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Jeong Ji-wook

Sungkyunkwan University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Jeong Ji-wook's research lab focuses on understanding the neuropathological and systemic impacts of SARS-CoV-2, with a particular emphasis on viral neurotropism, host immune responses, and long-term neurological sequelae. The lab investigates viral mechanisms of infection in human and animal models, including ocular and central nervous system involvement, and explores host cell responses such as microglial activation. A key direction involves developing therapeutic and vaccine strategies through drug repurposing, structure-based design, and plant-based production of SARS-CoV-2 antigens, particularly the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. The lab also studies the virological and structural characteristics of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern to assess their impact on transmissibility and immune escape.

SARS-CoV-2neurotropismviral variantsRBD vaccinedrug repurposing

Research Overview

Papers
23
Total Citations
458
Papers (5y)
19
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
19total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2026
Citations per year (5y)
305total
20212022202320242026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|122 citations·2022
SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Microglia Elicits Proinflammatory Activation and Apoptotic Cell Death
Gi Uk Jeong, Jaemyun Lyu, Kyun‐Do Kim, Young Cheul Chung, Gun Young Yoon, Sumin Lee, Insu Hwang, Won-Ho Shin, Junsu Ko, June‐Yong Lee, Young‐Chan Kwon
SJR Q1Microbiology SpectrumOA

Recent studies reported neurological and cognitive sequelae in patients with COVID-19 months after the viral infection with several symptoms, including ageusia, anosmia, asthenia, headache, and brain fog. Our conclusions raise awareness of COVID-19-related microglia-mediated neurological disorders to develop treatment strategies for the affected patients. We also indicated that HMC3 was a novel human cell line susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection that exhibited cytopathic effects, which could be

NeurologyMedicine
2
Review|85 citations·2020
Therapeutic Strategies Against COVID-19 and Structural Characterization of SARS-CoV-2: A Review
Gi Uk Jeong, Hanra Song, Gun Young Yoon, Doyoun Kim, Young‐Chan Kwon
SJR Q1Frontiers in MicrobiologyOA

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, or 2019-nCoV, which originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in December 2019, is a grave threat to public health worldwide. A total of 3,672,238 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 254,045 deaths were reported globally up to May 7, 2020. However, approved antiviral agents for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 remain unavailable. Drug repurposing of approved antivirals against other viruses such as HIV or Ebola virus is one of the

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
3
Article|45 citations·2022
Ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in animal models with retinal inflammation via neuronal invasion following intranasal inoculation
Gi Uk Jeong, Hyung‐Jun Kwon, Wern Hann Ng, Xiang Liu, Hyun-Woo Moon, Gun Young Yoon, Hye Jin Shin, In‐Chul Lee, Zheng Lung Ling, Alanna G. Spiteri, Nicholas J. C. King, Adam Taylor
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

Although ocular manifestations are reported in patients with COVID-19, consensus on ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 is lacking. Here, we infect K18-hACE2 transgenic mice with SARS-CoV-2 using various routes. We observe ocular manifestation and retinal inflammation with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the eyes of intranasally (IN)-infected mice. Intratracheal (IT) infection results in dissemination of the virus from the lungs to the brain and eyes via trigeminal and optic nerves. Ocular

OphthalmologyMedicine
4
Article|43 citations·2016
Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by a dNTPase-dependent function of the host restriction factor SAMHD1
Gi Uk Jeong, Il-Hyun Park, Kwangseog Ahn, Byung-Yoon Ahn
SJR Q2Virology
EpidemiologyMedicine
5
Article|30 citations·2021
Plant-Expressed Receptor Binding Domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Elicits Humoral Immunity in Mice
Puna Maya Maharjan, Jinyeong Cheon, Ji‐Yun Jung, Haerim Kim, Jaewon Lee, Minjeong Song, Gi Uk Jeong, Young‐Chan Kwon, Byoung-Shik Shim, Sunghwa Choe
SJR Q1VaccinesOA

