Published on 2026-03-03 by kotos001
By Kali Kotoski, Midwest AViDD Communications Director
Dr. Fang Li, Co-Director of the Midwest AViDD Center, is the senior author of two papers that are the most cited in the histories of Journal of Virology and Annual Review of Virology, according to Crossref citation data. This distinction reflects more than two decades of pioneering research that has shaped the scientific understanding of how coronaviruses recognize receptors, enter cells, and transmit across species.
Li’s 2020 Journal of Virology article, “Receptor Recognition by the Novel Coronavirus from Wuhan: an Analysis Based on Decade-Long Structural Studies of SARS Coronavirus,” ranks as the most cited paper in the journal’s history (Crossref citations: 3,241; as of March 2, 2026). Drawing on a decade of SARS-CoV-1 structural studies, the paper correctly predicted that SARS-CoV-2 would use the ACE2 receptor and anticipated critical features of its host range, small-animal model development, and spike protein evolution. The work provided early mechanistic clarity at a critical moment in the emerging pandemic, guiding subsequent research worldwide.
Li is also the sole author of the 2016 review “Structure, Function, and Evolution of Coronavirus Spike Proteins,” published in Annual Review of Virology, which stands as the most cited article in the journal’s history (Crossref citations: 2,296; as of March 2, 2026). The review synthesized structural, functional, and evolutionary insights into coronavirus spike proteins, establishing a conceptual framework for understanding receptor recognition, membrane fusion, host range shifts, and viral emergence. It has since served as a foundational reference for researchers studying coronavirus entry mechanisms.
These highly cited publications build on a broader record of leadership in coronavirus structural biology. Between 2005 and 2012, Li’s team determined the first eleven coronavirus spike–receptor structures across six seminal publications, defining the molecular principles governing receptor recognition and cross-species transmission. This body of work created a structural blueprint that later enabled the rapid interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 receptor engagement and evolutionary trajectories.
Together, these contributions have profoundly shaped the modern understanding of coronavirus entry mechanisms and host adaptation. They exemplify the mechanistic foundation that drives the Midwest AViDD Center’s mission to accelerate antiviral discovery and strengthen pandemic preparedness.