Zhe Ma

Zhe Ma,

Assistant Professor

Department: Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Business Phone: (352) 273-7513
Business Email: zhema@ufl.edu

About Zhe Ma

Fun Fact: I believe that alone we can do so little—but, together, we can do so much. I’m always grateful for suggestions and collaborative opportunities. Our lab aims to dissect innate immune responses and viral tumor development for the sake of identifying potential targets and strategies for viral cancer treatment. Our long-term goals are to better understand KSHV cancers and develop potential KSHV cancer treatment or vaccines. Our immediate goals are to understand how viral proteins regulate the cGAS-STING pathway and how to develop potential KSHV cancer therapy by targeting these viral proteins. Specifically, we are focused on detailed mechanisms of cGAS-STING signaling regulation by KSHV viral proteins; the role of KSHV viral proteins on KSHV pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo; and screening for novel cGAS-STING pathway agonists, testing their efficacy using PEL based xenograft mouse model. We are also exploring other signaling pathways involved in KSHV infection and KSHV cancer progression. Particularly, we aim to identify viral regulators responsible for modulating some of these pathways, and further study their mechanism and roles in KSHV cancer development.

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Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2021-2024
GMS6034 Advanced Virology I: Genetics and RNA
2022
GMS6036 Molecular Virology III: DNA Viruses
2023-2024
GMS6196 Virology Journal Club

Publications

2022
A novel combination therapy for multidrug resistant pathogens using chitosan nanoparticles loaded with β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactamase inhibitors.
International journal of biological macromolecules. 195:506-514 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.12.035. [PMID] 34920071.
2021
Dissemination mechanisms of NDM genes in hospitalized patients.
JAC-antimicrobial resistance. 3(1) [DOI] 10.1093/jacamr/dlab032. [PMID] 34223104.
2020
Corrigendum: Experimentally Induced Endometritis Impairs the Developmental Capacity of Bovine Oocytes†.
Biology of reproduction. 103(4) [DOI] 10.1093/biolre/ioaa129. [PMID] 32761062.
2020
PPP6C Negatively Regulates STING-Dependent Innate Immune Responses.
mBio. 11(4) [DOI] 10.1128/mBio.01728-20. [PMID] 32753499.
2020
Protocol for Monitoring DNA-Triggered cGAS/STING Signaling in Mammalian Cells and Mice
STAR Protocols. 1(3) [DOI] 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100171. [PMID] 33377065.
2020
Streptavidin Promotes DNA Binding and Activation of cGAS to Enhance Innate Immunity
iScience. 23(9) [DOI] 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101463. [PMID] 32861998.
2019
Extracellular vesicles from Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus lymphoma induce long-term endothelial cell reprogramming.
PLoS pathogens. 15(2) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007536. [PMID] 30716130.
2018
cGAS and STING: At the intersection of DNA and RNA virus-sensing networks.
PLoS pathogens. 14(8) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007148. [PMID] 30114241.
2018
Innate Sensing of DNA Virus Genomes.
Annual review of virology. 5(1):341-362 [DOI] 10.1146/annurev-virology-092917-043244. [PMID] 30265633.
2017
NLRX1 negatively modulates type I IFN to facilitate KSHV reactivation from latency.
PLoS pathogens. 13(5) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006350. [PMID] 28459883.
2017
Single-crystalline germanium nanomembrane photodetectors on foreign nanocavities.
Science advances. 3(7) [DOI] 10.1126/sciadv.1602783. [PMID] 28695202.
2016
Editorial: NLRP3: immune activator or modulator?
Journal of leukocyte biology. 99(5):641-3 [DOI] 10.1189/jlb.3CE0915-443R. [PMID] 27130886.
2016
The cGAS-STING Defense Pathway and Its Counteraction by Viruses.
Cell host & microbe. 19(2):150-8 [DOI] 10.1016/j.chom.2016.01.010. [PMID] 26867174.
2015
Modulation of the cGAS-STING DNA sensing pathway by gammaherpesviruses.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 112(31):E4306-15 [DOI] 10.1073/pnas.1503831112. [PMID] 26199418.
2013
DDX24 negatively regulates cytosolic RNA-mediated innate immune signaling.
PLoS pathogens. 9(10) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003721. [PMID] 24204270.
2009
STING regulates intracellular DNA-mediated, type I interferon-dependent innate immunity.
Nature. 461(7265):788-92 [DOI] 10.1038/nature08476. [PMID] 19776740.
2008
Establishment of an indicator cell line to quantify bovine foamy virus infection.
Journal of basic microbiology. 48(4):278-83 [DOI] 10.1002/jobm.200700295. [PMID] 18720504.
2007
Detection and analysis of bovine foamy virus infection by an indicator cell line.
Acta pharmacologica Sinica. 28(7):994-1000 [PMID] 17588335.

Grants

Jan 2022 ACTIVE
American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant
Role: Project Manager
Funding: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Jul 2020 ACTIVE
Role of DNA sensing pathways in KSHV associated cancers
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-7513
Emails:
Business:
zhema@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100266
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
1200 Newell Drive, ARB R4-293
Gainesville FL 32610