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| Name |
Meng, Xiang-Jin |
| Location
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Primary Field
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Animal, Nutritional and Applied Microbial Sciences |
| Secondary Field
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Microbial Biology |
 Election Citation
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Hepatitis E was long known as a human disease. Meng's discovery of two animal hepatitis viruses revolutionized the field and led a paradigmshift that recognized hepatitis E as a zoonotic disease transmissible from animals to humans. Meng also developed the first USDA-licensed vaccine against porcine circovirus, a deadly emerging virus. |
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Research Interests
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Meng's laboratory focuses on studying the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and developing effective vaccines against emerging, re-emerging, and zoonotic viruses of veterinary and human public health importance. Viruses currently being studied in the Meng?s lab include the hepatitis E viruses (HEV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), torque teno sus virus (TTSuV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Meng?s work has led to the development of the first U.S. Department of Agriculture fully-licensed vaccine against porcine circovirus type 2, which is now being used worldwide. Meng's research also led to the discovery of the first animal strain of hepatitis E virus (swine hepatitis E virus) and the recognition of hepatitis E as a zoonotic disease. Currently, the Meng lab is studying the mechanisms of HEV replication and pathogenesis, define the mechanisms of HEV cross-species infection, understand the innate immune responses during HEV infection, and develop vaccines against HEV. Additionally, the Meng lab is studying the structural and functional relationship of virus genes and develop candidate vaccines for a number of important emerging animal viruses including coronaviruses (PEDV and SARS-CoV-2). |
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