Jun Wang
Jun Wang
Associate Professor

Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics
Canadian Centre for Vaccinology, IWK Health Centre
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada

Education

2000 to 2004 PhD, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
1996 to 1997        Master of Science, University of Rochester, New York, USA

 

Biography

Dr. Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University. Following her original training and practice as a physician in China, Dr. Wang started her research training at the University of Rochester (Rochester, New York) where she obtained her Masters degree in Immunology. Subsequently, Dr. Wang joined Dr. Zhou Xing’s group in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario) where she obtained her PhD degree in Molecular Immunology, Virology and Inflammation and completed her postdoctoral training. During her training period, Dr. Wang received a CIHR-Lung Association Fellowship and developed a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus-based vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis that has been tested in Phase I human clinical trials and licensed to Tianjin Can Sino Biotechnologies Inc, China for further development.

Dr. Wang joined Dalhousie University as an Assistant Professor in 2006 and has established an independent research program studying the host resistance against intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Dr. Wang’s primary focus is to study the host responses to Chlamydia infection and immune mechanisms responsible for host defense and Chlamydia-associated immunopathology with an emphasis on mucosal vaccine development. Dr. Wang was a recipient of a CIHR/NSHRF New Investigator Award and an IWK Investigatorship Award. Dr. Wang’s research has received funding support from local, provincial and national funding agencies including CFI, CIHR and NSERC.

 

Research Interest

  • To understand the role of the regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells and the IL-17/IL-17R axis in regulating host resistance against infections caused by Chlamydia species;
  • To dissect the contribution of the IL-17/IL-17R axis in tumorigenesis;
  • To develop prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccines against infection and cancer using recombinant viral delivery systems.

Professional Activities:

Professional Experience:

2013-present Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada  
2011-2013            Assistant Professor (Tenure track), Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics , Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada,
2006-2011 Assistant Professor (Term position), Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
2005-2006 Sr. Research Scientist, Vaccinex Inc., Rochester, NY, USA
2004 to 2005 Sr. Scientist, Vaccine Assessment and Production
, Rockville, MD, USA
1997 to 2000 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
2000 to 2004        PhD candidate, Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
1994 to 1997 Research Assistant,  Department of Orthopaedics Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Rochester, New York, USA
1996 to 1997 Master’s student, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, New York, USA
1984 to 1994 Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Maigao Qiao Hospital, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

Patents And Intellectual Property Rights

Discovery license transfer agreement with Tianjin CanSino Biotechnologies Inc, China (Recombinant human adenovirus-based tuberculosis vaccine and its preparation and use for a phase I human clinic trial). Inventor: Zhou Xing, Jun Wang, Mary Hitt, Marie Fe Medina, Fiona Smaills. August 2011

 

