Degrees:
Ph.D., Virology, University of Connecticut, Storrs,CT, 2000.
M.S., Veterinary Pathology, Inner Mongolia College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Huhhot, P.R.China,1991.
D.V.M., Inner Mongolia College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Huhhot, P.R.China, 1988.

Address:
NPB Rm 252D, Box 2140D, Department of Biology & Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007.

E-mail: Xiuqing_Wang@sdstate.edu

Phone:Office: (605)688-5502, Lab:(605)688-5589.



Teaching Responsibilities:
Micr 424/524, Vet 424/524 Virology
Micr 425 Pathogenesis
BIOS 790 Graduate Seminar

Research Interests:
      My research interests are focused on the understanding of the mechanistic basis of viral pathogenesis and the development of viral vector systems for vaccine development. One ongoing research project studies the pathogenic mechanisms of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Other ongoing projects involve the investigations on the potential use of a murine cytomegalovirus based vector for vaccine development and the understanding of the molecular mechanism of mucosal immunity against respiratory viral infections.
Mechanistic basis of PRRSV pathogenesis: 
      Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes a persistent infection in susceptible animals. Although it is generally believed that the existence of PRRSV quasispecies is partly responsible for the virus persistence, other mechanisms of immune evasion or immune suppression may also exist. We are investigating the interaction between PRRSV and its host’s key immune factors such as type I interferon system and dendritic cells, the most potent antigen-presenting cells.
Molecular mechanism of mucosal immunity against viral infections: 
      Mucosal and systemic immunity are generally believed to be independently regulated and to act differently in distinct disease processes. This concept is based in large part on observations from studies of specific viral or bacterial infections in animal model systems. Increasing evidence also indicates that mucosal vaccination can induce both systemic and local mucosal immunity, while systemic immunization generally fails to elicit strong mucosal immunity. This suggests that the development of mucosal immunity relies on the direct interaction of local epithelial cells with pathogens. However, the exact molecular transcriptions that regulate the development of antigen-specific mucosal immunity are not well defined. We have recently shown that a number of innate immune factors including toll-like receptors (TLRs), retinoic-acid-inducible gene-1 (RIG-1), type I interferons (IFNs), complements, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) are activated locally after the local immunization of animals with a model virus, infectious bronchitis virus. This is accompanied or immediately followed by a potent Th1 adaptive immunity as evidenced by the activation of T-cell signaling molecules, surface markers, and effector molecules. We are currently examining in greater detail the key signature molecules identified and verifying their roles in the development of mucosal immunity. 
MCMV as a potent antigen delivery vector: 
      Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) undergoes an abortive infection in human dendritic cells (DC), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, but efficiently delivers antigens to human DC and induces a strong antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in vitro. Additionally, we have observed that MCMV activated human DC in a transgene specific manner and depending on the de novo synthesis of viral immediate early and early genes as well as transgenes. Furthermore, we found that nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-B) activation pathway is, at least partially, correlated with human DC activation. We aim to decipher the mechanistic basis of DC activation by the MCMV vector system and to provide proof-of-concept information on its potential application in vivo.  

Recent Publications:
1)Xueshui Guo, Artur J.M. Rosa, Ding-geng Chen, Xiuqing Wang. 2008. Molecular mechanisms of primary and secondary mucosal immunity using avian infectious bronchitis virus as a model system. Vet. Immunol. & Immunopathology. 121 (3-4): 332-343.
2)Yuehuan Liu, Jiao Zhou, Hanchun Yang, Weiguang Yao, Weidong Bu, Bing Yang, Weiping Song, Yanni Meng, Jian Lin, Chunhua Han, Zhu Junjie, Ma Zhijun, Zhao Jingyi, Xiuqing Wang. 2007. Susceptibility and transmissibility of pigeons to Asian lineage avian influenza virus H5N1. Avian Pathology. 36(6): 461-465.
3)Xiuqing Wang, Michael Eaton, Malissa Mayer, Hongmei Li, Dong He, Eric Nelson, Jane Christopher-Hennings. 2007. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus productively infects monocyte-derived dendritic cells and compromises their antigen-presenting ability. Arch. Virol. 152 (2): 289-303.
4)Xiuqing Wang, Artur J.M. Rosa, Henrique N. Oliverira, Guilherme J.M. Rosa, Xueshui Guo, Mark Travnicek, Theodore Girshick. 2006. Transcriptome of local Innate and Adaptive Immunity During Early Phase of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Infection. Viral Immunol. 19 (4): 768-74.
5)Xiuqing Wang, Messerle, M., Sapinoro, R., Santos, K., Hocknell, P. K., Jin, X., Dewhurst, S. 2003. Murine cytomegalovirus abortively infects human dendritic cells (DC), leading to expression and presentation of virally-vectored genes. J. Virol. 77, 7182-7192.
6)Xiuqing Wang, Rebecca D. Wiley, Thomas G. Evans, William J. Bowers, Howard J. Federoff, Stephen Dewhurst. 2003. DNA priming results in enhanced cellular immune responses following immunization with helper-free HSV-1 amplicon particles encoding HIV-1 gp120. Vaccine 21, 2288-2297.
7)Xiuqing Wang, William M. Schnitzlein, Deoki N.Tripathy, Theodore Girshick, Mazhar I. Khan. 2002. Construction and immunogenicity studies of recombinant fowl poxvirus containing the S1 gene of Massachusetts 41 strain of infectious bronchitis virus. Avian Dis. 2002 46(4):831-8.
8)Hocknell PK, Wiley RW, Wang X, Evans TG, Bowers WJ, Hanke T, Federoff HJ, Dewhurst, S. 2002. Expression of human immunodeficiency virus-1 gp120 from herpes simplex virus-1 derived amplicons results in potent, specific and durable cellular and humoral immune responses. J. Virol. 76:5565-5580.
9)Skrincosky D, Willis RA, Hocknell PK, Frelinger JG, Mirandola P, Wang X, Dewhurst S. 2001. Epitope mapping of human herpesvirus-7 gp65 using monoclonal antibodies. Arch. Virol. 146:1705-1722. 

Professional Organizations:
. American Association of Immunology . American society for Virology