Xiao-Jian Yao, MD, PhD

Research summary

The combat between host cells and viral invaders is an ancient one and continues today.

Cells have evolved different mechanisms to protect themselves from viral pathogens.

At the same time, viruses also developed their own ways to escape these innate inhibitory pathways.

Both cells and viruses have devised numerous mechanisms of evasion and attenuation to impair one another.

In addition, to carry out a successful infection, HIV-1 takes advantage of various host cellular proteins and cellular pathways during various steps of the HIV-1 life cycle.

It is these mechanisms that science is now trying to understand and to explore as potential target for antiviral therapies.

The one of goals of our lab is to provide important insights into mechanisms of how HIV hijacks various host cellular proteins and cellular pathways for continue its replication and dissemination.         

Meanwhile, our lab has developed a novel and highly efficient DC-targeting vaccination technology.

By using this technology, our lab has developed and/or is generating new DC-targeting vaccine approaches against HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza viral infections.

We hope that our vaccine development research can make significant contributions to combat against HIV, SARS-CoV-2, influenza and other emergent viral infections.

Research themes

Fundamental research to explore the molecular mechanisms of how HIV manipulate cellular machinery to facilitate HIV-1 infection, and to develop new anti-HIV vaccine/cell therapy technologies.

Development of new and effective preventative strategies including novel dendritic cells (DCs)-targeting vaccine approach to help control SARS-CoV-2, influenza and other viral infections.  Meanwhile, we are also focused on the development of a universal vaccine approach against Chlamydia urogenital infection.

Research affiliations

Research scientist, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

Keywords

• HIV-1 replication and pathogenesis
• Molecular virology
• Therapeutic agents
• Vaccine development