主要从事病毒遗传变异与分子流行病学、病毒感染致病机理和抗病毒药物研究。以汉坦病毒（HV）和人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）为研究对象，从分子、病毒、宿主细胞和机体等不同层面研究病毒感染致病的分子机理；围绕病毒与宿主间的生态进化关系开展病毒遗传与进化的机制研究；利用已建立从整体动物到细胞、基因的抗病毒药效学评价筛选技术平台，从病毒感染的各个环节深入探讨药物的抗病毒机制，开发抗病毒的新技术和新药物。
Wang MR#, Bai CS#, Dai JW, Yang L, Quan FY, Ma JC, Chen XY, Zhu SW, Xu YQ, Xiang ZF, Jiang YL, Cheng Q, Zhang WH, Chen KH, Wang JH, Feng Y, Chen XP, Xiong Y, Chen SL, Hou W*, Xiong HR*. Lnc RNA MALAT1 facilitates HIV-1 replication by upregulation of CHCHD2 and downregulation of IFN-I expression. Mol Cell Proteomics, 2025, 24(7): 100997.
Lu S#, Chen SL#, Zhang YQ, Mou XL, Li MY, Zhu SW, Chen XY, Strandin TM, Jiang YL, Xiang ZF, Liu YY, Xiong HR, Guo DY, Chen LJ, Li YR, Hou W*, Luo F*. Hantaan virus glycoprotein Gc induces NEDD4-dependent PTEN ubiquitination and degradation to escape the restriction of autophagosomes and facilitate viral propagation. FASEB J, 2025, 39: e70295.
Mou XL#, Luo F#, Zhang WH, Cheng Q, Jussi HM, Zhu SW, Liu YY, Xiong HR, Guo DY, Yu JY, Chen LJ, Li YR, Hou W*, Chen SL*. SARS-CoV-2 NSP16 promotes IL-6 production by regulating the stabilization of HIF-1α. Cellular Signalling, 2024, 124: 111387.
Xu JL#, Chen JT#, Hu B#, Guo WW#, Guo JJ, Xiong CR, Qin LX, Yu XN, Chen XM, Cai K, Li YR, Liu MQ*, Chen LJ*, Hou W*. Discovery and genetic characterization of novel paramyxoviruses from small mammals in Hubei province, central China. Microbial Genomics, 2024, 10(5): 001299.
Ren YT#, Tian HP#, Xu JL, Liu MQ, Cai K, Chen SL, Ni XB, Li YR*, Hou W*, Chen LJ*. Extensive genetic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus circulating in Hubei Province, 2018-2022. PLoS Neglect Trop Dis, 2023, 17(9): e0011654
Zhong CJ, Liu FL, Hajnik RJ, Yao L, Chen KJ, Wang MR, Liang YJ, Sun JR, Soong L, Hou W*, Hu HT*. Type-I Interferon promotes humoral immunity in viral vector vaccination. J Virol, 2021, 95(22): e0092521.
Chen HJ#, Guo JJ#, Wang C, Luo F, Yu XC, Zhang W, Li JF, Zhao DC, Xu D, Gong Q, Liao J, Yang HX*, Hou W*, Zhang YZ*. Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: a retrospective review of medical records. Lancet, 2020, 395(10226): 809-15.（高被引论文）
Wang MR#, Wu DD#, Luo F#, Zhong CJ, Wang X, Zhu N, Wu YJ, Hu HT, Feng Y, Wang X, Xiong HR*, Hou W*. Methadone inhibits viral restriction factors and facilitates HIV infection in macrophages. Front Immunol, 2020, 11:1253.
Lu S#, Zhu N#, Guo WW, Wang X, Li KJ, Yan J, Jiang CP, Han SY, Xiang HM, Wu XH, Liu YY, Xiong HR, Chen LJ, Gong ZJ, Luo F*, Hou W*. RNA-Seq revealed a circular RNA-microRNA-mRNA regulatory network in hantaan virus infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 2020, 10: 97.
Chen QZ#, Wang X#, Luo F#, Li N, Zhu N, Lu S, Zan YX, Zhong CJ, Wang MR, Hu HT, Zhang YZ, Xiong HR*, Hou W*. HTNV sensitizes host toward TRAIL-mediated apoptosis-a pivotal anti-hantaviral role of TRAIL. Front Immunol, 2020, 11:1072.
