Dr Wenyi Gu
Dr

Wenyi Gu

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64168

Background

Dr. Wenyi Gu’s early education was conducted in China which include his undergraduate and master’s degrees in veterinary medicine. In 1996, he migrated to Australia and pursued his PhD study in biochemistry & molecular biology at the Australian National University (ANU). After a short period of work at John Curtin Medical School ANU as a junior scientist, he moved to Brisbane in 2001 for his post-doc at the University of Queensland and currently a post-doctoral research fellow at AIBN. He held a Peter Doherty Fellowship (2006-2009) and was further supported by NHMRC to spend 7 months at Harvard University as a visiting fellow in 2008. Since his post-doctoral research he has been working in the area of using RNAi to treat viral diseases and cancers. He also has a strong background in immunology and vaccine development.

Availability

Dr Wenyi Gu is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biochemistry and cell biology Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cancer therapy (excl. chemotherapy and radiation therapy) Cell development, proliferation and death Clinical sciences Gene and molecular therapy Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches) Genetics Immunology Infectious diseases Medical biochemistry - nucleic acids Medical biochemistry and metabolomics Medical biotechnology Medical microbiology Medical molecular engineering of nucleic acids and proteins Microbiology Molecular targets Nanobiotechnology Nanomaterials Oncology and carcinogenesis Solid tumours Tumour immunology Virology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research interests

  • Rational design and delivery of small RNAs for effective cancer gene therapies

    Major research focus is on RNA interference (RNAi) based gene therapy and cancer therapy. Closely associated with this focus, research areas such as oncogenes, cancer stem cells, targeted delivery systems, cancer cell biomarkers, and cancer immunotherapy are also covered. My recent research is more concentrated on RNAi delivery with nano-particles and on identifying therapeutic targets for cancer stem cells and exploring novel therapeutic approaches including using small RNAs or chemotherapeutic drugs or nature compounds to inhibit cancer stem cell growth.

Research impacts

Dr. Gu's research focus is on RNA interference (RNAi) based gene therapy and cancer therapy. Closely associated with this focus, he also interests in subjects such as oncogenes, cancer stem cells, targeted delivery, cancer cell biomarkers, and cancer immunotherapy. His recent research more focuses on RNAi delivery with nano-particles and on identifying therapeutic targets for cancer stem cells and exploring novel therapeutic approaches to inhibit cancer stem cell growth. His discovery that RNAi induces immunity to tumour antigens has led to a whole new field of biomedical research – that is the relationship between RNAi and acquired immune responses, and the role of RNAi techniques as specific and effective vaccine development tools for cancers and other diseases. This discovery has not only underpinned a high quality publication in PNAS USA but also an international patent that has been licensed by the world’s largest RNAi company, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals USA. Building on this, his recent research confirms that RNAi therapy has a profound effect on cancer stem cells (Gu et al 2011). More recently, he worked with his colleagues on RNAi therapy on osteoarthritis, which led to a high quality paper published by Nature Communication.

Search Professor Wenyi Gu’s works on UQ eSpace

136 works between 2003 and 2024
All (136) Journal Article (129) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (3) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 136 works

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Polarized immune responses modulated by layered double hydroxides nanoparticle conjugated with CpG

Yan, Shiyu, Rolfe, Barbara E., Zhang, Bing, Mohammed, Yousuf H., Gu, Wenyi and Xu, Zhi P. (2014). Polarized immune responses modulated by layered double hydroxides nanoparticle conjugated with CpG. Biomaterials, 35 (35), 9508-9516. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.07.055

Polarized immune responses modulated by layered double hydroxides nanoparticle conjugated with CpG

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Effective inhibition of colon cancer cell growth with MgAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) loaded 5-FU and PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor BEZ-235 through apoptotic pathways

Chen, Jiezhong, Shao, Renfu, Li, Li, Xu, Zhi Ping and Gu, Wenyi (2014). Effective inhibition of colon cancer cell growth with MgAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) loaded 5-FU and PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor BEZ-235 through apoptotic pathways. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 9 (1), 3403-3411. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S61633

Effective inhibition of colon cancer cell growth with MgAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) loaded 5-FU and PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor BEZ-235 through apoptotic pathways

