SUN yani

Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ph.D. Supervisor.

Female, born in Nov. 1981, Weifang City, Shandong Province, China.

Member of Chinese Society of Immunology.


CONTACT INFORMATION:

College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, No. 22, Xinong Road, Yangling, Shaanxi, China, 712100.

Mobile:13474027179

E-mail: sunyani@nwsuaf.edu.cn

Tel/Fax: 029-87092040 (Office)


EDUCATION AND RESEARCH:


Education:

Ph.D. in Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China, 2008-2011.

M.A. in Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China, 2005-2008.

B.A. in Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China, 2000-2004.


Research Position:

Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, 2011.07 – present.

Visiting Scholar, Institution of Infection and Global Health, The University of Liverpool, 2019.10 – 2020. 07.


RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

1. The pathogenesis of animal Hepatitis E virus: We are mainly focusing on the immunopathological mechanism of hepatitis E virus infection and the interaction between hepatitis E virus and host cells.

2. Development of innovative diagnostic technologies for major livestock and avian diseases (nanobody technology).


ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTIONS


1. As a member of Shaanxi Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Technology of Ministry of Agriculture, and Shaanxi Agricultural and Forestry Institute Sub-center of National Animal Disease Data Center, we are tracking important epidemic diseases of livestock and poultry in Shaanxi Province and surrounding areas since several years ago, and we also participated in epidemiological investigation of brucella infection in cattle and sheep in Xi'an City and surrounding areas.

2. We participated in the National 13th Five-Year Plan and prepared nanobodies for H5N1, H9N2 and H7N9 avian influenza, which cause major epidemic in the poultry industry, and established a new diagnostic technology for avian influenza, FAdV-4 and other important animal disease pathogens based on nanobodies, laying the foundation for rapid detection of the disease.

3. Since 2011, we are focusing on the mechanisms of the liver injury caused by the animal-derived HEV. We have established the first animal model of animal-derived HEV infection in Balb/c mice. Additionally, using this animal model and  in vitro cellular experiments, we systematically resolved that HEV ORF3 protein-induced mitochondrial damage in hepatocytes is an important cause m of virus-induced liver injury, providing a potential therapeutic target for HEV.

4. Selected Publications: (# Co-first author, * Corresponding author)

(1) Zhao J, Zhang H, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Zhou N, Du T, Zhao Q, Zhou EM, Du Y, Sun Y *. Isolation and Genetic Characterization of Parvoviruses From Dogs, Cats, Minks, and Raccoon Dogs in the Eastern Region of Shandong Province, China.  Frontiers in Microbiology . 2022, 28;13:862352. (Q1)

(2) Na Li, Yiyi Zhang, Lunguang Yao, Yunpeng Shi, Qin Zhao, Baicheng Huang*, Yani Sun *. A Recombinant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Stably Expressing DsRed Protein Based on Bacterial Artificial Chromosome System.  Frontiers in Microbiology . 2022, 13: 839845. (Q1)

(3) Sun Y, Yan W, Chen X, Liu Q, Ji P, Zhu J, Gai L, Li X, Zhao J, Zhang L, Zhang H, Liu B, Zhou EM, Zhao Q. Antigenic cross-reactivity among human, swine, rabbit and avian hepatitis E virus capsid proteins.  Veterinary Microbiology . 2022, 265:109331. (Q1)

(4) Zhang B, Fan J, Luo Y, Lv H, Zhao Q, Fan M, Duan H, Liu B, Nan Y, Sun Y *, Zhou EM *. Development of a competitive ELISA for detecting antibodies against genotype 1 hepatitis E virus.  Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology . 2021, 105(21-22): 8505-8516. (TOP journal)

(5) Yuan Zhang, Gang Xu, Lu Zhang, Jiakai Zhao, Pinpin Ji, Yaning Li, Baoyuan Liu, Jingfei Zhang, Qin Zhao, Yani Sun*, En-Min Zhou*. Development of a double monoclonal antibody–based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting canine distemper virus.  Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology . 2020, 104:10725–10735. (Top journal)

