Rui (Ray) Lu

Associate Professor
BMB and CDIB Divisions

PhD: University of East Anglia, 2003

Phone: 225-578-7962
Lab Phone: 225-578-5973
Office: 374 Life Science Building
Lab: A301 Life Science Building Annex
E-mail: ruilu@lsu.edu 

Area of Interest

My research program focuses on understanding how hosts recognize and combat viral infection through RNA-based innate immunity. Using the genetically tractable nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system, my laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms by which viral RNA is detected, processed, and eliminated through small-RNA–mediated pathways.

My early work helped establish RNA interference (RNAi) as a conserved antiviral defense in C. elegans. Since then, my lab has systematically dissected the antiviral RNAi pathway, working on how viral RNAs are distinguished from cellular RNAs and processed into virus-derived small interfering RNAs that direct pathogen elimination. More recently, our research has focused on defining specialized antiviral RNAi components that are genetically and mechanistically distinct from classical RNAi. Through forward genetics and mechanistic studies, we identified factors that function in RNAI-dependent and RNAi-independent manners. In parallel, we also expand our study on identification of host genes required for viral genome replication, showing that successful infection depends on specific cellular factors. These studies revealed genetic interaction between host pathways that promote viral replication and those that restrict infection, providing a framework to understand how viruses exploit cellular machinery while triggering immune responses.

Overall, my goal is to uncover fundamental principles of RNA-guided immunity that broadly inform host–virus interactions and RNA-based antiviral strategies. By integrating genetics, molecular biology, virology, and small-RNA sequencing, we aim to uncover general principles governing how cells discriminate self from non-self RNA. Insights from our work are expected to provide a conceptual framework for antiviral defense across animals and inform RNA-based therapeutic strategies, antiviral technologies, and gene-regulation biology.

 

Selected Publications

Dahal K, Xia M, Lu J, Yan T, Lu R. 2026. Characterizing the role of RSD-6 in the biogenesis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs and the modulation of viral pathogenesis. J Virol 100:e01516-25.

Xia M, Yan T, Lu R. 2025. A targeted genetic screen identifies Caenorhabditis elegans genes involved in RNAi-independent antiviral defense. Virology 610:110597.

Yan, T. and Lu, R. (2025) Shared and unique mechanisms of RNAi-mediated antiviral immunity in C. elegans. Virology, 605, 110459.

F. Meng, T. Yan, K. Dahal Unbiased genetic screen identifies Caenorhabditis elegans genes conserved for nodavirus genome replication. Virology, Virology 577:91-98.and R. Lu. 2022.

Long T, Meng F, Lu R. 2018. Transgene-assisted genetic screen identifies rsd-6 and novel genes as key components of antiviral RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Virol. 92.

X. Guo, R. Zhang, J. Wang, SW. Ding and R. Lu. Homologous RIG-I-like helicase proteins direct RNAi-mediated antiviral immunity in C. elegans by distinct mechanisms. PNAS. 2013. 110 (40): 16085-16090.

X. Guo, R. Zhang and R. Lu. Antiviral RNA Silencing Initiated in the Absence of RDE-4, a Double-Stranded RNA Binding Protein, in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal of Virology. 2013. 87(19):10721-10729.

Guo, X., and R. Lu. 2013. Characterization of virus-encoded RNAi suppressors in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Virology. 87:5414-5423.

X. Guo, W.-X. Li, and R. Lu. 2012. Silencing of host genes directed by virus-derived short interfering RNAs in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Virology. 86: 11645-11653

Lu, R., E. Yigit, W. X. Li, and S. W. Ding. 2009. An RIG-I-Like RNA helicase mediates antiviral RNAi downstream of viral siRNA biogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Pathog 5:e1000286.

R. Lu, M. Maduro, F. Li, H. W. Li, G. Broitman-Maduro, W. X. Li and S. W. Ding. Animal virus replication and RNAi-mediated antiviral silencing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature. 2005 Aug 18; 426:1040-1043.

P. Parameswaran, E. Sklan, C. Wilkins, T. Burgon, M. A. Samuel, R. Lu, K. M. Ansel, V. Heissmeyer, S. Einav, W. Jackson, T. Doukas, S. Paranjape, C. Polacek, F. Barreto dos Santos, R. Jalili, F. Babrzadeh, B. Gharizadeh, D. Grimm, M. Kay, S. Koike, P. Sarnow, M. Ronaghi, S-W. Ding, E. Harris, M. Chow, M. S. Diamond, K. Kirkegaard, J. S. Glenn, A. Z. Fire. Six Viruses and Forty One Hosts: Viral Small RNAs and Modulation of Small RNA Repertoires in Vertebrate and Invertebrate Systems. PLoS Pathog. 2010 Feb 12;6(2):e1000764.

Wu Q, Luo Y, Lu R, Lau N, Lai EC, Li WX, Ding SW. Virus discovery by deep sequencing and assembly of virus-derived small silencing RNAs. PNAS. 2010. 107(4):1606-11.