Featured

2013

Journal Article

Nanoparticles mimicking viral surface topography for enhanced cellular delivery

Niu, Yuting, Yu, Meihua, Hartono, Sandy B., Yang, Jie, Xu, Hongyi, Zhang, Hongwei, Zhang, Jun, Zou, Jin, Dexter, Annette, Gu, Wenyi and Yu, Chengzhong (2013). Nanoparticles mimicking viral surface topography for enhanced cellular delivery. Advanced Materials, 25 (43), 6233-6237. doi: 10.1002/adma.201302737

Nanoparticles mimicking viral surface topography for enhanced cellular delivery

Featured

2013

Journal Article

An influenza virus-inspired polymer system for the timed release of siRNA

Truong, Nghia P., Gu, Wenyi, Prasadam, Indira, Jia, Zhongfan, Crawford, Ross, Xiao, Yin and Monteiro, Michael J. (2013). An influenza virus-inspired polymer system for the timed release of siRNA. Nature Communications, 4 (1) 1902, 1902. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2905

An influenza virus-inspired polymer system for the timed release of siRNA

Featured

2012

Journal Article

Poly-L-lysine functionalized large pore cubic mesostructured silica nanoparticles as biocompatible carriers for gene delivery

Hartono, Sandy B., Gu, Wenyi, Kleitz, Freddy, Liu, Jian, He, Lizhong, Middelberg, Anton P. J., Yu, Chengzhong, Lu, Gao Qing (Max) and Qiao, Shi Zhang (2012). Poly-L-lysine functionalized large pore cubic mesostructured silica nanoparticles as biocompatible carriers for gene delivery. ACS Nano, 6 (3), 2104-2117. doi: 10.1021/nn2039643

Poly-L-lysine functionalized large pore cubic mesostructured silica nanoparticles as biocompatible carriers for gene delivery

Featured

2009

Journal Article

Both treated and untreated tumors are eliminated by short hairpin RNA-based induction of target-specific immune responses

Gu, Wenyi, Cochrane, Melanie, Leggatt, Graham, Payne, Elizabeth, Choyce, Allison, Zhou, Fang, Tindle, Robert and McMillan, Nigel (2009). Both treated and untreated tumors are eliminated by short hairpin RNA-based induction of target-specific immune responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106 (20), 8314-8319. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0812085106

Both treated and untreated tumors are eliminated by short hairpin RNA-based induction of target-specific immune responses

Featured

2007

Journal Article

Generalized substitution of isoencoding codons shortens the duration of papillomavirus L1 protein expression in transiently gene-transfected keratinocytes due to cell differentiation

Gu, Wenyi, Ding, Jianmin M., Wang, Xiao, de Kluyver, Rachel L., Saunders, Nicholas A., Frazer, Ian H. and Zhao, Kong-Nan (2007). Generalized substitution of isoencoding codons shortens the duration of papillomavirus L1 protein expression in transiently gene-transfected keratinocytes due to cell differentiation. Nucleic Acids Research, 35 (14), 4820-4832. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkm496

Generalized substitution of isoencoding codons shortens the duration of papillomavirus L1 protein expression in transiently gene-transfected keratinocytes due to cell differentiation

2024

Journal Article

Polymeric silk fibroin hydrogel as a conductive and multifunctional adhesive for durable skin and epidermal electronics

Fu, Fanfan, Liu, Changyi, Jiang, Zhenlin, Zhao, Qingyu, Shen, Aining, Wu, Yilun and Gu, Wenyi (2024). Polymeric silk fibroin hydrogel as a conductive and multifunctional adhesive for durable skin and epidermal electronics. Smart Medicine, 3 (3). doi: 10.1002/smmd.20240027

Polymeric silk fibroin hydrogel as a conductive and multifunctional adhesive for durable skin and epidermal electronics

2024

Journal Article

Bone targeted nano-drug and nano-delivery

Wu, Yilun, Sun, Bing, Tang, Ying, Shen, Aining, Lin, Yanlin, Zhao, Xiaohui, Li, Jingui, Monteiro, Michael J. and Gu, Wenyi (2024). Bone targeted nano-drug and nano-delivery. Bone Research, 12 (1) 51. doi: 10.1038/s41413-024-00356-2

Bone targeted nano-drug and nano-delivery

2024

Journal Article

Spatial heterogeneity and prognostic significance of TAMs and TILs infiltrates in different staging esophageal squamous carcinoma

