Wei-Kung Wang, M.D., Sc.D.
Professor Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology John A. Burns School of Medicine
Phone: 808-692-1667
Office: BSB 320E
Email: wwang60 [at] yahoo.com
Curriculum Vitae
Bio
Education
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1986 |
M.D. |
Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan |
1995 |
Sc.D. |
Virology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts |
SpecializationMolecular Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
Research Keywords: Dengue virus, envelope protein, precursor membrane protein, virus-like particles, antibody response
Research Overview
Dr. Wang’s lab has been studying virus-host interaction and disease pathogenesis of dengue virus (DENV). His lab showed that the level and rate of decline of dengue viral load and virus-containing immune complexes correlate with disease severity (Wang et al., 2003, Virology; 2006, Clin. Infect. Dis.). And his lab reported for the first time the quasispecies nature of DENV in human (Wang et al., 2002, J. Virol.) and mosquito (Lin et al., 2004, J. Virol), which provides new insight into our understanding of the evolutionary conservation of DENV. Recently, his research focused on the antibody responses to DENV envelope (E) protein during the natural course of infection; his lab reported that the majority of anti-E antibodies is cross-reactive and recognizes highly conserved residues at the fusion loop of domain II (Lai et al., 2008, J. Virol.). These findings not only provided a molecular evidence to explain the flavivirus cross-reactivity that has been known for decades, but also have implications to our understanding our the pathogenesis of dengue and future design of subunit vaccines against DENV. His research also focused on the functions of precursor membrane (prM)/E proteins of DENV and formation of virus-like particles (VLPs). His lab discovered the ER retention signal and critical elements of the stem-anchor region of DENV E protein. (Hsieh et al., 2008, Virology; 2010, J. Virol.), and reported that the helical domains of the stem regions of prM and E proteins are involved in both assembly and entry, two important steps of the replication cycles of DENV (Hsieh et al., 2011, Virology; Lin et al., 2011, J. Virol.), Currently, his lab is interested in identifying the stem residues highly conserved among different flaviviruses and critical for DENV replication as potential targets for future antivirals. The current COBRE research project has three specific aims:Specific Aim 1
Specific Aim 2
Specific Aim 3
Selected Publications
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Tsai WY, Youn HH, Tyson J, Brites C, Tsai JJ, Pedroso C, Drexler JF, Balmaseda A, Harris E, Wang WK.
Use of urea wash ELISA to distinguish Zika and dengue virus infections.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
2018
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Dejnirattisai W, Wongwiwat W, Supasa S, Zhang X, Dai X, Rouvinsky A, Jumnainsong A, Edwards C, Quyen NT, Duangchinda T, Grimes JM, Tsai WY, Lai CY, Wang WK, Malasit P, Farrar J, Simmons CP, Zhou ZH, Rey FA, Mongkolsapaya J, Screaton GR.
A new class of highly potent, broadly neutralizing antibodies isolated from viremic patients infected with dengue virus.
Nature Immunology
2015
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Tsai WY, Durbin A, Tsai JJ, Hsieh SC, Whitehead S, Wang WK.
Complexity of neutralization antibodies against multiple dengue viral serotypes after heterotypic immunization and secondary infection revealed by in-depth analysis of cross-reactive antibodies.
Journal of Virology
2015
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de Alwis R, Williams KL, Schmid MA, Lai CY, Patel B, Smith SA, Crowe JE, Wang WK, Harris E, de Silva AM.
Dengue viruses are enhanced by distinct populations of serotype cross-reactive antibodies in human immune sera.
PLoS Pathogens
2014
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Hsieh SC, Tsai WY, Nerurkar VR, Wang WK.
Characterization of the ectodomain of the envelope protein of dengue virus type 4: expression, membrane association, secretion and particle formation in the absence of precursor membrane protein.
PLoS One
2014
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Hsieh SC, Wu YC, Zou G, Nerurkar VR, Shi PY, Wang WK.
Highly conserved residues in the helical domain of dengue virus type 1 precursor membrane protein are involved in assembly, prM protein cleavage and entry.
Journal of Biological Chemistry
2014
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Lai CY, Williams KL, Wu YC, Knight S, Balmaseda A, Harris E, Wang WK.
