Yuyang Tang, Ph.D

EMAIL: tangy@email.unc.edu

PERSONAL WEBSITE: https://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/infdis/directory/yuyang-tang/

PUBLICATIONS: Publications Link

The eradication of HIV infection must understand where the virus hides. The central nervous system (CNS) may represent a unique reservoir of persistent HIV infection and cells in the brain are likely one source of rebound viremia following discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). If so, persistence of HIV in the CNS will ultimately need to be understood and addressed in efforts to eradicate HIV or induce an ART-free remission. HIV infecting in the CNS plays a role in clinical complications such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder(HAND). My main research program is to investigate HIV persistence within the CNS and to understand the risk factors contribute to HAND . We are aimed to : (1) elucidate which CNS cell type harbor HIV reservoirs. We will exmaine CNS myeloid cells and T cells by using brain tissue specimens from the person with HIV and HIV-infected rhesus macaques ; (2) discover related molecular mechanisms that manipulate HIV persistent infection in this compartment; (3) reveal the interplay between HIV persistence and immune activation in the CNS and how it contributes to HAND. Our final goal is to achieve cure of HIV and to control HAND. We are actively searching for the tools to eradicate HIV from the CNS or to permanently lock HIV transcription, and to reduce the immune activation in the CNS.