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Professor

Professor Hsiang-Fu KUNG

Professor of Virology, Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK
Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Honorary Professor, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing China
Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemical Biology
Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway

Email: hkung@cuhk.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 2603 7743 /3163 4373
Fax: (852) 2994 4988
Address: Room 511A, Basic Medical Sciences Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, or
Room 204, Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
Quotable Qualifications
  • BS (Biology), National Chung-Hsing University, Tai Chung, Taiwan(1963)
  • PhD (Biochemistry),Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, TN, USA(1969)

    Membership
    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
    • Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
    • American Association for the Advancement of Science
    Other Academic Activities
    • Editorial Board, BioFactors(1986-Date)
    • Editorial Board, Cellular and Molecular Biology Research(1991-1996)
    • Visiting Professorship & Lecturers – Kyutsu University (Japan), Ben Gurion University (Israel), Academia Scinica (Taiwan), National Health Research Institute (Taiwan), National Taiwan University, Academy of Military Medical Sciences (Beijing), Hunan Medical University (Changsha), China Medical University (Shengyang), Fu-Dan University (Shanghai), Jiao-fung University (Shanghai), Tong-ji Medical University (Wuhan), Zhong Shan University Medical School (Guangzhou), Development Center of Biotechnology (Taiwan).
    • Adjunct Professorship - Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA
Biography

Professor Hsiang-fu Kung, Chair Professor of Virology, Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is an experienced scientist in molecular genetics, molecular oncology and virology. He was awarded the NIH Merit Award in 1998 during his tenure as Chief, Laboratory of Biochemical Biology, NCI, NIH and later elected as a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Kung has contributed extensively to the Chinese Scientific Communities as member of the Advisory Committee in many programs and currently serves as Honorary Professor of Peking Union Medical College (PUMC).

Professor Kung has published nearly three hundred scientific papers and book chapters. He serves on editorial boards of international journals, and enjoy visiting and adjunct professorship in many international universities. Other than his achievements in basic science, Professor Kung has also made significant contribution in applied research. He is the inventor of many US patents, from immunology, virology to therapeutics. His research areas include: bacterial genetics and metabolism, enzymology, gene regulation, cytokines, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, growth and differentiation factors, signal transduction, embryonic development and traditional Chinese medicine.

Professor Kung’s research provided a better understanding of the regulation of β- galactosidase synthesis, the roles of Met-tRNA transformylase and ribosome release factor in protein synthesis. He was involved in the development of interferon into therapeutical drug at Hoffmann-La-Roche Inc. starting from gene cloning to the preparation of the final product under GMP condition. Roche’s product was the first human interferon entering world market. Several patents have been issued to Roche with Professor Kung as the inventor. Furthermore, he has been investigating the mechanism of actions of interferons and other cytokines (e.g. immune interferon, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and EPO). His work has been published in international journals with high impact factors. Also, he is the first to purify and crystallize recombinant human leukocyte interferon-αA, prove the transforming activity of Ras protein and establish the role of phospholipase C and nerve growth factor (NGF) in Ras-mediated signal transduction pathways. His work led to the development of anti-cancer drug targeting on the activity of Ras farnesyl-protein transferase. Using Xenopus embryo system, he demonstrated the physiological roles of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) during embryonic development, i.e. dorsal-ventral patterning, hematopoiesis and neurogenesis. In addition, he elucidated the BMP-4 signaling pathways and demonstrated the role of GATA-1b protein in the inhibition of neurogenesis. BMP-4 has been under clinical trials of the treatment of bone fracture or used as chemoprotective/radioprotective agent for cancer patients. He is among the first group in applying molecular biology approaches in the systematic studies of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). He purified several anti-tumor and anti-viral agents from TCM and elucidated their mechanisms of action. The purified agents have been patented by Professor Kung and his colleagues. Also, he identified the active anti-HIV components in HCG preparations which provide a new strategy for the development of anti-HIV drugs.