Analysis of cross-reactive antibodies recognizing the fusion loop of envelope protein and correlation with neutralizing antibody titers in Nicaraguan dengue cases.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2013
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Tsai WY, Lai CY, Wu YC, Lin HE, Edwards C, Jumnainsong A, Kliks S, Halstead S, Mongkolsapaya J, Screaton GR, Wang WK.
High avidity and potent neutralizing cross-reactive human monoclonal antibodies derived from secondary dengue virus infection.
Journal of Virology
2013
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Chuang YC, Chang SC, Wang WK.
Using the rate of bacterial clearance determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction as a timely surrogate marker to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotic usage in critical patients with Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia.
Critical Care Medicine
2012
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Lin HE, Tsai WY, Liu IJ, Li PC, Liao MY, Tsai JJ, Wu YC, Lai CY, Lu CH, Huang JH, Chang GJ, Wu HC, Wang WK.
Analysis of epitopes on dengue virus envelope protein recognized by monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal human sera by a high throughput assay.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2012
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de Alwis R, Beltramello M, Messer WB, Sukupolvi-Petty S, Wahala WM, Kraus A, Olivarez NP, Pham Q, Brian J, Tsai WY, Wang WK, Halstead S, Kliks S, Diamond MS, Baric R, Lanzavecchia A, Sallusto F, de Silva AM.
In-depth analysis of the antibody response of individuals exposed to primary dengue virus infection.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2011
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Hsieh SC, Zou G, Tsai WY, Qing M, Chang GJ, Shi PY, Wang WK.
The C-terminal helical domain of dengue virus precursor membrane protein is involved in virus assembly and entry.
Virology
2011
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Lin SR, Zou G, Hsieh SC, Qing M, Tsai WY, Shi PY, Wang WK.
The helical domains of the stem region of dengue virus envelope protein are involved in both virus assembly and entry.
Journal of Virology
2011
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Chuang YC, Chang SC, Wang WK.
High and increasing Oxa-51 DNA load predict mortality in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia: implication for pathogenesis and evaluation of therapy.
PLoS One
2010
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Hsieh SC, Tsai WY, Wang WK.
The length of and nonhydrophobic residues in the transmembrane domain of dengue virus envelope protein are critical for its retention and assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Journal of Virology
2010
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Ho YC, Chang SC, Lin SR, Wang WK.
High levels of mecA DNA detected by a quantitative real-time PCR assay are associated with mortality in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
2009
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Liu IJ, Kao CL, Hsieh SC, Wey MT, Kan LS, Wang WK.
Identification of a minimal peptide derived from heptad repeat (HR) 2 of spike protein of SARS-CoV and combination of HR1-derived peptides as fusion inhibitors.
Antiviral Research
2009
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Chen HL, Lin SR, Liu HF, King CC, Hsieh SC, Wang WK.
Evolution of dengue virus type 2 during two consecutive outbreaks with an increase in severity in southern Taiwan in 2001-2002.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2008
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Hsieh SC, Liu IJ, King CC, Chang GJ, Wang WK.
A strong endoplasmic reticulum retention signal in the stem-anchor region of envelope glycoprotein of dengue virus type 2 affects the production of virus-like particles.
Virology
2008
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Lai CY, Hu HP, King CC, Wang WK.
Incorporation of dengue virus replicon into virus-like particles by a cell line stably expressing precursor membrane and envelope proteins of dengue virus type 2.
Journal of Biomedical Science
2008
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Lai CY, Tsai WY, Lin SR, Kao CL, Hu HP, King CC, Wu HC, Chang GJ, Wang WK.
Antibodies to envelope glycoprotein of dengue virus during the natural course of infection are predominantly cross-reactive and recognize epitopes containing highly conserved residues at the fusion loop of domain II.
Journal of Virology
2008
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Hu HP, Hsieh SC, King CC, Wang WK.
Characterization of retrovirus-based reporter viruses pseudotyped with the precursor membrane and envelope glycoproteins of four serotypes of dengue viruses.
Virology
2007
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Wang WK, Chen HL, Yang CF, Hsieh SC, Juan CC, Chang SM, Yu CC, Lin LH, Huang JH, King CC.
