Huanbin Xu, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Education & Affiliations
Research
Huanbin Xu, PhD, is a professor with tenure in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Xu has been active and productive in the fields of immunology and infectious diseases after completion of specialized postdoctoral training at Harvard University Medical School and Tulane University Medical School.
His major scopes of research have involved identification of viral reservoirs, pediatric early treatment, epigenetic regulation of germinal center responses, and cure strategies in a cure for HIV infections. Currently, his focus is on 1) identifying and assessing HIV reservoirs using state-of-the-art integrated provirus detection approach and quantifying virus-infected CD4+ T/myeloid cells via a duplex digital PCR; 2) exploring curative strategies for achieving a functional cure or cure for HIV infection, including early prevention interventions, HIV latency reactivation, ablation of HIV genome through gene editing and innovative in vivo delivery systems; 3) investigating the impact of maternal HIV infection on the development of the immune system, osteogenesis, and metabolism; and 4) studying trained innate immunity in pediatric TB diseases.
As an independent Principal Investigator, Dr. Xu has demonstrated his commitment to collaboration on several topics with extramural funding. Dr. Xu has published on several key topics in immunity to HIV/SIV infection and cure strategies, which have been featured in the Journal of Immunology, Mucosal Immunology and EBioMedicine. In addition, Dr. Xu is also reviewer for several NIH study sections, AD hoc reviewer for journals, editorial board of Scientific Reports and Frontiers.
Professional Awards
Award from Carol Lavin Bernick Foundation in LB Grant program, 2020
Outstanding Achievement and Commitment to Excellence In Total Competitive Research funding, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2015 and 2023
Contributions
Faraone JN, Wang X, Qu P, Goodarzi N, Zheng YM, Vincent E, Xu H*, and Liu SL*. Neutralizing Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Bivalent mRNA Vaccine in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques: Enhanced Immunity to XBB Subvariants by Two-dose Vaccination. J Med Virol. 2024; 96(3): e29250. PMID: 38528837
Wang X, Vincent E, Siddiqui S, Turnbull K, Lu H, Blair R, Wu X, Watkins M, Ziani W, Shao J, Doyle-Meyers LA, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Bohm RP, Veazey RS, Xu H. Early treatment regimens achieve sustained virologic remission in infant macaques infected with SIV at birth. Nat Commun. 2022. 13 (1): 4823. PMID: 35973985
Ziani W, Shao J, Wang X, Russell-Lodrigue K, Liu Y, Montaner L, Veazey R and Xu H. Increased proviral DNA in circulating cells correlates with plasma viral rebound in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques after antiretroviral therapy interruption. J Virol. 2021. DOI:10.1128/JVI.02064-20. PMID: 33408173
Xu H, Ziani, Shao JS, Doyle-Meyers LA, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Ratterree M, Veazey RS and Wang X. Impaired development and expansion of germinal center follicular T helper cells in SIV-infected neonatal macaques. J Immunol. 2018. 201(7): 1994-2003. PMID: 30104244
Xu H, Wang X, Malam N, Aye PP, Alvarez X, Lackner AA and Veazey RS. Persistent SIV infection drives differentiation, aberrant accumulation, and latent infection of germinal center follicular T helper cells. J Virol. 2015. PMID: 26608323
Xu H, Wang X, Liu DX, Rasmussen T, Lackner AA, Veazey RS. IL-17-producing innate lymphoid cells are restricted to mucosal tissues and are depleted in SIV-infected macaques. Mucosal Immunol. 2012. 5(6): 658-669. PMID: 22669579
