Personal Profile

Wu Minhao, Doctor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Sun Yat-sen University, PI of the Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Winner of the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Outstanding Youth Fund, Young Top-notch Talent in Scientific and Technological Innovation of Guangdong "Special Support Plan", and "Pearl River Science and Technology New Star" of Guangzhou.

He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2006. In 2010, he received a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from Wayne State University, USA. In the same year, he was introduced by Sun Yat-sen University and started working at the Zhongshan School of Medicine as an Associate Professor and Master's Supervisor. From 2014 to 2015, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, USA. In 2016, he was promoted to Professor and Doctoral Supervisor.

He currently serves as the Deputy Director of the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Basic Medicine at Sun Yat-sen University, the Executive Deputy Director of the Biosafety Laboratory of the Zhongshan School of Medicine, a Young Committee Member of the Chinese Medical Association Microbiology and Immunology Branch, a Committee Member of the Basic Science Professional Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology Youth, and a Director of the Integrated Medicine Education Branch of the China Pharmaceutical Education Association.

His research interests mainly focus on the mechanisms of action of pattern recognition receptors and co-signaling molecular pathways in infectious diseases (bacterial and viral infections), tumors, and autoimmune diseases, as well as the immunological prevention and treatment strategies for related diseases. Since returning to China, he has published more than 40 SCI papers in international mainstream journals such as Gut, Advanced Science, ACS AMI, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal of Immunology, Frontiers in Immunology, Cell Death & Diseases, and IOVS, including more than 20 papers as a corresponding author or first author. He has co-authored 3 monographs and presided over more than 10 funds at the national and provincial/ministerial levels.

Educational and Work Experience

2002.9 - 2006.7: School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Majoring in Biological Sciences (Bachelor's Degree)
2006.8 - 2010.5: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA (Doctoral Graduate Student)
2014.2 - 2015.2: Department of Immunobiology, Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, USA (Postdoctoral Researcher)
2010.6 - 2015.12: Institute of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University (Associate Professor)
2016.1 - Present: Institute of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University (Professor)

Research Directions

1. Study on the regulatory mechanisms of infection, immunity, and inflammation, especially the functional regulation of pattern recognition receptors and TNFR receptor superfamily on macrophages and T cells and their mechanisms of action in related diseases.
2. Research on tumor diagnosis techniques and prevention strategies based on immunology and nanobiology.

Academic Achievements
Representative Publications (Corresponding/First Author SCI Papers)

1. Zhu S#, Chen Y#, Lao J#, Wu C, Zhan X, Wu Y, Shang Y, Zou Z, Zhou J, Ji X, Huang X, Shi X*, Wu M*. Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family-7 Alleviates Corneal Inflammation by Promoting M2 Polarization. J Infect Dis. 2021;223(5):854-865.
2. Fan H#, Lu B#, Cao C#, Li H, Yang D, Huang L, Ding T, Wu M*, Lu G*. Plasma TNFSF13B and TNFSF14 Function as Inflammatory Indicators of Severe Adenovirus Pneumonia in Pediatric Patients. Front Immunol. 2021;11:614781.
3. Liu T#, Tan J#, Wu M#, Fan W, Wei J, Zhu B, Guo J, Wang S, Zhou P, Zhang H, Shi L, Li J*. High-affinity neoantigens correlate with better prognosis and trigger potent antihepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity by activating CD39+CD8+ T cells. Gut. 2020:gutjnl-2020-322196.
4. Chen L#, Liang S#, Chen Y, Wu M*, Zhang Y*. Destructing the plasma membrane with activatable vesicular DNA nanopores., ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019, 12(1): 96-105.
5. Zhang M#, Ming S#, Gong S, Liang S, Luo Y, Liang Z, Cao C, Lao J, Shang Y, Li X, Wang M, Zhong G, Xu L, Wu M*, Wu Y*. Activation-Induced Cell Death of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Is Amplified by OX40 in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Journal of Immunology. 2019,203 (10), 2614-2620.
6. Qu W, Wang Y, Wu Y, Liu Y, Chen K, Liu X, Zou Z, Huang X, Wu M*. Triggering Receptors Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 Promotes Corneal Resistance Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Inhibiting Caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018;9:1121.
7. Chen K＃, Fu Q＃, Liang S＃, Liu Y, Qu W, Wu Y, Wu X, Wei L, Wang Y, Xiong Y, Wang W*, Wu M*. Stimulator of Interferon Genes Promotes Host Resistance Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Keratitis. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018;9:1225.
8. Wu Y＃, Li D＃, Wang Y, Liu X, Zhang Y, Qu W, Chen K, Francisco NM, Feng L, Huang X, Wu M*. Beta-Defensin 2 and 3 Promote Bacterial Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Inhibiting Macrophage Autophagy through Downregulation of Early Growth Response Gene-1 and c-FOS. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018;9:211.
9. Zhao Z, Chen Y, Francisco NM, Zhang Y*, Wu M*. The application of CAR-T cell therapy in hematological malignancies: Advantages and challenges. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. 2018;8 (4):539-551
10. Wu Y #, Li D #, Wang Y #, Chen K, Yang K, Huang X, Zhang Y *, Wu M *. Pseudomonas aeruginosa promotes autophagy to suppress macrophage-mediated bacterial eradication. International Immunopharmacology. 2016;38：214-222.
11. Deng Q #, Wang Y #, Zhang Y, Li M, Li D, Huang X, Wu Y, Pu J, Wu M*. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Triggers Macrophage Autophagy To Escape Intracellular Killing by Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome. Infection and Immunity. 2015;84(1):56-66.
12. Zhan X, Fang Y, Hu S, Wu Y, Yang K, Liao C, Zhang Y, Huang X, Wu M*. IFN-g differentially regulates subsets of Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid cells in chronic inflammation. Molecular Immunology.2015;66(2):451-462.
13. Zhang Y#, Wu M#, Han X, Wang P*; Qin L*; High-throughput, Label-free isolation of cancer stem cells on the basis of cell adhesion capacity. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2015, 54(37):10838-10842.
14. Zhu M #, Li D #, Wu Y, Huang X, Wu M*. TREM-2 Promotes Macrophage- Mediated Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via a PI3K/Akt Pathway. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2014;79(3):187-196.
15. Yang K #, Wu M #, Li M, Li D, Peng A, Nie X, Sun M, Wang J, Wu Y, Deng Q, Zhu M, Chen K,Yuan J, Huang X*. miR-155 suppresses bacterial clearance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced keratitis by targeting Rheb. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2014;210(1):89-98.
16. Kang Chen, Lin Yin, Xinxin Nie, Qiuchan Deng, Yongjian Wu, Min Zhu, Dandan Li, Meiyu Li, Minhao Wu*, Xi Huang*. β-Catenin promotes host resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis. Journal of Infection, 2013, 67(6):584-594.
17. Kun Yang #, Jinli Wang#, Peng Andy Xiang, Xiaoxia Zhan, Yi Wang, Minhao Wu *, X Huang*. Functional RIG-I-like receptors control the survival of mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Death&Disease, 2013, 4:e967.
18. Mingxia Sun#, Min Zhu#, Kang Chen, Xinxin Nie, Qiuchan Deng, Linda D. Hazlett, Yongjian Wu, Meiyu Li, Minhao Wu*, Xi Huang*. TREM-2 Promotes Host Resistance Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection by Suppressing Corneal Inflammation via a PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2013, 54(5):3451-3462.
19. Qiuchan Deng#, Mingxia Sun#, Kun Yang, Min Zhu, Kang Chen, Jin Yuan, Minhao Wu*, Xi Huang*. MRP8/14 enhances corneal susceptibility to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection by amplifying inflammatory responses. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2013, 54(2):1227-1234.
20. Kang Chen#, Yongjian Wu#, Min Zhu, Qiuchan Deng, Xinxin Nie, Meiyu Li, Wu M*, Xi Huang*. Lithium chloride promotes host resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis. Molecular Vision, 2013, 19:1502-1514.
21. Minhao Wu#, Anping Peng#, Mingxia Sun, Qiuchan Deng, Linda D. Hazlett, Jin Yuan, Xialin Liu, Qianying Gao, Lianqiang Feng, Junfang He, Ping Zhang*, Xi Huang*. TREM-1 Amplifies Corneal Inflammation after Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection by Modulating Toll-Like Receptor Signaling and Th1/Th2-Type Immune Responses. Infection and Immunity. 2011. 79(7):2709-2716

