About

Dr. Fang Li is a researcher recognized for her contributions to the field of structural biology of disease. She has been named a Highly Cited Researcher by Web of Science (Clarivate) for five consecutive years from 2021 to 2025, indicating her significant impact and influence in her research area. In 2025, she was among 7,131 researchers worldwide selected from over 7 million across all disciplines, placing her in the top 0.1% of researchers globally. Dr. Li is associated with the Laboratory of Structural Biology of Disease at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she and her lab members, including Dr. Jian Shang and Dr. Yushun Wan, contribute to advancing understanding in her field.

Research topics

• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Medicine
• Virology
• Cell biology
• Chemistry
• Genetics
• Pharmacology
• Biophysics
• Immunology

Selected publications

• Mechanistic Topology of Notopterygium incisum Essential Oil against Rheumatoid Arthritis: Machine Learning-Guided CASP1 Screening and Nanoemulsion Evaluation

  Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine · 2026-04-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Oral cancer detection via Vanilla CNN optimized by improved artificial protozoa optimizer

  Scientific Reports · 2025-08-09 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  In this study, we propose a new method for oral cancer detection using a modified Vanilla Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture with incorporated batch normalization, dropout regularization, and a customized design structure for the convolutional block. An Improved Artificial Protozoa Optimizer (IAPO) metaheuristic algorithm is proposed to optimize the Vanilla CNN and the IAPO improves the original Artificial Protozoa Optimizer through a new search strategy and adaptive parameter tuning mechanism. Due to its effectiveness in search space exploration while avoiding local optimal points, the IAPO algorithm is chosen to optimize the convolutional neural network. In this study, a dataset of 1000 images of patients had published which will be preprocessed with contrast enhancement, noise reduction and data augmentation (like rotation, flipping and cropping) to generate the robust targeted model for oral cancer detection. The experimental results are evaluated against benchmark performance measures (accuracies, precision, recall, F1-score and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC-ROC). We demonstrate through experimental results that the proposed IAPO optimized Vanilla CNN achieves a high accuracy of 92.5% which is superior than the previous state-of-the art models such as ResNet-101 (90.1%) and DenseNet-121 (89.5%). This proves to be a more trustworthy approach to oral cancer detectionbecause of the accuracy of the proposed method in comparison to denoting the supplementary results of the suggested method in contrast to other existing models.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Trajectory Optimization Method for Autonomous Docking of Unmanned Surface Vehicles Based on Safe Sailing Corridor

  2025-05-16

  article

  The widespread application of unmanned surface vehicles in both marine and inland waters has driven the development of their autonomous docking technologies. This paper presents a trajectory optimization method based on a safety sailing corridor, aimed at improving the docking efficiency and safety of unmanned surface vehicles in narrow environments. Initial trajectories are generated using search and sampling methods, and then optimized through control theory to meet dynamic constraints and avoid collisions. An adaptive sampling strategy is introduced to ensure high constraint density in sharp turn regions, thereby effectively reducing the time required for constructing the safety sailing corridor. Simulation experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed method under various conditions. The results demonstrate that this method significantly improves trajectory planning efficiency and enables safe docking.

  PublisherDOI

• Cryo-EM structure of Sudan ebolavirus glycoprotein complexed with its human endosomal receptor NPC1

  Communications Biology · 2025-02-02 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), like Ebola ebolavirus (EBOV), poses a significant threat to global health and security due to its high lethality. However, unlike EBOV, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for SUDV, and its structural interaction with the endosomal receptor NPC1 remains unclear. This study compares the glycoproteins of SUDV and EBOV (in their proteolytically primed forms) and their binding to human NPC1 (hNPC1). The findings reveal that the SUDV glycoprotein binds significantly more strongly to hNPC1 than the EBOV glycoprotein. Using cryo-EM, we determined the structure of the SUDV glycoprotein/hNPC1 complex, identifying four key residues in the SUDV glycoprotein that differ from those in the EBOV glycoprotein and influence hNPC1 binding: Ile79, Ala141, and Pro148 enhance binding, while Gln142 reduces it. Collectively, these residue differences account for SUDV's stronger binding affinity for hNPC1. This study provides critical insights into receptor recognition across all viruses in the ebolavirus genus, including their interactions with receptors in bats, their suspected reservoir hosts. These findings advance our understanding of ebolavirus cell entry, tissue tropism, and host range.

