主持国家重点研发课题、国家自然科学基金、教育部出国留学人员科研启动基金、天津市自然科学基金等7项，参与国家、教育部、科技部、天津市科技攻关等项目5项。发表科研论文近60篇。2010年获国家科技进步二等奖，2003年获教育部提名国家自然科学奖二等奖，获得发明专利4项。
代表论文：
1. Yizhuo Zhang , Ziqi Wang , Cheng Qian , Jiaxin Qin, Guohui Ji , Bing Yan , Jun Cai*. A new strategy to improve the virulence of Bacillus thuringiensis supernatant based on enhancing Vip3A secretion. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology， 2025，213：106515
2. Jinhui Li，Yi Xing，Xin Wang，Tong Zhu，Feiyu Fan，Hongtao Xu，Peipei Han，Jun Cai*，Xinna Zhu*，Xueli Zhang*. Engineered Coenzyme A Biosynthesis and Butyrate Transporter Drives High-Efficient Butyrate Synthesis in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology and Bioengineering， 2025; 1–12 https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.70018
3. Xia Cai, Hui Shan , Jiaojiao Wang, Jiaxin Qin, Huiling Gong, Jun Cai*, Jin He*. Overview of small proteins encoded by bacterial dual-function small RNAs. Non-coding RNA Research，2025，https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncrna.2025.07.002
4. Xiaoyue Hou*, Chengjuan Mao, Wen Zhang, Lei Jiang, Mengying Li, Jixin Guo, Chenru Yang, Jinxuan Wang, Yaowei Fang, Xu Jiang, Jun Cai*. Structural and functional roles of domain III in Vip3Aa and Vip3Ca: Implications for membrane perforation and insecticidal efficacy. Pest Management Science.2,25，DOI: 10.1002/ps.8922
5. Jiaxin Qin; Ziqi Wang; Cheng Qian; Guohui Ji; Yizhuo Zhang; Zhanglei Cao; Bing Yan and Jun Cai*; NupR is involved in the control of PlcR: a pleiotropic regulator of extracellular virulence factors. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 212.
6. Jiale Qiao, Yu Fang, Zhishuai Li, Jinhui Li, Jun Cai, Weidong Liu, Honglei Wang, Xinna Zhu ,Xueli Zhang. Experimental evolution reveals an effective avenue for D‐lactic acid production from glucose‐xylose mixtures via enhanced Glk activity and a cAMP‐independent CRP mutation. Biotechnology and Bioengineering,2024,DOI: 10.1002/bit.28819
7. Baoju An, Yizhuo Zhang, Qian Cheng, Jun Cai*, Xiao-fei Gu*. Production improvement and photoprotection of melanin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis. BioControl, 2024, 69:157–167
8. Xiaoyue Hou, Mengjiao Li, Chengjuan Mao, Lei Jiang, Wen Zhang, Mengying Li, Xiaomeng Geng, Xin Li, Shu Liu, Guang Yang, Jing Zhou , Yaowei Fang,* and Jun Cai,*Domain III β4–β5 Loop and β14–β15 Loop of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa Are Involved in Receptor Binding and Toxicity. Toxins 2024, 16, 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16010023
9. Haikun Ma, Zhi-jiang, WangMeng-jiao, LiMeng-jiao Li,Qing-lin Rao, Jun Cai*, Xiao-fei Gu*. Deciphering the effects of crop rotation on tobacco bacterial wilt through general and specific disease suppression.European Journal of Plant Pathology,2023, DOI: 10.1007/s10658-023-02779-9
10. Baoju An, Yizhuo Zhang, Bing Yan, Jun Cai*. RNA interference of PHB1 enhances virulence of Vip3Aa to Sf9 cells and Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. Pest Management Science，2023, 79(8),2934-2943 IF：4.1
11. Kun Jiang , Zhe Chen , Yiting Shi , Yuanrong Zang , Chengbin Shang , Xi Huang , Jiahe Zang , Zhudong Bai , Xuyao Jiao , Jun Cai , Xiang Gao*. A strategy to enhance the insecticidal potency of Vip3Aa by introducing additional cleavage sites to increase its proteolytic activation efficiency, Engineering Microbiology (2023), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engmic.2023.100083
12. Xia Cai, Jiaxin Qin, Xuelian Li, Taoxiong Yuan, Bing Yan, Jun Cai*. LipR functions as an intracellular pH regulator in Bacillus thuringiensis under glucose conditions. mLife. 2023. 2（1）58–72，https://doi.org/10.1002/mlf2.12055
13. Kun Jiang; Zhe Chen; Yuanrong Zang; Yiting Shi; Chengbin Shang; Xuyao Jiao; Jun Cai; Xiang Gao*.Functional characterization of Vip3Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis reveals the contributions of specific domains to its insecticidal activity.Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2023，299(3) 103000, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103000
14. Xuelian Li, Yanli Zhang, Yunda Zhan, Hongwei Tian, Bing Yan and Jun Cai*. Utilization of a strong promoter combined with the knockout of protease genes to improve the yield of Vip3Aa in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171. Pest Management Science，2023, 79: 1713–1720
