Dr. Weishan Huang
Assistant Professor
Pathobiological Sciences (PBS)

Biography:
Dr. Huang completed her BS in Biology and BE in Economics at Tsinghua University in China, her MS in Cell & Developmental Biology at Penn State University, and her PhD in Pharmacology and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunology at Cornell University. In January 2018, Dr. Huang was appointed Assistant Professor of Immunology at Louisiana State University.
For more information of the Huang lab, please visit: https://weishanhuanglab.org .

Teaching Interests:
PBS 7003 Special Topics—Molecular and cellular mechanisms of host responses to infection;
VMED 5172 Veterinary Immunology.

 Awards & Honors:
  • 2021 AAI Careers in Immunology Fellowship (PI: Weishan Huang; Fellow: Michael McGee)
  • 2021 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence
  • 2020 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel Grant
  • 2019 AAI-IUIS Travel Award
  • 2019 FASEB SRC-Autoimmunity Poster Award
  • 2019 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel Grant
  • 2019 AAI Public Policy Fellowship
  • 2018 AAI Travel For Techniques Award
  • 2018 AAI European Congress of Immunology Travel Award
  • 2018 Faculty Scholarship, Summer Institute on the Future of Graduate Studies at LSU
  • 2018 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel Grant
 Education:
  • PhD Cornell University
 Grants:
  • Signaling regulation of immune homeostasis , MegaRobo, Principal Investigator, 01/2020-12/2029,
  • Markers and regulation of regulatory CD8+ T cells during influenza-induced lung immunopathology, NIH/NIAID R01, Principal Investigator, 07/2021-06/2026,
  • A rapid and sensitive technology for direct sensing of intact SARS-CoV-2 virions using designer DNA nanostructure probes and a smartphone fluorimeter, NIH/NIBIB R21, Co-Investigator, 09/2021-09/2023,
  • Regulation of IL10 production in CD8+ T cells during flu infection by tyrosine kinase ITK, NIH/NIAID R01, Co-Investigator, 06/2018-05/2023,
  • Detection and Automatic Privacy-Protected Contact Tracing System Designed for COVID-19, NIH/NIAAA U01, Co-Investigator, 12/2020-11/2022,
  • ITK signaling in tissue resident memory T cell development and function in flu-associated pulmonary sequelae, AAI Careers in Immunology Fellowship, Principal Investigator, 09/2021-08/2022,
  • Heterogeneity and molecular signatures of therapeutic T cells in allergic airway inflammation, NIH/NIAID R56, Principal Investigator, 12/2019-11/2021,
  • Project 2: TCR signaling in IL-10 production by CD8+ T cells during influenza-induced lung immunopathology, NIH/NIGMS P20: LSU-Center for Lung Biology and Disease, Principal Investigator, 01/2019-08/2021, $770,778.00
  • GCN2 signaling in pathogenic and regulatory T cell development in allergic airway inflammation, NIH/NIAID R21, Principal Investigator, 06/2018-05/2021, $407,000.00
  • A novel murine model of allergic airway inflammation, NIH/NIAID R21, Co-Principal Investigator, 06/2018-05/2020, $443,292.00
  • Itk signaling and Type 1 regulatory T cell differentiation and function in allergic airway inflammation, NIH/NIAID R21, Co-Principal Investigator, 12/2017-11/2019, $431,021.00
  • ITK signaling in type 2 innate lymphoid cell-mediated pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, LSU-SVM, Competitive Research Program (CORP), Principal Investigator, 06/2018-01/2019, $9,200.00
  • T cell signals in immune balance and host survival during T. gondii infection, NIH/NIGMS: LSU-Tulane Center for Experimental Infectious Disease and Research, Principal Investigator, 05/2018-01/2019, $50,000.00
 Publications:
Journal Article, Academic Journal:
  • Farnesyl pyrophosphate is a new danger signal inducing acute cell death., Chen, J; Zhang, X; Li , L; Ma, X; Yang, C; Liu, Z; Li , C; Fernandez-Cabezudo, M; Al-Ramadi, B; Wu, C; Huang, Weishan; Zhang, Y; Zhang, Y; Liu, W, 2021, PLoS biology , Volume: 19, Number: 4, Pages: e3001134
  • Gastrointestinal Microenvironment and the Gut-Lung Axis in the Immune Responses of Severe COVID-19., Yang, Y; Huang, Weishan; Fan, Y; Chen, G, 2021, Frontiers in molecular biosciences , Volume: 8, Pages: 647508
  • Targeting SLP76:ITK interaction separates GVHD from GVL in allo-HSCT., Mammadli, M; Huang, Weishan; Harris, R; Xiong, H; Weeks, S; May, A; Gentile, T; Henty-Ridilla, J; Waickman, A; August, A; Bah, A; Karimi, M, 2021, iScience , Volume: 24, Number: 4, Pages: 102286
  • Altered blood cell traits underlie a major genetic locus of severe COVID-19., Zhou, J; Sun, Y; Huang, Weishan; Ye, K, 2021, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
  • BTK/ITK dual inhibitors: Modulating immunopathology and lymphopenia for COVID-19 therapy., McGee, M; August, A; Huang, Weishan, 2021, Journal of leukocyte biology , Volume: 109, Number: 1, Pages: 49-53
  • Cognitive disorders associated with hospitalization of COVID-19: Results from an observational cohort study., Zhou, J; Liu, C; Sun, Y; Huang, Weishan; Ye, K, 2021, Brain, behavior, and immunity , Volume: 91, Pages: 383-392
  • TCR/ITK Signaling in Type 1 Regulatory T cells., McGee, M; August, A; Huang, Weishan, 2021, Advances in experimental medicine and biology , Volume: 1278, Pages: 115-124
  • Targeting Interleukin-2-Inducible T-Cell Kinase (ITK) Differentiates GVL and GVHD in Allo-HSCT., Mammadli, M; Huang, Weishan; Harris, R; Sultana, A; Cheng, Y; Tong, W; Pu, J; Gentile, T; Dsouza, S; Yang, Q; Bah, A; August, A; Karimi, M, 2020, Frontiers in immunology , Volume: 11, Pages: 593863
  • Glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives as potential alternative medicine to relieve symptoms in nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients., Ding, H; Deng, W; Ding, L; Ye, X; Yin, S; Huang, Weishan, 2020, Journal of medical virology , Volume: 92, Number: 10, Pages: 2200-2204
  • TCR Signal Strength and Antigen Affinity Regulate CD8<sup>+</sup> Memory T Cells., Solouki, S; Huang, Weishan; Elmore, J; Limper, C; Huang, F; August, A, 2020, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 205, Number: 5, Pages: 1217-1227
  • Glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives as potential alternative medicine to relieve symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients., Ding, H; Deng, W; Ding, L; Ye, X; Yin, S; Huang, Weishan, 2020, Journal of medical virology
  • Tuning T helper cell differentiation by ITK., Elmore, J; McGee, M; Nidetz, N; Anannya, O; Huang, Weishan; August, A, 2020, Biochemical Society transactions , Volume: 48, Number: 1, Pages: 179-185
  • Interleukin-2-Inducible T-Cell Kinase Deficiency Impairs Early Pulmonary Protection Against <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Infection., Huang, L; Ye, K; McGee, M; Nidetz, N; Elmore, J; Limper, C; Southard, T; Russell, D; August, A; Huang, Weishan, 2020, Frontiers in immunology , Volume: 10, Pages: 3103
  • Adeno-associated viral vector-mediated immune responses: Understanding barriers to gene delivery., Nidetz, N; McGee, M; Tse, L; Li , C; Cong, L; Li , Y; Huang, Weishan, 2019, Pharmacology & therapeutics , Pages: 107453
  • Amino acid starvation enhances vaccine efficacy by augmenting neutralizing antibody production., Afroz, S; Battu, S; Matin, S; Solouki, S; Elmore, J; Minhas, G; Huang, Weishan; August, A; Khan, N, 2019, Science signaling , Volume: 12, Number: 607