Research Interests
  • Bacterial genetics and metabolism
  • Enzymology, gene regulation, cytokines, oncogenes and tumor suppressor
  • Genes, growth and differentiation factors
  • Signal transduction, embryonic development and traditional Chinese medicine
Awards & Selected Publications (from a list of Peer-reviewed papers, 14 Book Chapters since 2006)
Awards
  • 1998 NIH Merit Award
  • 2000 HKU Outstanding Research Award
Selected Publications
  • Wang J. Zhang W. Zhang Y. Chen Y. Zou B. Jiang B. Pang R. Gu Q. Qiao L. Lan H. Kung HF. Wong BCY. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) upregulates XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) through interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) in gastrointestinal cancer. Carcinogenesis Feb 2009;30(2):222-229
  • Wang X, Chen Y, Han QB, Chan CY, Wang H, Liu Z, Cheng CH, Yew DT, Lin MC, He ML , Xu HX, Sung JJ, Kung HF. Proteomic Identification of Molecular targets of Gambogic acid: Role of Stathmin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Proteomics 2009; 9(2):242-253
  • Zhang B. Yun XB. Hang HM. Feng F. Jin R. Zhi LW. Lin J. Shi PS. Yang P. Xiao XW. Pei TH. Cui FH. Peng Y. Yang CC. Kung HF. Jun JH. Silencing PinX1 compromises telomere length maintenance as well as tumorigenicity in telomerase-positive human cancer cells. Cancer Research Jan 2009; 69(1):75-83
  • Li G, Zhang XA, Wang H, Wang X, Meng CL, Chan CY, Yew DT, Tsang KS, Li K, Tsai SN, Ngai SM, Han ZC, Lin MC, He ML, Kung HF. Comparative proteomic analysis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow, umbilical cord, and placenta: implication in the migration. Proteomics 2009; 9(1):20-30
  • Li M. Wang J. Ng SSM. Chan CY. Chen AC. Xia HP. Yew DT. Wong BCY. Chen Z. Kung HF. Lin MCM. The four-and-a-half-LIM protein 2 (FHL2) is overexpressed in gliomas and associated with oncogenic activities. GLIA Sep 2008; 56(12):1328-1338
  • Ze-Hao Zhuang, Sai-Wah Tsao, Wen Deng, Ji-De Wang, Harry Hua-Xiang Xia, Hua He, Hui-Chen Feng, Li-dong Wang, Sen-Lin Zhu, Li-Fen Yu, Yun-Wei Sun, Marie C.M.Lin, Hsiang-Fu Kung, and Benjamin C.Y.Wong. Early upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in human papillomavirus type 16- and telomerase-induced immortalization of human esophageal epithelial cells. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2008; 23(10): 1613-1620
  • Wo-shing Au, Liwei Lu, Chung-man Yeung, Ching-chiu Liu, Oscar G. Wong, Lihui Lai, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie C Lin. The HNF-1alpha binding element within the promoter of MTP gene is crucial for MTP basal expression and insulin responsiveness. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 2008; 41: 229-238
  • Qingming Dong, Henry LY Chan, Zheng Liu, Yangchao Chen, Denise PC Chan, Bao Zhang, Hsiang-fu Kung, Joseph JY Sung, Ming-Liang He. A1762T/G1764A Mutations of Hepatitis B virus, Associated with the Increased Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Reduce Basal Core Promoter Activities. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 374(4):773-776
  • Zhi Li, Hong Yao, Yan Ma, Qingming Dong, Yangchao Chen, Ying Peng, Bo-jian Zheng, Jian-dong Huang, Chu-yan Chan, Marie C. Lin, Joseph J Sung, Kwok Yun, Yuen, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Ming-Liang He. Inhibition of HBV gene expression and replication by stably expressed interferon-1 via adeno-associated viral vectors. The Journal of Gene Medicine June 2008;10(6):619-627
  • Qi Y, Chen X, Chan CY, Li D, Yuan C, Yu F, Lin MC, Yew DT, Kung HF, Lai L. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis/analysis of diethylnitrosamine induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma. Int. J. Cancer June 2008; 122(12):2682-2688
  • Chen Y, Cheung YT, Kong LD, Ng TB, Qiao CF, Mo SF, Xu HX, Kung HF. Transcriptional regulation of corticotrophin releasing factor gene by furocoumarins isolated from seeds of Psorales corylifolia. Life Sciences May 2008; 82(21-22):1117-1121