Publications

  1. Acosta-Ramirez E, Tram C, Schwendener RA, Xing Z, Halperin SA and Wang J. Alveolar macrophages have dual functional roles in controlling CD4 T cell responses upon mucosal immunization with recombinant adenovirus-based vaccines. Cellular Immunology. Revision submitted. 2016
  2. Moore-Connors JM, Kim HS, Marshall JS, Stadnyk AW, Halperin SA, and Wang J. CD43-, but not CD43+, CD1dhi CD5+ IL-10-producing B cells suppress type 1 immune response during C. muridarum genital tract infection. Mucosal Immunology (18 June 2014) | doi:10.1038/mi.2014.45 (Impact factor 7.38, Cited 3 times). 2015. 8:94-106. (This paper was highlighted on the cover page of the issue.)
  3. Brace M, Wang J, Petten M, Bullock M, Trites J, Taylor SM, Makki F, Hart RD. Differential expression of transforming growth factor-beta in benign vs. papillary thyroid cancer nodules; a potential diagnostic tool? Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 2014. 43:22. (Impact factor 0.84, )
  4. Moore-Connors JM, Fraser R, Halperin SA and Wang J. CD4+Foxp3+CD25+ regulatory T cells promote Th17 and genital tract inflammation upon Chlamydia infection. J Immunol. 2013 Sep 15;191(6):3430-9. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 14 times)
  5. Tunis MC, Dawicki W, Carson KR, Wang J, Marshall JS. Mast cells and IgE activation do not alter the development of oral tolerance in a mouse model. J. Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 130(3):705-715. (Impact Factor: 10.1, Cited 11 times)
  6. Andrian E, Qi G, Wang J, Halperin SA and Lee SF. Role of Surface Proteins SspA and SspB of Streptococcus gordonii in Innate Immunity. Microbiology. 2012 158:2099-106. (Impact Factor: 2.85, cited 2 times)
  7. Brown HTT, David J, Acosta-Ramirez E, Moore JM, Lee S, Zhong G, Hancock RH, Xing Z, Halperin SA and Wang J. Comparison of immune responses and protective efficacy of intranasal prime-boost immunization regimens using adenovirus-based and CpG/HH2 adjuvanted-subunit vaccines against genital Chlamydia muridarum infection. Vaccine. 2012 30(2):350-60. (Impact Factor: 3.46, Cited 18 times)
  8. Zhou X, Chen RQ, Moore JM, Kolls JK, Halperin S, Wang J. Critical role of IL-17/IL-17R axis in regulating host susceptibility to respiratory Chlamydia infection. Infect Immun. 2009; 77:5059-5070. (Impact Factor: 4.06, Cited 51 times) (This paper was one of the articles of significant interest selected from the issue by the editors and highlighted in the Spotlight section of the issue).
  9. Xing Z, McFarland CT, Sallenave JM, Izzo A, Wang J, McMurray DN. Intranasal mucosal boosting with an adenovirus-vectored vaccine markedly enhances the protection of BCG-primed guinea pigs against pulmonary tuberculosis. PLoS ONE. 2009; 4(6): e5856. (Impact Factor: 3.73, Cited 73 times)
  10. Zhang X, Divangahi M, Ngai P, Santosuosso M, Miller M, Zganiacz A, Wang J, Bramson J, Xing Z. Intramuscular immunization with a monogenic plasmid DNA tuberculosis vaccine: Enhanced immunogenicity by electroporation and co-expression of GM-CSF transgene. Vaccine.2007;25 (7): 1342-1352. (Impact Factor: 3.46, Cited 75 times)
  11. Yan SR, Joseph RR, Wang J, Stadnyk AW. Differential pattern of inflammatory molecule regulation in intestinal epithelial cells stimulated with IL-1. J Immunol. 2006;177: 5604-5611. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 17 times)
  12. Malowany JI, McCormick S, Santosuosso S, Zhang X, Aoki N, Ngai P, Wang J, Leitch J, Bramson J, Wan Y, Xing Z. Development of cell-based tuberculosis vaccines: genetically modified dendritic cell vaccine is a much more potent activator of CD4 and CD8 T cells than peptide- or protein-loaded counterparts. Mol Ther. 2006; 13(4):766-775. (Impact Factor: 6.83, Cited 25 times)
  13. Huaux F, Gharaee-Kermani M, Liu T, Morel V, McGarry B, Ullenbruch M, Kunkel SL, Wang J, Xing Z, Phan SH. Role of Eotaxin-1 (CCL11) and CC chemokine Receptor 3 (CCR3) in bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis. Am J Pathol. 2005;167: 1485-1496. (Impact Factor: 5.33, Cited 53 times)
  14. Santosuosso M, Zhang X, McCormick S, Wang J, Hitt M, Xing Z. Mechanisms of mucosal and parenteral tuberculosis vaccinations: adenoviral-based mucosal immunization preferentially elicits sustained accumulation of immune protective CD4 and CD8 T cells within the airway lumen. J Immunol. 2005; 174: 7986-7994. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 134 times)
