The Research Group of Fish Comparative Immunology focuses on fish immunology, molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions, innate immune response against pathogen infection, and the mechanisms of pathogen clearance by innate immune receptors.  

Current research interests: 

* Molecular mechanisms of innate immune recognition and signal transduction 

* Functional comparison of innate immune signaling pathways in vertebrates 

* The regulations and mechanisms of alternative splicing isoforms in pathogen infection 

Recent Publications: 

1.      Zhang L, Chen WQ, Hu YW, Wu XM, Nie P, Chang MX*. TBK1-like transcript negatively regulates the production of IFN and IFN-stimulated genes through RLRs-MAVS-TBK1 pathway. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2016;54:135-43. 

2.      Fan Y, Chang MX, Ma J, LaPatra SE, Hu YW, Huang L, Nie P*, Zeng L*. Transcriptomic analysis of the host response to an iridovirus infection in Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus. Vet Res. 2015;46:136. 

3.      Chen WQ, Hu YW, Zou PF, Ren SS, Nie P, Chang MX*. MAVS splicing variants contribute to the induction of interferon and interferon-stimulated genes mediated by RIG-I-like receptors. Dev Comp Immunol. 2015;49(1):19-30. 

4.      Yu ZL, Li JH, Xue NN, Nie P, Chang MX*. Expression and functional characterization of PGRP6 splice variants in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. Dev Comp Immunol. 2014;47(2):264-74. 

5.      Hu YW, Yu ZL, Xue NN, Nie P, Chang MX*. Expression and protective role of two novel NACHT-containing proteins in pathogen infection. Dev Comp Immunol. 2014;46(2):323-32. 

6.      Chang MX, Zou J, Nie P, Huang B, Yu Z, Collet B, Secombes CJ*. Intracellular interferons in fish: a unique means to combat viral infection. PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(11):e1003736. 

7.      Zou PF, Chang MX*, Xue NN, Liu XQ, Li JH, Fu JP, Chen SN, Nie P*. Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 in zebrafish provoking higher interferon-promoter activity through signalling enhancing of its shorter splicing variant. Immunology. 2014;141(2):192-202. 

8.      Li JH, Yu ZL, Xue NN, Zou PF, Hu JY, Nie P, Chang MX*. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of peptidoglycan recognition protein 6 in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. Dev Comp Immunol. 2014;42(2):244-55. 

9.      Wang G, Li J, Zou P, Xie H, Huang B, Nie P, Chang M*. Expression pattern, promoter activity and bactericidal property of β-defensin from the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2012;33(3):522-31. 

10.   Guo HZ, Zou PF, Fu JP, Guo Z, Zhu BK, Nie P, Chang MX*. Characterization of two C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD)-containing proteins from the cDNA library of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2011;30(2):515-24. 

11.   Chang M, Collet B, Nie P*, Lester K, Campbell S, Secombes CJ, Zou J*. Expression and functional characterization of the RIG-I-like receptors MDA5 and LGP2 in Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J Virol. 2011;85(16):8403-12.