  • Yunwei Sun, Liang Qiao, Harry Hua-Xiang Xia, Marie C.M. Lin, Bing Zou, Yaozong Yuan, Senlin Zhu, Qing Gu, Ting Kin Cheung, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Man Fung Yuen, Annie OO Chan, Benjamin CY Wong. Regulation of XAF1 expression in human colon cancer cell by interferon B: Activation by the transcription regulator STAT1. Cancer Letters Feb 2008; 18:260(1-2):62-71
  • Dan Xie, Ning-Fang Ma, Zhi-Zhong Pan, Hui-Xi Wu, Yong-Dong Liu, Guo-Qing Wu, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Xin-Yuan Guan. Overexpression of EIF-5A2 is associated with metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma Human Pathology Jan 2008; 39(1):80-86
  • Zan Shen, Zhen Fan Yang, Yi Gao, Cheng Li, Hai Xiao Chen, Ching Chiu Liu, Ronnie T.P. Poon, Sheung Tat Fan, John M. Luk, Kong Hung Sze, Tsai Ping Li, Ren Bao Gan, Ming Liang He, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie CM Lin. The Kringle 1 domain of hepatocyte growth factor has antiangiogenic and antitumor cell effects on hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2008; 68(2)
  • Pai-Hao Yang, William K. C. Cheung, Ying Peng, Ming-Liang He, Guo-Qing Wu, Dan Xie, Bing-Hua Jiang, Qiu-Hua Huang, Zhu Chen, Marie C. M. Lin, and Hsiang-Fu Kung. Makorin-2 Is a Neurogenesis Inhibitor Downstream of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) Signal. J. Biol. Chem 2008; 283(13):8486-8495
  • Li-tao Yi, Yu-cheng Li, Ying Pan, Jian-mei Li, Qun Xu, Shi-fu Mo, Chun-feng Qiao, Fu-xin Jiang, Hong-xi Xu, Xiaobo-Lu, Ling-dong Kong, Hsiang-Fu Kung. Antidepressant-like effects of psoralidin isolated from the seeds of Psoralea Corylifolia in the forced swimming test in mice. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 2008; 32:510-519
  • Jie Xu, W.H. Kwong, Maria Sen Mun Wai, E. Lucy Forster, Yan-ling Jiang, Hsiang-Fu Kung and David T. Yew Imaging of the Development Central Nervous System in the Fetus. Neuroembryology and Aging 2008; 5:32-38
  • Yangchao Chen, Marie C. Lin, Hong Yao, Hua Wang, Ai-Qun Zhang, Jun Yu, Chee-kin Hui, George K. Lau, Ming-liang He, Joseph Sung, and Hsiang-Fu Kung. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting EZH2 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth via down-regulation of stathmin. Hepatology 2007; 46:200-208
  • Y Chen, HD Wang, X Xia, HF Kung, Y Pan, LD Kong. Behavioral and biochemical studies of total furocoumarins from seeds of Psoralea corylifolia in the chronic mild stress model of depression in mice. Phytomedicine 2007; 14(7-8):523-529
  • WS Leung, SM Yiu, David W Cheung, Lihui Lai, Marie C Lin and HF Kung. Computational prediction on mammalian and viral microRNA- A review. International Journal of Integrative Biology 2007; 1(2):118-127
  • Ng SS, Cheung YT, An XM, Chen YC, Li M, Li GH, Cheung W, Sze J, Lai L, Peng Y, Xia HH, Wong BC, Leung SY, Xie D, He ML, Kung HF, Lin MC. Cell cycle-related kinase is involved in human glioblastoma carcinogenesis. Nat Clin Pract Oncol 2007; 4:558
  • Samuel S. Ng, Pai-Hao Yang, Yuanyuan Cheng, Ying Peng, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie C. Lin. Differential and critical roles of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in alcohol-induced gene dysregulations and birth defects in Xenopus embryos. Neuroembryology and ageing 2007; 4:155-161
  • Xiaonan Fu, Jiyi Gu, Chu-yan Chan, Marie C. Lin, David T. Yew, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Lihui Lai. Possible rules in microRNA target recognition. International Journal of Integrative Biology 2007; 1:(3)165-171
  • Nan Yang, Julian A. Tanner, Bo-Jian Zheng, Rory M. Watt, Ming-Liang He, Lin-Yu Lu, Jie-Qing Jiang, Ka-To Shum, Yong-Ping Lin, Kin-Ling Wong, Marie C.M. Lin, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Hong Zhe Sun, and Jian-Dong Huang. Bismuth Complexes Inhibits the SARS Coronavirus, Angew Chem Int Ed Engl Jul 2007; 46(34): 6464-6468
  • Ying Pan, Ling-Dong Kong, Ye-Cheng Li, Xing Xia, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Fu-Xing Jiang. Icariin from Epimedium brevicornum attenuates chronic mild stress-induced behavioral and neuroendocrinological alterations in male Wistar rats Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 2007; 87(1):130-140.
