Prof Dr George F. Gao

Research Priorities: Viral transmission and infection, Viral diseases, Virus glycoproteins, Antiviral therapy, Viral entry, Avian influenza virus, Bunyavirus, Ebola virus, Zika virus, COVID
George Fu Gao is a Chinese virologist and immunologist. He has contributed to understanding of the mechanisms of human infections with viral pathogens, especially the mechanism of virus entry and host immune recognition. He pioneered research on the origin and evolution of a new subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV), H7N9, shortly after the outbreak in China in 2013, and found that it was a reassortment of gene segments from local poultry carrying the H9N2 virus. George Fu Gao also contributed to research on SARS-CoV-2 and other newly emerging and re-emerging viruses.
George F. Gao supports collaborative scientific projects between China and the UK, for which he has already organized the joint work on new bunya virus (severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, SFTSV) and Ebola virus, as well as immunology projects with Oxford. George F. Gao revealed the genesis and evolution of H5N6 AIV in China. Using structural technologies and other biophysical methods, he demonstrated the interspecies transmission (host jump) mechanisms of several human infecting AIVs, including H5N1, H7N9, H6N1 and H10N8 etc., providing scientific support for early warning and alert of flu epidemic.
2013 to 2016, a devastating Ebola virus epidemic occurred in Western Africa. Under George F. Gao’s leadership, the dynamics of Ebola virus evolution in Sierra Leone was reconstructed, indicating that Ebola virus has kept the same mutation rate as what previously observed, which strengthens confidence in ongoing vaccine development. Furthermore, he solved the complex structure of primed Ebola virus GP bound to its endosome-residing receptor Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1), thus proposing a novel fusion triggering mechanism. It is an important breakthrough to the addition of the four well known fusion triggering models and would greatly facilitate rational design of anti-viral drugs.
Following the outbreak of mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) in South America in 2015, George F. Gao reported unique surface features of ZIKV NS1, a molecule that functions in pathogenesis and immune evasion, which may be related to ZIKV neurotropism. Later, George F. Gao showed that ZIKV can cross the blood-testes barrier and infects/damages testis which potentially leads to male infertility in mice. His findings provide new insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of ZIKV diseases in male.
In the case of COVID-19, George F. Gao led the China CDC team determined the pathogen and its genetic code within a week, and quickly a diagnosis kit was developed. This contributed significantly to the fight against COVID-19. He also coordinated the national efforts for identification of the novel coronavirus and the design of the non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) strategies, which resulted in a suppression of COVID-19 epidemic in China. Several human protecting/neutralization monoclonal antibodies against coronavirus have been developed from his team in a very short time.
In summary, George F. Gao's work has significantly advanced our knowledge in the field of emerging pathogens and simultaneously influenced Chinese and global public health policy during disease outbreaks and pandemics.