Yingzi Cong, PhD
Samuel Baron Distinguished Professor
Departments of Microbiology & Immunology and Pathology
Phone: (409)772-4902
Fax: (409) 772-5065
Email: yicong@utmb.edu
Education
Visiting PhD Student, 1988-1990, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
PhD, 1990, Shandong University, P.R. China
MSc, 1985, Shandong University, P.R. China
BSc, 1982, Shandong University, P.R. China
Overview
Mucosal immunology, host-microbiota interaction at mucosal surface, and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases
Research Interests
The host and microbiota have evolved mechanisms for coexistence
over millions of years. Accumulating evidence indicates that a dynamic
mutualism between the host and the commensal microbiota has important
implications for health, and microbial colonization contributes to the
maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis. However, alterations in
communication between the mucosal immune system and gut microbial
communities have been implicated as the core defect that leads to
development of chronic intestinal inflammation and cancer as well as
other diseases, such as diabetes, obesity etc. Dr. Yingzi Cong’s basic
research programs focus on investigating host immune
system, microbiome interaction in the intestines, pathogenesis of
inflammatory bowel disease, and development of mucosal vaccines, which
are based on the analysis of unique murine models of inflammatory bowel
disease using a battery of reagents that have been developed recently.
A number of research projects are underway in his laboratory and these
NIH funded studies involve a number of significant collaborations both
at UTMB as well as with other Universities and Research Institutes.
Specifically, individual projects include:
- The role of T cells reactive to commensal bacterial antigens in mucosal immunity and pathogenesis of IBD.
- Gut microbiome and its metabolites regulation of host immune responses and experimental colitis.
- microRNA regulation of host response to commensal bacteria and pathogenesis of IBD.
- Regulation of intestinal IgA response to microbiota and pathogens
- Development of mucosal vaccines
Recent Publications
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