(6) Yani Sun#, Qizhong Lu#, Jingfei Zhang, Xiaoxuan Li, Jiakai Zhao, Wenqi Fan, Pinpin Ji, Kun Wang, En-Min Zhou*, Qin Zhao*. Co-infection with avian hepatitis E virus and avian leukosis virus subgroup J as the cause of an outbreak of hepatitis and liver hemorrhagic syndromes in a brown layer chicken flock in China.  Poultry Science . 2019, 99(3): 1287-1296. (Q1)

(7) Yani Sun, Qizhong Lu, Baoyuan Liu, Yamin Sheng, Taofeng Du, Julian A. Hiscox, En-Min Zhou⁎, Qin Zhao⁎. Cross-species infection of mice by rabbit hepatitis E virus. Veterinary Microbiology. 2018, 225: 48-52. (Q1)

(8) Yani Sun, Taofeng Du, Baoyuan Liu, Shahid Faraz Syed, Yiyang Chen, Huixia Li, Xinjie Wang, Gaiping Zhang, En-Min Zhou*, Qin Zhao*. Seroprevalence of avian hepatitis E virus and avian leucosis virus subgroup J in chicken flocks with hepatitis syndrome, China.  BMC Veterinary Research . 2016, 12: 261-266. (Q1)

(9) Shahid Faraz Syed#, Yani Sun#, Taofeng Du#, Yiyang Chen, Baoyuan Liu, Xinjie Wang, Huixia Li, Yuchen Nan, En-Min Zhou*, Qin Zhao*. Evaluation of recombinant Chinese avian hepatitis E virus (CaHEV) ORF2 and ORF3 proteins for protection of chickens against CaHEV infection.  Vaccine . 2017, 35(27): 3482-3489. (Top journal)

(10) Baoyuan Liu#, Yani Sun#, Taofeng Du, Yiyang Chen, Xinjie Wang, Baicheng Huang, Huixia Li, Yuchen Nan, Shuqi Xiao, Gaiping Zhang, Julian A. Hiscox, En-Min Zhou*, Qin Zhao*. Rabbit hepatitis E virus is an opportunistic pathogen in specific-pathogen-free rabbits with the capability of cross-species transmission.  Veterinary Microbiology . 2017, 201: 72-77. (Q1)

FUNDING

Hosted Grants:

(1) Construction and preliminary evaluation of a novel nano-antibody-based vector vaccine for PRRSV (K4040121081). Transversal project, ¥500,000, 2021.05.01-2025.06.30, under research.

(2) Development and demonstration of a novel ELISA kit for African swine fever virus antibody detection (K3030322049). Shaanxi Province Key R&D Program. ¥100,000, 2022.01.01-2023.12.31, under research.

(3) The effect of avian HEV ORF3 protein on mitochondrial function of chicken hepatocytes and its mechanism (31602081), National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Program, ¥200,000, 2017.01-2019.12, completed.

(4) Establishment and Demonstration of Rapid Detection Methods for Different Subtypes of Avian Influenza Virus (20193033YF021NS021), Xi'an Agricultural Technology R&D Project, ¥100,000, 2019.01-2021.12, completed.

(5) Research on genetically engineered subunit vaccine for chicken hepatitis splenomegaly syndrome (2015NY170), Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Innovation and Tackling Project, ¥100,000, 2015.01.01-2016.12.31, completed.

(6) Investigation of the mechanism of the role of CTL in avian hepatitis E virus-induced liver inflammation (2452015035), Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Basic Research Business Fund, ¥100,000, 2015.01-2017.12, completed.

(7) Mutual effects of avian leukemia and avian hepatitis E virus co-infection on pathogenicity and immunosuppression in SPF chickens, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Talent Introduction Initiation Project with Shaanxi Province Talent Package, ¥100,000, 2012-2016, completed.

Participated Grants:

(1) Molecular mechanisms of cross-species infection, replication and pathogenesis of hepatitis E virus in animals (31720103919), National Natural Science Foundation of China, International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Program, ¥2.3 million, 2018.01-2022.12, under investigation.

(2) Research on a nano-antibody based detection technology for avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus, National Key Research and Development Program, 2016.07-2020.12, completed.

(3) Epidemiological Survey of Brucellosis in Xi'an City and Risk Pathway Analysis, Horizontal Project of Xi'an Animal Disease Control Center, ¥300,000, 2017.01-2017.12, completed.