Gao B, Zhu S^* (2024) The evolutionary novelty of insect defensins: from bacterial killing to toxin neutralization. Cell Mol Life Sci 81:230.

Gao B, Li P, Zhu S^* (2024) Single deletion unmasks hidden anti-Gram-negative bacterial activity of an insect defensin-derived peptide. J Med Chem 67:2512–2528.

Gao B, Zhu S^* (2023) Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain activity by two microbial defensins. Front Microbiol 14:1195156.

Gao B, Zhu S^* (2023) Mutation-driven parallel evolution in emergence of ACE2-utilizing sarbecoviruses. Front Microbiol 14:1118025.

Gu J, Isozumi N, Gao B, Ohki S, Zhu S^* (2022) Mutation-driven evolution of antibacterial function in an ancestral antifungal scaffold: Significance for peptide engineering. Front Microbiol 13:1053078.

Qi S, Gao B, Zhu S* (2022) A Fungal Defensin Inhibiting Bacterial Cell-Wall Biosynthesis with Non-Hemolysis and Serum Stability. J Fungi 8:174.

Zhu S*, Gao B, Umetsu Y, Peigneur S, Li P, Ohki S, Tytgat J (2022) Adaptively evolved human oral actinomyces-sourced defensins showtherapeutic potential. EMBO Mol Med 14:e14499.

Gu J, Isozumi N, Yuan S, Jin L, Gao B, Ohki S, Zhu S* (2021) Evolution-based protein engineering for antifungal peptide improvement. Mol Biol Evol 38: 5175–5189.

Gao B, Zhu S* (2021) A fungal defensin targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain. J Fungi 7:553.

Qi S, Gao B, Zhu S* (2021) Molecular diversity and evolution of antimicrobial peptides inMusca domestica. Diversity 13:107.

Zhu S*, Gao B, Peigneur S, and Tytgat J（2020）How a scorpion toxin selectively captures a prey sodium channel: the molecular and evolutionary basis uncovered. Mol Biol Evol 37:3149-3164.

Zhu L, Gao Bζ, Yuan Sζ, Zhu S* (2019) Scorpion toxins: positive selection at a distal site modulates functional evolution at a bioactive site. Mol Biol Evol 36: 365-375. (ζ These authors contributed equally to this work)

Zhou W, Gao B, Zhu S* (2019) Did cis- and trans-defensins derive from a common ancestor？ Immunogenetics 71: 61-69.

Ji X, Zhang S, Gao B, Zhu S* (2018) Receptor variability-driven evolution of snake toxins. Zool Res 39: 431-436.

Zhao Jζ, Yuan Sζ, Gao B, Zhu S* (2018) Molecular diversity of fungal inhibitor cystine knot peptides evolved by domain repeat and fusion. FEMS Microbiol Lett 365(15). (ζ These authors contributed equally to this work)

Gu J, Gao B, Zhu S* (2018) Characterization of bi-domain drosomycin-type antifungal peptides in nematodes: An example of convergent evolution. Dev Comp Immunol 87: 90-97.

Gao B, Dalziel J, Tanzi S and Zhu S* (2018) Meucin-49, a multifunctional scorpion venom peptide with bactericidal synergy with neurotoxins. Amino Acids 50:1025-1043.

Zhang S, Gao B, Wang X and Zhu S* (2018) Loop Replacement Enhances the Ancestral Antibacterial Function of a Bifunctional Scorpion Toxin.Toxins 10:227.

Gao B, and Zhu S* (2018) Mesobuthus Venom-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides Possess Intrinsic Multifunctionality and Differential Potential as Drugs. Front Microbiol 9:320.

Yuan S, Gao B, and Zhu S* (2017) Molecular dynamics simulation reveals specific interaction sites between scorpion toxins and Kv1.2 channel: implications for design of highly selective drugs. Toxins 9:354.

Wang X, Gao B, Zhu S* (2016) Exon shuffling and origin of scorpion venom biodiversity. Toxins (Basel) 9:pii:E10.

Wu Y, Gao B, Zhu S* (2017) New fungal defensin-like peptides provide evidence for fold change of proteins in evolution. Biosci Rep 37:pii: BSR20160438.

Zhu S*, Gao B (2017) Positive Selection in Cathelicidin Host Defense Peptides: Adaptation to Exogenous Pathogens or Endogenous Receptors? Heredity (Edinb). 118:453-465.