  15. Wang J, Thorson L, Stokes RW, Santosuosso M, Huygen K, Zganiacz A, Hitt M, Xing, Z. Single mucosal, but not parenteral, immunization with recombinant adenoviral-based vaccine provides potent protection from pulmonary tuberculosis.  J Immunol. 2004; 173: 6357-6365. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 276 times)
  16. Wang J, Santosuosso M, Zganiacz A, Xing, Z. Activation of CD8 T cells by mycobacterial vaccination protects against pulmonary tuberculosis in the absence of CD4 T cells.  J Immunol. 2004; 173: 4590-4597. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 65 times)
  17. Zganiacz A, Santosuosso M, Wang J, Yang T, Anzulovic M, Chen L, Alexander S, Gicquel B, Wan Y, Bramson J, Inman M, Xing Z. TNFα is a critical negative regulator of type 1 immune activation during intracellular bacterial infection. J Clin Invest. 2004; 113: 401-413. (Impact Factor: 12.81, Cited 176 times)
  18. Henriksen PA, Hitt M, Xing Z, Wang J, Haslett C, Riemersma D, Webb J, Sallenave JM. Adenoviral gene delivery of elafin and secretory leucocytes protease inhibitor attenuates NK-B dependent inflammatory responses of human endothelial cells and macrophages to atherogenic stimuli. J Immunol. 2004;172: 4535-4544. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 139 times)
  19. Chen L, Wang J, Zganiacz A, Xing Z. Single intranasal mucosal BCG vaccination confers improved immune protection over subcutaneous vaccination against pulmonary tuberculosis. Infect. Immun. 2004;72: 238-246. (Impact Factor: 4.06, Cited 114 times)
  20. Wang J, Zganiacz A, Xing Z. Enhanced immunogenicity of BCG vaccine by using a viral-based GM-CSF transgene adjuvant formulation. Vaccine. 2002;20: 2887-2898. (Impact Factor: 3.46, Cited 48 times)
  21. Xing Z, Zganiacz A, Wang J, Sharma S. Enhanced protection against fatal mycobacterial infection in SCID beige mice by reshaping innate immunity with IFN-g transgene. J Immunol. 2001;167: 375-383. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 25 times)
  22. Wakeham J, Wang J, Xing Z. Genetically determined disparate innate and adaptive cell-mediated immune responses to pulmonary Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Infect Immun. 2000;68: 6946-6953. (Impact Factor: 4.06, Cited 68 times)
  23. Wang J, Snider DP, Hewlett BR, Lukacs NW, Liang H, Xing Z. Airway transgene expression of GM-CSF induces the differentiation/activation of distinct pulmonary dendritic cell populations. Blood. 2000;95: 2337-2345. (Impact Factor: 9.06, Cited 71 times)
  24. Xing Z, Zganiacz A, Wang J, Divangahi M, Nawaz F. IL-12-independent Th1-type immune responses to respiratory viral infection: requirement of IL-12 for IFN-g release in the lung but not for the differentiation of viral-reactive Th1-type lymphocytes. J Immunol. 2000;164: 2575-2584. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 69 times)
  25. Wang J, Wakeham J, Harkness R, Xing Z. Macrophages are a significant source of type 1 cytokines during mycobacterial infection. J Clin Invest. 1999;103: 1023-1029. (Impact Factor: 12.81, Cited 206 times)
  26. Chi H, George TE, Majed DJ, Romano PR, Wang J, O’Keef R, Puzas JE, Rosier R, Reynolds PR. Multiple inositol polyphosphate phosphatase: evolution as a distinct group within the histidine phosphatase family and chromosomal localization of the human and mouse genes to chromosomes 10q23 and 19. Genomics. 1999;56: 324-336. (Impact Factor: 2.998, Cited 37 times)
  27. Wang J, Palmer K, Lotvall J, Milan S, Lei X-F, Matthaei KI, Gauldie J, Inman MD, Jordana M, Xing Z. Circulating, but not local lung, IL-5 is required for the development of antigen-induced airways eosinophilia. J Clin Invest. 1998;102: 1132-1141. (Impact Factor: 12.81, Cited 140 times)
  28. Wakeham J, Wang J, Magram J, Croitoru K, Harkness R, Dunn P, Zganiacz A, Xing Z. Lack of both type 1 and 2 cytokines, tissue inflammatory responses, and immune protection during pulmonary infection by Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin in IL-12-deficient mice. J Immunol. 1998;160: 6101-6111. (Impact Factor: 5.52, Cited 131 times)
  29. Romano PR, Wang J, O’Keef R, Puzas JE, Rosier R, Reynolds PR. HiPER1, a phosphatase of the endoplasmic reticulum with a role in chondrocyte maturation. J Cell Sci. 1998;116: 803-813. (Impact Factor: 5.9, Cited 24 times)
  30. Xing Z, Wang J, Croitoru K, Wakeham J. Protection by CD4 or CD8 T cells against pulmonary Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection.Infect Immun. 1998;66: 5537-5542. (Impact Factor: 4.06, Cited 50 times)

 

 

 

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