Research

Researches

Chris MOK Lab

Chris KP MOK, BSc(Hons), MPhil, PhD

Research Assistant Professor
Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences

Contact Information
Tel: +852 2831 5527     
Email: ch02mkp@hku.hk
Address: 7/F Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong

Academic Information
Google Scholar: Chris Ka Pun Mok
h-index: 20
ORCID: 0000-0002-0525-6772

Main Objectives and Strategy
The major objective of our group is to understand the interplay between the host adaptive immunity and the viral determinants of respiratory viruses such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses using a combination of clinical, virological, immunological and structural approaches. We are particularly interested to understand how the adaptive immunity is regulated and sharpen by the evolution of respiratory viruses.
 
For example, we have demonstrated, with both structural and experimental explanations, that pre-introduction of specific mutation on the hemagglutinin of the H3N2 vaccine seed strain can significantly improve the immunogenicity. Our work gives an important insight for improving the low efficacy in the H3N2 component of the current influenza vaccine. Our recent studies have dissected the cross-reactivity antibody response between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infections which provide important information for the vaccine development. We have determined the antibody profile from the COVID-19 patients using our self-developed ELISA in which this assay is now used for the large-scale serology test among HK population and within Institut Pasteur International Network.  
 
Ongoing Research
  • Preventing an antigenically disruptive mutations in egg-based H3N2 seasonal influenza vaccines by mutational incompatibility [Funding: HMRF]
  • Determination of the pathogenicity of MERS-CoV isolated in Africa [Funding: HMRF)
  • Cross-reactive antibody response between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infections [Funding: NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme 2018/19]

Recent Publications

  1. Mok CKP, Zhu A, Zhao J, Lau EHY, Wang J, Chen Z, Zhuang Z, Wang Y, Wang W, Tan W, Liang W, Oladipo JO, Kuranga SA, Peiris M, Zhao J (2020) Specific T cell responses provide evidence of MERS coronavirus infection in people with occupational exposure to dromedary camels in Nigeria. Lancet Infect Dis, in press. [IF 27.5, Rank 1/89, Infectious Diseases] 
  2. Yuan M, Wu NC, Zhu X, Lee CCD, So RTY, Lv H, Mok CKP*, Wilson IA* (2020) A highly conserved cryptic epitope in the receptor-binding 4 domains of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV.  Science 368:630-633 [IF 41, Rank 2/69, Multidisciplinary Sciences] (*co-corresponding authors).
  3. Lv H, Wu NC, Tsang OT, Yuan M, Perera RAP, Leung WS, So RT, Chan JMC, Yip GK, Chik TSH, Wang Y, Choi CYC, Lin Y, Ng WW, Zhao J, Poon LLM, Peiris JSM, Wilson IA, Mok CKP (2020) Cross-reactive antibody response between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infections. Cell Rep, 31(9):107725. [IF 7.8, Rank 29/193, Cell Biology].
  4. Wu NC, Lv H, Thompson AJ, Wu DC, Ng WWS, Kadam RU, Lin CW, Nycholat CM, McBride R, Liang W, Paulson JC, Mok CKP*, Wilson IA* (2019) Preventing an antigenically disruptive mutation in egg-based H3N2 seasonal influenza vaccines by mutational incompatibility.  Cell Host Microbe 25:836-844 [IF 15.7, Rank 1/36, Virology] (*co-corresponding authors).​
  5. Yang ZF*, Mok CK*, Peiris JSM, Zhong NS (2015) Human infection with a novel avian influenza A(H5N6) virus. N Engl J Med373:487-489 [IF 70.7, Rank 1/160, Medicine, General & Internal](*co-first authors).
  6. Chan MC*, Chan RW*, Chan LL*, Mok CK*, Hui KPY, Fong JHM, Tao KP, Poon LL, Nicholls JM, Guan Y, Peiris JS (2013) Tropism and innate host responses of a novel avian origin influenza A (H7N9) virus in ex vivo and in vitro cultures of the human respiratory tract. Lancet Resp Med 1:534-542 [IF 23.0, Rank 1/63, Respiratory System] (*co-first authors).
  7. Prabhu S. Arunachalam*, Florian Wimmers*, Chris Ka Pun Mok*, Ranawaka A. P. M. Perera*, Madeleine Scott, Thomas Hagan, Natalia Sigal, Yupeng Feng, Laurel Bristow, Owen Tak-Yin Tsang, Dhananjay Wagh, John Coller, Kathryn L. Pellegrini, Dmitri Kazmin, Ghina Alaaeddine, Wai Shing Leung, Jacky Man Chun Chan, Thomas Shiu Hong Chik, Chris Yau Chung Choi, Christopher Huerta, Michele Paine McCullough, Huibin Lv, Evan Anderson, Srilatha Edupuganti, Amit A. Upadhyay, Steve E. Bosinger, Holden Terry Maecker, Purvesh Khatri, Nadine Rouphael, Malik Peiris, Bali Pulendran (2020) Systems biological assessment of immunity to mild versus severe COVID-19 infection in humans. Science  11 Aug 2020: ; eabc6261 ; DOI: 10.1126/science.abc6261