  PublisherDOI

• Remimazolam’s clinical application and safety: A signal detection analysis based on FAERS data and literature support

  PLoS ONE · 2025-08-22 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  This study aimed to evaluate the adverse event profile of remimazolam, a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, with a focus on its safety in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems across diverse patient populations. We analyzed adverse event reports from the FAERS database over a defined period, performing signal detection using the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) and the reporting odds ratio (ROR), and contextualized the findings with a concurrent literature review. Remimazolam demonstrated a strong signal for hypoventilation. In the cardiovascular system, it was associated with serious adverse events, including cardiac and cardiorespiratory arrest, particularly in high-risk patients. Furthermore, we detected significant signals for severe hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylactic shock and laryngeal edema, while signals in other systems were less pronounced but remained clinically significant. Given that the study population was predominantly elderly, and considering the serious nature of the identified signals, its potential for adverse events necessitates vigilant monitoring. Future research should focus on clarifying risks within specific high-risk groups to establish optimized safety protocols.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor trimerizes to lock the spike protein in a closed conformation

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-11-20

  preprintOpen access

  The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds its receptor ACE2 to initiate target-cell infection. To engage ACE2, at least one of the three receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of the spike must adopt the up orientation. Here we describe S22, a potent, bioavailable, and non-toxic inhibitor of BA.2 and all subsequent Omicron variants. Cryo-EM analyses showed that S22 assembled as a trimer in a previously uncharacterized pocket of the spike apex, stabilizing all three RBDs in the down orientation, thereby preventing ACE2 association. Binding studies, especially those using mixed S22-sensitive and -resistant spikes, imply a cooperative assembly of three S22 molecules with three RBDs, resulting in an unusually slow S22 off-rate. Consistent with its slow dissociation and favorable pharmacokinetics, S22 suppressed viral replication 100-fold in the lungs of XBB.1.5-infected mice. Thus, S22 potently inhibits Omicron entry through a distinct mechanism whereby a small compound assembles cooperatively as a trimer to stabilize spike in an inactive conformation.

  PublisherDOI

• Advanced Approach for Suppression Nonlinear Effects in Fiber Optic Energy and Signal Co-Transmission Systems

  2025-07-29

  articleSenior author

  The co-transmission of energy and signals over fiber optic systems presents a promising paradigm for integrated power-delivery and high-speed communication, yet nonlinear effects such as stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) severely degrade system performance. This paper presents a comprehensive study on suppressing nonlinear effects in fiber optic energy-signal co-transmission systems, focusing specifically on mitigating stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Through four carefully designed comparative experiments, we systematically investigate how various parameters influence the threshold power of these nonlinear effects. Our research culminates in proposing an innovative solution that effectively suppresses nonlinear distortions by precisely regulating the mode field radius. The experimental validation demonstrates that our specially designed fiber fusion splicing scheme successfully controls the mode field area, achieving superior nonlinear suppression compared to conventional approaches. Comparative analysis with three alternative fiber configurations confirms the exceptional performance of our fused fiber design, which exhibits the smallest scattering area and consequently the most effective suppression of both SBS and SRS effects, while maintaining optimal energy transmission efficiency.

