研究方向 1. 粘細(xì)菌發(fā)育生物學(xué) 主要以粘細(xì)菌為模型研究多細(xì)胞結(jié)構(gòu)形態(tài)發(fā)生。粘細(xì)菌是最簡單的具有多細(xì)胞發(fā)育結(jié)構(gòu)的生物體之一，在生命的起源上要先于簡單多細(xì)胞無脊椎動物。粘細(xì)菌發(fā)育生物學(xué)有兩個(gè)問題令人關(guān)注。一是細(xì)胞間的通訊，由于粘細(xì)菌的發(fā)育涉及數(shù)萬個(gè)細(xì)胞的相互作用，因此細(xì)胞間對話是多細(xì)胞形態(tài)發(fā)生正常進(jìn)行的基礎(chǔ)，然而迄今為止該細(xì)菌細(xì)胞間對話通路仍不完整、清晰。二是發(fā)育相關(guān)基因包括非編碼RNA的克隆、調(diào)控及功能分析，時(shí)空調(diào)控及功能分析強(qiáng)調(diào)在不同層次特別是在整體水平進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)性研究。本實(shí)驗(yàn)室利用生物化學(xué)、組學(xué)、分子遺傳學(xué)等實(shí)驗(yàn)技術(shù)，圍繞上述兩個(gè)中心問題探討粘細(xì)菌發(fā)育的分子機(jī)制。最近我們在粘細(xì)菌中鑒定了一條chaperone/usher(CU)蛋白分泌通路，CU通路與菌毛生物合成相關(guān)。我們正在研究粘細(xì)菌CU通路介導(dǎo)蛋白分泌的分子過程和調(diào)節(jié)機(jī)制，這不僅有助于揭示該模式生物發(fā)育分化路徑，同時(shí)也有助于理解菌毛這一細(xì)胞表面黏附性致病因子的組裝機(jī)制，為抗感染藥物研制提供新思路。 2. 炎癥性自身免疫病 主要以類風(fēng)濕性關(guān)節(jié)炎（RA）為代表。RA是常見的慢性進(jìn)行性炎癥性自身免疫病，其病理特征為炎性細(xì)胞增生浸潤為主的滑膜炎癥并侵及軟骨和骨，導(dǎo)致關(guān)節(jié)破壞、功能障礙甚至殘廢，在我國RA患病率超過0.3%，全球患病率達(dá)0.5%。RA一直無特效療法，1998年全球第一個(gè)治療RA的生物制劑—TNFα單抗的誕生使RA治療取得突破性的進(jìn)展，但TNFα阻斷劑僅在60-70% RA患者顯示療效，且這種治療作用往往只是部分改善關(guān)節(jié)炎癥和骨質(zhì)損傷。本實(shí)驗(yàn)室致力于RA發(fā)病分子機(jī)制研究，以發(fā)現(xiàn)、鑒定新的RA診斷標(biāo)記和治療靶標(biāo)。
近期論文（通訊作者）
1. Xiaohua Mao#, Zhenyi Su#, Adnan K. Mookhtiar. Long non-coding RNA: a versatile regulator of the NF-κB signaling circuit.Immunology 2017, 150(4):379-388. 2. Gui Zhao, Zhenyi Su, Dan Song, Yimin Mao, Xiaohua Mao. The long noncoding RNA MALAT1 regulates the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation response through its interaction with NF-kB. FEBS Lett. 2016, 590:2884. 3. Daoyong Wang, Shihui Xu, Dan Song, Stefan Knight, Xiaohua Mao.A gene encoding a potential adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate kinase is necessary for timely development of Myxococcus xanthus. Microbiology 2016, 162(4):672-83. 4. Shanshan Cao, Miaomiao Wu, Shihui Xu, Xiuwen Yan, Xiaohua Mao. Identification of a putative flavin adenine dinucleotide-binding monooxygenase as a regulator for Myxococcus xanthus development. J Bacterioal 2015, 197(7):1185-1196. 5. Juanli Duan, Jinlai Dong, Tiantian Zhang, Zhenyi Su, Jie Ding, Yu Zhang, Xiaohua Mao. Polyethyleneimine-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles for systemic siRNA delivery in experimental arthritis. Nanomedicine 2014; 9(6):789. 6. Miaomiao Wu, Shihui Xu, Wei Zhu, Xiaohua Mao. The archaic chaperone-usher pathways may depend on donor strand exchange for intersubunit interactions. Microbiology 2014; 160:2200. 7. Wei Zhu, Miaomiao Wu, Shanshan Cao, Yongxing Peng, Xiaohua Mao. Characterization of McuB, a periplasmic chaperone-like protein involved in the assembly of Myxococcus spore coat. J Bacteriol. 2013;195(13):3105-14. 8. Tiantian Zhang, Xuehua Bai, Xiaohua Mao. Systemic Delivery of Small Interfering RNA Targeting the Interleukin-2/15 Receptor β Chain Prevents Disease Progression in Experimental Arthritis. PLoS ONE 2013; 8(11): e78619. 9. Xiaoyan Leng, Wei Zhu,Jing Jin, Xiaohua Mao. Evidence that a chaperone–usher-like pathway of Myxococcus xanthus functions in spore coat formation. Microbiology 2011, 157:1886–1896 10. Deling Wang, Xianglei Deng, Xiaoyan Leng, Xiaohua Mao. Interleukin-15 receptor-directed immunotoxins atteunuate disease severity in rat adjuvant arthritis. Mol Immunol 2010, 47:1535-43
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