Zhang S^ζ, Zhu L^ζ , Yu J, Xu J, Gao B, Zhou C, Zhu S* (2016) Evaluating the potential of a loop-extended scorpion toxin-like peptide as a protein scaffold. Protein Eng Des Sel 29:607-616. (ζ These authors contributed equally to this work)

Gao B, Zhu S* (2016) The drosomycin multigene family: three-disulfide variants from Drosophila takahashii possess antibacterial activity. Sci Rep 6:32175.

Wu J, Gao B, Zhu S*(2016) Single Point Mutation-Mediated Local Amphipathic Adjustment Dramatically Enhances Antibacterial Activity of a Fungal Defensin. FASEB J 30, 2602–2614.

Zhu L, Peigneur S, Gao B, Zhang S, Tytgat J, Zhu S* (2016) Target-driven positive selection at hot spots of scorpion toxins uncovers their potential in design of insecticides. Mol Biol Evol 33:1907–1920.

Wang X, Gao B, Zhu S* (2016) A single-point mutation enhances dual functionality of a scorpion toxin. Comp Biochem Physiol Part C 179:72-78.

Zhang S, Gao B, Zhu S* (2015) Independent origins of scorpion toxins affecting potassium and sodium channels. Evolution of Venomous Animals and Their Toxins. DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6727-0_12-1. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Zhang S, Gao B, Zhu S* (2015) Target-driven evolution of scorpion toxins Sci. Rep. 5:14973.

Zhu L, Gao B, Zhu S* (2015) Origin of neurotoxins from defensins. Acta Physiol Sin 67:239-247.

Wang X, Umetsu Y, Gao B, Ohki S, Zhu S* (2015) Mesomartoxin, a new Kv1.2-selective scorpion toxin interacting with the channel selectivity filter. Biochem Pharmacol 93:232-239.

Wu J, Gao B, Zhu S* (2014) The fungal defensin family enlarged. Pharmaceuticals 7:866-880.

Zhu S*, Peigneur S, Gao B,Umetsu Y, Ohki S, Jan Tytgat (2014) Experimental conversion of a defensin into a neurotoxin: Implications for origin of toxic function. Mol Biol Evol 31:546-559.

Zhu S*, Gao B (2014) Nematode-derived drosomycin-type antifungal peptides provide evidence for plant-to-ecdysozoan horizontal transfer of a disease resistance gene. Nat Commun 5:3154.

Gao B，Zhu S* (2014) An insect defensin-derived β-hairpin peptide with enhanced antibacterial activity. ACS Chem Biol 9:405-413.

Wu Y, Gao B, Zhu S* (2014) Fungal defensins, an emerging source of anti-infective drugs. Chin Sci Bull 59:931-935.

Zhu L, Peigneur S, Gao B, Tytgat J, Zhu S* (2013) Two recombinant α-like scorpion toxins from Mesobuthus eupeus with differential affinity towards insect and mammalian Na+ channels. Biochimie 95:1732-1740.

Gao B, Harvey PJ, Craik DJ, Ronjat M, De Waard M, Zhu S* (2013) Functional evolution of scorpion venom peptides with an inhibitor cystine knot fold. Bioscience Rep 33: 513-527.

Zhu S*, Gao B (2013) Evolutionary origin of β-defensins. Dev Comp Immunol 39:79-84.

Wang X, Jimenez-Vargas JM, Xu C, Possani LD; Zhu S* (2012) Positive selection-guided mutational analysis revealing two key functional sites of scorpion ERG K+ channel toxins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 429:111-116.

Zhu K, Gao B, Zhu S* (2012) Characterization of a chimeric antimicrobial peptide uncovers evolutionary significance of exon-shuffling. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 428:360-364.

Gao B, Zhu S* (2012) Alteration of the mode of antibacterial action of a defensin by the amino-terminal loop substitution. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 426:630-635.

Gao B, Zhu S* (2012) Accelerated evolution and functional divergence of scorpion short-chain K+ channel toxins after speciation. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B 163:238-245.

Zhu S*, Gao B, Harvey P, Craik D (2012) Dermatophytic defensin with antiinfective potential. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109:8495-8500.

Zhang Z, Zhu S* (2012) Comparative genomics analysis of five families of antimicrobial peptide-like genes in seven ant species. Dev Comp Immunol 38:262-274.

Li P, Zhu S* (2012) Mutational analysis of the analgesic peptide DrTx(1-42) revealing a functional role of the amino-terminal turn. PLOS ONE 7:e31830.

Zhu L, Gao B, Luo L, Zhu S* (2012) Two dyad-free Shaker-type K+ channel blockers from scorpion venom. Toxicon 59:402-407.

