Brief Biography

Dr. Zhirong Zhang is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, where he supervises Ph.D. students and heads an independent research group. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Xiamen University in 2013. Afterwards, he carried out postdoctoral research at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC) in France. He joined the School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology in December 2023 and established his independent research group. His longterm research focuses on the mechanisms of human immune activation and the development of novel immunotherapeutic technologies. He has achieved a series of original research findings, which have been published as first author or cocorresponding author (including coauthorship) in journals such as Nature Immunology, Science Immunology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, American Journal of Transplantation and Journal of Immunology. He has also published collaborative papers in Science, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Metabolism, Nature Communications, Cell Reports and other journals. His total citations exceed 3,000 according to Google Scholar.

Educational Background

- 09/2007-07/2013, Ph.D. in Zoology, Xiamen University

- 09/2003-07/2007, B.S. in Biotechnology (Base Class), Inner Mongolia University

Work Experience

- 12/2023-Present, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China

- 09/2013-11/2023, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), France

Awards & Research Projects

- Shenzhen Medical Research Fund, General Project, 2026

- National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), General Program, 2025

- Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation, General Program, 2025

- USIAS Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2017

- EMBO Meeting Travel Grant, Mannheim, Germany, 2016

- EFSD/CDS/Lilly Research Fellowship, 2013

Research Interests

Combining multidisciplinary approaches, including molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, and structural biology, we are aiming to explore 1) mechanisms underlying innate immunity activation (inflammasome complex assembly and activation); 2) host-pathogen interaction; 3) pathological mechanisms of infectious diseases.

Publications

[27] Li X^*, Zhang Z^*, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Huang A, Chen W, Zhang W, Li C, Wei H, Zheng C, Liu J, Liu Q. Transmembrane protein 16F-chloride intracellular channel 1 interaction mediates recipient dendritic cell cross-decoration after transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation. 2025 Dec 24:S1600-6135(25)03190-9. (*共同第一作者).

[26] Jia T, Li F, Li T, Ren A, Lu P, Liu Y, Zhou Y, Duan X, Liu Y, Zhong L, Zhang Z, Tan CSH, Yang L. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing metabolite manipulates macrophage ferroptosis through a methylation pathway. Nature Communications 2025;16(1):9992.

[25] Dai K, An J, Wang C, Huang J, Yang H, Shuai S, Yan R, Zhang Z, Zheng Z, Qin G, Han C. Advancements in bioorthogonal chemistry and click reactions for labeling and tracking extracellular vesicles in tissue homeostasis research. Oral Science and Homeostatic Medicine 2025, 1:9610007

[24] Ran L^*, Ye T, Erbs E, Ehl S, Spassky N, Sumara I, Zhang Z^*#, Ricci R^#. KCNN4 links PIEZO-dependent mechanotransduction to NLRP3 inflammasome. Science Immunology 2023 Dec 22;8(90):eadf4699. (#共同通讯作者； *共同第一作者).

[23] Zhang Z^#*, Venditti R^*, Ran L, Liu Z, Vivot K, Schurmann A, Bonifacino J, de Matteis A^#, Ricci R^#. Distinct changes in endosomal composition promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Nature Immunology 2023; 24(1):30-41. (#共同通讯作者； *共同第一作者).

[22] Zhang Z^#, Ricci R^#. Hijacking the NLRP3 inflammasome: a mechanism underlying viral respiratory disease? EMBO Reports 2020; 21(7): e50645. (#共同通讯作者).

[21] Zhang Z, Meszaros G, He W, Xu Y, de Fatima Magliarelli H, Mailly L, Mihlan M, Liu Y, Gámez M, Goginashvili A, Pasquier A, Bielska O, Neven B, Quartier A, Aebersold R, Baument TF, Georgel P, Han J, Ricci R. Protein kinase D at the Golgi controls NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Journal of Experimental Medicine 2017; 214 (9): 2671-2693.

[20] Zhang Z, Xu X, Ma J, Wu J, Wang Y, Zhou R, Han, J. Gene deletion of Gabarap enhances Nlrp3 inflammasome-dependent inflammatory responses. Journal of Immunology 2013; 190(7):3517-24.

[19] Goginashvili A, Zhang Z, Erbs E, Spiegelhalter C, Kessler P, Mihlan M, Pasquier A, Krupina K, Schieber N, Cinque L, Morvan J, Sumara I, Schwab Y, Settembre C, Ricci R. Insulin secretory granules control autophagy in pancreatic β cells. Science 2015; 347:878–882.

[18] Vivot K, Pangou E, Meszaros G, Zhang Z, Erbs E, Yeghiazaryan G, Quiñones M, Grandgirard E, Schneider A, Clauss-Creusot E, Charlet A, Faour M, Martin C, Luquet E, Kloppenburg P, Nogueiras R, Ricci R. CaMK1D signaling in AgRP neurons promotes ghrelin-mediated food intake. Nature Metabolism 2023, 5(6): 1045-1058.

