Xiang Yan

Dr. Xiang Yan is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) School of Medicine. With over 25 years of experience in virology, Dr. Xiang leads a laboratory focused on the mechanisms of antiviral immunity and viral strategies of immune evasion, engaging collaborations with cancer biologists, immunologists, and structural biologists.

Dr. Xiang's research spans multiple disciplines within virology and immunology, with expertise in viral replication, immune evasion mechanisms, and pathogenesis. Their work combines structural biology approaches with molecular virology to uncover fundamental mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions, particularly focusing on poxviruses and coronaviruses.

Recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to understanding viral immune evasion strategies, host restriction factors like SAMD9/SAMD9L, and therapeutic interventions against emerging viral threats including monkeypox and SARS-CoV-2. The research shows a progression from fundamental viral mechanisms to applied therapeutic development.

Key research areas include:

• Poxvirus-host interactions and immune evasion strategies
• Structural characterization of viral proteins and host restriction factors
• Antiviral mechanisms involving SAMD9/SAMD9L proteins
• Development of therapeutic approaches against emerging viral threats

Dr. Xiang has published extensively in high-impact journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Virology, and Cell Research, demonstrating sustained research productivity across multiple viral systems.