University of Alaska Fairbanks
P. O. Box 60230
931 Sheenjek Dr. 
Fairbanks, Alaska 99706-0230
907-474-6566
j.chen@alaska.edu 
jiguo.chen@alaska.gov

● Virus-host cell interaction

● Virology diagnosis and reference

Role of tumor virus in human tumorigenesis. It is estimated that viral infections contribute to ~15% of all human cancers. In many cases, the infectious agents are widely present in humans, but only a small fraction of infected individuals ever develop cancer. Tumorigenesis represents a complex, multi-step process in which tumor viruses contribute to different steps of the carcinogenic process. Our research focuses on the transcriptional regulation of virus-host cell interactions of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and the role of tumor virus in tumorigenesis.

Emerging and zoonotic viral pathogens. We live in a rapidly changing world, so as the environment and pathogens. During the past two decades or so, we have confronted several viral pathogens that emerged or re-emerged as substantial public health threats (Avian influenza H5N1, SARS, West Nile virus, Swine influenza H1N1, etc). Approximately 75% of these pathogens are diseases of animal origin (zoonotic), majorities are viruses. As a public health virology laboratory, we are developing new molecular tools for the diagnosis and reference of viral infection.

1.    Chen, J. & Wu, Y. Studies on the preparation methods of iodine-125 labeling viral DNA probes Virologica Sinica 5, 404-409 (1990)

2.    Liu, P., Chen, J., Chen, R., Yu, K. & Rong, J. Isolation of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus from pig lung. Chin J Zoonoses 9, 43-46 (1993).

3.    Chen, J., Liu, P., Chen, R., Yu, K. & Rong, J. Epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus----pig as a putative virus reservoir. Chin J Zoonoses 10, 38-41(1994).

4.    Inagi. R., Okuno, T., Ito, M., Chen, J., Mori, Y., Haque, M., Zou, P., Yagi, H., Kiniwa, S., Saida, T, Ueyama, Y., Hayashi, K.  K. & Yamanishi. Identification and characterization of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) ORF K9 (viral interferon regulatory factor: v-IRF) by a monoclonal antibody. J Virol 2, 63-71 (1999).

5.    Isegawa. Y., Mukai, T., Nakano, K., Kagawa, M., Chen, J., Mori, Y., Sunagawa, T., Kawanishi, K., Sashihara, J., Hata, A., Zou, P., Kosuge, H. & Yamanishi, K. Comparison of the complete DNA sequences of human herpesvirus 6 variants A and B. J Virol 73, 8053-63 (1999).

6.    Chen, J. & Yamanishi, K. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus encodes a viral interferon regulatory factor gene. Med J Osaka Univ 52, 49-56 (2000).

7.    Haque. M., Chen, J., Ueda, K., Mori, Y., Nakano, K., Hirata, Y., Kanamori, S., Uchiyama Y., Inagi, R, Okuno, T & Yamanishi, K. Identification and Analysis of the K5 Gene of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus. J Virol 74, 2867-75 (2000).

8.    Chen, J., Ueda, K., Sakakibara, S., Okuno, T. & Yamanishi, K. Transcriptional regulation of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus viral interferon regulatory factor gene. J Virol 74, 8623-34 (2000).

9.    Chen, J., Ueda, K., Sakakibara, S., Okuno, T., Parravicini, C., Corbellino, M. & Yamanishi, K. Activation of latent Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus by demethylation of the promoter of the lytic transactivator. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98, 4119-24 (2001).

10. Sakakibara, S., Ueda, K., Chen, J., Okuno, T. & Yamanishi, K. Octamer-binding sequence is a key element for the autoregulation of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF50/Lyta gene expression. J Virol 75, 6894-900 (2001).

11. Nishimura K., Ueda, K., Sakakibara, S., Ishikama, K., Chen, J., Okuno, T. & Yamanishi, K. Functional Analysis of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus RTA in an RTAdepressed Cell Line. J Hum Virol 4, 296-305 (2001).

12. Chen, J., Malcolm, T., Estable, M. C., Roeder, R. G. & Sadowski, I. TFII-I regulates induction of chromosomally integrated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat in cooperation with USF. J Virol 79, 4396-406 (2005).

13. Chen, J. & Sadowski, I. Identification of the mismatch repair genes PMS2 and MLH1 as p53 target genes by using serial analysis of binding elements. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102, 4813-8 (2005).

14. Chen, J. Serial analysis of binding elements for human transcription factors. Nature Protocols 1, 1481-93 (2006).

15. Greene, W., Kuhne, K., Ye, F., Chen, J., Zhou, F., Lei, X., Gao, S. Molecular biology of KSHV in relation to aids-associated oncogenesis. Cancer Treat Res 133, 69-127 (2007).

16. Malcolm, T., Chen, J., Chang, C., Sadowski, I. Induction of chromosomally integrated HIV-1 LTR requires RBF-2 (USF/TFII-I) and RAS/MAPK signaling. Virus Genes 35, 215-23 (2007).

17. Chen, J., Ye, F., Xie, J., Kuhne, K., Gao, S. Genome-wide identification of binding sites for Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus lytic switch protein, RTA. Virology 386, 290-302 (2009).

18. Qiang, M., Denny, A., Chen, J., Ticku, M.K., Yan, B., et al. The Site Specific Demethylation in the 5′-Regulatory Area of NMDA Receptor 2B Subunit Gene Associated with CIE-Induced Up-Regulation of Transcription. PLoS ONE 5(1): doi:10.1371 (2010)

19. Niu, J., He, S., Su, C., Yuan, Q., Chen, Q., Chen, J. et al. Variability of the S gene of hepatitis B virus in southeastern China. Arch Virol doi:10.1007/s00705-010-0786 (2010)