[17] Liao Y, Andronov L, Liu X, Lin J, Guerber L, Lu L, Agote-Arán A, Pangou E, Ran L, Kleiss C, Qu M, Schmucker S, Cirillo L, Zhang Z, Riveline D, Gotta M, Klaholz BP, Sumara I. UBAP2L ensures homeostasis of nuclear pore complexes at the intact nuclear envelope. Journal of Cell Biology 2024; 223(7):e202310006

[16] Niu T, De Rosny C, Chautard S, Rey A, Patoli D, Groslambert M, Cosson C, Lagrange B, Zhang Z, Visvikis O, Hacot S, Hologne M, Walker O, Wong J, Wang P, Ricci R, Henry T, Boyer L, Petrilli V, Py B. NLRP3 phosphorylation in its LRR domain critically regulates inflammasome assembly. Nature Communications 2021; 12(1):5862

[15] Pangou E*, Bielska O*, Guerber L, Schmucker S, Agote-Aran Arantxa, Ye T, Liao Y, Puig-Gamez M, Grandgirard E, Kleiss C, Liu Y, Compe E, Zhang Z, Aebersold R, Ricci R^#, Sumara I^#. A PKD-MFF signaling axis couples mitochondrial fission to mitotic progression. Cell Reports 2021; 35(7):109129. (^#corresponding authors; ^*equal contribution)

[14] Pasquier A, Vivot K, Erbs E, Spiegelhalter C, Zhang Z, Aubert V, Liu Z, Senkara M, Maillard E, Pinget M, Kerr-Conte J, Pattou F, Marciniak G, Ganzhorn A, Ronchi P, Schieber N, Schwab Y, Saftig P, Goginashvili A^#, Ricci R^#. Lysosomal degradation of newly formed insulin granules contributes to β cell failure in diabetes. Nature Communications 2019;10(1):3312. (^#corresponding authors)

[13] Ma H, Liu Z, Zhong C, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Liang Y, Li J, Han S, Han J. Inactivation of cyclic AMP response element transcription caused by constitutive p38 activation is mediated by hyperphosphorylation-dependent CRTC2 nucleocytoplasmic transport. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2019; 39(9): e00554-18.

[12] Xu Y, Ma H, Fang L, Zhang Z, Shao J, Hong M, Huang C, Liu J, Chen R. Cisplatin-induced necroptosis in TNFα dependent and independent pathways. Cellular Signaling 2017; 31:112-123.

[11] de Fatima Magliarelli H, Matondo M, Mészáros G, Goginashvili A, Erbs E, Zhang Z, Mihlan M, Wolfrum C, Aebersold R, Sumara I, Ricci R. Liver ubiquitome uncovers nutrient-stress-mediated trafficking and secretion of complement C3. Cell Death & Diseases 2016; 7(10):e2411.

[10] Chen W, Wu J, Li L, Zhang Z, Ren J, Liang Y, Chen F, Yang C, Zhou Z, Su S, Zheng X, Zhang Z, Zhong C, Wan H, Xiao M, Lin X, Feng X, Han J. Ppm1b negatively regulates necroptosis through dephosphorylating Rip3. Nature Cell Biology 2015 17, 434–444.

[9] Xu Y, Ma H, Shao J, Wu J, Zhou L, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Huang Z, Ren J, Liu S, Chen X, Han J. A Role for Tubular Necroptosis in Cisplatin-Induced AKI. Journal of American Society of Nephrology 2015; 26:2647–2658.

[8] Xu X, Leng J, Gao F, Zhao Z, Deng W, Liang X, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Li M, Sha A, Yang Z. Differential expression and anti-oxidant function of glutathione peroxidase 3 in mouse uterus during decidualization. FEBS Letters 2014 ; 588: 1580–1589.

[7] Wu J, Huang Z, Ren J, Zhang Z, He P, Li Y, Ma J, Chen W, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Yang Z, Wu S, Chen L, Han J. Mlkl knockout mice demonstrate the indispensable role of Mlkl in necroptosis. Cell Research 2013; 23:994–1006.

[6] Lin J*, Li H*, Yang M, Ren J, Huang Z, Han F, Huang J, Ma J, Zhang D, Zhang Z, Wu J, Huang D, Qiao M, Jin G, Wu Q, Huang Y, Du J, Han J. A Role of RIP3-Mediated Macrophage Necrosis in Atherosclerosis Development. Cell Reports 2013; 3:200-210. (^*equal contribution)

[5] Zhang X, Liang X, Wang T, Liang X, Zuo R, Deng W, Zhang Z, Qin F, Zhao Z, Yang Z. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) induction on Snail expression during mouse decidualization. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2013; 381:272–279

[4] Lei W, Feng X, Deng W, Ni H, Zhang Z, Jia B, Yang X, Wang T, Liu J, Su R, Liang X, Qi, Q, Yang Z. Progesterone and DNA damage encourage uterine cell proliferation and decidualization through up-regulating ribonucleotide reductase 2 expression during early pregnancy in mice. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2012; 287:15174-15192.

[3] Zhao Z, Zhang Z, Xu X, Deng W, Li M, Leng J, Liang X, Yang Z. Arachidonic acid regulation of the cytosolic phospholipase A 2alpha/cyclooxygenase-2 pathway in mouse endometrial stromal cells. Fertility & Sterility 2012; 97 :1199-1205 e1191-1199.

[2] Tian Z, Zhao Z, Liang X, Zhang X, Sha A, Zhang Z, Yu Y, Yang, Z. Expression and function of fatty acid-binding protein 4 during mouse decidualization. Fertility & Sterility 2011; 95:2749-2752 e2741-2745.

[1] Su R, Lei W, Liu J, Zhang Z, Jia B, Feng X, Ren G, Hu S, Yang Z. The integrative analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression in mouse uterus under delayed implantation and activation. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15513.

Patents

Haocheng Lu, Zanxin Wang, Zhirong Zhang. Application of KCNN4 inhibitors in preparing medicaments for preventing and treating abdominal aortic aneurysm and/or delaying disease progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Patent No.: ZL202510637667.0. 25 July 2025.