Li, Ya, Liu, Jia, Qi, Liwen, Yuan, Xin, Yang, Kaige, Ren, Yilin, Shi, Qi, Xu, Guixuan, Wang, Weinan, Luo, Chenghua, Wang, Lianghai, Liang, Weihua, He, Zengtao, Zhou, Wenhu, Fei, Jing, Chen, Weigang, Gu, Wenyi, Li, Feng and Hu, Jianming (2024). Spatial heterogeneity and prognostic significance of TAMs and TILs infiltrates in different staging esophageal squamous carcinoma. Digestive and Liver Disease. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2024.08.003

Spatial heterogeneity and prognostic significance of TAMs and TILs infiltrates in different staging esophageal squamous carcinoma

2024

Journal Article

RGD Density on Tadpole Nanostructures Regulates Cancer Stem Cell Proliferation and Stemness

Zhang, Dayong, Sun, Bing, Wang, Jingyi, Chen, Sung-Po R., Bobrin, Valentin A., Gu, Yushu, Ng, Chun Ki, Gu, Wenyi and Monteiro, Michael J. (2024). RGD Density on Tadpole Nanostructures Regulates Cancer Stem Cell Proliferation and Stemness. Biomacromolecules, 25 (8), 5260-5272. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00645

RGD Density on Tadpole Nanostructures Regulates Cancer Stem Cell Proliferation and Stemness

2024

Journal Article

Folate-targeted nanocarriers co-deliver ganciclovir and miR-34a-5p for combined anti-KSHV therapy

Li, Fangling, Cao, Dongdong, Gu, Wenyi, Li, Dongmei, Liu, Zhiyong and Cui, Lin (2024). Folate-targeted nanocarriers co-deliver ganciclovir and miR-34a-5p for combined anti-KSHV therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25 (5) 2932, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/ijms25052932

Folate-targeted nanocarriers co-deliver ganciclovir and miR-34a-5p for combined anti-KSHV therapy

2024

Journal Article

Effects of seipin on mouse mesenchymal stem cell Osteo-Adipogenic Balance

Li, Zeying, Jin, Shan, Xu, Tong, Chen, Hongzhi, Cai, Wenping, Du, Jin, Jin, Qiu, Zhuang, Sihui, Qi, Yan, Gu, Wenyi and Pang, Lijuan (2024). Effects of seipin on mouse mesenchymal stem cell Osteo-Adipogenic Balance. Stem Cells and Development (ja), 177-188. doi: 10.1089/scd.2023.0107

Effects of seipin on mouse mesenchymal stem cell Osteo-Adipogenic Balance

2024

Journal Article

An essential role of c-Fos in Notch1-mediated promotion of proliferation of KSHV-Infected SH-SY5Y Cells

Xu, Huiling, Huang, Jinghong, Yao, Lixia, Gu, Wenyi, Ruzi, Aynisahan, Ding, Yufei, Li, Ying, Liang, Weihua, Jiang, Jinfang, Pan, Zemin, Cao, Dongdong, Zhou, Naiming, Li, Dongmei and Zhang, Jinli (2024). An essential role of c-Fos in Notch1-mediated promotion of proliferation of KSHV-Infected SH-SY5Y Cells. Current Molecular Pharmacology, 17 e18761429264583, 1-13. doi: 10.2174/0118761429264583231106104202

An essential role of c-Fos in Notch1-mediated promotion of proliferation of KSHV-Infected SH-SY5Y Cells

2024

Journal Article

Targeted delivery of miR-34a-5p by phenylborate-coupled polyethylenimide nanocarriers for anti-KSHV treatment

Li, Fangling, Cao, Dongdong, Yao, Lixia, Gu, Wenyi, Liu, Zhiyong, Li, Dongmei and Cui, Lin (2024). Targeted delivery of miR-34a-5p by phenylborate-coupled polyethylenimide nanocarriers for anti-KSHV treatment. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11 ARTN 1343956, 1343956. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1343956

Targeted delivery of miR-34a-5p by phenylborate-coupled polyethylenimide nanocarriers for anti-KSHV treatment

2024

Journal Article

Chitosan-coated artesunate protects against ulcerative colitis via STAT6-mediated macrophage M2 polarization and intestinal barrier protection

Tao, Ya, Xu, Lei, Liu, Xiaopan, Wang, Peijia, Wei, Simin, Huang, Yinmo, Gu, Wenyi, Bo, Ruonan, Liu, Mingjiang, Yu, Jie and Li, Jingui (2024). Chitosan-coated artesunate protects against ulcerative colitis via STAT6-mediated macrophage M2 polarization and intestinal barrier protection. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 254 (Part 1) 127680, 127680. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127680

