Yung T. Huang, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Emeritus Mailing Address: 11100 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44106 phone: (216) 844-8611 email: Yung.Huang@Case.edu

Biography

1963	Biology, Tunghai University, Taiwan M.S., Virology, University of North Carolina, North Carolina
1979-1980	Research Analyst and Supervisor, Tissue Culture Facility, Cancer Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
1983	Ph.D., Virology, University of North Carolina, North Carolina
1983-present	Assistant to Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
1983-present	Director of Clinical Virology/Serology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio

Research
Many pathogens infect the host through the mucosal surfaces. Herpes simplex viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections all initiated through the mucosal site. Thus, immunity at mucosal surfaces could play a pivotal role in resisting viral infection. The major mediator of host defense at mucosal surfaces is IgA. Therefore, an improved understanding of the functions of IgA antibodies is urgently needed. Epithelial cells lining the respiratory, digestive, and genital tracts provide a boundary with the external environment. Mucosal epithelial cells can form tight junctions which subdivide the plasma membrane into an apical domain, which faces the luminal side, and a basolateral domain, which faces the loose connective tissue of the underlying lamina propria. We have used polarized epithelial cells and monoclonal antibodies to study and gain new insights into the host defense functions of IgA antibodies. We are now focusing specifically on HIV to help develop strategy for HIV vaccine. We are generating monoclonal antibodies specific for HIV proteins to investigate the following functions of IgA: 1) neutralization of HIV extracellularly to determine if Mab can block HIV attachment to epithelial cells, prevent infection of susceptible target cells (T cells or macrophages); 2) neutralization of HIV intracellularly by the Mab transcytosed into the cells via polymeric immunoglobulin receptor and bind to the viral antigen; 3) IgA mediated excretion of HIV virions across epithelial cells from basolateral to apical surfaces to eliminate virions from infecting target cells; 4) IgA mediated intracellular blocking of virion transcytosis from apical to basolateral surface to prevent infection of the target cells. Information gained from this research will contribute to improved mucosal HIV vaccine design.

Our laboratory is also interested in using this in vitro system to study the fate of measles virus when they enter the cells by transcytosis mediated by IgA, instead of infection through cell surface membrane fusion. We have established an unique system to carry out this study.

Publications
Kiyono H, Miller CJ, Lu YC, Lehner T, Cranage M, Huang YT, Kawabata S, Marthas M, Roberts B, Nedrud JG, Lamm ME, Bergmeier L, Brookes R, Tao L, McGhee JR (1995). The common mucosal immune system for the reproduction tract: basic principles applied toward an AIDS vaccine. Adv Drug Del Rev 18, 23-51.

Sieg S, King C, Huang YT, Kaplan D (1996). The role of interleukin-10 in the inhibition of T cell proliferation and apoptosis mediated by parainfluenza virus type 3. J Virol 70, 4845-4848.

Mazanec MB, Huang YT, Pimplikar SW, Lamm ME (1996). Mechanisms of inactivation of respiratory viruses by IgA, including intracellular neutralization. Seminars in Virology 7, 285-292.

Sieg S, Yildirim A, Smith D, Kayagaki N, Yagita H, Huang YT, Kaplan D (1996). Herpes simplex virus type 2 inhibition of Fas ligand expression. J Virol 70, 8747-8751.

Hite S, Huang TY (1996). Microwave-accelerated direct immunofluorescent staining for RSV and influenza virus. J Clin Micro 34, 1819-1820.

Sieg S, Huang YT, Kaplan D (1997). Viral regulation of CD95 expression and apoptosis in T lymphocytes. J Immunol 159, 1192-1199.

Huang YT, Miller CJ, Wong V, Nedrud JG, Lamm ME. Replication and budding of simian immunodeficiency virus in polarized epithelial cells. Submitted