X.J. Meng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Research Interest:
Molecular Virology
Synopsis:
Dr. Meng’s research focuses on emerging, re-emerging and zoonotic viruses that are of human and veterinary public health importance, and specifically on delineating the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and cross-species infection and developing effective viral vaccines.
Description:
Dr. Meng's lab studies the molecular mechanisms of viral replication and pathogenesis, as well as the development of vaccines against emerging, re-emerging and zoonotic viral diseases. Viruses currently being studied in the Meng's lab include the hepatitis E virus (human, swine, avian, and rabbit HEVs), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Dr. Meng’s group discovered swine hepatitis E virus from pigs and avian hepatitis E viruses from chickens, which led to the recognition of human hepatitis E as a zoonotic disease. His lab also invented the first U.S. Department of Agriculture, fully licensed, commercial vaccine that is currently on the global market, against porcine circovirus type 2.