Educational Background

  • B.Sc., The University of Hong Kong
  • M.Phil., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Ph.D., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Current Research Interests

  • Research integrates advanced mass spectrometry (MS)-based spatial multi-omics, including imaging (MSI), spatially resolved proteomics, and post-translational modification (PTM) analysis, to advance environmental toxicology and molecular virology. I investigate functional heterogeneity within tissues to decipher mechanisms of disease progression and organ dysfunction, ultimately identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets for precision interventions.
  • Current projects include:
  • 1. Developing an integrative MSI and spatial proteomics platform to map joint heterogeneity in osteoarthritis, uncovering markers for patient stratification and potential therapeutic targets;
  • 2. Investigating tissue-specific bioaccumulation of environmental toxins and defining mechanisms of chronic organ dysfunction;
  • 3. Deciphering PTM networks (e.g., phosphorylation, glycosylation, redox) within tissues to pinpoint drivers of environmental toxin/virus-induced organ damage and resilience, enabling early intervention strategies.

Selected Publications

  1. Rui Shi,# Yanyan Chen,# Wenlong Wu,# Xin Diao, Leijian Chen, Xingxing Liu, Haijiang Wu, Jianing Wang, Lin Zhu,* Zongwei Cai.* Mass Spectrometry-Based Spatial Multiomics Revealed Bioaccumulation Preference and Region-Specific Responses of PFOS in Mice Cardiac Tissue. Environmental Science & Technology, 2025, 59, 4, 1957–1968.
  2. Yingyan Zhou, Cun Li, Yanyan Chen, Yifei Yu, Xin Diao, Raymond Chiu, Jiacheng Fang, Yuting Shen, Jianing Wang, Lin Zhu,* Jie Zhou,* Zongwei Cai.* Human Airway Organoids and Multimodal Imaging-based Toxicity Evaluation of 1-Nitropyrene. Environmental Science & Technology, 2024, 58, 14, 6083–92.
  3. Guangshan Xie#, Lin Zhu#,* Siwen Liu#, Cun Li, Xin Diao, Yanhao Zhang, Xiuli Su, Yingyan Zhou, Yuanyuan Song, Guodong Cao, Li Zhong, Pui Wang, Xiaojuan Liu, Bobo Mok, Shusheng Zhang, Dong-Yan Jin, Jie Zhou, Honglin Chen, Zongwei Cai*. Multi-omics analysis of attenuated variant reveals potential evaluation marker of host damaging for SARS-CoV-2 variants. SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences, 2024, 67(1): 83-95.
  4. Lin Zhu, Yuanyuan Song, Zhitong Zhu, Xin Diao, Guangshan Xie, Ruijin Li, Hongzhi Zhao, Chuan Dong, Zongwei Cai. IDDF2023-ABS-0084 Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure triggered liver metabolic reprogramming via cysteine oxidation on malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase ii (CPT2) in mice. Gut, 2023; 72:A29-A32.
  5. Siwen Liu#, Lin Zhu#, Guangshan Xie#, Bobo Wing-Yee Mok, Zhu Yang, Shaofeng Deng; Siu-Ying Lau; Pin Chen; Pui Wang; Honglin Chen*; Zongwei Cai*. Potential antiviral target for SARS-CoV-2: key early responsive kinase during viral entry. CCS Chemistry, 2022, 1, 112-121.
  6. Lin Zhu, Honglin Chen, Zongwei Cai. Zoonotic attack: An underestimated threat of SARSCoV-2? Innovation, 2022, 3(3), 100242.
  7. Xin Diao, Chengyi Xie, Guangshan Xie, Yuanyuan Song, Yanshan Liang, Ruijin Li, Chuan Dong, Lin Zhu*, Jianing Wang*, Zongwei Cai*. Mass Spectrometry Imaging Revealed Sulfatides Depletion in Brain Tissues of Rats Exposed in Real Air with High Fine Particulate Matter. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2022, 9, 10, 856–862.
  8. Guangshan Xie#, Lin Zhu#, Yanhao Zhang, Yuanyuan Song, Hongna Zhang, Zhu Yang, Zongwei Cai*. Sulfinylation on Superoxide Dismutase 1 Cys111: Novel Mechanism for 1-Nitropyrene to Promote Acute Reactive Oxygen Species Generation. Small Structures, 2021, 2, 2000123.
  9. Man Ting Au, Junguo Ni, Kaiming Tang, Wei Wang, Lanlan Zhang, Hantang Wang, Fangyi Zhao, Zhan Li, Peng Luo, Lawrence Chun-Man Lau, Ping-Keung Chan, Cuiting Luo, Bo Zhou, Lin Zhu, Charlie Yuli Zhang, Tianshu Jiang, Marianne Lauwers, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Shuofeng Yuan, Chunyi Wen. Blockade of endothelin receptors mitigates SARS-CoV-2-induced osteoarthritis. Nature Microbiology, 2024, 9, 2538–2552.
  10. Yuanyuan Song, Yanhao Zhang, Lin Zhu, Yanyan Chen, Yi-Jie Chen, Zhitong Zhu, Jieqing Feng, Zenghua Qi, Jian Zhen Yu, Zhu Yang, Zongwei Cai. Phosphocholine-induced energy source shift alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction in lung cells caused by geospecific PM2.5 components. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2024, 121 (14) e2317574121.
  11. Shiyan Wang,# Shanshan Gao,# Yong Zeng#, Lin Zhu, YYulin Mo, Chichun Wong, Yi Bao, Peiran Su, Jianning Zhai, Lina Wang, Fraser Soares, Xin Xu, Huarong Chen, Kebria Hezaveh, Xinpei Ci, Aobo He, Tracy McGaha, Catherine O’Brien, Robert Rottapel, Wei Kang, Jianfeng Wu, Gang Zheng, Zongwei Cai, Jun Yu, Housheng Hansen He*. N6-methyladenosine reader YTHDF1 promotes ARHGEF2 translation and RhoA signaling in colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology, 2021, 162(4).
  12. Man Lung Yeung, Jade Lee Lee Teng, Lilong Jia, Chaoyu Zhang, Chengxi Huang, Jian-Piao Cai, Runhong Zhou, Kwok-Hung Chan, Hanjun Zhao, Lin Zhu, Kam-Leung Siu, Sin-Yee Fung, Susan Yung, Tak Mao Chan, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Zongwei Cai, Susanna Kar Pui Lau, Zhiwei Chen, Dong-Yan Jin, Patrick Chiu Yat Woo, Kwok-Yung Yuen. Soluble ACE2-mediated cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 via interaction with proteins related to the renin-angiotensin system. Cell, 2021, 184 (8), 2212-2228. E12.