Author

Kun Zhao

Vanderbilt University

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Same name, identified by ORCID

Biology Disciplines

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Biochemistry· 1 Genetic & Genomic Medicine· 1 Genetics· 1 Microbiology· 1 Neuroscience· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Organism:human· 3 Research Focus:differential expression· 2 Approach:experimental assay· 2 Assay:proteomics· 2 Approach:statistical model· 2 Research Focus:benchmarking· 1 Assay:bulk RNA-seq· 1 Research Focus:cell type annotation· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Alexander G. BickiD· 2 shared Liying XueiD· 2 shared A. A. BoseiD· 1 shared Aladdin H. ShadyabiD· 1 shared Alex P. ReineriD· 1 shared Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative· 1 shared Amanda J. LeaiD· 1 shared Amy J. M. McNaughtoniD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2026-2026 · peak 5/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 24 mutual co-author links

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2 shared papersGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Alexander G. BickORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

5 papers

Recent·Most cited

LysM: a bacterial self-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolase as an antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agent for Gram-negative nosocomial pathogens

Yu Zhang, Dejian Liu, Min Zhao, Lanxin Wang, Yanhong Huang, Haoyu Liu, Jingchao Zhang, Bo Ma, Di Wang, Kun Zhao, Jintao Liu, Liang Li, Luyan zulie Ma

This paper identifies LysM, a bacterial enzyme with broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity against Gram-negative pathogens, and shows it can enhance antibiotic efficacy.

bioRxiv · Oct 21, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Charting sex divergence in the human brain across the lifespan

Minhui Zhu, Lianglong Sun, Mingrui Xia, Yanchao Bi, Qingjiu Cao, Rui Chen, Yuan Chen, Taolin Chen, Yuqi Cheng, Zhengjia Dai, Yao Deng, Yuyin Ding, Qi Dong, J Gao, Qiyong Gong, , Yong He

This paper constructs sex-specific lifespan brain charts using neuroimaging data from 59,915 individuals, revealing dynamic sex differences in brain development and improving detection of neuropsychiatric abnormalities.

bioRxiv · Oct 14, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience

Clonal Hematopoiesis Accelerates Frailty and Functional Decline

Kun Zhao, Candice Quin, Yash Pershad, Liying Xue, Weizhi Cao, Grace I. Bowman, Caitlyn Vlasschaert, Robert W. Corty, Jonathan Brett Heimlich, Erica N. DeJong, Caitlin Lee, Zil Patel, Marco M. Buttigieg, Chris P. Verschoor, Calum A Bane, , Alexander G. Bick

This study links clonal hematopoiesis to accelerated frailty and functional decline across multiple organ systems in humans.

medRxiv · Oct 1, 2026 · PreprintGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Evolutionary tuning of rhodopsin-mediated light protection

Nadir H Dbouk, Madeleine Bagshaw, A. A. Bose, Marselle A. Rasdall, Audrey M. Arner, Kun Zhao, Kaitlin E Taylor, Neena Praveen, Weihong Huo, Isabella Bautista, Narmin Musayeva, Liying Xue, Jinger N Hayes, Marin McElhinney, Rohan Kasthuri, , Gianni M. Castiglione

This paper shows that rhodopsin's light protection mechanism evolved to sequester toxic retinal and protect retinal cells, with implications for human disease.

bioRxiv · May 27, 2026 · PreprintBiochemistry

Cross-Species Insights from ART-D to Uncover Evolutionarily Conserved Oncogenic Mechanisms

Yifan Guo, Jiadong Zheng, Yixin Wu, Kun Zhao, Dian Lv, Wenhan Liu, Mengling Wang, Jinyu Lu, Wenyan Xu, Xianping Wang, Xianjue Ma

The paper establishes ART-D, a cross-species platform analyzing Ras-driven tumors in Drosophila to identify conserved oncogenic mechanisms across stages of tumorigenesis.

Molecular Systems Biology · May 14, 2026Peer-reviewedGenetics