  • Non-receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in autoimmunity and therapeutic implications., Solouki, S; August, A; Huang, Weishan, 2019, Pharmacology & therapeutics , Volume: 201, Pages: 39-50
  • HDAC11 regulates type I interferon signaling through defatty-acylation of SHMT2., Cao, J; Sun, L; Aramsangtienchai, P; Spiegelman, N; Zhang, X; Huang, Weishan; Seto, E; Lin, H, 2019, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , Volume: 116, Number: 12, Pages: 5487-5492
  • Thymic regulatory T cells arise via two distinct developmental programs., Owen, D; Mahmud, S; Sjaastad, L; Williams, J; Spanier, J; Simeonov, D; Ruscher, R; Huang, Weishan; Proekt, I; Miller, C; Hekim, C; Jeschke, J; Aggarwal, P; Broeckel, U; LaRue, R; Henzler, C; Alegre, M; Anderson, M; August, A; Marson, A; Zheng, Y; Williams, C; Farrar, M, 2019, Nature immunology , Volume: 20, Number: 2, Pages: 195-205
  • Beyond Type 1 Regulatory T Cells: Co-expression of LAG3 and CD49b in IL-10-Producing T Cell Lineages., Huang, Weishan; Solouki, S; Carter, C; Zheng, S; August, A, 2018, Frontiers in immunology , Volume: 9, Pages: 2625
  • Amino acid starvation sensing dampens IL-1β production by activating riboclustering and autophagy., Battu, S; Afroz, S; Giddaluru, J; Naz, S; Huang, Weishan; Khumukcham, S; Khan, R; Bhat, S; Qureshi, I; Manavathi, B; Khan, A; August, A; Hasnain, S; Khan, N, 2018, PLoS biology , Volume: 16, Number: 4, Pages: e2005317
  • ITK signalling via the Ras/IRF4 pathway regulates the development and function of Tr1 cells., Huang, Weishan; Solouki, S; Koylass, N; Zheng, S; August, A, 2017, Nature communications , Volume: 8, Pages: 15871
  • T-Bet independent development of IFNγ secreting natural T helper 1 cell population in the absence of Itk., Kannan, A; Mohinta, S; Huang, Weishan; Huang, L; Koylass, N; Appleton, J; August, A, 2017, Scientific reports , Volume: 7, Pages: 45935
  • The decidua of preeclamptic-like BPH/5 mice exhibits an exaggerated inflammatory response during early pregnancy., Heyward, C; Sones, Jennifer; Lob, H; Yuen, L; Abbott, K; Huang, Weishan; Begun, Z; Butler, S; August, A; Leifer, C; Davisson, R, 2017, Journal of reproductive immunology , Volume: 120, Pages: 27-33
  • Self-Assembly Protein Nanogels for Safer Cancer Immunotherapy., Purwada, A; Tian, Y; Huang, Weishan; Rohrbach, K; Deol, S; August, A; Singh, A, 2016, Advanced healthcare materials , Volume: 5, Number: 12, Pages: 1413-9
  • Nonreceptor tyrosine kinases ITK and BTK negatively regulate mast cell proinflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide., Huang, Weishan; Morales, J; Gazivoda, V; August, A, 2016, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology , Volume: 137, Number: 4, Pages: 1197-1205
  • Role(s) of IL-2 inducible T cell kinase and Bruton's tyrosine kinase in mast cell response to lipopolysaccharide., Huang, Weishan; August, A, 2016, Genomics data , Volume: 8, Pages: 18-20
  • HUS1 regulates in vivo responses to genotoxic chemotherapies., Balmus, G; Lim, P; Oswald, A; Hume, K; Cassano, A; Pierre, J; Hill, A; Huang, Weishan; August, A; Stokol, T; Southard, T; Weiss, R, 2016, Oncogene , Volume: 35, Number: 5, Pages: 662-9
  • Allele-sensitive mutant, Itkas, reveals that Itk kinase activity is required for Th1, Th2, Th17, and iNKT-cell cytokine production., Kannan, A; Lee, Y; Qi, Q; Huang, Weishan; Jeong, A; Ohnigian, S; August, A, 2015, European journal of immunology , Volume: 45, Number: 8, Pages: 2276-85