  • Maria Sen Mun Wai, Dietrich Ernst Lorke, Aiqun Zhang, Hsiang-Fu Kung and David Yew. Study of the spinal cords of the sturgeon Acipenser schrenckii, gar Lepisosteus oculatus, and goldfish Carassius auratus by morphological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical approaches. Microsc Res Tech Dec 2007; 70(12):1079-1090.
  • Lin Du, JianZhao Chen, Yanting Qi, Dan Li, Chonggang Yuan, Marie C Lin, David T Yew, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Jimmy C Yu and Lihui Lai. Preparation and biomedical application of a nonpolymer coated superparamagnetic nanoparticle. International Journal of Nanomedicine 2007; 2(4):805-812
  • Samuel SM Ng, Yuen-Ting Cheung, Ming Li, Xiao-Meng An, Gloria Hoi-Yee Li, William Cheung, Johnny Sze, Lihui Lai, Ying Peng, Harry H. X. Xia, Benjamin CY Wong, Suet-Yi Leung, Dan Xie, Dan Xie, Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie C. Lin. Cell cycle related kinase (CCRK) is a novel candidate oncogene in human glioblastoma. JNCI 2007; 99:936-948
  • Yangchao Chen, Marie Chia-mi Lin, Hua Wang, Chu-yan Chan, Lei Jiang, Sai Ming Ngai, Jun Yu, Ming-liang He, Pang-chui Shaw, David T. Yew, Joseph J. Sung and Hsiang-Fu Kung. Proteomic analysis of EZH2 downstream target proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma. Proteomics 2007; 7(17):3097-3104
  • SS Lee, B Zhang, ML He, VSC Chang and HF Kung. Screening of Active Ingredients of Herbal Medicine for Interaction with CYP450 3A4. Phytotherapy Research 2007; 21:1096-1099
  • Ng SS, Gao Y, Chau DH, Li GH, Lai LH, Huang PT, Huang CF, Huang JJ, Chen YC, Kung HF, Lin MC. A novel glioblastoma cancer gene therapy using AAV-mediated long-term expression of human TERT C-terminal polypeptide. Cancer Gene Ther Jun 2007; 14( 6):561-572
  • Jie Liu, Guo Z. Yang, Jin L Zhou, Shi P Cao, David HW Chau, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie C Lin. Prevalence of neural tube defects in economically and socially deprived area of China Child's Nervous System 2007; 23: 1119-1124
  • Wang J, Yang Y, Xia HH, Gu Q, Lin MC, Jiang B, Peng Y, Li G, An X, Zhang Y, Zhuang Z, Zhang Z, Kung HF, Wong BC. Suppression of FHL2 Expression Induces Cell Differentiation and Inhibits Gastric and Colon Carcinogenesis. Gastroenterology Mar 2007; 132(3):1066-1076
  • Li Fen Yu, Jide Wang, Bing Zou, Marie CM Lin, Yun Lin Wu, Harry HX Xia, Yun Wei Sun, Qing Gu, Hua He, S.K. Lam, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Benjamin C.Y. Wong. XAF1 Mediates Apoptosis Through Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase Pathway in Colon Cancer. CANCER Mar 2007; 23
  • Watt RM, Wang J, Leong M, Kung HF, Cheah KS, Liu D, Danchin A, Huang JD. Visualizing the proteome of Escherichia coli: an efficient and versatile method for labeling chromosomal coding DNA sequences (CDSs) with fluorescent protein genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2007; 35(6):e37
  • Ching-Chiu Liu, Zan Shen, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Marie CM Lin. Cancer gene therapy targeting angiogenesis: An updated review World J Gastroenterol 2006; 12(43)
  • XP Li, Peng Ying, Hu Xiong, David Chau, H.F. Kung and M.C. Lin. Recombination adeno-associated virus (rAAV) mediated RNA interference inhibits metastasis of nasopharyngeal cancer cells in vivo and in vitro by suppression of Epstein-Barr virus encoded LMP-1. International Journal of Oncology 2006;29(3):595-603