Zhu S*, Peigneur S, Gao B, Lu X, Cao C, Tytgat J (2012) Evolutionary diversification of Mesobuthus α-scorpion toxins affecting sodium channels. Mol Cell Proteomics 11(1):M111.012054.

Li P, Zhu S* (2011) Molecular design of new sodium channel blockers. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 414:321-325.

Gao B, Zhu L, Zhu S* (2011) A naturally-occurring carboxyl-terminally truncated α-scorpion toxin is a blocker of sodium channels. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 411:673-678.

Gao B, Peigneur S, Dalziel J, Tytgat J, Zhu S* (2011) Molecular divergence of two orthologous scorpion toxins affecting potassium channels. Comp Biochem Physiol Part A 159:313-321.

Wang Y, Zhu S* (2011) The defensin gene family expansion in the tick Ixodes scapularis. Dev Comp Immunol 35:1128-1134.

Zhu S*, Aumelas A, Gao B (2011) Convergent evolution-guided design of antimicrobial peptides derived from influenza A virus hemagglutinin. J Med Chem 54:1091-1095.

Zhu S*, Luo L, Li P, Gao B, Zhu L, Yuan Y (2011) DrTx(1-42), a C-terminally truncated analogue of drosotoxin, is a candidate of analgesic drugs. Biochemical Phamacol 81:425-431.

Zhu S*, Peigneur S, Gao B, Luo L, Jin D, Zhao Y, Tytgat J (2011) Molecular diversity and functional evolution of scorpion potassium channel toxins. Mol Cell Proteomics 10(2):M110.002832.

Tian C, Wang L, Ye G, Zhu S* (2010) Inhibition of melanization by a Nasonia defensin-like peptide: implications for host immune suppression. J Insect Physiol 56:1857-1862.

Gao B, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Zhu S* (2010) A potent potassium channel blocker from Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion venom. Biochimie 92:1847-1853.

Zhu S*, Gao B, Deng M, Yuan Y, Luo L, Peigneur S, Xiao Y, Liang S, Tytgat J (2010) Drosotoxin, a selective inhibitor of tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels. Biochem Pharmacol 80:1296-1302.

Zhang Z, Zhu S* (2010) Functional role of charged residues in drosomycin, a Drosophila antifungal peptide. Dev Comp Immunol 34:953-958.

Tian C, Gao B, Fang Q, Ye G, Zhu S* (2010) Antimicrobial peptide-like genes in Nasonia vitripennis: a genomic perspective. BMC Genomics 11:187.

Yuan Y, Luo L, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Zhu S* (2010) Two recombinant depressant scorpion neurotoxins differentially affecting mammalian sodium channels. Toxicon 55:1425-1433.

Gao B, Zhu S* (2010) Identification and characterization of the parasitic wasp Nasonia defensins: positive selection targeting the functional region? Dev Comp Immunol 34:659-668.

Gao B, Xu J, del Carmen Rodriguez M, Lanz-Mendoza H, Hernández-Rivas R, Du W, Zhu S* (2010) Characterization of two linear cationic antimalarial peptides in the scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus. Biochimie 92:350-359.

Zhu S*, Gao B, Aumelas A, del Carmen Rodriguez M, Lanz-Mendoza H, Peigneur S, Diego-Garcia E, Martin-Eauclaire M-F, Tytgat J, Possani LD (2010) MeuTXKβ1, a scorpion venom-derived two-domain potassium channel toxin-like peptide with cytolytic activity. BBA (Proteins and Proteomics) 1804:872–883.

Gao B, Zhu S* (2010) Characterization of a hymenoptaecin-like antimicrobial peptide in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis. Process Biochem 45:139-146.

Gao B, Rodriguez M, Lanz-Mendoza H, Zhu S* (2009) AdDLP, a bacterial defensin-like peptide exhibits anti-Plasmodium activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 387:393-398.

Wang Y, Zhu S* (2009) Evolutionary and functional epitopes of the Spatzle protein: new insights into activation of the Toll receptor. Cell Mol Life Sci 66:1595-1602.

Zhang Z, Zhu S* (2009) Drosomycin, an essential component of antifungal defense in Drosophila. Insect Mol Biol 18:549-556.

Gao B, Sherman P, Luo L, Bowie J, Zhu S* (2009) Structural and functional characterization of two genetically related meucin peptides highlights evolutionary divergence and convergence in antimicrobial peptides. FASEB J 23:1230-1245.