  • Cutting Edge: Drebrin-Regulated Actin Dynamics Regulate IgE-Dependent Mast Cell Activation and Allergic Responses., Law, M; Lee, Y; Morales, J; Ning, G; Huang, Weishan; Pabon, J; Kannan, A; Jeong, A; Wood, A; Carter, C; Mohinta, S; Song, J; August, A, 2015, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 195, Number: 2, Pages: 426-30
  • Cutting edge: STAT6 signaling in eosinophils is necessary for development of allergic airway inflammation., Stokes, K; LaMarche, N; Islam, N; Wood, A; Huang, Weishan; August, A, 2015, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 194, Number: 6, Pages: 2477-81
  • The signaling symphony: T cell receptor tunes cytokine-mediated T cell differentiation., Huang, Weishan; August, A, 2015, Journal of leukocyte biology , Volume: 97, Number: 3, Pages: 477-85
  • The tyrosine kinase Itk suppresses CD8+ memory T cell development in response to bacterial infection., Huang, F; Huang, Weishan; Briggs, J; Chew, T; Bai, Y; Deol, S; August, A, 2015, Scientific reports , Volume: 5, Pages: 7688
  • IL-2-inducible T cell kinase tunes T regulatory cell development and is required for suppressive function., Huang, Weishan; Jeong, A; Kannan, A; Huang, L; August, A, 2014, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 193, Number: 5, Pages: 2267-72
  • ITK tunes IL-4-induced development of innate memory CD8+ T cells in a γδ T and invariant NKT cell-independent manner., Huang, Weishan; Huang, F; Kannan, A; Hu, J; August, A, 2014, Journal of leukocyte biology , Volume: 96, Number: 1, Pages: 55-63
  • Dendritic cell-MHC class II and Itk regulate functional development of regulatory innate memory CD4+ T cells in bone marrow transplantation., Huang, Weishan; Qi, Q; Hu, J; Huang, F; Laufer, T; August, A, 2014, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 192, Number: 7, Pages: 3435-3441
  • The zinc-binding region of IL-2 inducible T cell kinase (Itk) is required for interaction with Gα13 and activation of serum response factor., Huang, Weishan; Morales, J; Gazivoda, V; Lai, J; Qi, Q; August, A, 2013, The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology , Volume: 45, Number: 6, Pages: 1074-82
  • Plasmin-mediated activation of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus hemagglutinin is independent of the viral neuraminidase., Tse, L; Marcano, V; Huang, Weishan; Pocwierz, M; Whittaker, G, 2013, Journal of virology , Volume: 87, Number: 9, Pages: 5161-9
  • Cutting edge: innate memory CD8+ T cells are distinct from homeostatic expanded CD8+ T cells and rapidly respond to primary antigenic stimuli., Huang, Weishan; Hu, J; August, A, 2013, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 190, Number: 6, Pages: 2490-4
  • Signal transduction via the T cell antigen receptor in naïve and effector/memory T cells., Kannan, A; Huang, Weishan; Huang, F; August, A, 2012, The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology , Volume: 44, Number: 12, Pages: 2129-34
  • A unique role for ITK in survival of invariant NKT cells associated with the p53-dependent pathway in mice., Qi, Q; Huang, Weishan; Bai, Y; Balmus, G; Weiss, R; August, A, 2012, Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) , Volume: 188, Number: 8, Pages: 3611-9
  • Absence of Tec family kinases interleukin-2 inducible T cell kinase (Itk) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) severely impairs Fc epsilonRI-dependent mast cell responses., Iyer, A; Morales, J; Huang, Weishan; Ojo, F; Ning, G; Wills, E; Baines, Joel; August, A, 2011, The Journal of biological chemistry , Volume: 286, Number: 11, Pages: 9503-13
Other:
  • COVID-19 diagnostic process in mainland China: The math beyond pneumonia., Wu, F; Huang, Weishan, 2020
  • Editorial: Jack of all trades? The versatility of IL-4 in CD8+ T cell polarity., Huang, Weishan; August, A, 2013