Teaching

  • Chris Mok (2019) 15th HKU-Pasteur Virology Course, The University of Hong Kong (Course Director and Tutor).
  • Chris Mok (2019) Health Research Project, The University of Hong Kong (Tutor).
  • Chris Mok (2019) Introduction to the Art and Science of Medicine – Problem Based Learning (MBBS Year 1), The University of Hong Kong (Tutor).
  • Chris Mok (2019) Haematology/Immunology System – Problem Based Learning (MBBS Year 2), The University of Hong Kong (Tutor).
  • Chris Mok (2019) OITF Course: Introduction to Outbreak Investigation and Response, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Cambodia (Lecturer and Tutor).
 
Collaborations
  • Nan-Shan Zhong, Jin-cun Zhao, Zi-Feng Yang (State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, PR China): Clinical and laboratory studies on emerging infectious diseases in Guangzhou.
  • Michael Chan (School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong) and Ron Fouchier (Erasmus Medical Center, The Netherlands): Pathogenicity and transmissibility of influenza virus.
  • Ian Wilson, Nicholas Wu (The Scripps Research Institute, USA): Bioinformatic and structural study on influenza research.
 
Funding
  1. Preclusion of an antigenically disruptive mutation in egg-based H3N2 seasonal influenza vaccines by mutational incompatibility (Principal Investigator; Health and Medical Research Fund).
  2. Investigation on the immunological cross-protection between different human coronaviruses (Co-Investigator; National Natural Science Foundation of China/Research Grants Council Joint Research Scheme 2018/19).
  3. Evaluation of anti-influenza properties of antrafenine and its analogs (Co-Investigator; Health and Medical Research Fund).
  4. Investigation on a pinanamine derivative as an antiviral agent against influenza A virus infection (Principal Investigator; Health and Medical Research Fund).
  5. Comparison of the transcriptomic profiles between lung and peripheral blood in mice infected by avian influenza virus (Principal Investigator; HKU – Seed Funding for Basic Research).
  6. Viral, Host and Environmental Determinants of Influenza Virus Transmission and Pathogenesis (Co-Investigator; Research Grants Council/Theme-based Research Scheme).

Education
(2009) D. Phil. Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong
(2004) M. Phil. Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
(1999) B.Sc Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Working Experience
2011-2013: Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
2010-2013: Honorary Post-Doctoral Fellow, HKU-Pasteur Research Pole
2010-2011: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong

Lab

  • Chris MOK Research Assistant Professor
  • Tomas LV PhD student
  • Ray SO PhD student 
  • Garrick YIP MPhil student
  • Yihan LIN MPhil student
  • Weiwen LIANG Research Assistant
  • Wilson NG Research Assistant
  • Yiquan WANG Research Assistant

From left to right: Ray So, Tomas Lv, Yiquan Wang, Chris Mok, Weiwen Liang, Yihan Lin, Garrick Yip

 

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