15. Xia Cai, Xuelian Li1,Jiaxin Qin,Yizhuo Zhang,Bing Yan,Jun Cai*. Gene rppAco‑regulated by LRR, SigA, and CcpA mediates antibiotic resistance in Bacillus thuringiensis. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,2022,106：5687-5699
16. Yizhuo Zhang, Xuelian Li, Hongwei Tian, Baoju An , Bing Yan & Jun Cai*. Vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa is transported via membrane vesicles in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171. Toxins 2022, 14(7), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14070480
17. Jiaxin Qin, Zhanglei Cao, Xia Cai, Yu Fang, Baoju An, Xuelian Li, Yizhuo Zhang, Hongwei Tian, Wenzhuo Hu, Bing Yan,Jun Cai*. NupR Responding to Multiple Signals Is a Nucleoside Permease Regulator in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171.Microbiology Spectrum, 2022, DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01543-22
18. Baoju An, Yizhuo Zhang, Xuelian Li, Xiaoyue Hou, Bing Yan & Jun Cai*. PHB2 affects the virulence of Vip3Aa to Sf9 cells through internalization and mitochondrial stability, Virulence, 2022，13:1, 684-697, DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2064596
19. Rui Huang , Honglu Liu, Wanwan Zhao, Siqi Wang, Shufang Wang, Jun Cai* and Chao Yang* AdpA, a developmental regulator, promotes ε-poly-l-lysine biosynthesis in Streptomyces albulus. Microbial Cell Factories. 2022, 21:60 DOI:10.1186/s12934-022-01785-6
20. Tong Zhu, Die Yao, Di Li, Hongtao Xu, Shiru Jia, Changhao Bi, Jun Cai*, Xinna Zhu*, Xueli Zhang*. Multiple strategies for metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for efficient production of glycolate.Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2021,118:4699–4707.
21. Xia Cai, Qian Wang, Yu Fang, Die Yao, Yunda Zhan, Baoju An, Bing Yan and Jun Cai*. Attenuator LRR – a regulatory tool for modulating gene expression in Gram-positive bacteria. Microbial Biotechnology. 2021,doi:10.1111/1751-7915.13797
22. Xiaoyue Hou, Lu Han, Baoju An, and Jun Cai*. Autophagy induced by Vip3Aa has a pro-survival role in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells. Virulence. 2021, VOL. 12（1）, 509–519. DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1878747
23. Kun Jiang, Yan Zhang, Zhe Chen, Dalei Wu, Jun Cai and Xiang Gao*. Structural and Functional Insights into the C-terminal Fragment of Insecticidal Vip3A Toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis. Toxins 2020, 12, 438; doi:10.3390/toxins12070438
24. Xia Cai , Yunda Zhan, Zhanglei Cao, Bing Yan, Jun Cai *. Expression of ribosomal protection protein RppA is regulated by a ribosome-dependent ribo-regulator and two mistranslation products. Environmental Microbiology, 2020, DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15143
25. Xiaoyue Hou, Lu Han, Baoju An, Yanli Zhang, Zhanglei Cao, Yunda Zhan, Xia Cai , Bing Yan, Jun Cai *.Mitochondria and Lysosomes Participate in Vip3Aa-Induced Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 Cell Apoptosis. Toxins. 2020, 12(2), 116; https://doi.org/ 10.3390/toxins12020116
26. Tong-tong Tan,Xu-dong Zhang,Zhen Miao, Ying Yu, Si-ling Du, Xiao-yue Hou, Jun Cai *. A single point mutation in hmgA leads to melanin accumulation in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB181. Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 2019,120:91–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2018.10.007
27. Kun Jiang, Xiaoyue Hou, Lu Han, Tongtong Tan, Zhanglei Cao, Jun Cai *.Fibroblast growth factor receptor, a novel receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa. Toxins. 2018, 10(12), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10120546
28. Kun Jiang, Xiao-yue Hou, Tong-tong Tan, Zhang-lei Cao, Si-qi Mei, Bing Yan, Jin Chang, Lu Han, Dan Zhao, Jun Cai*. Scavenger receptor-C acts as a receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa and mediates the internalization of Vip3Aa via endocytosis. PLOS Pathogens. 2018，14(10):e1007347，DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007347
29. Zhang-lei Cao, Tong-tong Tan, Yan-li Zhang, Lu Han, Xiao-yue Hou, Hui-yong Ma，Jun Cai*. NagRBt is a pleiotropic and dual transcriptional regulator in Bacillus thuringiensis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11 September 2018, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01899
30. Zhang-lei Cao, Tong-tong Tan, Kun Jiang, Si-qi Mei, Xiao-yue Hou, Jun Cai*. Complete genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis L-7601, a wild strain with high production of melanin. Journal of Biotechnology .2018, 275(10): 40–43
