The Zhang laboratory is focused on several broad and related areas of research: (1) Molecular virology of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), Zika virus and others. 2) Viral pathogenesis and virus-cell interactions 3) Mechanisms of viral interference of host innate immunity - Interferon induction and downstream signaling 4)Development of effective vaccines and novel antiviral therapeutics.