Adjunct Professor Peng Zhan publishes research outcomes in Nature and Cell

Institute for Advanced Study in Technology (IAST), Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) is honoured to congratulate Prof. Peng Zhan, Adjunct Professor of the University, and his research team on the recent publication of a groundbreaking scientific paper in Nature, following an earlier one in Cell.

The paper is entitled "Structures and inhibition of the Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus polymerase" (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10701-6). Specifically, the team resolved a full series of functional cryo-EM conformations of the CCHFV polymerase (Nairovirus), fully uncovering the molecular mechanism of viral RNA synthesis and filling a long-standing gap in this field. Guided by the newly resolved protein target, the team discovered two lead candidates with distinct inhibitory modes: the macrocycle WXSH0208, which blocks cap-snatching endonuclease activity, and the nucleoside analogue 2FC, which exerts nanomolar chain-termination potency. These results confirm the effectiveness and reliability of the structure-based rational drug design pipeline that the team has built and refined.

Notably, this is the team's second complete viral polymerase and inhibitor study published in a flagship journal within just six months - following their research on the Nipah virus polymerase, released in Cell in late April 2026 under the title "Differential inhibition of Morbillivirus and Henipavirus polymerases by ERDRP-0519 and structure-guided inhibitor optimization" (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.04.011). Both works are built on deep integration of structural virology and medicinal chemistry.

IAST once again extends its warmest congratulations to Prof. Peng Zhan and the entire research team. This success not only affirms Prof. Peng Zhan's outstanding research capability but also opens up broader prospects for scientific collaboration between IAST, TDTU and international partners in the time ahead.