Selected publications from the Li Lab
Total citations: >39,000 (Google Scholar; as of September 2026)
Highly cited publications: Five publications, on which Dr. Li is the primary author (first or last author), have each received >2,000 citations (four > 3,000 each). These publications are linked below to Google Scholar.
Authorship note: Dr. Li is the primary author (first or last author) on all publications listed below.
Dr. Fang Li's Eleven Most Important Publications with Annotations
Featured publications
Coronaviruses
Structural basis of receptor recognition by SARS-CoV-2.
Shang, J. et al., Nature, 2020, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [Google Scholar], [News1], [News2]
Structure of SARS coronavirus spike receptor-binding domain complexed with receptor.
Li, F. et al., Science, 2005, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [Google Scholar], [News]
Cell entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2.
Shang, J. et al., PNAS, 2020, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [Google Scholar], [News]
Receptor recognition by the novel coronavirus from Wuhan: an analysis based on decade-Long structural studies of SARS coronavirus.
Wan, Y. et al., Journal of Virology, 2020, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [Google Scholar], [News]
- Most cited in journal history (Crossref, 2026)
Structure, function, and evolution of coronavirus spike proteins.
Li, F., Annual Review of Virology, 2016, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [Google Scholar]
- Most cited in journal history (Crossref, 2026)
Filoviruses
Structures of Marburgvirus glycoprotein and its complex with NPC1 receptor.
Ye, G. et al., Nature, 2026, [PDF], [Web], [Pubmed], [News1], [News2]
Other research areas
Crystal structures of the Bacillus stearothermophilus CCA-adding enzyme and its complexes with ATP or CTP.
Li, F. et al., Cell, 2002, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Representative publications
SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1: mechanisms
Structural basis for mouse receptor recognition by SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant.
Zhang, W. et al., PNAS, 2022, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Structural basis for mouse receptor recognition by bat SARS2-like coronaviruses.
Zhang, W. et al., PNAS, 2024, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Structural basis for bat receptor recognition by SARS-CoV-2 and bat SARS2-like coronaviruses.
Hsueh, FC. et al., Communications Biology, 2026, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Cryo-EM structure of a SARS-CoV-2 omicron spike protein ectodomain.
Ye, G. et al., Nature Communications, 2022, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Lys417 acts as a molecular switch that regulates the conformation of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Geng, Q. et al., eLife, 2023, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Structural analysis of major species barriers between humans and palm civets for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections.
Li, F., Journal of Virology, 2008, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Conformational states of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein ectodomain.
Li, F. et al., Journal of Virology, 2006, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Non-SARS coronaviruses: mechanisms
Crystal structure of NL63 respiratory coronavirus receptor-binding domain complexed with its human receptor.
Wu, K. et al., PNAS, 2009, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Crystal structure of mouse coronavirus receptor-binding domain complexed with its murine receptor.
Peng, G. et al., PNAS, 2011, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Receptor usage and cell entry of bat coronavirus HKU4 provide insight into bat-to-human transmission of MERS coronavirus.
Yang, Y. et al., PNAS, 2014, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Structure of mouse coronavirus spike protein complexed with receptor reveals mechanism for viral entry.
Shang, J. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2020, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Cryo-EM structure of infectious bronchitis coronavirus spike protein reveals structural and functional evolution of coronavirus spike proteins.
Shang, J. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2018, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Molecular mechanism for antibody-dependent enhancement of coronavirus entry.
Wan, Y. et al., Journal of Virology, 2020, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Receptor recognition mechanisms of coronaviruses: a decade of structural studies.
Li, F., Journal of Virology, 2015, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Coronaviruses: interventions
Discovery of Nanosota-9 as anti-Omicron nanobody therapeutic candidate.
Ye, G. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2024, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Dual-role epitope on SARS-CoV-2 spike enhances and neutralizes viral entry across different variants.
Ye, G. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2024, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Discovery of Nanosota-2, -3, and -4 as super potent and broad-spectrum therapeutic nanobody candidates against COVID-19.
Ye, G. et al., Journal of Virology, 2023, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
The Development of Nanosota-1 as anti-SARS-CoV-2 nanobody drug candidates.
Ye, G. et al., eLife, 2021, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Introduction of neutralizing immunogenicity index to the rational design of MERS coronavirus subunit vaccines.
Du, L. et al., Nature Communications, 2016, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Novel virus-like nanoparticle vaccine effectively protects animal model from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Geng, Q. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2021, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Filoviruses: mechanisms and interventions
A small molecule inhibits Ebola virus entry through glycoprotein stabilization.
Bu, F. et al., Nature Communications, 2026, [PDF], [Web]
A highly potent and broadly accessible bispecific nanobody for the treatment of ebola virus infections.
Bu, F. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2026, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Discovery of Nanosota-EB1 and -EB2 as Novel Nanobody Inhibitors Against Ebola Virus Infection.
Bu, F. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2024, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Cryo-EM structure of Sudan ebolavirus glycoprotein complexed with its human endosomal receptor NPC1.
Bu, F. et al., Communications Biology, 2025, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Cancer and hypertension: mechanisms and interventions
Structural basis for multifunctional roles of mammalian aminopeptidase N.
Chen, L. et al., PNAS, 2012, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
A unified mechanism for aminopeptidase N-based tumor cell motility and tumor-homing therapy.
Liu, C. et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2014, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Structural insights into central hypertension regulation by human aminopeptidase A.
Yang, Y. et al. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2013, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]
Structural biology methods
Structure-guided in vitro evolution of nanobodies targeting new viral variants.
Ye, G. et al., PLOS Pathogens, 2024, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed], [News]
Cross-crystal averaging with search models to improve molecular replacement phases.
Li, W., Li, F. Structure, 2011, [PDF], [Web], [PubMed]