Iowa State University · BiologyHenipavirus Research and Vaccine Unit
Kai Xu · Ames, Iowa
Research Focus
Dr. Kai Xu's lab at Ohio State University focuses on understanding henipaviruses, which can be deadly and have potential for future pandemics. The research aims to study the surface proteins of these viruses to develop better vaccines and treatments. This work is vital as henipaviruses can transfer between animals and humans, leading to serious outbreaks.
henipavirusvaccine developmentstructural biologyglycoproteinsantibody response
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize the structural properties of henipavirus glycoproteins G and F.
AIM 02Investigate the interaction between these glycoproteins and neutralizing antibodies.
AIM 03Identify sites of vulnerability on the glycoproteins for vaccine development.
AIM 04Conduct rational design of stabilized glycoprotein constructs for functional analysis.
AIM 05Assess the antigenicity of emerging henipaviruses' glycoproteins.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRcell cultureWestern blotcryoelectron microscopyepitope mapping
Output against the department
Publications1,930top 1% of dept.3rd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations108ktop 1% of dept.12th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.