Faculty
Areas of Specialization
- Immunology
- Vaccine Development
- Vector-Borne, Emerging, and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Education
DVM; Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhehot, China
Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology; University of Gifu, Japan
M.S. in Virology; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Research Interests
Dr. Zhang's research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of protective immunity against aerosolized intracellular bacterial pathogens and developing novel approaches for discovery of safe, effective vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies against aerosol-transmitted intracellular bacterial pathogens. To accomplish these broad goals, current projects in the lab are designed to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of protective immunity against Coxiella burnetii infection and to develop a safe and effective vaccine against human Q fever.
Current studies include NIH funded or pending projects:
- Use of a humanized antibody against intracellular bacterial pathogen
- Understanding the role of dendritic cells in regulating vaccine-induced protective immunity against Q fever
- Use of mimetic peptides vaccines against aerosol-transmitted bacteria
- Understand the mechanisms of B cell-mediated protective immunity against Q fever
Training Opportunities
Dr. Zhang's laboratory welcomes undergraduate and graduate students to participate in research projects. Our expertise in small animal models of infectious diseases, molecular and cellular immunology, host cell interaction with microbial pathogens and vaccine development will be available to students.
Publications
