Welcome to Dr. Jiang Zhu’s Lab
Founded in 2013, Dr. Zhu’s Lab is dedicated to advancing biomedical research, educating students, and fostering career opportunities for young scholars. We are a multidisciplinary team working together to address important scientific questions and innovate key platform technologies.
Research Focus
HIV Nanoparticle Vaccine
Self-assembling nanoparticle + Stabilized envelope trimer = Prophylactic HIV vaccine
This animation depicts how one of our leading HIV-1 vaccine candidates is designed. Dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2p) from Bacillus stearothermophilus is a protein that can automatically assemble into a 60-meric nanoparticle with a diameter of 23.2 nm. After an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) has been stabilized by our “uncleaved, prefusion-optimized (UFO)” design, it can be displayed on the E2p surface through gene fusion. The outcome is a nanoparticle vaccine of 40-60 nm in size with 20 native-like viral spikes on the surface poised for immune recognition.
Latest News
Novel HIV-1 vaccine candidates invented at Scripps Research to enter Phase 1 Clinical Trial
Following approval from Australia’s HREC, the clinical trial investigating UVAX-1107 and UXAX-1197 will initiate in January 2024. December 20, 2023, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA Two HIV-1 vaccine candidates initially invented at Scripps [...]
Trim the sugar: New HIV vaccine design improves immune response
Scripps Research vaccine candidate headed for clinical trials. April 19, 2023 LA JOLLA, CA— A new HIV vaccine from Scripps Research has shown a significantly improved ability to neutralize the virus in preclinical tests, and [...]
Nanoparticle vaccine for COVID-19 spurs robust immune response in preclinical tests
September 21, 2020 - Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA In a new study that demonstrates the promise of a novel vaccine approach for COVID-19, Scripps Research scientist Jiang Zhu, PhD, showed that his protein nanoparticle [...]