Mei Zhong, PhD
Associate Research Scientist in Cell BiologyCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Large-scale, spatially resolved panoramic CRISPR screening in native tissue environments using Perturb-DBiT
Baysoy A, Tian X, Renauer P, Zhang F, Bai Z, Shi H, Yang M, Zhang D, Liu M, Li H, Tao B, Enninful A, Lu Y, Gao F, Wang G, Zhang W, Tran T, Patterson N, Sheng J, Bao S, Dong C, Xin S, Chen B, Zhong M, Rankin S, Guy C, Wang Y, Connelly J, Pruett-Miller S, Wang D, Xu M, Gerstein M, Chi H, Chen S, Fan R. Large-scale, spatially resolved panoramic CRISPR screening in native tissue environments using Perturb-DBiT. Nature Biotechnology 2026, 1-14. PMID: 42277225, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-026-03127-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProtein-coding RNAsMicroRNA-mRNA interactionsRNA regulationCRISPR screensWhole-transcriptomeRNA transcriptomeNative tissue environmentPseudotime trajectoriesColonization modelRNAScreened in vivoClonal dynamicsComplex tissuesTranscriptomeImpact of perturbationsSgRNATumor migrationSections in situTissue sections in situTissue environmentMouse modelTumor immune microenvironmentSyngeneic mouse modelSynergistic effectComprehensive viewGenetic dissection of clinical heterogeneity in Hemoglobin H patients by targeted long-read sequencing
Ye Y, Niu C, Mao A, Chen L, Qin L, Chen W, Liu Z, Xie T, Long Y, Shang X, Huang Y, Zhang Q, Chen L, Luo H, Li Y, Lu Y, Liu Y, Liao L, Cai J, Liu R, Zhang X, Zeng L, Li Y, Chen J, Zhong Z, Fang J, Li X, Yang X, Lin B, Li K, Hua X, Huang B, Qin H, Huang Y, Huang Z, Lao J, Qu X, Chen J, Feng X, Liu Q, Lin W, Zhou X, Liang Y, Long X, Qin J, Yan L, Zhu W, Yu L, Fan C, Tang D, Zhong T, Tan J, Ren Z, Gao Y, Xu X. Genetic dissection of clinical heterogeneity in Hemoglobin H patients by targeted long-read sequencing. Journal Of Genetics And Genomics 2026 PMID: 42035796, DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2026.04.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-read sequencingGenetic dissectionHeterogeneous clinical severityLong sequencing readsA-globin geneHbH patientsHemoglobin H (HbH) diseaseTranscription factor BCL11AA-thalassemiaT-LRSHaplotype phasingGene clusterGenomic variantsHbH diseaseLow serum ferritinReporter gene assayErythroid genesSevere clinical manifestationsFunction mutationsMild clinical symptomsPhenotypic analysisHaplotypesCo-inheritanceGenetic defectsSerum ferritinCorrigendum “Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits non-small cell lung cancer via promotion of Prdx6- and caspase-3-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis” [Biomed. Pharmacother., 173 (2024) 116304]
Guo Q, Zhao M, Wang Q, Lu T, Luo P, Chen L, Xia F, Pang H, Shen S, Cheng G, Dai C, Meng Y, Zhong T, Qiu C, Wang J. Corrigendum “Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits non-small cell lung cancer via promotion of Prdx6- and caspase-3-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis” [Biomed. Pharmacother., 173 (2024) 116304]. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 2026, 196: 119162. PMID: 41748410, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2026.119162.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2025
Generation of human pineal gland organoids with melatonin production for disease modeling
Kiral F, Yang W, Iyilikci O, Lu X, Kim J, Choe M, Lo C, Zhong M, Kim K, Jiang Y, Park I. Generation of human pineal gland organoids with melatonin production for disease modeling. Cell Stem Cell 2025, 33: 91-107.e9. PMID: 41475351, PMCID: PMC12925488, DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2025.12.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle-cell RNA sequencingAngelman syndromePineal developmentCell therapy approachesPatient-derived iPSCsRNA sequencingTranscriptome profilingPluripotent stem cellsSleep-related disordersCircadian regulationPineal glandMelatonin productionAdrenergic receptorsPinealectomized micePhysiological regulationHuman studiesTissue accessStem cellsDevelopmental pathologyMelatonin synthesisDisease modelsDisease-related impairmentMelatoninCircadian rhythmRegulationSpatial dynamics of brain development and neuroinflammation
Zhang D, Rubio Rodríguez-Kirby L, Lin Y, Wang W, Song M, Wang L, Wang L, Kanatani S, Jimenez-Beristain T, Dang Y, Zhong M, Kukanja P, Bao S, Wang S, Chen X, Gao F, Wang D, Xu H, Ma C, Lou X, Liu Y, Chen J, Sestan N, Uhlén P, Kriegstein A, Zhao H, Castelo-Branco G, Fan R. Spatial dynamics of brain development and neuroinflammation. Nature 2025, 647: 213-227. PMID: 41193846, PMCID: PMC12589135, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09663-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrain developmentPostnatal day 0Chromatin accessibilitySpatial dynamicsTranscription factorsOmics informationMyelin genesDevelopmental processesProjection neuronsNeuroinflammation mouse modelMolecular programsMouse modelDisease-related alterationsTransient activationLesion coreCorpus callosumMultiplexed immunofluorescence imagesSequenceDevelopmental timepointsSpatial remodelingDay 0Mouse brainDynamics of brain developmentImmunofluorescence imagingNeuroinflammationImpact of transferrin levels on iron accumulation in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia: A genotype-specific analysis
