Dr. Yuanpu Peter Di, PhD, MBA

The purpose of my laboratory’s research is to investigate the effects of environmental exposure on the host. We are particularly interested in infection and immunity on the lung and its associated pathophysiological response during injury, repair, and regeneration. The primary focus of my current research is the cellular and molecular actions of exposures to toxic chemicals and microorganisms that underlie the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases.

 

1. Lung epithelial cell phenotype, differentiation, and function upon exposure:

My laboratory provided influential identification and characterization of a novel lung epithelial cell specific, secretory protein SPLUNC1 and its roles in pulmonary diseases. Two consecutive R01 grants have supported the SPLUNC1-associated research since 2008, including the ongoing clinical, ancillary study to investigate its association with exacerbation in severe asthma. We and others have demonstrated multiple functions of SPLUNC1, including host defense, anti-inflammatory effects, a surfactant-like property, and modulation of epithelial lining fluid volume. The expression of SPLUNC1 in the lung is dynamic and reflects maturational, functional, and pathological changes of the lung epithelium. We are interested in elucidating mechanisms associated with epithelial cell-mediated tissue remodeling and regeneration after recurrent bacterial and viral infection-induced injury.

 

2. Inflammation-associated tissue remodeling and lung tumorigenesis:

My laboratory developed and published an innovative exposure paradigm that demonstrated the synergistic effect of lung tumorigenesis (> 6 fold, p<0.0001) and higher frequency of lung tumors that harbor K-ras mutation by co-exposure of a cigarette smoke carcinogen NNK and an inflammation eliciting agent from bacteria endotoxin LPS. We have found the inflammation-associated lung tumorigenesis is differentially regulated by genders and happens with higher frequency and incidence in females than the males. Our ongoing research effort is to understand the mechanisms and further define the roles of inflammatory mediators in regulating the pathogenesis associated with lung tissue remodeling and carcinogenesis after recurrent infections. Our inflammation-associated cancer model demonstrated an immunosuppressive environment that promotes T-cell exhaustion and tumorigenesis. We have also used the valuable model to determine the checkpoint blockade-based immunotherapy and generated gene signature that provided high predictive value to anti-PD1 therapeutic response in lung cancer patients. Additionally, We have a vast interest in lung stem cell biology. My lab developed mouse and human primary epithelial cell cultures for both proximal tracheal-bronchial epithelial (TBE) and distal bronchiolar epithelial (DBE) cells as excellent tools for studying effects and mechanisms of progenitor cell renewal and environmental exposure. Our results revealed that intrinsic phenotypic and genotypic changes in epithelial cells could be maintained, observed, and analyzed in an ALI cell culture system. The DBE cells may reflect pathologic changes of lung tissue remodeling and regeneration of adult lung stem cells.

 

3. Development of novel antibiotics to overcome antimicrobial resistance (AMR): 

Our effort in identifying the effects of antimicrobial milieu on host defense against respiratory infection resulted in the successful development of next-generation peptide-based antibiotics (PAX) that demonstrate exciting and promising efficacy in overcoming multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infection. New therapies for controlling MDR pathogen-induced respiratory infections are urgently needed because (a) the mortality rate among infected individuals requiring hospitalization remains very high, and (b) overuse of antibiotics has resulted in continuing emergence of additional MDR strains with increased virulence. We have recently started two five-year R01 funding support from NIAID (as PI) and NIGMS (as Co-I with my assistant professor PI) to characterize the biological response involved in the disposition of novel antimicrobial agents, define pharmacokinetic information for the development of PAX therapy, and investigate the toxicological effects caused by therapeutic drugs. On an alternative approach in elucidating the antimicrobial-resistant mechanisms associated with the standard of care antibiotics and host microenvironment, we have developed a novel biofilm assay to investigate bacterial adaption and evolution with analysis using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics. Our effort in combating AMR and developing PAX not only fills the void of lacking effective antibiotics against MDR infection but also provides a new functional model to investigate the host-pathogen interaction and determine the regenerative capacity of restoring lung epithelial cell function in preserving cell junctional integrity to protect the lung from bacterial infection.

1986 | National Defense Medical Center | Medicine Certificate       

1995 | SUNY at Buffalo (Roswell Park Div.) | Biophysics Ph.D.                  

1999 | University of California at Davis | Innovation & Technology Managment M.B.A.

