Guoquan Zhang

Guoquan Zhang is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), College of Sciences. His research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of protective immunity against aerosolized intracellular bacterial pathogens, especially Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever. He leads the Zhang Lab and is actively involved in developing novel vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies.

His research interests include immunology, vaccine development, and host immune responses to emerging, vector-borne, and zoonotic infectious diseases. The lab investigates the role of dendritic cells and B cells in vaccine-induced immunity, identifies protective antigens, and develops mimetic peptide vaccines and humanized antibody approaches. These studies are crucial for public health and national biosecurity due to the potential aerosol transmission of C. burnetii.

Dr. Zhang's research is supported by NIH-funded or pending projects, indicating strong federal recognition and support. His work bridges basic immunology with translational applications, aiming to develop safe and effective next-generation vaccines.

He mentors a research team that includes a postdoctoral fellow, a doctoral student, and an associate professor of research, demonstrating active graduate training and collaborative science.

• Laboratory: Zhang Lab
• Affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID)