Tulane University of Louisiana · BiologyLin Lab
Zhen Lin · New Orleans, Louisiana
Research Focus
Zhen Lin's lab at Tulane University focuses on understanding the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and its role in various diseases, particularly in patients with HIV/AIDS. They investigate how EBV switches between dormancy and active replication, and how this process can lead to cancer and autoimmune diseases. A significant aspect of their research is exploring newly discovered types of RNAs, called alpha-satellite RNAs, that may play crucial roles in EBV's viral lifecycle and its interaction with host cells.
Epstein-Barr viruslytic replicationalpha-satellite RNAscancerautoimmune diseases
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of alpha-satellite RNAs in EBV lytic replication.
AIM 02Understand how EBV-induced double-strand breaks affect host DNA.
AIM 03Elucidate the mechanisms by which alpha-satellite RNAs facilitate viral replication.
AIM 04Explore the connection between EBV lytic replication and autoimmune diseases.
AIM 05Identify potential therapeutic targets within the EBV lifecycle.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureDNA sequencingPCRRNA extractionbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications100bottom 35% of dept.671st of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.9kbottom 30% of dept.728th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.