EOH 3210, Molecular Fundamentals

ARTSC 0130, First Experiences in Research

1993            Young Scientists Travel Award, Radiation Research Society

1993            Research Grant Award, Mark Diamond Research Fund

1993            Student Travel Award, Graduate School of SUNY at Buffalo

1995            Fellowship Awardee, International Congress of Radiation Research

1996            NIH Postdoctoral Training Fellowship Award, UC Davis

1996            Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, American Lung Association

1997            PHS NRSA Fellowship Grant Award, NIH/NHLBI

1999            Young Investigator Research Award, American Lung Association

2000            Pilot Project Research Award, NIEHS Center, UC Davis

2001            Faculty Travel Award, University of California at Davis

2001            Grant Award, UC Davis Health System Research Award

2001            New Investigator Career Award, TRDRP, California

2002            Transition to Independent Positions (TIP) Award, NIH/NIEHS

2003            Beginning Grant-in-Aid Award, AHA-PA Delaware Affiliate

2003            New Investigator Award, CMRF, University of Pittsburgh

2004            Pilot Project Research Award, CEBHD, University of Pittsburgh

2007            Pilot Project Research Development Program Award, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

2011            Central Research Development Fund, Provost, University of Pittsburgh

2014            Pilot Project Research Award, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)

2014            Pitt Innovator Award, Office of Technology Management, University of Pittsburgh

2017            I-Corps Award, National Science Foundation

2017            Chancellor’s Innovation and Commercialization Award, University of Pittsburgh

2017            Advanced Faculty Leadership Academy, University of Pittsburgh

2018            Pitt Innovator Award, Office of Technology Management, University of Pittsburgh

2019            Continuous Submission (Recent Substantial Service) National Institutes of Health

2019            Pitt Innovator Award, Office of Technology Management, University of Pittsburgh

2020-2024   Member, Lung Cellular, Molecular, and Immunobiology Study Section, NIH

Y. Zhang, R Birru, and Y.P. Di. Analysis of clinical and biological samples using microsphere based multiplexing Luminex system. Methods Mol Biol. 2014;1105:43-57. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-739-6_4. PMID: 24623218

 

Y.P. Di. Assessment of pathological and physiological changes in mouse lung through bronchoalveolar lavage. Methods Mol Biol. 2014;1105:33-42. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-739-6_3. PMID: 24623217

 

Maria Luisa Mangoni, Floriana Cappiello, Bruno Casciaro, Chen Chen, Debarun Dutta, Alison McDermott, Mark Dp. Willcox, Y.P. Di. How to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia and keratitis? A lesson from the amphibian skin-derived peptide Esculentin(1-21) and its diastereomer. 2018 https://doi.org/10.17952/35EPS.2018.228

 

Marissa E. Di, Dandan Yang, and Y.P. Di. Using bronchoalveolar lavage to evaluate changes in pulmonary diseases. Methods Mol Biol. 2020; 2102:117-128. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0223-2_5. PMID: 31989551

 

Qiao Lin and Y.P. Di. Determination and quantification of bacterial virulent gene expression using quantitative real time PCR. Methods Mol Biol. 2020; 2102:177-193. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0223-2_9. PMID: 31989555

 

Yingze Zhang, Xiaoyun Li, and Y.P. Di. Fast and efficient measurement of clinical and biological samples using immunoassay-based multiplexing systems. Methods Mol Biol. 2020; 2102:129-147. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0223-2_6. PMID: 31989552

 

Chia-Hsin Liu and Y.P. Di. Analysis of RNA Sequencing Data using CLC Genomics Workbench. Methods Mol Biol. 2020; 2102:61-113. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0223-2_4. PMID: 31989550

 

Lung carcinomas induced by NNK and LPS. M. E Di, B. Kahkonen, C. Liu, Y.P. Di. Methods Cell Biol. 2021;163:175-185. doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2021.01.002. Epub 2021 Mar 10. PMID: 33785164

 

Pulmonary Inflammation and KRAS Mutation in Lung Cancer. Phouthone Keohavong, Y P. Di. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1303:71-87. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-63046-1_5. PMID: 33788188

S. Jang, V. J. Concel, K. Bein, K. A. Brant, S. Liu, H. Pope-Varsalona, Dopico Jr RA, Y.P. Di., Knoell DL, Barchowsky A, G. D. Leikauf.  Endothelial Dysfunction and Claudin 5 Regulation during Acrolein-induced Lung Injury. Am. J. of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, Vol 44. pp 483–490, Jun 4, 2010. PMID:20525806

 

G. D. Leikauf, H. Pope-Varsalona, V. J. Concel, P. Liu, K. Bein, K. A. Brant, R.A. Dopico, Y.P. Di, A. S. Jang, M. Dietsch, M. Medvedovic, Q. Li, L. J. Vuga, N. Kaminski, M. You, D.R. Prows. Functional genomics of chlorine-induced acute lung injury in mice.  Proc Am Thorac Soc.;7(4):294-6, Jul., 2010. PMID:20601635

