 Prof. Airu Zhu
Professor in State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease
Guangzhou Medical University
China |
Title:
Protective SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cells Take Up Residence in the Lungs of COVID-19 Patients
Abstract:
Mucosal antigen-specific T cells play a critical role in respiratory infections by mediating pathogen clearance and immune regulation. While the generation of primary immune responses and establishment of tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are well-recognized immunological concepts, the precise mechanisms governing their organization and regulation remain incompletely understood. This knowledge gap became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by cytokine storms and respiratory. Through integrated single-cell analysis of 159 COVID-19 patients, we identified robust SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) that were associated with reduced viral loads, attenuated systemic inflammation, and improved respiratory function. These lung-resident T cells displayed unique features including pronounced activation, polyfunctional cytokine production, and glycolytic metabolism, distinct from their peripheral blood counterparts. Following viral clearance, they persisted as polyfunctional TRM cells, underscoring their dual role in acute infection control and long-term mucosal immunity.
Biography:
Dr. Airu Zhu is an immunologist specializing in respiratory infectious diseases. She earned her Ph.D. in Immunology from Guangzhou Medical University, where she subsequently completed postdoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology of Respiratory Infectious Diseases at the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases under the mentorship of Professor Jincun Zhao, a renowned expert in coronavirus research. Her research focuses on the pathogenesis of respiratory viral infections, particularly the mechanisms of severe viral pneumonia caused by emerging pathogens including MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Currently, she employs advanced immunological approaches to investigate virus-induced respiratory mucosal immune responses and their role in driving severe disease progression, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets for acute lung injury through integrated multi-omics analyses and animal models.
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