Yu Lab | Ragon Institute (original) (raw)
Dendritic Cells and Elite Controllers
Lab Overview
The Yu lab studies HIV viruses in diverse groups of participants to investigate possible ways in which the immune system can recognize and combat HIV infection. We study specific types of disease response, like those found in “elite controllers,” people whose immune systems can handle prolonged HIV infection. The lab also looks at how certain innate immune responses, targeting a broad spectrum of pathogens, can be trained to support other immune responses to HIV.
The Yu lab combines basic science immunology with clinical and translational perspectives for improving clinical treatment options for viral infectious disease. Recently, we investigated the proviral reservoirs of “elite controllers,” HIV-1 infected individuals capable of drug-free control of HIV-1 replication despite the presence of a replication-competent viral reservoir. Our research includes the role of dendritic cells and their immunoregulatory functions for generating and fine-tuning adaptive immune responses during HIV-1 infection. Additionally, we analyze immunological networks associated with immune control of HIV-1 and Zika virus using systems biology-based approaches.
Xu Yu, MD
Principal Investigator
Affiliation
- Core Member, Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard
- Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Physician Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
About
Xu Yu received an MD from China Medical University in Shenyang, China, and completed postdoctoral training in the AIDS Research Center at MGH.
Recognition & Honors
- Elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), inducted in 2021
- Received both the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award and the Stephen Krane Excellence in Research Award for her work at Massachusetts General Hospital
- Received the Clinical Scientist Development Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Related Research Foci
- Mucosal Immunology
- Infectious Disease Pathogenesis
- Human Immunogenetics
Related Areas of Study
- HIV
- HTLV
Looking for Collaboration?
Selected Publications
An ordeal that does not heal: understanding barriers to a cure for HIV-1 infection
Trends Immunol. 2022 43(8):608-616
A Possible Sterilizing Cure of HIV-1 Infection Without Stem Cell Transplantation
Turk G, Seiger K, Lian X ,Sun W, Parsons EM, Gao C, Rassadkina Y, Polo ML, Czernikier A, Ghiglione Y, Vellicce A, Varriale J, Lai J, Yuki Y, Martin M, Rhodes A, Lewin SR, Walker BD, Carrington M, Silicano R, Silicano J, Lichterfeld M, Laufer N, Yu X.
Ann Intern Med. 2022 175(1):95-100
Signatures of immune selection in intact and defective proviruses distinguish HIV-1 elite controllers
Lian X, Gao C, Sun X, Jiang C, Einkauf KB, Seiger KW, Chevalier JM, Yuki Y, Martin M, Hoh R, Peluso MJ, Carrington M, Ruiz-Mateos E, Deeks SG, Rosenberg ES, Walker BD, Lichterfeld M, Yu XG.
Sci Transl Med 2021 13(624):eabl4097
Lucia Baquero
Graduate Research Assistant
Ce Gao
Instructor In Medicine
Alex Hochroth
Research Technician II
Melanie Lancien
Research Fellow
Samantha Marzi
Research Technician II
Chloé Naasz
Research Technician II
Wei Wei Sun
Research Fellow
Toong Seng Tan
Research Fellow
Tram (Abby) Van
Research Technician I
Yuepeng Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow
Xing Wang
Postdoctoral Fellow