Brief Biography

Dr. Zhirong xingkong星空集团官网 is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, where he supervises Ph.D. students and heads an independent research group. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Xiamen University in 2013. Afterwards, he carried out postdoctoral research at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC) in France. He joined the School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology in December 2023 and established his independent research group. His longterm research focuses on the mechanisms of human immune activation and the development of novel immunotherapeutic technologies. He has achieved a series of original research findings, which have been published as first author or cocorresponding author (including coauthorship) in journals such as Nature Immunology, Science Immunology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, American Journal of Transplantation and Journal of Immunology. He has also published collaborative papers in Science, Nature xingkong星空集团官网 Biology, Nature Metabolism, Nature Communications, xingkong星空集团官网 Reports and other journals. His total citations exceed 3,000 according to Google Scholar.

Educational Background

- 09/2007-07/2013, Ph.D. in Zoology, Xiamen University

- 09/2003-07/2007, B.S. in Biotechnology (Base Class), Inner Mongolia University

Work Experience

- 12/2023-Present, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China

- 09/2013-11/2023, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), France

Awards & Research Projects

- Shenzhen Medical Research Fund, General Project, 2026

- National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), General Program, 2025

- Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation, General Program, 2025

- USIAS Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2017

- EMBO Meeting Travel Grant, Mannheim, Germany, 2016

- EFSD/CDS/Lilly Research Fellowship, 2013

Research Interests

Combining multidisciplinary approaches, including molecular biology, xingkong星空集团官网 biology, genetics, biochemistry, and structural biology, we are aiming to explore 1) mechanisms underlying innate immunity activation (inflammasome complex assembly and activation); 2) host-pathogen interaction; 3) pathological mechanisms of infectious diseases.

Publications

[27]Li X^*, xingkong星空集团官网 Z^*, xingkong星空集团官网 Y, xingkong星空集团官网 L, Huang A, Chen W, xingkong星空集团官网 W, Li C, Wei H, Zheng C, Liu J, Liu Q. Transmembrane protein 16F-chloride intracellular channel 1 interaction mediates recipient dendritic xingkong星空集团官网 cross-decoration after transplantation. xingkong星空集团官网ericanJournal of Transplantation. 2025 Dec 24:S1600-6135(25)03190-9. (*共同第一作者).

[26]Jia T, Li F, Li T, Ren A, Lu P, Liu Y, Zhou Y, Duan X, Liu Y, Zhong L, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Tan CSH, Yang L. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing metabolite manipulates macrophage ferroptosis through a methylation pathway. NatureCommunications 2025;16(1):9992.

[25]Dai K, xingkong星空集团官网 J, Wang C, Huang J, Yang H, Shuai S, Yan R, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Zheng Z, Qin G, xingkong星空集团官网 C. Advancements in bioorthogonal chemistry and click reactions for labeling and tracking extracellular vesicles in tissue homeostasis research. Oral Science and Homeostatic Medicine2025, 1:9610007

[24]Ran L^*, Ye T, Erbs E, Ehl S, Spassky N, Sumara I, xingkong星空集团官网 Z^*#, Ricci R^#. KCNN4 links PIEZO-dependent mechanotransduction to NLRP3 inflammasome. Science Immunology 2023 Dec 22;8(90):eadf4699. (#共同通讯作者； *共同第一作者).

[23]xingkong星空集团官网 Z^#*, Venditti R^*, Ran L, Liu Z, Vivot K, Schurmann A, Bonifacino J, de Matteis A^#, Ricci R^#. Distinct changes in endosomal composition promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Nature Immunolxingkong星空集团官网 2023; 24(1):30-41. (#共同通讯作者； *共同第一作者).

[22] xingkong星空集团官网 Z^#, Ricci R^#. Hijacking the NLRP3 inflammasome: a mechanism underlying viral respiratory disease? EMBO Reports 2020; 21(7): e50645. (#共同通讯作者).

[21]xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Meszaros G, He W, Xu Y, de Fatima Magliarelli H, Mailly L, Mihlan M, Liu Y, Gámez M, Goginashvili A, Pasquier A, Bielska O, Neven B, Quartier A, Aebersold R, Baument TF, Georgel P, xingkong星空集团官网 J, Ricci R. Protein kinase D at the Golgi controls NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Journal of Experimental Medicine 2017; 214 (9): 2671-2693.

[20]xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Xu X, Ma J, Wu J, Wang Y, Zhou R, xingkong星空集团官网, J. Gene deletion of Gabarap enhances Nlrp3 inflammasome-dependent inflammatory responses. Journal ofImmunolxingkong星空集团官网 2013; 190(7):3517-24.

[19] Goginashvili A, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Erbs E, Spiegelhalter C, Kessler P, Mihlan M, Pasquier A, Krupina K, Schieber N, Cinque L, Morvan J, Sumara I, Schwab Y, Settembre C, Ricci R. Insulin secretory granules control autophagy in pancreatic β cells. Science 2015; 347:878–882.

[18] Vivot K, Pangou E, Meszaros G, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Erbs E, Yeghiazaryan G, Quiñones M, Grandgirard E, Schneider A, Clauss-Creusot E, Charlet A, Faour M, Martin C, Luquet E, Kloppenburg P, Nogueiras R, Ricci R. CaMK1D signaling in AgRP neurons promotes ghrelin-mediated food intake. Nature Metabolism 2023, 5(6): 1045-1058.

