6-induced NF-κB activation. SVV was also found to be sensitive to IFN-β. Therefore, SVV suppressed antiviral IFN production to escape host antiviral innate immune responses by cleaving host adaptor molecules. IMPORTANCE Host cells have developed various defenses against microbial pathogen infection. The production of IFN is the first line of defense against microbial infection. However, viruses have evolved many strategies to disrupt this host defense. SVV, a member of the Picornavirus genus, is an oncolytic virus that shows potential functions in anticancer therapy. It has been demonstrated that IFN can be used in anticancer therapy for certain tumors. However, the relationship between oncolytic virus and innate immune response in anticancer therapy is still not well known. In this study, we showed that SVV has evolved as an effective mechanism to inhibit host type I IFN production by using its 3C pro to cleave the molecules MAVS, TRIF, and TANK directly. These molecules are crucial for the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-mediated and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLR)-mediated signaling pathway. We also found that SVV is sensitive to IFN-β. These findings increase our understanding of the interaction between SVV and host innate immunity.

19 October 2016 in Virology Journal
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Journal Article
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SQSuhong Qian
Suhong Qian
Wenchun FanWenchun Fan
Wenchun Fan
PQPing Qian
Ping Qian
HCHuanchun Chen
Huanchun Chen
LXLi Xiangmin
Li Xiangmin
Seneca valley virus (SVV), a member of the Picornaviridae family, is a small non-enveloped RNA virus, that is linked to porcine idiopathic vesicular disease (PIVD). SVV infection in swine results in vesicular disease and epidemic transient neonatal losses (ETNL). The first case of SVV infection was reported in Guangdong, South China in 2015. We isolated and characterized an SVV HB-CH-2016 strain from vesicular lesion tissue specimens from piglets with PIVD in Hubei, Central China. The complete genome sequence of SVV HB-CH-2016 strain shares high nucleotide identities (94 to 99 %) with all previously reported SVV genomes, moreover, the polyprotein accounts for 98–99 % of amino acid sequence identity. Therefore, the SVV HB-CH-2016 strain is closely related to the SVV CH-01-2015 strain. The case reported in this paper is the second SVV infection case in China. Our findings demonstrate that sporadic SVV infection has occurred in Central China, and therefore, active surveillance on the swine population is important. Moreover, veterinarians must pay attention to this vesicular disease and reinforce biosecurity measures and prevent SVV spread.

31 March 2015 in Viruses
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Journal Article
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SQSuhong Qian
Suhong Qian
Wenchun FanWenchun Fan
Wenchun Fan
PQPing Qian
Ping Qian
DZDong Zhang
Dong Zhang
YWYurong Wei
Yurong Wei
LXLi Xiangmin
Li Xiangmin
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild ruminants that is caused by FMD virus (FMDV). FMD outbreaks have occurred in livestock-containing regions worldwide. Apigenin, which is a flavonoid naturally existing in plant, possesses various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant and antiviral activities. Results show that apigenin can inhibit FMDV-mediated cytopathogenic effect and FMDV replication in vitro. Further studies demonstrate the following: (i) apigenin inhibits FMDV infection at the viral post-entry stage; (ii) apigenin does not exhibit direct extracellular virucidal activity; and (iii) apigenin interferes with the translational activity of FMDV driven by internal ribosome entry site. Studies on applying apigein in vivo are required for drug development and further identification of potential drug targets against FDMV infection.

31 May 2021 in Cell
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Wenchun FanWenchun Fan
Wenchun Fan
KMKatrina B. Mar
Katrina B. Mar
LSLevent Sari
Levent Sari
IGIlona K. Gaszek
Ilona K. Gaszek
QCQiang Cheng
Qiang Cheng
JSJohn Schoggins
John Schoggins