On June 2, 2023, we were pleased to host Professor Xiao-Fang Yu from the Zhejiang University Cancer Institute, at the Shenzhen University Lihu Campus. Invited by Professor Wei-Guo Zhu (Shenzhen University International Cancer Center) to help mark the 40th-anniversary celebration of Shenzhen University, Professor Yu delivered an inspiring lecture titled “Virus-Host Interactions and Tumor-Related Research: Achievements, Regrets, and Expectations”. This lecture marked the 900th event of the anniversary celebrations, and the 75th lecture of the Shenzhen University Medicine Forum.

In his lecture, we learned that HIV/AIDS remains an incurable disease for humanity. Although an anti-HIV "cocktail" has effectively controlled the spread of HIV-1, the high cost, emergence of drug-resistant strains, adverse effects of long-term medication, and the inability to completely eradicate the virus has limited its use. Additionally, the rapid mutation of HIV strains has made the development of an AIDS vaccine extremely challenging. Indeed, two major HIV vaccine trials have been declared unsuccessful, with one crucial issue being the unclear molecular mechanism of how the HIV virus overcomes the host cell defense mechanisms. Professor Yu and his research team have long focused on the pathogenesis of AIDS and the development of novel anti-HIV drugs and vaccines. Through his lecture, Professor Yu detailed his research journey and his interest and achievements in this area, including: understanding the novel mechanisms of viral replication facilitated by the accessory proteins VPX and VPr of the HIV virus, and the immune evasion mechanisms of antagonizing host proteins SAMHD1 and the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. His delineation of these mechanistic pathways open up opportunities to find potential targets constituting new anti-HIV drugs. An active Q&A session followed this lecture, with Professor Yu providing a detailed yet engaging and lively discussion.

Brief introduction of the Speaker

Professor Xiao-Fang Yu is the Director of the Zhejiang University Cancer Institute. He completed his undergraduate studies in Clinical Medicine at Peking University Medical College and obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard University, USA. He previously served as a tenured professor at Johns Hopkins University. He is the Chief Scientist of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan Major Project on AIDS Vaccine" and a 973 Chief Scientist.

His main research focuses on tumor immunology, virus-host interactions, and other related areas. He has been awarded the National Natural Science Second Prize and the Ministry of Education Natural Science First Prize. He has published some 200 SCI papers in highly regarded academic journals including Nature, Science, Lancet, Cell Host & Microbe, Nature Communication, PNAS, and Genes & Development, which together have accumulated more than16,000 citations.