On December 3, 2024, the academic symposium "From Molecules to Health: A New Horizon of Biochemistry and Infection Immunity", jointly organized by the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART), the Department of Biochemistry at the School of Medicine of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL), successfully took place at the Shenzhen Institute for Talents Development. The symposium explored the intricate relationship between molecular biochemistry and infectious immunity, fostering discussions on groundbreaking research, academic trends, and innovative development in the field.
The event featured over 20 distinguished speakers, including Academician Zihe Rao from Tsinghua University, Academician Fu Gao from the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Haihua Liang from SUSTech’s School of Medicine, and Dr. Zheng Zhang from the Second Affiliated Hospital of SUSTech (The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen). To encourage young talent, the majority of the presenters were emerging researchers, reflecting the dynamic and forward-looking nature of Shenzhen’s scientific institutions. The symposium attracted over 100 participants, including students and researchers.
During the conference, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on biochemistry and infection immunology, sharing new findings and technologies related to molecular structure, biological function, immune pathways, model organisms, and key pathogens, as well as their translational potential. These exchanges fostered academic collaboration, technological innovation, and industrial development in these fields, broadening perspectives from molecular mechanisms to the maintenance of health and well-being.
The symposium began with opening remarks by Professor Hai Rao, Vice Dean of the School of Medicine and Head of the Department of Biochemistry at SUSTech. He extended a warm welcome to all attendees and expressed his hope that the conference would foster collaboration between SUSTech, SMART, SZBL and the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, and ultimately advance health initiatives.
Dr. Xiaojing Pan chaired the first session. Dr. Long Gui provided a detailed overview of key structural changes in the apical complex of Toxoplasma, leveraging cutting-edge techniques such as cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy to reveal invasion mechanisms. Dr. Liang Yang examined bacterial biofilm formation, focusing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and uncovering the role of induced polysaccharide production and T6SS gene expression. He also introduced a human airway organoid model for biofilm-related infections. Dr. Min Zheng discussed inflammatory cell death pathways, identifying ZBP1 as a receptor that triggers pan-apoptosis during viral infections. Dr. Xiaoxiao Jia investigated the role of lipid metabolism in severe influenza, linking the enzyme oleoyl-ACP hydrolase (OLAH) to H7N9 influenza in animal models. Dr. Yuzheng Zhou explored the dual roles of ubiquitination in coronavirus infections, while Dr. Meixin Chen detailed mitochondrial immune responses in defending against pathogens. Dr. Renhong Yan presented structural analyses of critical proteins in enveloped viruses, shedding light on their roles in invasion, replication, and assembly.
After a short break, Dr. Jian Huang moderated the subsequent session. Dr. Xinhai Chen shared his research on antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating how Fcγ modifications can enhance antibody-based immunotherapies in animal models. Dr. Bin Ju analyzed the dynamics of immune evasion and neutralizing antibodies in SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the concept of "original antigenic sin" and proposing new strategies for effective antibody screening. Dr. Guiwei He shared the application of engineered organoid systems as models for human diseases research, focusing on building various models of human digestive organs through engineered organoids technology to conduct research on related diseases. Dr. Liang Li showcased the use of organoid models in biopharmaceutical research, emphasizing their potential for mimicking human microenvironments, studying pathogens, and developing drugs. Additionally, organoids were highlighted as tools for rapid clinical risk assessment and understanding pathogen-host interactions. Finally, Dr. Qiang Su presented high-resolution structures of immune receptor complexes, offering new insights into immune receptor mechanisms.
The afternoon session, led by moderators Dr. Shan Li and Dr. Yang Liu, featured a series of inspiring presentations. Academician Zihe Rao set the tone with his talk titled “The Role of Structural Biologists: Challenges and Boundless Opportunities”, recounting his team’s efforts to unravel the structure of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface proteins and their self-assembly processes. He encouraged young scientists to persevere in their pursuits and carry forward the legacy of collaboration. Dr. Tao Dong discussed the assembly mechanisms of the bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS), highlighting its roles in drug-resistant bacteria and fungi, as well as potential applications. Dr. Qiankun Wang presented findings on the early depletion of CD4 cells during HIV infection, demonstrating through humanized immune-deficient mouse models how the CARD8 inflammasome accelerates this process. He also introduced various mouse models for exploring human immune functions. Dr. Meijing Li showcased how optoelectronically correlated cryo-electron tomography advances our understanding of heterophagy and cochlear hair cell stereocilia structures. Dr. Feng Liu explored behavioral studies on medical insects, including the molecular mechanisms underlying Aedes aegypti's DEET resistance and midges’ ability to detect human odors. Dr. Haihua Liang focused on pathogen-host interactions, emphasizing signal transduction pathways and efforts to screen antiviral drugs.
The final session was moderated by Dr. Zheng Zhang. Academician Fu Gao concluded the session with a keynote and highlighted the crucial need for anticipatory research into potential epidemic pathogens. He discussed his team’s work on coronaviruses and influenza viruses, outlining their development of multiple monoclonal antibodies and vaccine candidates. The Academician underscored the importance of establishing a robust pipeline connecting fundamental research with translational applications and the eventual production of effective medical interventions.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Academician Nieng Yan. She praised the conference for its success and expressed her hope that the platform would continue to foster academic exchange and collaboration, and contribute to the robust development of the biomedical sector in Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, from fundamental research to industrialization.
The engaging presentations by the guest speakers, along with their insights into their research endeavors, inspired attendees to contemplate new points of collaboration. The diverse backgrounds and expertise of the participating scholars and guests from various institutions and disciplines are expected to foster synergistic partnerships and propel the growth of biomedical research within Shenzhen and across the Greater Bay Area. The junior researchers and students in attendance also gained valuable insights from the stimulating discussions.
The "From Molecule to Health: A New Horizon of Biochemistry and Infection Immunity" symposium proved to be a resounding success, providing a valuable platform for exchange between researchers in the field and setting the stage for future research and collaborations. We look forward to the next iteration of this event and to further advances in scientific innovation.