Chitosan-coated artesunate protects against ulcerative colitis via STAT6-mediated macrophage M2 polarization and intestinal barrier protection

2024

Journal Article

miR-769-3p inhibits cellular proliferation of KSHV-infected SH-SY5Y cells through targeting mTOR

Cao, Dongdong, Wu, Zhaofu, Yang, Rui, Yao, Lixia, Huang, Jinhong, Ding, Yufei, Ruzi, Aynisahan, Pan, Zemin, Pan, Yuanming, Li, Dongmei, Gu, Wenyi and Zhang, Jinli (2024). miR-769-3p inhibits cellular proliferation of KSHV-infected SH-SY5Y cells through targeting mTOR. Journal of Cancer, 15 (11), 3338-3349. doi: 10.7150/jca.93595

miR-769-3p inhibits cellular proliferation of KSHV-infected SH-SY5Y cells through targeting mTOR

2023

Journal Article

M2 tumor-associated macrophage mediates the maintenance of stemness to promote cisplatin resistance by secreting TGF-β1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Yang, Kaige, Xie, Yufang, Xue, Lele, Li, Fanping, Luo, Chenghua, Liang, Weihua, Zhang, Haijun, Li, Ya, Ren, Yilin, Zhao, Mengmeng, Wang, Weinan, Liu, Jia, Shen, Xihua, Zhou, Wenhu, Fei, Jing, Chen, Weigang, Gu, Wenyi, Wang, Lianghai, Li, Feng and Hu, Jianming (2023). M2 tumor-associated macrophage mediates the maintenance of stemness to promote cisplatin resistance by secreting TGF-β1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Translational Medicine, 21 (1) 26, 26. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03863-0

M2 tumor-associated macrophage mediates the maintenance of stemness to promote cisplatin resistance by secreting TGF-β1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

2023

Journal Article

17‐β‐estradiol reduces surface PD‐L1 expression in estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer but not type 1 endometrial cancer cells

Li, Hongzhuo, Gu, Wenyi, Jeffery, Penny and Chen, Chen (2023). 17‐β‐estradiol reduces surface PD‐L1 expression in estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer but not type 1 endometrial cancer cells. Clinical and Translational Medicine, 13 (7) e1330, e1330. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.1330

17‐β‐estradiol reduces surface PD‐L1 expression in estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer but not type 1 endometrial cancer cells

2023

Journal Article

Delivery of miR-34a-5p by folic acid-modified β-cyclodextrin-grafted polyethylenimine copolymer nanocarriers to resist KSHV

Li, Fangling, Cao, Dongdong, Gu, Wenyi, Cui, Lin, Qiu, Zhongpeng, Liu, Zhiyong, Li, Dongmei and Guo, Xuhong (2023). Delivery of miR-34a-5p by folic acid-modified β-cyclodextrin-grafted polyethylenimine copolymer nanocarriers to resist KSHV. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 6 (12), 10826-10836. doi: 10.1021/acsanm.3c02162

Delivery of miR-34a-5p by folic acid-modified β-cyclodextrin-grafted polyethylenimine copolymer nanocarriers to resist KSHV

Past funding

  • 2017 - 2018
    Development of immunotherapy for viral-induced cancers
    Guangdong Tophealth Biotechnology Co. Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Developing a mouse model of spontaneous hepatocyte carcinoma
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - FirstLink
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Bio-immunotherapy for cervical cancer
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    siRNA-based Anti-Tumour Immunity
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Evolution and function of fragmented animal mitochondrial genomes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Evolution and function of fragmented animal mitochondrial genomes (ARC Discovery Project administered by The University of the Sunshine Coast)
    University of the Sunshine Coast
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Novel photodynamic therapy for targeted skin cancer treatment: an integrated bionanotechnology
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008
    MicroRNA analysis of cervical cancer HeLa cells resistant to gene silencing of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes
    NHMRC Travelling Award for Research Training
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The Role of RNA interference in the induction of immune responses
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Using siRNA and shRNA as antigen presentationenhancers for anti-tumour immunity
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Sensitise cervical cancer cells to shRNA-mediated gene silence
    NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Wenyi Gu is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Identifying therapeutic targets and developing targeted cancer therapies for cancer stem cells

  • Drug delivery with nanotechnology and RNA interference based thearpy

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Roles of surface expression of PD-L1 and the regulation by E2 in human endometrial and breast cancers

    Associate Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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