The current 15-month coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has accounted for 3.77 million deaths and enormous worldwide social and economic losses. A high volume of vaccine production is urgently required to eliminate COVID-19. Inexpensive and robust production platforms will improve the distribution of vaccines to resource-limited countries. Plant species offer such platforms, particularly through the production of recombinant proteins to serve as immunogens. To achiev

BiotechnologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|25 citations·2021
Comparison of Plaque Size, Thermal Stability, and Replication Rate among SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
Gi Uk Jeong, Gun Young Yoon, Hyun-Woo Moon, Wooseong Lee, Insu Hwang, Haesoo Kim, Kyun‐Do Kim, Chonsaeng Kim, Dae‐Gyun Ahn, Bum‐Tae Kim, Seong‐Jun Kim, Young‐Chan Kwon
SJR Q1VirusesOA

SARS-CoV-2, like other RNA viruses, has a propensity for genetic evolution owing to the low fidelity of its viral polymerase. Several recent reports have described a series of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Some of these have been identified as variants of concern (VOCs), including alpha (B.1.1.7, Clade GRY), beta (B.1.351, Clade GH), gamma (P.1, Clade GR), and delta (B.1.617.2, Clade G). VOCs are likely to have some effect on transmissibility, antibody evasion, and changes in therapeutic or vaccine

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
7
Article|21 citations·2021
Receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein efficiently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection and attachment to mouse lung
Hye Jin Shin, Keun Bon Ku, Hae Soo Kim, Hyun-Woo Moon, Gi Uk Jeong, Insu Hwang, Gun Young Yoon, Sun-Hee Lee, Sumin Lee, Dae‐Gyun Ahn, Kyun‐Do Kim, Young‐Chan Kwon
SJR Q1International Journal of Biological SciencesOA

COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, poses a serious global threat. It was first reported in 2019 in China and has now dramatically spread across the world. It is crucial to develop therapeutics to mitigate severe disease and viral spread. The receptor-binding domains (RBDs) in the spike protein of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have shown anti-viral activity in previous reports suggesting that this domain has high potential for development as therapeutics. To evaluate the potential antiv

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
8
Article|18 citations·2023
Zika Virus Infection Induces Interleukin-1β-Mediated Inflammatory Responses by Macrophages in the Brain of an Adult Mouse Model
Gi Uk Jeong, Sumin Lee, Do Yeon Kim, Jaemyun Lyu, Gun Young Yoon, Kyun‐Do Kim, Keun Bon Ku, Junsu Ko, Young‐Chan Kwon
SJR Q1Journal of VirologyOA

) mice owing to the limited mouse models of ZIKV pathogenesis, our conclusions contributed to the understanding ZIKV-associated neurological diseases to develop treatment strategies for patients with ZIKV infection based on these findings.

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational HealthMedicine
9
Preprint|17 citations·2022
SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Microglia Elicits Pro-inflammatory Activation and Apoptotic Cell Death
Gi Uk Jeong, Jaemyun Lyu, Kyun‐Do Kim, Young Cheul Chung, Gun Young Yoon, Sumin Lee, Insu Hwang, Won-Ho Shin, Junsu Ko, June‐Yong Lee, Young‐Chan Kwon
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)OA

ABSTRACT Accumulating evidence suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes various neurological symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The most dominant immune cells in the brain are microglia. Yet, the relationship between neurological manifestations, neuroinflammation, and host immune response of microglia to SARS-CoV-2 has not been well characterized. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect human microglia, eliciti

NeurologyNeuroscience
10
Article|16 citations·2019
Aurora kinase A promotes hepatitis B virus replication and expression
Gi Uk Jeong, Byung-Yoon Ahn
SJR Q1Antiviral Research
Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Article|11 citations·2022
Immunological and Pathological Peculiarity of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Beta Variant
Sun-Hee Lee, Gun Young Yoon, Su Jin Lee, Young‐Chan Kwon, Hyun-Woo Moon, Yujin Kim, Haesoo Kim, Wooseong Lee, Gi Uk Jeong, Chonsaeng Kim, Kyun‐Do Kim, Seong‐Jun Kim
SJR Q1Microbiology SpectrumOA

