Wuji Zhang
Ph.D
Research Assistant Professor
Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences
Contact Information
Tel: +852 2831 5527
Email: wujiz@hku.hk
Address: 7/F Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
Main Objectives and Strategy
Our laboratory investigates T cell immune responses towards circulating and emerging respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses and coronaviruses. We focus on the functionality and cross-reactivity of virus-specific T cells in both peripheral blood and the respiratory tract. A key area of interest is understanding the immune responses in vulnerable populations and identifying correlates of broad and robust T cell immunity across various health and disease conditions.
While T cells primarily recognize peptides derived from internal viral proteins, influenza viruses and coronaviruses can still evade recognition through mutations. Therefore, we aim to explore the interplay between T cells and respiratory viruses, in relation to variations in immune memory.
Selected Publications
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Zhang W, Kedzierski L, Chua BY, Mayo M, Lonzi C, Rigas V, Middleton BF, McQuilten HA, Rowntree LC, Allen LF, Purcell RA, Tan H-X, Petersen J, Chaurasia P, Mordant F, Pogorelyy MV, Minervina AA, Crawford JC, Perkins GB, Zhang E, Gras S, Clemens EB, Juno JA, Audsley J, Khoury DS, Holmes NE, Thevarajan I, Subbarao K, Krammer F, Cheng AC, Davenport MP, Grubor-Bauk B, Coates PT, Christensen B, Thomas PG, Wheatley AK, Kent SJ, Rossjohn J, Chung AW, Boffa J, Miller A, Lynar S, Nelson J, Nguyen THO#, Davies J#, Kedzierska K# (2023). Robust and prototypical immune responses towards COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine in First Nations people are impacted by comorbidities. Nature Immunology 24, 966-978. (Featured on journal cover, highlighted in News & Views and Research Briefing).
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Zhang W, Chua BY, Selva KJ, Kedzierski L, Ashhurst TM, Haycroft ER, Shoffner-Beck SK, Hensen L, Boyd DF, James F, Mouhtouris E, Kwong JC, Chua KYL, Drewett G, Copaescu A, Dobson JE, Rowntree LC, Habel JR, Allen LF, Koay H-F, Neil JA, Gartner MJ, Lee CY, Andersson P, Khan SF, Blakeway L, Wisniewski J, McMahon JH, Vine EE, Cunningham AL, Audsley J, Thevarajan I, Seemann T, Sherry NL, Amanat F, Krammer F, Londrigan SL, Wakim LM, King NJC, Godfrey DI, Mackay LK, Thomas PG, Nicholson S, Arnold KB, Chung AW, Holmes NE, Smibert OC, Trubiano JA#, Gordon CL#, Nguyen THO#, Kedzierska K# (2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection results in immune responses in the respiratory tract and peripheral blood that suggest mechanisms of disease severity. Nature Communications 13, 2774. (Selected in “COVID-19” Collection).
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Zhang W, Rowntree LC, Muttucumaru R, Damelang T, Aban M, Hurt AC, Auladell M, Esterbauer R, Wines B, Hogarth M, Turner SJ, Wheatley AK, Kent SJ, Patil S, Avery S, Morrissey O, Chung AW, Koutsakos M#, Nguyen THO#, Cheng AC#, Kotsimbos TC#, Kedzierska K# (2023). Robust immunity to influenza vaccination in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients following reconstitution of humoral and adaptive immunity. Clinical & Translational Immunology 12, e1456. (Selected as “Top 10 Articles” of the year in CTI).
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Zhang W, Clemens EB, Kedzierski L, Chua BY, Mayo M, Lonzi C, Hinchcliff A, Rigas V, Middleton BF, Binks P, Rowntree LC, Allen LF, Tan H-X, Petersen J, Chaurasia P, Krammer F, Wheatley AK, Kent SJ, Rossjohn J, Miller A, Lynar S, Nelson J, Nguyen THO#, Davies J#, Kedziersk K# (2023). Broad spectrum SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity in hospitalized First Nations peoples recovering from COVID-19. Immunology & Cell Biology 101, 964-97.
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Nguyen THO*, Rowntree LC*, Allen LF* et al. (2023). Robust SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses with common TCRαβ motifs toward COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematological malignancy impacting B cells. Cell Reports Medicine 4, 101017.
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Zhang E et al. (2023). Robust SARS-CoV-2 antibody and T cell immunity following three COVID-19 vaccine doses in inflammatory bowel disease patients receiving anti-TNF or alternative treatments. Gut gutjnl-2022-329136.
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Nguyen THO*, Rowntree LC*, Petersen J* et al. (2021). CD8+ T cells specific for an immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid epitope display high naive precursor frequency and TCR promiscuity. Immunity 54, 1066-1082.e1065.
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Koutsakos M*, Rowntree LC*, Hensen L*, Chua BY*, van de Sandt CE* et al. (2021). Integrated immune dynamics define correlates of COVID-19 severity and antibody responses. Cell Reports Medicine 2, 100208.
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Chappell KJ et al. (2021). Safety and immunogenicity of an MF59-adjuvanted spike glycoprotein-clamp vaccine for SARS-CoV-2: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 21, 1383-1394.
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Habel JR et al. (2020). Suboptimal SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell response associated with the prominent HLA-A*02:01 phenotype. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 117, 24384-24391.
Biosketch
Dr Wuji Zhang completed his PhD and postdoctoral training (2020-2025) in Professor Katherine Kedzierska’s Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. His research focuses on humoral and cellular immune responses to infections and vaccinations of circulating and emerging respiratory viruses.
Wuji’s research efforts have been recognized with several awards, including the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad (China Scholarship Council), the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Research (University of Melbourne) and the QIAGEN PhD Achievement Award (University of Melbourne).
Work Experience
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2024-2025 Research Officer, Kedzierska Laboratory, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Education
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2020-2024 Doctor of Philosophy, Kedzierska Laboratory, University of Melbourne
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2019 Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours), Kedzierska Laboratory, University of Melbourne
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2016-2018 Bachelor of Biomedicine, University of Melbourne
Join Us!
The Zhang Lab is looking for a highly motivated and talented Research Postgraduate student to join our team and conduct research on viral infections and T cell immunology. For more information, please visit this link.
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For inquiries, please contact wujiz@hku.hk.