Liang Y, Zhang X, Huang B, Huang Y, Liao L, Huang Y, Huang K, Lao J, Feng X, Lin B, Long X, Liu Z, Zhu W, Yu L, Tang D, Zhong T, Ye Y, Xu X. Impact of transferrin levels on iron accumulation in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia: A genotype-specific analysis. Journal Of Medical Biochemistry 2025, 44: 1575-1589. PMID: 41281279, PMCID: PMC12639517, DOI: 10.5937/jomb0-54839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTransfusion-dependent beta-thalassemiaTransfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patientsSerum ferritinRestricted cubic splinesBeta-thalassemiaSF riskTransferrin levelsIron overloadRDW-CVRestricted cubic spline analysisRed cell distribution width coefficientSecondary iron overloadSevere clinical phenotypeGenotype-phenotype analysisIron accumulationBlood cell countDose-response relationshipCross-sectional studyTransfusion requirementsAssociated with transferrinFetal hemoglobinPotential therapeutic targetRed blood cell countB-thalassemiaReticulocyte countRadiofrequency regulates the BET-mediated pathways in radial glia differentiation in human cortical development
Cakir B, Tanaka Y, Choe M, Kiral F, Kim J, Micali N, Kang Y, Dharmadhikari B, Patterson B, Yang W, Cho Y, Xiang Y, Zhong M, Lee S, Patra P, Rakic P, Park I. Radiofrequency regulates the BET-mediated pathways in radial glia differentiation in human cortical development. Cell Reports 2025, 44: 116238. PMID: 40997800, PMCID: PMC12959456, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116238.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman cortical organoidsHuman embryonic stem cellsExpression of human endogenous retrovirusesBrain developmentStem Cell Self-RenewalRadial glia progenitorsNeural Stem Cell Self-RenewalCell Self-RenewalHuman cortical developmentHuman endogenous retrovirusesEmbryonic stem cellsStem cell identityCortical developmentGlia progenitorsPrenatal stressSelf-RenewalStem cellsCortical organoidsNon-genetic factorsGlia differentiationDevelopmental defectsEndogenous retrovirusesBrainRadiofrequencyDelayed differentiationFeasibility of machine learning–based modeling and prediction to assess osteosarcoma outcomes
Zhao Q, Hu W, Xia Y, Dai S, Wu X, Chen J, Yuan X, Zhong T, Xi X, Wang Q. Feasibility of machine learning–based modeling and prediction to assess osteosarcoma outcomes. Scientific Reports 2025, 15: 17386. PMID: 40389469, PMCID: PMC12089500, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-00179-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene signatureLow-risk score groupIncreased metastasis riskLow-risk patientsSensitive to immunotherapyUnivariate Cox regression analysisReduced immune infiltrationCox regression analysisPersonalized therapeutic strategiesAggressive bone malignancyOsteosarcoma outcomesPersonalized treatment strategiesHigh-risk scoreOverall survivalHigher mortality rateProlonged survivalMetastasis riskMulticenter cohortImmune infiltrationPoor prognosisRisk stratificationC-indexDrug sensitivityClinical managementPrognostic toolNanobody Engineered and Photosensitiser Loaded Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles Potentiate Antitumour Immunity and Immunotherapy
Xia P, Qu C, Xu X, Tian M, Li Z, Ma J, Hou R, Li H, Rückert F, Zhong T, Zhao L, Yuan Y, Wang J, Li Z. Nanobody Engineered and Photosensitiser Loaded Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles Potentiate Antitumour Immunity and Immunotherapy. Journal Of Extracellular Vesicles 2025, 14: e70069. PMID: 40240911, PMCID: PMC12003094, DOI: 10.1002/jev2.70069.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor-associated macrophagesStimulator of interferon genesOuter membrane vesiclesStimulator of interferon genes agonistsSTING activationCyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-STING pathwayNatural stimulationBacterial outer membrane vesiclesInnate immune systemCD47 blockadeAntitumour immunityTumor immunotherapyImmunotherapeutic strategiesMetastatic tumorsTumor selectivityTumor inhibitionImmune memoryCadherin-17TumorCancer cellsCancer treatmentImmune systemInterferon genesCancerClinical applicationFunctional Validation of Alcohol Dependence-Associated FYN Variants Using Gene Editing and Stem Cell Study Approaches
Cakir B, Tanaka Y, Choe M, Chu P, Xiang Y, Kim K, Zhong M, Gelernter J, Zhang H, Krystal J, Park I. Functional Validation of Alcohol Dependence-Associated FYN Variants Using Gene Editing and Stem Cell Study Approaches. International Journal Of Stem Cells 2025, 18: 263-274. PMID: 40205763, PMCID: PMC12394083, DOI: 10.15283/ijsc24123.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman embryonic stem cell linesAlcohol dependenceAD-associated variantsEmbryonic stem cell linesReporter gene analysisFyn tyrosine kinase geneTyrosine kinase geneStem cell linesCRISPR-Cas9 editingAssociated with ADVulnerability to ADAD-associatedKinase geneC alleleC/T allelesMultiple polymorphismsFunctional validationGene analysisEthanol treatmentNeuropsychiatric disordersInduced neuronsAD treatmentGene editingCell linesDisease mechanisms
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email