Slower rates of clearance of viral load and virus-containing immune complexes in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Clinical Infectious Diseases
2006
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Chao DY, King CC, Wang WK, Chen WJ, Wu HL, Chang GJ.
Strategically examining the full-genome of dengue virus type 3 in clinical isolates reveals its mutation spectra.
Virology Journal
2005
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Liu IJ, Chen PJ, Yeh SH, Chiang YP, Huang LM, Chang MF, Chen SY, Yang PC, Chang SC, Wang WK.
Immunofluorescence assay for detection of the nucleocapsid antigen of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus in cells derived from throat wash samples of patients with SARS.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
2005
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Wang WK, Fang CT, Chen HL, Yang CF, Chen YC, Chen ML, Chen SY, Yang JY, Lin JH, Yang PC, Chang SC.
Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus RNA in plasma during the course of infection.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
2005
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Chen HC, Lai SY, Sung JM, Lee SH, Lin YC, Wang WK, Chen YC, Kao CL, King CC, Wu-Hsieh BA.
Lymphocyte activation and hepatic cellular infiltration in immunocompetent mice infected by dengue virus.
Journal of Medical Virology
2004
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Lin SR, Hsieh SC, Yueh YY, Lin TH, Chao DY, Chen WJ, King CC, Wang WK.
Study of sequence variation of dengue type 3 virus in naturally infected mosquitoes and human hosts: implications for transmission and evolution.
Journal of Virology
2004
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Sagar KS, Chang CC, Wang WK, Lin JY, Lee SS.
Preparation and anti-HIV activities of retrojusticidin B analogs and azalignans.
Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry
2004
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Wang WK, Chen SY, Liu IJ, Chen YC, Chen HL, Yang CF, Chen PJ, Yeh SH, Kao CL, Huang LM, Hsueh PR, Wang JT, Sheng WH, Fang CT, Hung CC, Hsieh SM, Su CP, Chiang WC, Yang JY, Lin JH, Hsieh SC, Hu HP, Chiang YP, Wang JT, Yang PC, Chang SC.
Detection of SARS-associated coronavirus in throat wash and saliva in early diagnosis.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
2004
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Wang WK, Chen SY, Liu IJ, Kao CL, Chen HL, Chiang BL, Wang JT, Sheng WH, Hsueh PR, Yang CF, Yang PC, Chang SC.
Temporal relationship of viral load, ribavirin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and clinical progression in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Clinical Infectious Diseases
2004
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Hsueh PR, Hsiao CH, Yeh SH, Wang WK, Chen PJ, Wang JT, Chang SC, Kao CL, Yang PC.
Microbiologic characteristics, serologic responses, and clinical manifestations in severe acute respiratory syndrome, Taiwan.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
2003
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Wang WK, Chao DY, Kao CL, Wu HC, Liu YC, Li CM, Lin SC, Ho ST, Huang JH, King CC.
High levels of plasma dengue viral load during defervescence in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever: implications for pathogenesis.
Virology
2003
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Wang WK, Chao DY, Lin SR, King CC, Chang SC.
Concurrent infections by two dengue virus serotypes among dengue patients in Taiwan.
Journal of Microbiology and Immunology and Infection
2003
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Chen MY, Wang WK, Lee MC, Twu SJ, Wu SI, Lee CN.
Rapid detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype e infection by PCR.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
2002
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Wang WK, Lin SR, Lee CM, King CC, Chang SC.
Dengue type 3 virus in plasma is a population of closely related genomes: quasispecies.
Journal of Virology
2002
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Wang WK, Sung TL, Lee CN, Lin TY, King CC.
Sequence diversity of the capsid gene and the nonstructural gene NS2B of dengue-3 virus in vivo.
Virology
2002
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Wang WK, Sung TL, Tsai YC, Kao CL, Chang SM, King CC.
Detection of dengue virus replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from dengue virus type 2-infected patients by a reverse transcription-real-time PCR assay.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
2002
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Presentations & Talks
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Analysis and identification of epitopes on dengue virus envelope protein recognized by monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal human sera by a high throughput assay. , 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. , December 2011.