Zhu S*, Gao B (2009) A fossil antibacterial peptide gives clues to structural diversity of cathelicidin-derived host defense peptides. FASEB J 23:13-20.

Tian C, Gao B, Rodriguez MC, Lanz-Mendoza H, Ma B, Zhu S* (2008) Gene expression, antiparasitic activity, and functional evolution of the drosomycin family. Mol Immunol 45:3909-3916.

Zhu S* (2008) Did cathelicidins, a family of multifunctional host-defense peptides, arise from a cysteine protease inhibitor? Trends Microbiol 16:353-360.

Gao B, Zhu S* (2008) Differential potency of drosomycin to Neurospora crassa and its mutant: Implications for evolutionary relationship between defensins from insects and plants. Insect Mol Biol 17:405-411.

Zhu S* (2008) Positive selection targeting the cathelin-like domain of the antimicrobial cathelicidin family. Cell Mol Life Sci 65:1285-1294.

Zhu S*, Wei L, Yamasaki K, Gallo RL (2008) Activation of cathepsin L by the cathelin-like domain of protegrin-3. Mol Immunol 45:2531-2536.

Zhu S* (2008) Discovery of six families of defensin-like peptides in fungi provides insights for origin and evolution of the CSαβ-type defensins. Mol Immunol 45:828-838.

Tian C, Yuan Y, Zhu S* (2008) Positively selected sites of scorpion depressant toxins: Possible roles in toxin functional divergence. Toxicon 51:555-562.

Gao B, Tian C, Zhu S* (2007) Inducible antibacterial response of scorpion venom gland. Peptides 28:2299-2305.

Zhu S* (2007) Evidence for myxobacterial origin of eukaryotic defensins. Immunogenetics 59:949-954.

Yuan Y, Gao B, Zhu S* (2007) Functional expression of a Drosophila antifungal peptide in Escherichia coli. Protein Expr Purif 52:457-462.

Zhu S*, Gao B (2006) Molecular characterization of a new scorpion venom lipolysis activating peptide: Evidence for disulfide bridge-mediated functional switch of peptides. FEBS Lett 580:6825-6836.

Zhu S*, Gao B (2006) Molecular characterization of a possible progenitor sodium channel toxin from the Old World scorpion Mesobuthus martensii. FEBS Lett 580:5979-5987.

Bosmans F, Rash L, Zhu S, Diochot S, Lazdunski M, Escoubas P and Tytgat J (2006) Four novel tarantula toxins as selective modulators of voltage-gated sodium channel subtypes. Mol Pharmacol 69:419-429.

Zhu S*, Gao B and Tytgat J (2005) Phylogenetic distribution, functional epitopes and evolution of the CSαβ superfamily. Cell Mol Life Sci 62:2257-2269.

Frenal K, Xu C, Wolff N, Wecker K, Gurrola G, Zhu S, Chi C, Possani L, Tytgat J and Delepierre M. (2004) Exploring structural features of the interaction between the scorpion toxin CnErg1 and ERG K+ channels. Proteins 56:367-375.

Zhu S, Tytgat J (2004) The scorpine family of defensins: gene structure, alternative polyadenylation, and fold recognition. Cell Mol Life Sci 61:1751-1763.

Zhu S, Huys I, Dyason K, Verdonck F, Tytgat J (2004) Evolutionary trace analysis of scorpion toxins specific for K-channels. Proteins 54:361-370.

Huys I, Olamendi-Portugal T, Ines Garcia B, Vandenberghe I, van Beeumen J, Dyason K, Clynen E, Zhu S, van der Walt J, Possani L and Tytgat J (2004) A subfamily of acidic-K+ toxins. J Biol Chem 279:2781-2789.

Zhu S, Tytgat J (2004) Evolutionary epitopes of Hsp90 and p23: implications for their interaction. FASEB J 18:940-947.

Zhu S, Bosmans F, Tytgat J (2004) Adaptive evolution of scorpion sodium channel toxins. J Mol Evol 58:145-153.

Zhu S, Darbon H, Dyason K, Verdonck F, Tytgat J (2003) Evolutionary origin of inhibitor cystine knot peptides. FASEB J 17:1765-1767.

Xu C, Zhu S, Chi C, Tytgat J (2003) Turret and pore block of K+ channels: what is the difference? Trends Pharmacol Sci 24:446-448.

Zhu S, Li W, Zeng X, Jiang D, Mao X, Liu H (1999) Molecular cloning and sequencing of two 'short chain' and two 'long chain' K+ channel-blocking peptides from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. FEBS Lett 457:509-514.