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified. These variants have different infectivity and transmissibility from the ancestral strains. However, underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In our study, the beta variant showed distinct pathological conditions and cytokine release kinetics from an ancestral strain in a mouse model. It was associated with higher neutrophil recruitment by increased levels of CXCL1/2, CXCR2, and interleuki

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
12
Article|9 citations·2020
A recombinant human immunoglobulin with coherent avidity to hepatitis B virus surface antigens of various viral genotypes and clinical mutants
Gi Uk Jeong, Byung‐Yoon Ahn, Jaesung Jung, Hyun‐Jin Kim, Tae‐Hee Kim, Woohyun Kim, Ara Lee, Kyuhyun Lee, Jung-Hwan Kim
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope is composed of a lipid bilayer and three glycoproteins, referred to as the large (L), middle (M), and small (S) hepatitis B virus surface antigens (HBsAg). S protein constitutes the major portion of the viral envelope and an even greater proportion of subviral particles (SVP) that circulate in the blood. Recombinant S proteins are currently used as a preventive vaccine, while plasma fractions isolated from vaccinated people, referred to as hepatitis B immune

EpidemiologyMedicine
13
Preprint|8 citations·2021
Comparison of Plaque Size, Thermal Stability, and Replication Rate among SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
Gi Uk Jeong, Gun Young Yoon, Hyun-Woo Moon, Wooseong Lee, Insu Hwang, Hae Soo Kim, Kyun‐Do Kim, Chonsaeng Kim, Dae‐Gyun Ahn, Bum‐Tae Kim, Seong‐Jun Kim, Young‐Chan Kwon
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)OA

ABSTRACT SARS-CoV-2, like other RNA viruses, has a propensity for genetic evolution owing to the low fidelity of its viral polymerase. This evolution results in the emergence of novel variants with different characteristics than their ancestral strain. Several recent reports have described a series of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Some of these have been identified as variants of concern (VOCs), including alpha (B.1.1.7, Clade GRY), beta (B.1.351, Clade GH), gamma (P.1, Clade GR), and delta (B.1.61

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
14
Article|4 citations·2024
Generation of a lethal mouse model expressing human ACE2 and TMPRSS2 for SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis
Gi Uk Jeong, Insu Hwang, Wooseong Lee, Ji Hyun Choi, Gun Young Yoon, Hae Soo Kim, Jeong‐Sun Yang, Kyung-Chang Kim, Joo-Yeon Lee, Seong‐Jun Kim, Young‐Chan Kwon, Kyun‐Do Kim
SJR Q1Experimental & Molecular MedicineOA

Mouse models expressing human ACE2 for coronavirus disease 2019 have been frequently used to understand its pathogenesis and develop therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2. Given that human TMPRSS2 supports viral entry, replication, and pathogenesis, we established a double-transgenic mouse model expressing both human ACE2 and TMPRSS2 for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Co-overexpression of both genes increased viral infectivity in vitro and in vivo. Double-transgenic mice showed significant body weigh

Infectious DiseasesMedicine
15
Review|3 citations·2021
Therapeutic Strategies against COVID-19 and Structural Characterization of SARS-CoV-2: A Review
Gi Uk Jeong, Hanra Song, Gun Young Yoon, Doyoun Kim, Young‐Chan Kwon
Vide Leaf, Hyderabad eBooks

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV, which originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in December 2019, has emerged as a grave threat to public health worldwide.A total of 3,672,238 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 254,045 deaths were reported globally until May 7, 2020.However, approved antiviral agents for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 remain unavailable.Drug www.videleaf.comrepurposing of approved antivirals against other viruses such as HIV or E

General Health ProfessionsHealth Professions

Research Areas

Infectious DiseasesNeurologyOphthalmologyEpidemiologyPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational HealthCognitive Neuroscience

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