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The helical domain of dengue virus membrane protein is involved in virus entry and assembly., 7th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Southwest RCE, Honolulu, Hawaii., August 2011.
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Involvement of the stem region of dengue virus envelope protein in both virus assembly and entry. , 30th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology, Minneapolis, Minnesota. , July 2011.
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Dengue virus envelope protein affects the expression and stability of precursor membrane protein. , 30th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology, Minneapolis, Minnesota. , July 2011.
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Interaction between precursor membrane and envelope proteins of dengue virus, 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2010.
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Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies against the envelope protein of dengue virus by a high throughput assay, Second International Symposium on human dengue pathogenesis and clinical aspects, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, October 2010.
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Critical elements in the transmembrane domains of precursor membrane and envelope proteins of dengue virus for their retention and assembly in endoplasmic reticulum, 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology, Bozeman, Montana, July 2010.
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Study of epitopes on dengue viral envelope protein recognized by Mabs and sera, Seventh Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative Research Network Meeting, Santa Monica, California, June 2010.
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Epitope study of Mabs against the envelope protein of dengue virus, Emerging Infectious Diseases 2009 and Fourth Asian Regional Dengue Research Network Meeting, Singapore, December 2009.
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The C-terminus of the stem of dengue virus PrM protein is critical for the production of virus-like particles, Emerging Infectious Diseases 2009 and Fourth Asian Regional Dengue Research Network Meeting, Singapore, December 2009.
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The length and non-hydrophobic residues in the transmembrane domain of dengue virus envelope protein critical for retention and assembly in endoplasmic reticulum , 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Washington, DC, November 2009.
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Retention and assembly of dengue virus envelope protein in endoplasmic reticulum , Second International Symposium on human dengue pathogenesis and clinical aspects, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, October 2009.
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Antibody responses to envelope protein of dengue virus during the natural course of infection, Sixth Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative Research Network Meeting, Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, June 2009.
Awards & Honors
- Annual Excellent Article Award, Taiwan Society of Microbiology, December 2004.
- Research Award, National Taiwan University, September 2004.
- Travel Award, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 51th Annual meeting, November 2002.
- Medical Virology Club Travel Grant Award, American Society for Virology, July 2001.
- Research Award, National Science Council, Taiwan, June 1999.
Professional Services
- (Oct. 2010).: Session Moderator, Third International Symposium on human dengue pathogenesis and clinical aspects. Tropical Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan .
- (Oct. 2009).: Session Moderator, Second International Symposium on human dengue pathogenesis and clinical aspects. Tropical Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan .
- (Oct. 2008).: Session Chair, First International Symposium on human dengue pathogenesis and clinical aspects. Tropical Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan .
- (Nov. 2007).: Scientific Committee and Session Co-chair, Third Asian Regional Dengue Research Network Meeting, Taipei, Taiwan .
- (March, 2008).: Session Chair, First UK-Taiwan International Networking for Young Scientists Symposium on Infection and Immunity, Taipei, Taiwan .
- (Dec. 2010).: Abstract Review Committee, 12th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities, Nashville, Tennessee .
- (Dec. 2009): Scientific Committee and Session Chair, Emerging Infectious Diseases 2009 and Fourth Asian Regional Dengue Research Network Meeting, Singapore .
- (2000 to present): Ad Hoc Reviewer
2011: Journal of General Virology (3), PLoS Pathog (1), Clinical Infectious Diseases (1), PLoS One (1)
Antiviral Research (1)
2010: Journal of Virology (1), Trends in Microbiology (1), PloS Neglected Tropical Diseases (1), Journal of General Virology (1), Clinical Infectious Diseases (1), Antiviral Research (1), Archives of Medical Research (1), Journal of Infectious Diseases and Immunology (1).
Grants
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Grant No / Title: 1R01AI149502-01 / Multiplex Serodiagnostic Assays for Pathogenic Arboviruses in Brazil
Status / Agency: Awarded / NIH / NIAID
Start Date / End Date: 05 June 2020 / 31 May 2024
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Grant No / Title: R01AI110769 / Mature Virus-like Particles as a New Strategy for Dengue Virus Vaccines
Status / Agency: Awarded / NIH/NIAID
Start Date / End Date: 01 April 2014 / 31 March 2019
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