  • Xia HHX, He H, Wang JD, Gu Q, Lin MCM, Zou B, Yu LF, Sun YW, Chan AOO, Kung HF, Wong BCY. Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by a specific c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, SP-600125, in gastrointestinal cancers. Cancer Letters 2006; 241:268-274
  • Tong K, He ML, Lin CK, Guo L, Kung HF, Sung JJY, Lee SS. The implication of a high allelic frequency of CYP2B6 G516T in ethnic Chinese. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 43:541-542
  • Zou B, Chim CS, Zeng H, Leung SY, Yang Y, Tu SP, Lin MCM, Wang J, He H, Jiang SH, Sun YW, Yu LF, Yuen ST, Kung HF, Wong BCY. Correlation between the Single-Site CpG and Expression Silencing of the XAF1 Gene in Human Gastric and Colon Cancers. Gastroenterology 2006; 131:1835-1843
  • Jide Wang, He Hua, Lifen Yu, Harry Hua-xiang Xia, Marie C.M. Lin, Qing Gu, Ming Li, Bing Zhou, Xiaomeng An, Bo Jiang, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Benjamin C.Y. Wong. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) downregulated X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein-associated factor 1 (XAF1) through transcriptional regulation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2006; 281(5):2451-2459
  • Yong Liang, Marong Fang, Jicheng Li, Chi Bo Liu, John A. Rudd, HF Kung. David TW Yew. Serum Proteomic Patterns for Gastric Lesions as revealed by SELDI mass spectrometry. Experimental and Molecular Pathology 2006; 81:176-180
  • Chun-Feng Qiao, Quan-Bin Han, Jing-Zheng Song, Shi-fu Mo, Ling-Dong Kong, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Hong-Xi Xu. Quality assessment of Fructus Psoraleae Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulliten 2006; 54(6):887-890
  • Chun-Feng Qiao, Quan-Bin Han, Shi-fu Mo, Jing-Zheng Song, Li-Jia Xu, Shi-Lin Chen, Da-Jian Yang, Ling-Dong Kong, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Hong-Xi Xu. Psoralenoside and isoposoralenoside, two new bezofuran glycosides from Psoralea corylifolia. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulliten 2006; 54(5):714-716
  • Peng Y, Yang PH, Tanner JA, Huang JD, Li M, Lee HF, Xu RH, Kung HF, Lin MC. Cold-Inducible RNA Binding Protein is Required for the Expression of Adhesion Molecules and Embryonic Cell Movement in Xenopus Laevis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2006; 344:416-424
  • Wang X, Li M, Wang J, Yeung CM, Zhang H, Kung HF, Jiang B, Chia-mi Lin M The BH3-only protein, PUMA, is involved in oxaliplatin¡Xinduced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Biochemical Pharmacology 2006; 71:1540-1550
  • Ming Li, Samuel Sai-ming Ng, Jide Wang, Lihui Lai, Suet Yi Heung, Michel Franco, Ying Peng, Ming-liang He, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie Chia-mi Lin. EFA6A enhances glioma cell invasion through ADP ribosylation factor 6/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling. Cancer Research 2006; 66:(3)1583-1590
  • Xiang-Ping Li, Christine Y.S. Li, Xiaohua Li, Yanqing Ding, Lally L.Y. Chan, Pai-Hao Yang, Gang Li, Xong Liu, Jennifer S. Lin, Jide Wang , Ming-liang He, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Marie C. Lin and Ying Peng. Inhibition of Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Growth and Metastasis in Mice by Adenovirus-associated Virus Mediated Expression of Human Endostatin. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2006; 5(5):1290-1298 IF:5.2