[17]Liao Y, Andronov L, Liu X, Lin J, Guerber L, Lu L, Agote-Arán A, Pangou E, Ran L, Kleiss C, Qu M, Schmucker S, Cirillo L, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Riveline D, Gotta M, Klaholz BP, Sumara I. UBAP2L ensures homeostasis of nuclear pore complexes at the intact nuclear envelope. Journal of xingkong星空集团官网 Biology 2024; 223(7):e202310006

[16] Niu T, De Rosny C, Chautard S, Rey A, Patoli D, Groslambert M, Cosson C, Lagrange B,xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Visvikis O, Hacot S, Hologne M, Walker O, Wong J, Wang P, Ricci R, Henry T, Boyer L, Petrilli V, Py B. NLRP3 phosphorylation in its LRR domain critically regulates inflammasome assembly. Nature Communications 2021; 12(1):5862

[15] Pangou E*, Bielska O*, Guerber L, Schmucker S, Agote-Aran Arantxa, Ye T, Liao Y, Puig-Gamez M, Grandgirard E, Kleiss C, Liu Y, Compe E, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Aebersold R, Ricci R^#, Sumara I^#. A PKD-MFF signaling axis couples mitochondrial fission to mitotic progression. xingkong星空集团官网 Reports 2021; 35(7):109129. (^#corresponding authors; ^*equal contribution)

[14] Pasquier A, Vivot K, Erbs E, Spiegelhalter C, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Aubert V, Liu Z, Senkara M, Maillard E, Pinget M, Kerr-Conte J, Pattou F, Marciniak G, Ganzhorn A, Ronchi P, Schieber N, Schwab Y, Saftig P, Goginashvili A^#, Ricci R^#. Lysosomal degradation of newly formed insulin granules contributes to β xingkong星空集团官网 failure in diabetes. NatureCommunications 2019;10(1):3312. (^#corresponding authors)

[13] Ma H, Liu Z, Zhong C, Liu Y, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Liang Y, Li J, xingkong星空集团官网 S, xingkong星空集团官网 J. Inactivation of cyclic AMP response element transcription caused by constitutive p38 activation is mediated by hyperphosphorylation-dependent CRTC2 nucleocytoplasmic transport. Molecular andxingkong星空集团官网ularBiolxingkong星空集团官网 2019; 39(9): e00554-18.

[12] Xu Y, Ma H, Fang L, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Shao J, Hong M, Huang C, Liu J, Chen R. Cisplatin-induced necroptosis in TNFα dependent and independent pathways. Cellular Signaling 2017; 31:112-123.

[11] de Fatima Magliarelli H, Matondo M, Mészáros G, Goginashvili A, Erbs E, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Mihlan M, Wolfrum C, Aebersold R, Sumara I, Ricci R. Liver ubiquitome uncovers nutrient-stress-mediated trafficking and secretion of complement C3. xingkong星空集团官网 Death & Diseases 2016; 7(10):e2411.

[10], , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Ppm1b negatively regulates necroptosis through dephosphorylating Rip3. Nature xingkong星空集团官网 Biology 2015 17, 434–444.

[9] Xu Y, Ma H, Shao J, Wu J, Zhou L, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Wang Y, Huang Z, Ren J, Liu S, , . A Role for Tubular Necroptosis in Cisplatin-Induced AKI. Journal of American Society of Nephrology 2015; 26:2647–2658.

[8] Xu X, Leng J, Gao F, Zhao Z, Deng W, Liang X, xingkong星空集团官网 Y, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Li M, Sha A, Yang Z. Differential expression and anti-oxidant function of glutathione peroxidase 3 in mouse uterus during decidualization. FEBS Letters 2014 ; 588: 1580–1589.

[7] Wu J, Huang Z, Ren J, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, He P, Li Y, Ma J, Chen W, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Yang Z, Wu S, Chen L, xingkong星空集团官网 J. Mlkl knockout mice demonstrate the indispensable role of Mlkl in necroptosis. xingkong星空集团官网 Research 2013; 23:994–1006.

[6] Lin J*, Li H*, Yang M, Ren J, Huang Z, xingkong星空集团官网 F, Huang J, Ma J, Zhang D, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, , , , , , , , . A Role of RIP3-Mediated Macrophage Necrosis in Atherosclerosis Development. xingkong星空集团官网 Reports 2013; 3:200-210. (^*equal contribution)

[5] xingkong星空集团官网 X, Liang X, Wang T, Liang X, Zuo R, Deng W, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Qin F, Zhao Z, Yang Z. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) induction on Snail expression during mouse decidualization. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2013; 381:272–279

[4] Lei W, Feng X, Deng W, Ni H, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Jia B, Yang X, Wang T, Liu J, Su R, Liang X, Qi, Q, Yang Z. Progesterone and DNA damage encourage uterine xingkong星空集团官网 proliferation and decidualization through up-regulating ribonucleotide reductase 2 expression during early pregnancy in mice. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2012; 287:15174-15192.

[3] Zhao Z, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Xu X, Deng W, Li M, Leng J, Liang X, Yang Z. Arachidonic acid regulation of the cytosolic phospholipase A 2alpha/cyclooxygenase-2 pathway in mouse endometrial stromal cells. Fertility & Sterility 2012; 97 :1199-1205 e1191-1199.

[2] Tian Z, Zhao Z, Liang X, xingkong星空集团官网 X, Sha A, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Yu Y, Yang, Z. Expression and function of fatty acid-binding protein 4 during mouse decidualization. Fertility & Sterility 2011; 95:2749-2752 e2741-2745.

[1] Su R, Lei W, Liu J, xingkong星空集团官网 Z, Jia B, Feng X, Ren G, Hu S, Yang Z. The integrative analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression in mouse uterus under delayed implantation and activation. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15513.

Patents

Haocheng Lu, Zanxin Wang, Zhirong xingkong星空集团官网. Application of KCNN4 inhibitors in preparing medicaments for preventing and treating abdominal aortic aneurysm and/or delaying disease progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Patent No.: ZL202510637667.0. 25 July 2025.