Laboratory of Pathogen Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Welcome to the official repository of the Laboratory of Pathogen Research at West China Hospital, Sichuan University.

About Us

At the Laboratory of Pathogen Research, we are committed to advancing the understanding of pathogens and their implications for human health. Our research emphasizes bacterial genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Research Focus

Our lab is engaged in cutting-edge research across the following domains:

1. Optimizing Methods for Pathogen Discovery: Enhancing techniques such as metagenomics to identify the etiology of infectious diseases.
2. Antimicrobial Resistance in Clinically Important Pathogens: Investigating resistance mechanisms and the spread of resistance in pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa against critical antimicrobial agents including carbapenems, polymyxins, and avibactam combinations.
3. Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile: Exploring the molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infections.
4. Hospital Infection Outbreak Investigation and Control: Conducting research on hospital infection outbreak investigations and strategies for infection prevention and control.

Principal Investigators

• Prof. Zhiyong Zong - Principal Investigator, Doctoral Supervisor, and Director of the Laboratory
  Research Focus: Pathogen infection and antimicrobial resistance

  1. Optimizing methods like metagenomics to identify the etiology of infectious diseases.
  2. Investigating resistance mechanisms and the transmission of resistance in clinically important pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex, etc.) against key antimicrobial agents (carbapenems, polymyxins, avibactam combinations).
  3. Hospital infection outbreak investigation and research on hospital infection prevention and control.

• Prof. Xiaohui Wang - Principal Investigator, Doctoral Supervisor
  Research Focus: Basic and clinical aspects of pathogenic microorganisms

  1. Rapid molecular diagnosis of infectious disease pathogens, including metagenomic sequencing.
  2. Research on the pathogenesis, resistance mechanisms, and molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile.
  3. Study of resistance mechanisms, transmission of resistance, and biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii.
  4. Research on the pathogenesis and resistance of Ureaplasma species.

Selected Publications

Here are some of our recent publications:

• Fang, Q., Yin, X., He, Y., Feng, Y., Zhang, L., Luo, H., Yin, G., McNally, A., & Zong, Z. (2024). Safety and efficacy of phage application in bacterial decolonisation: a systematic review. Lancet Microbe, 5(5), e489-e499. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2666-5247(24)00002-8
• Feng, Y., Fang, Q., Luo, H., Li, J., Yin, X., & Zong, Z. (2024). Safety and efficacy of a phage cocktail on murine wound infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 63(2), 107088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107088
• Feng, Y., & Zong, Z. (2024). Distribution of IncX3 plasmids in bacteria. Lancet Microbe, 5(7), 629. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2666-5247(24)00050-8
• Hu, Y., Yang, Y., Feng, Y., Fang, Q., Wang, C., Zhao, F., McNally, A., & Zong, Z. (2023). Prevalence and clonal diversity of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae causing neonatal infections: A systematic review of 128 articles across 30 countries. PLoS Med, 20(6), e1004233. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004233
• Liu, X., Zhao, Z., & Zong, Z. (2024). Precise geographical distribution and call for accurate identification of histoplasmosis cases in China. Lancet Microbe, 100943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanmic.2024.07.006
• Long, H., Zhao, F., Feng, Y., & Zong, Z. (2024). Global distribution of bla^CMY-42, a gene mediating reduced susceptibility to aztreonam-avibactam and ceftazidime-avibactam, in Escherichia coli. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 63(5), 107141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107141
• Ma, K., Feng, Y., McNally, A., & Zong, Z. (2023). Hijacking a small plasmid to confer high-level resistance to aztreonam-avibactam and ceftazidime-avibactam. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 62(5), 106985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106985
• Quan, M., Zhang, X., Fang, Q., Lv, X., Wang, X., & Zong, Z. (2024). Fighting against Clostridioides difficile infection: Current medications. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 64(1), 107198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107198
• Wang, J., Feng, Y., & Zong, Z. (2023a). The Origins of ST11 KL64 Klebsiella pneumoniae: a Genome-Based Study. Microbiol Spectr, 11(2), e0416522. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04165-22
• Wang, J., Feng, Y., & Zong, Z. (2023b). Worldwide transmission of ST11-KL64 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: an analysis of publicly available genomes. mSphere, 8(4), e0017323. https://doi.org/10.1128/msphere.00173-23
• Wu, S., Feng, Y., Yang, Y., Zhu, K., Wang, S., Wang, X., Li, G. B., & Zong, Z. (2023). Characterization of a novel carbapenem-hydrolysing β-lactamase OXA-1041 in Escherichia coli. J Antimicrob Chemother, 78(5), 1288-1294. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkad091
• Yang, Y., Yan, Y. H., Schofield, C. J., McNally, A., Zong, Z., & Li, G. B. (2023). Metallo-β-lactamase-mediated antimicrobial resistance and progress in inhibitor discovery. Trends Microbiol, 31(7), 735-748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2023.01.013

Learn More

For detailed information about our lab, ongoing research projects, and team members, visit our homepage.