Nizet Lab People: Yung-Chi Chang

Yung-Chi Chang, Ph.D.
Postgraduate Researcher

Yung-Chi Chang comes to us from Taiwan where she received her undergraduate education at National Tsing-Hua University, and her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from National Yang-Ming University. Under the supervision of Shie-Liang Hsieh, M.D., Ph.D., she conducted her doctoral research on decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) of the TNF receptor superfamily, which can prevents cytokine responses of FasL, LIGHT and TL1A by binding and neutralization, can modulate monocyte function through reverse signaling. Yung-Chi studied the role of DcR3 in monocyte differentiation, activation, adhesion, apopotosis, and innate immune function, and mapped its glycosaminoglycan binding domain.

Yung Chi's initial projects in the laboratory focus on the molecular engagement of host leukocyte receptors with glycan structures on bacterial surfaces, and the impact of these interactions on innate immune activation and disease pathogenesis. These include explorations of the role of CD33 related Siglecs in modulation of host inflammatory responses and Siglec-1 (sialoadhesin) in bacterial phagocytosis. Molecular mimicry of host sialic acid motifs by pathogens such as GBS may avoid immune recognition. These studies are conducted in collaboration with the laboratory of Ajit Varki.