  PublisherDOI

• Long‐Circulating Nanobody Confers Durable Prophylaxis against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Omicron Infection

  Advanced NanoBiomed Research · 2025-06-27 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Breakthrough infections in vaccinated population and continuous emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variants make it imperative to develop more efficacious medical countermeasures. Previously, an anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 nanobody, Nanosota‐3A, that neutralizes the infection of live Omicron BA.1 with picomolar potency, is identified. Herein, Nanosota‐3A is fused with the crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain of human IgG1 that contains M252Y/S254T/T256E (YTE) substitutions, named Nanosota‐3A‐Fc‐YTE. Compared to Nanosota‐3A‐Fc, Nanosota‐3A‐Fc‐YTE exhibits identical binding to the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein yet displays eightfold higher binding affinity for human neonatal Fc receptor (hFcRn) at pH 6.0. In hFcRn transgenic mice, the half‐life of Nanosota‐3A‐Fc and Nanosota‐3A‐Fc‐YTE is 5.1 days and 24.8 days, respectively. The mice are challenged with intranasal exposure of Omicron B.1.1.529 virus 55 days after a single dose of Nanosota‐3A fusions (20 mg kg −1 ) is administered. Compared to the untreated controls, the lung viral titers in mice receiving Nanosota‐3A‐Fc‐YTE are reduced by 104.7‐fold ( p = 0.007) with 50% of the mice free of detectable virus. By contrast, Nanosota‐3A‐Fc‐treated mice show only 3.5‐fold reduction in the viral titers ( p = 0.41). The durable protection conferred by a single dose of Nanosota‐3A‐Fc‐YTE administered nearly 2 months prior to the virus exposure demonstrates the promise of long‐circulating nanobodies as powerful prophylactics against SARS‐CoV‐2.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• MiR-203 improved renal cell injury in diabetic nephropathy by targeting SOCS6/SOCS7 and inhibiting JAK/STAT pathway activation

  Scientific Reports · 2025-03-28 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  This study investigates the role of miR-203 in regulating renal cell injury in diabetic nephropathy by targeting the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins SOCS6 and SOCS7. Using NRK cells, we assessed apoptosis through flow cytometry and TUNEL assays, while real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) quantified miRNA and mRNA expressions. Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay, and cytokine levels were determined through ELISA. We also evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels with specific assay kits. The dual luciferase assay confirmed the interaction of miR-203 with SOCS6 and SOCS7. Western blotting analyzed the protein levels of key signaling molecules including JAK1, p-JAK1, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3.Our findings revealed that high glucose (HG) treatment reduced miR-203 levels, leading to decreased NRK cell proliferation, increased cytokine concentrations (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6), heightened ROS and MDA levels, and increased cell apoptosis. Notably, miR-203 mimics counteracted HG's detrimental effects, while miR-203 inhibitors exacerbated them. Mechanistically, miR-203 directly decreased SOCS6 and SOCS7 expression, thereby inhibiting JAK/STAT3 signaling. Thus, miR-203 provides protective effects against renal cell injury by modulating SOCS and their associated pathways.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Path planning of underwater vehicle based on improved particle swarm algorithm

  2024-05-25 · 2 citations

  article

  Particle swarm algorithm can overcome the shortcomings of insufficient optimization ability, large calculation amount and difficulty in planning the optimal path of traditional algorithms in the path planning of underwater vehicles with complex processing environment and many constraints. However,traditional particle swarm algorithms have drawbacks such as low accuracy and easy falling into local optima. In order to solve this problem, This paper sets an inertia weight that decreases with the number of iterations and an asynchronous shrinkage learning factor for the particle swarm algorithm under the condition of converting from a spatial coordinate system to a spherical coordinate system and then applies it to the path planning of underwater vehicle.Simulation experiments show that the improved particle swarm algorithm (LINW-SPSO) proposed in this paper is superior to the traditional particle swarm algorithm in terms of algorithm stability and path planning effect.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Fang Li

  University of Minnesota Medical Center

  41 shared

• Zhen F. Fu

  Space Engineering University

  25 shared

• Shaobo Xiao

  Huazhong Agricultural University

  22 shared

• Yuanfeng Zou

  Sichuan Agricultural University

  20 shared

• Lixia Li

  Jilin Agricultural University

  20 shared

• Alise Mendoza

  University of Minnesota Medical Center

  20 shared

• Guiqing Peng

  Center of Hubei Cooperative Innovation for Emissions Trading System

  18 shared

• Fan Bu

  Hormel (United States)

  18 shared

Labs

• Laboratory of Structural Biology of DiseasePI