Xian-en Zhang

Biography

Xian-En Zhang received his first degree in Hubei University in 1982, MPhil. (microbiology, 1985) and Ph.D. (biochemistry, 1995) in the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). He became a full professor in Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS in 1993. He is specializing in biosensors, nanobiology and analytical pathogen microbiology with over 230 peer-reviewed papers and three books on biosensors and biochips. He serves as an editorial member of Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Biocatalysis & Biotransformation, Chinese Science Bulletin, Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, etc, co-chair of the Division of Nanobiotechnology/Biosensors/Biochips, Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB), committee member of the World Congress on Biosensors (2008-), former vice president of the Biophysical Society of China (-2012), former vice president of the Chinese Society for Microbiology (-2016) and former member of Advisory Board of London Center for Nanotechnology (-2016). He was awarded the CAS Award of Young Scientists (1989), CAS Young-middle Age Outstanding Contribution Expert (1994), the First Prize of the Natural Science of Hubei Province (2015), and the Honorary Science Doctor Degree from the University of Alberta (2015). He also has experience in scientific management by serving as the principle head successfully since 1992 in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS, Wuhan Branch, CAS and the Basic Research Department, Ministry of Science & Technology, which allowed him to enjoy national scope and world perspective in his scientific career. He delivered invited talks in many universities and top science organizations such as American NSF, NIH, NACS/NAE, OECD science forum, UNISCO eScience, APEC Chief Science Advisor Meetings, IEEE biomedical conference, Gates Foundation, Grand Challenge Meeting, etc. and authored some books and articles such as "The role of science and technology in building the powers", "30-year development of basic research in China", etc. He is the China’s representative participating the Chief Science Advisors and Equivalents Meeting of APEC in 2013, 2015 and 2016. In May 2013, he complete his duty in MOST and joined the State Key Laboratory of Macrobiomolecules, the Institute of Biophysics, CAS, as a PI professor.

Research Interest

1) Nanobiology we have exploited macrobiomolecules, such as viral capsid proteins and microbial surface layer proteins, as building blocks for construction of nanostructures with designed functions, e.g. biosensing and drug carriers. The current interest focuses on profiling cell surface proteins at super resolution level. 2) Sensing molecular events in living cells we have developing red, far red and near infrared fluorescent protein molecular sensing systems (BiFC, TriFC, etc.) and "color virus" to achieve the visualization of molecular interactions in living cells and in vivo. The current interests include constructing cell sensors for detection of toxicity of chemicals at subcellular level and building molecular sensors for study of 3D genomics. 3) Biosensors We have developed a series of biosensor and biochips, including microbial sensors, multiple/cascade enzyme electrodes, gene optode, Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteome microarray for environmental monitoring, bioprocess control, clinical diagnosis and new biomarkers screening. The current study emphasizes portability and flexibility of biosensors. 4) Microbial enzymology for biosensors we have exploited and engineered a number of microbial enzymes to built some unique methods for improving biosensor performance, e.g. orientation control of enzyme immobilization, homogeneity of biosensor surface, enhanced electron transfer between enzyme molecules and the electrode, cascade enzyme sensors, etc. We continue to promote the research in this area