Fengyi Wan Lab
Investigating the host-pathogen-microbiota interactions during intestinal infection, inflammation, and tumorigenesis
About the Wan Lab
The Wan Laboratory has focused on the molecular/cellular mechanisms and pathophysiological significance of the novel and critical pathogen-host-microbiota interactions that can be mechanistically linked to lethal colitis and cancer etiology. In addition to fundamental research, we are conducting translational studies via drug discovery and development to address these important questions.
Research Overview
We are interested in investigating the host-pathogen-commensal interactions in bacterially induced intestinal infection, inflammation, and tumorigenesis, and elucidating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms using a combination of genetic, genomic, immunological, biochemical, molecular, and cellular approaches. In particular, we are interested in studying how a healthy commensal microbiota is established in the gut during early life, examining how bacterial virulence proteins (effectors) interfere with host inflammatory and immune signaling in host cells, elucidating the key immune signaling that orchestrates innate and adaptive immune responses to colonic bacterial infection, and exploring the critical pathogen-host-microbiota interactions that can be mechanistically linked to microbially induced lethal colitis and colon cancer etiology in mice and in humans.
Uncovering a new role for complement in breast milk
Research in the Wan Lab led by assistant scientist Dongqing Xu has uncovered a new protective effect of breast milk: The immune system component complement found in breast milk protects infant mice from succumbing to Citrobacter infection by reshaping the infant gut microbiota. The findings, published in Cell, revealed that the mouse breast milk complement acts by specifically targeting certain commensal gut bacteria and that this activity is not dependent on antibodies. The researchers also showed that human breast milk complement also has this bacteria-targeting activity in vitro.
Complement in breast milk modifies offspring gut microbiota to promote infant health, Xu D, Zhou S, Liu Y, Scott AL, Yang J, Wan F, Cell, 2024.
Selected Publications
Xu D, Zhou S, Liu Y, Scott AL, Yang J, Wan F. Complement in breast milk modifies offspring gut microbiota to promote infant health. Cell, 2024.
Liu Y, Fu K, Wier EM, Lei Y, Hodgson A, Xu D, Xia X, Zheng D, Ding H, Sears CL, Yang J, Wan F. Bacterial genotoxin accelerates transient infection-driven murine colon tumorigenesis. Cancer Discovery, 2022.
Xia X, Liu Y, Hodgson A, Xu D, Guo W, Yu H, She W, Zhou C, Lan L, Fu K, Vallance BA, Wan F. EspF is crucial for Citrobacter rodentium-induced tight junction disruption and lethality in immunocompromised animals. PLoS Pathogens, 2019.
Sun X, Fu K, Hodgson A, Wier EM, Wen MG, Kamenyeva O, Xia X, Koo LY, Wan F. Sam68 is required for DNA damage responses via regulating poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. PLoS Biology, 2016.
Wan F, Anderson DE, Barnitz RA, Snow A, Bidere N, Zheng L, Hegde V, Lam LT, Staudt LM, Levens D, Deutsch WA, Lenardo MJ. Ribosomal protein S3: a KH domain subunit in NF-kappaB complexes that mediates selective gene regulation. Cell, 2007.
How to Join the Wan Lab
Wan Lab members join us from many pathways. Common ways to join the Lab are below.
PhD Students
The Wan Lab is part of several PhD training programs at Johns Hopkins University. Visit the websites below to learn more about the specifics of each program and the admissions process. All programs provide full tuition and stipend support.
Master's Students
The Wan Lab hosts students from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Master of Health Science and Master of Science programs, and the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Master of Science program.
Postdoctoral Fellows
To apply to join the Wan Lab as a postdoctoral fellow, please contact Fengyi Wan by email for the details. In addition to training within our lab, the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department has an active postdoctoral training program.