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Xu Zhou, Ph.D.

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Biography
Peking University, Beijing, ChinaBS06/2006Biological Sciences
Harvard University, Cambridge, MAPhD06/2013Biochemistry
Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CTPostdoc12/2020Immunobiology
2014 - 2017
Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral fellowship

Overview
Xu Zhou is a Principal Investigator in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, at the department of Pediatrics of Boston Childrens Hospital, and a member of faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Zhou earned a B.S. from Peking University studying viral capsule protein of Hepatitis virus B. He obtained a Ph.D. with Dr. Erin OShea in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University, studying systems biology and transcriptional regulation. He then completed his postdoctoral training with Dr. Ruslan Medzhitov in the Department of Immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine, investigating the mechanisms of tissue homeostasis and inflammation. The Zhou lab opened its door at Boston Childrens Hospital in 2021. The long-term goal of the Zhou lab is to decipher molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating tissue homeostasis and inflammation, and to understand how dysregulation of these processes leads to inflammatory disorders. To achieve this goal, they apply interdisciplinary approaches across immunology, systems biology, molecular and cellular biology, with a focus on the communication between immune and non-immune cell types and between cells and their microenvironment.

Mentoring
Available: 04/01/22, Expires: 03/01/26

Our immune system is specialized into sensing and responding to infections and injuries. Immune cells are also equipped with sensors that monitor tissue microenvironment, such pH. Interstitial pH is often impacted by inflammatory response, injury and cancer. We are interested in dissecting how changes in pH modulate immune functions as a potential strategy to control inflammation. This project will employ cell culture, animal models and immunology experimental techniques. Students will be working closely with PI and members in the lab to design and contact experiments, analyze, summarize and present their findings. Knowledge of immunology, and prior experience of cell culture and animal models is preferred.

Available: 04/01/22, Expires: 03/01/25

Although immune cells are well-known for their mobility, it's becoming clear that tissue resident immune cells, such as macrophages, are organized into unique spatial patterns within tissues. Recently, the interactions between myeloid and stromal cells are found associated with several inflammatory disorders, including Crohns disease and Ulcerative Colitis. We are interested in uncovering cellular mechanisms that regulate the interactions between myeloid and stromal cells, and how such organization dictates their homeostatic and inflammatory functions. This project will employ cell culture, molecular cloning, gene editing and a variety of cell biology and immunology experimental techniques. Students will be working closely with PI and members in the lab to design and contact experiments, analyze, summarize and present their findings. Knowledge of molecular and cellular biology, immunology, and prior experience of cell culture is preferred.


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Bibliographic
Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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  1. Meizlish ML, Franklin RA, Zhou X, Medzhitov R. Tissue Homeostasis and Inflammation. Annu Rev Immunol. 2021 04 26; 39:557-581. PMID: 33651964.
    Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
  2. Adler M, Mayo A, Zhou X, Franklin RA, Meizlish ML, Medzhitov R, Kallenberger SM, Alon U. Principles of Cell Circuits for Tissue Repair and Fibrosis. iScience. 2020 Feb 21; 23(2):100841. PMID: 32058955.
    Citations: 17     
  3. Allen NC, Philip NH, Hui L, Zhou X, Franklin RA, Kong Y, Medzhitov R. Desynchronization of the molecular clock contributes to the heterogeneity of the inflammatory response. Sci Signal. 2019 03 05; 12(571). PMID: 30837303.
    Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  4. Wang J, Sun J, Liu LN, Flies DB, Nie X, Toki M, Zhang J, Song C, Zarr M, Zhou X, Han X, Archer KA, O'Neill T, Herbst RS, Boto AN, Sanmamed MF, Langermann S, Rimm DL, Chen L. Siglec-15 as an immune suppressor and potential target for normalization cancer immunotherapy. Nat Med. 2019 04; 25(4):656-666. PMID: 30833750; PMCID: PMC7175920.
    Citations: 168     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
  5. Li MD, Vera NB, Yang Y, Zhang B, Ni W, Ziso-Qejvanaj E, Ding S, Zhang K, Yin R, Wang S, Zhou X, Fang EX, Xu T, Erion DM, Yang X. Adipocyte OGT governs diet-induced hyperphagia and obesity. Nat Commun. 2018 11 30; 9(1):5103. PMID: 30504766.
    Citations: 18     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
  6. Adler M, Mayo A, Zhou X, Franklin RA, Jacox JB, Medzhitov R, Alon U. Endocytosis as a stabilizing mechanism for tissue homeostasis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 02 20; 115(8):E1926-E1935. PMID: 29429964; PMCID: PMC5828590.
    Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:Cells
  7. Zhou X, Franklin RA, Adler M, Jacox JB, Bailis W, Shyer JA, Flavell RA, Mayo A, Alon U, Medzhitov R. Circuit Design Features of a Stable Two-Cell System. Cell. 2018 02 08; 172(4):744-757.e17. PMID: 29398113.
    Citations: 83     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  8. Karimy JK, Zhang J, Kurland DB, Theriault BC, Duran D, Stokum JA, Furey CG, Zhou X, Mansuri MS, Montejo J, Vera A, DiLuna ML, Delpire E, Alper SL, Gunel M, Gerzanich V, Medzhitov R, Simard JM, Kahle KT. Inflammation-dependent cerebrospinal fluid hypersecretion by the choroid plexus epithelium in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Nat Med. 2017 Aug; 23(8):997-1003. PMID: 28692063.
    Citations: 90     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  9. He BZ, Zhou X, O'Shea EK. Evolution of reduced co-activator dependence led to target expansion of a starvation response pathway. Elife. 2017 05 09; 6. PMID: 28485712; PMCID: PMC5446240.
    Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:Animals
  10. Zhou X, Blocker AW, Airoldi EM, O'Shea EK. A computational approach to map nucleosome positions and alternative chromatin states with base pair resolution. Elife. 2016 09 13; 5. PMID: 27623011; PMCID: PMC5094857.
    Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
  11. Zhang F, Li X, Zhang Y, Coates B, Zhou XJ, Cheng D. Bacterial symbionts, Buchnera, and starvation on wing dimorphism in English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Front Physiol. 2015; 6:155. PMID: 26042046; PMCID: PMC4438234.
    Citations: 7     
  12. Su T, Bondar T, Zhou X, Zhang C, He H, Medzhitov R. Two-signal requirement for growth-promoting function of Yap in hepatocytes. Elife. 2015 Feb 10; 4. PMID: 25667983; PMCID: PMC4363878.
    Citations: 24     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  13. Zhou X, O'Shea EK. Integrated approaches reveal determinants of genome-wide binding and function of the transcription factor Pho4. Mol Cell. 2011 Jun 24; 42(6):826-36. PMID: 21700227.
    Citations: 65     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
  14. Lian M, Zhou X, Chen B, Li C, Gu X, Luo M, Zheng X. Identification of the critical regions in hepatitis B virus preS required for its stability. J Pept Sci. 2008 Mar; 14(3):307-12. PMID: 17918766.
    Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Cells
  15. Lian M, Zhou X, Wei L, Qiu S, Zhou T, Li L, Gu X, Luo M, Zheng X. Serum levels of preS antigen (HBpreSAg) in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients. Virol J. 2007 Sep 24; 4:93. PMID: 17892580; PMCID: PMC2082030.
    Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
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Funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR002541.