Laboratory Members

PhD Students:
• Cheng-Hsiu Chen (Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences)
• Tzu-Wei Huang (Graduate Institute of Life Sciences)
Master’s Students:
• Chih-Ti Teng
• Chiao-Che Huang
Research Assistants:
• Meng-Ho Lin
• Yen-Fang Cheng

Laboratory Overview

Emerging Respiratory Infections Lab
Recent global outbreaks, including COVID-19, Ebola, and mpox, have highlighted the increasing threat posed by microbial pathogens in the 21st century. Approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, with many primarily affecting the respiratory system.
Our laboratory focuses on respiratory infectious diseases and investigates host physiological responses to emerging pathogens. Research topics include pathogen gene regulation and its interaction with the host microenvironment, intracellular signaling pathways and physiological regulation in the host, as well as the identification of early diagnostic biomarkers and the development of therapeutic strategies.

Research Directions

1. Mechanisms of Pathogenesis in Emerging Infectious Diseases
Over the past 15 years, our laboratory has investigated gene regulation in emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens and developed novel therapeutic approaches. We study clinically important pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, focusing on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and the development of innovative treatment strategies to combat global antimicrobial resistance.
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2. Development of Biomimetic Systems to Study Host–Pathogen Interactions
We have developed advanced biomimetic platforms, including precision-cut tissue slices (PCTS), organoids, and organ-on-a-chip technologies, to establish ex vivo models as next-generation alternatives to animal models. These systems are used to investigate host–pathogen interactions, with the long-term goal of reducing reliance on animal experimentation.
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We warmly welcome students who are interested in these research areas to join us for further discussion.

Awards and Honors

1. 19th National Innovation Award (2022): Development and application of protease-based accelerated drug screening technology for emerging infectious diseases
2. Outstanding Paper Award, Taiwan Society of Laboratory Medicine
3. Distinguished Teaching Award, National Defense Medical Center
4. Outstanding Medical Technologist Award (“Light of Medical Technology”), Taipei Medical Technologists Association

Publications

1. Cheng YH, Chen CH, Liu PC, Chen WT, Hsu CJ, Chen CC, Sun JR* (2025) Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assays for detecting SARS-CoV-2 using subgenomic RNA load. Heliyon 11 (4):e42503
2. Yang YP, Wang CH, Sun JR, Chien Y, Chien CS, Chiou GY, Cheng YH, Chen WT, Liu PC, Tsai SK, Chiang IH, Wang JC, OH Huan, Ching LJ, Lo WL, Wang CY, Leu HB, Lee CY, Chiou SH. Epitranscriptomic Modulation of TET2 Inhibition Suppressed SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Blocked Viral Nucleocapsid Protein in Induced-Pluripotent-Stem-Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Screening Models. Biomater Res. 2025 Jul 22:29:0229. (SCI, IF=9.6)
3. Sun JR, Tsai PH, Chien Y, Chan MS, Winnie Khor, Yang HC, Huang CH, Hsiung CN, Hwa TY, Lin YY, Yeh CL, Wang ML, Yang YP, Chen YM, Tsai FT, Lee MS, Cheng YH, Tsai SK, Liu PC, Chou SJ, Chiou SH.Modifications of lipid pathways restrict SARS-CoV-2 propagation in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived 3D airway organoids J Adv Res. 2024 Jun:60:127-140.
4. Yang YS, Chen HY, Lin IC, Lin MH, Wang WY, Kuo SC, Chen WT, Cheng YH, Sun JR*. Imipenem reduces the efficacy of vancomycin against Elizabethkingia species. J Antimicrob Chemother . 2024 Aug 1;79(8):2048-2052.
5. Lee CY, Huang CH, Rastegari E, Rengganaten V, Liu PC, Tsai PH, Chin YF, Wu JR, Chiou SH, Teng YC, Lee CW, Liang Y, Chen AY, Hsu SC, Hung YJ, Sun JR *, Chien CS, Chien Y. 2021. Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Exacerbates Viral Entry in SARS-CoV2-Infected iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Int J Mol Sci 22.
6. Yang YS, Jeng WY, Lee YT, Hsu CJ, Chou YC, Kuo SC, Chen CC, Hsu WJ, The Action Study G, Chen HY, Sun JR *. 2021. Ser253Leu substitution in PmrB contributes to colistin resistance in clinical Acinetobacter nosocomialis. Emerg Microbes Infect 10:1873-1880.
7. Hsu CJ, Lin WC, Chou YC, Yang CM, Wu HL, Cheng YH, Liu PC, Chang JY, Chen HY, Sun JR *. 2022. Dynamic Changes of the Blood Chemistry in Syrian Hamsters Post-Acute COVID-19. Microbiol Spectr 10:e0236221.
8. Huang RL, Fu YC, Wang YC, Hong C, Yang WC, Wang IJ, Sun JR, Chen Y, Shen CF, Cheng CM. 2022. A Lateral Flow Immunoassay Coupled with a Spectrum-Based Reader for SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Detection. Vaccines (Basel) 10.
9. Wang YC, Lin SW, Wang IJ, Yang CY, Hong C, Sun JR, Feng PH, Lee MH, Shen CF, Lee YT, Cheng CM. 2022. Interleukin-6 Test Strip Combined With a Spectrum-Based Optical Reader for Early Recognition of COVID-19 Patients With Risk of Respiratory Failure. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 10:796996.
10. Chin YF, Tang WF, Chang YH, Chang TY, Lin WC, Lin CY, Yang CM, Wu HL, Liu PC, Sun JR, Hsu SC, Lee CY, Lu HY, Chang JY, Jheng JR, Chen CC, Kau JH, Huang CH, Chiu CH, Hung YJ, Tsai HP, Horng JT. 2022. Orally delivered perilla (Perilla frutescens) leaf extract effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in a Syrian hamster model. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis: Vol. 30 : Iss. 2 , Article 6
11. Hsing-Yu Chen, Chuan-Chung Chuang, Yu-Ching Chou, Wei-Jane Hsu, I-Chieh Lin, ACTION study group and Jun-Ren Sun*. Rapid typing of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis by multiplex Pan- and OXAPCR assays. J Med Microbiol. 2021 Jun;70(6).
12. Yi-Tzu Lee, Hsing-Yu Chen, Ya-Sung Yang, Yu-Ching Chou, Tein-Yao Chang, Wei-Jane Hsu, I-Chieh Lin, ACTION Study Group; Jun-Ren Sun*. AdeABC Efflux Pump Controlled by AdeRS Two Component System Conferring Resistance to Tigecycline, Omadacycline and Eravacycline in Clinical Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter nosocomialis. Front Microbiol. 2020 Nov 2;11:584789.