Research Projects
Project Undertaking

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China: Study on the Mechanism by Which GITR Mediates Corneal Inflammatory Injury through IFIX-Induced Macrophage Pyroptosis. Project No.: 31970893; Principal Investigator; 2020 - 2023; Funding: 590,000 yuan.
2. Key Cultivation Project for Young Teachers of Sun Yat-sen University with Basic Research Operating Expenses of Universities: Study on the Mechanism by Which GITR Mediates Corneal Immune Inflammatory Injury through Inducing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Macrophage Pyroptosis. Principal Investigator; 2020 - 2021; Funding: 300,000 yuan.
3. National Natural Science Foundation of China: The Protective Role of NLRP6 in Cornea and Its Molecular Regulatory Mechanism. Project No.: 31670880; Principal Investigator; 2017 - 2020; Funding: 600,000 yuan.
4. Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Outstanding Youth Fund: Study on the Anti-tuberculosis Immune Mechanism Mediated by TNFRSF18. Principal Investigator; 2016 - 2019; Funding: 1,000,000 yuan.
5. Guangzhou Pearl River Science and Technology New Star Special Project: Study on the Anti-tuberculosis Immune Mechanism Mediated by Glucocorticoid-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor GITR. Principal Investigator; 2016 - 2019; Funding: 300,000 yuan.
6. "Guangdong Special Support Plan" for Innovative Talents in Science and Technology (Young and Outstanding Talents): Principal Investigator; 2016 - 2018; Funding: 300,000 yuan.
7. National Natural Science Foundation of China: The Protective Role of TREM-2/beta-catenin in Cornea and Its Molecular Regulatory Mechanism. Project No.: 31370868; Principal Investigator; 2014 - 2017; Funding: 800,000 yuan.
8. National Natural Science Foundation of China: The Effect of Defensins Inhibiting Macrophage Autophagy on Corneal Anti-infectious Immunity and Its Mechanism. Project No.: 31200662; Principal Investigator; 2013 - 2015; Funding: 250,000 yuan.
9. "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" Major Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Special Project "Research and Industrialization of New Tuberculosis Diagnostic Products"; 2013ZX10003001 - 001; Task Leader; 2013 - 2015; Funding: 1,300,000 yuan (task-specific funding) (Project Leader: Huang Xi)
10. Guangdong Provincial Innovative Research Team Introduction: Core member of the "Immunotherapy for Major Diseases" team (Team Leader: Lieping Chen); 2013 - 2017; Project Funding: 10,000,000 yuan.

Awards and Honors

• In 2013, he was selected as a candidate for the "Thousand, Hundred and Ten" Project at the university level in Guangdong Province.
• In 2015, he was selected as an outstanding young talent in scientific and technological innovation under the "Guangdong Special Support Plan".
• In 2016, he was selected for the "Pearl River Science and Technology New Star" Program in Guangzhou.
• In 2016, he received funding from the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Outstanding Youth Fund.