Associate Professor Zhang Yongliang
PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Affliations:
- LSI Immunology Programme
Email: miczy@nus.edu.sg
Tel: 6516 6407
Research Interest
We are interested in signal transduction pathways that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, and how dysregulated signalling leads to pathological outcomes, such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We have shown that members of a protein family called MAPK phosphatase (MKP), also known as dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP), play important roles in innate and adaptive immune responses. Currently, we are focusing on understanding the function of various MKPs/DUSPs in physiological and pathophysiological conditions including microbial infection, obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders, and cancer. We use multiple approaches, including gene overexpression, knockdown and knockout, and respective animal models, as well as human studies to achieve the goals. Our long term goal is to translate the findings from these studies to develop therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Awards
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Faculty Research Excellence Award 2022
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Graduate Mentor of the Year (GRAMAY) 2019
Patents
2019 - Recombinant bacteria and uses thereof Patent no.: WO2020176042A1
Society Memberships
Singapore Society of Immunology (Council Member)
Recent Publications
- Li H., Zhang Y. and H.Y. Peh. 2025. Interferon regulatory factor 3 beyond innate immunity: regulation of obesity and metabolic disorders. Sem. In Immunology. (Invited review; co-corresponding author).
- Png C.W., Weerasooriya M., Li H., Hou X., Teo F.Y., Huang S., Zheng S., Weng F.Y.K., Rethnam M., Chia G., Sobota R.M., Chong C.S., Tan K.K., and Zhang Y. 2024. DUSP6 regulates Notch1 signaling in colorectal cancer. Nature Communications. 15:10087.
- Jiao H., James S.J., Png C.W., Cui C., Heng Li H., Li L., Chia W.N., Min N., Li W., Claser C., Rénia L., Wang H., Chen M. I., Chu J.J.H., Tan K.S.W., Deng Y., and Zhang Y. 2024. DUSP4 modulates RIG-I- and STING-mediated IRF3-type I IFN response. 2024. Cell Death & Differentiation. 31 (3): 280-291.
- Chen S. Hu Z., Tang J., Zhu H., Zheng Y., Xiao J., Xu Y., Wang Y., Luo Y., Mo X., Wu Y., Guo J., Zhang Y., and Luo H. 2024.High temperature and humidity in the environment disrupt bile acid metabolism, the gut microbiome, and GLP-1 secretion in mice. Communications Biology. 7 (1):465. (Co-corresponding author)
- Png C. W., Lee W. J.J., Chua S. J., Zhu F., Yeoh K. G., and Zhang Y. 2022. Mucosal microbiome associates with progression to gastric cancer. Theranostics. 12 (1): 48-58.
- Tang P., Virtue S., Goie J. Y. G, Png C. W., Guo J., Li Y., Jiao H., Chua Y. L., Campbell M., Moreno-Navarrete J. M., Shabbir A., Fernández-Real J. M., Gasser S., Kemeny D. M., Yang H., Vidal-Puig A., and Zhang Y. 2021. Regulation of adipogenic differentiation and adipose tissue inflammation by interferon regulatory factor 3. Cell Death & Differentiation. 28(11):3022-3035.
- Low H.B., Wong Z. L., Wu B., Kong L. R., Png C. W., Cho Y., Li C., Xiao F., Xin X., Yang H., Low J. M., Lee F. Y. X., Tan I. B. H., Dasgupta R., Shen H.M., Schwarz H., Gascoigne N. R. J., Goh B. C., Xu X., and Zhang Y. 2021. DUSP16 promotes cancer resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy through regulation of mitochondria-mediated cell death. Nature Communications.
- Chan S.C.L., and Y. Zhang. 2020. PAC1-ing up the epigenetic landscape. Nat Immunol. 21 (3): 247-248.