Our laboratory has a broad interest in understanding the molecular, structural, and cellular mechanisms of how bacterial toxins and effector proteins target and disrupt critical cellular functions. Along these lines of basic research, we are also keen in translating our insights and knowledge toward developing new scientific tools and novel therapeutics.
Dong Lab
Bacterial Toxin Biology and Therapeutics
Lab News
Ying's paper on Vsg as a Tc toxin receptor is published on Nature
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CRISPR screens in Drosophila cells identify Vsg as a Tc toxin receptor
September 2022
Shin’s paper on delivery of nanobody into motor neurons for treating botulism is published on Science Translational Medicine as its cover story
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January 2021
The project on directed evolution of botulinum neurotoxin proteases, led by our collaborator David Liu’s lab, has resulted in a publication on Science
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Phase-assisted evolution of botulinum neurotoxin proteases with reprogrammed specificity.
February 2021
Hatim's paper on investigating the receptors for botulinum neurotoxins in vivo using knock-in mouse models is published on PloS Pathogen.
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October 2021
Songhai and Yang's paper on developing toxin-derived Cas9 and Cas13 delivery tools is published on Cell Reports
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Targeted intracellular delivery of Cas13 and Cas9 nucleases using bacterial toxin-based platforms.
March 2022
Xiaozhe and Songhai's paper on this new family of pore-forming toxins found in Enerococcus is published on Cell
Full article:
Emerging enterococcus pore-forming toxin with MHC/HLA-1 as receptors
March 2022
Aina's paper on C. difficile toxin B fragment as a breast cancer tumor growth suppressor is published on PloS Biology
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September 2023
John's paper on C. difficile toxin B targeting neurons and pericytes to drive neurogenic inflammation is published on Nature
Full article:
C. difficile intoxicates neurons and pericytes to drive neurogenic inflammation
September 2023