 

P.L. Wright, J. Yu, Y.P. Di., R.J. Homer, G. Chupp, J.A. Elias, L. Cohn, W.C. Sessa. Epithelial reticulon-4B (Nogo-B) is an endogenous regulator of asthmatic inflammation. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 207(12):2595-607. Epub 2010 Oct 25., Nov 22, 2010. PMID:20975041

 

F. Gally, Y.P. Di, S. K. Smith, M. N. Minor, Y. Liu, D. L Bratton, S. C. Frasch, N. M. Michels, S. R. Case and H.W. Chu. SPLUNC1 promotes lung innate defense against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in mice. American Journal of Pathology, 178(5):2159-67. May, 2011. PMID:21514430

 

G. D. Leikauf, V. J. Concel,  P. Liu,  A. Berndt, A. S. Jang, K. Bein, K. A. Brant, M. Dietsch, H. Pope-Varsalona, R. A. Dopico, Jr., Y.P. Di, Q. Li,  L. J. Vuga, M. Medvedovic, N. Kaminski, M. You, D. Prows. Haplotype association mapping of survival during acute lung injury in mice implicates transforming growth factor beta signaling. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 183(11):1499-509. Jun 1, 2011, Epub 2011 Feb 4, PMID:21297076

 

L. Lukinskiene, S. Reynolds, C. Steele, B. Stripp, G.Leikauf, J. Kolls, and Y.P. Di. Antimicrobial activity of PLUNC protects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. J of Immunology, 187(1):382-90. Jul 1, 2011, Epub 2011 Jun 1. PMID:21632717

 

N Vo, D Wang, G Sowa, W Witt, K Ngo, P Coelho, R Bedison, B Byer, R Studer, J Lee, Y.P. Di, and J Kang. Differential effects of nicotine and tobacco smoke condensate on human annulus fibrosus cell metabolism. J Orthop Res. 2011 Mar 29. doi: 10.1002/jor.21417. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:21448984

 

Y.P. Di. Functional roles of SPLUNC1 in innate immune response against gram-negative bacteria. Biochem. Soc. Trans, 2011 Aug 1;39(4):1051-5 PMID:21787346

 

P. Keohavong, B. Kahkonon, E. Kinchington, J. Yin, X. Liu, J. Jin, J. M. Siegfried and Y.P. Di. K-ras mutations in lung tumors from NNK-treated mice with lipopolysaccharide-elicited lung inflammation. Anticancer research, 2011 Sep;31(9):2877-82) PMID:21868532

 

T. Richards,  C. Park, Y. Chen, K. F. Gibson, Y. P. Di, A. Pardo, S. Watkins⁵,  M. Selman, J. Pilewski, F. Sciurba, N. Kaminski, Y. Zhang. Allele Specific Transactivation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 by FoxA2 and Correlation with Plasma Levels in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2012 Apr; 302(8):L746-54. Epub 2012 Jan 20. PMID: 22268124.

 

S. Tao, L. Zhu, P. Lee, W. Lee, , K. Knox, J. Chen, Y. P. Di and Yin Chen. Negative control of TLR3 signaling by TICAM1 downregulation. Am. J. of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 2012 May; 46(5):660-7. Epub 2011 Dec 28. PMID: 22205631.

 

GD Leikauf, H Pope-Varsalona, VJ Concel, P Liu, K Bein, A Berndt, TM Martin, K Ganguly, AS Jang, KA Brant, RA Dopico Jr, S Upadhyay, Y. P. Di, Q Li, Z Hu, LJ Vuga, M Medvedovic, N Kaminski, M You, DC Alexander, JE McDunn, DR Prows, DL Knoell, JP Fabisiak. Integrative Assessment of Chlorine-induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2012 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22447970

 

JV Thaikoottathil, RJ Martin, Y. P. Di, M Minor, S Case, B Zhang, G Zhang, H Huang, HW Chu. SPLUNC1 Deficiency Enhances Airway Eosinophilic Inflammation in Mice. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2012 Aug;47(2):253-60. Epub 2012 Apr 12. PMID: 22499853

 

R. Birru, B, Kahkonon, and Y. P. Di. Chronic Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of COPD and Lung Cancer. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2012 May; 9(2):81. PMID: 22550252

 

Y. P. Di, J. Zhao, and R. Harper. Cigarette smoke induces MUC5AC expression through the activation of Sp1. J Biol Chem, 2012 Aug 10;287(33):27948-58. Epub 2012 Jun 14. PMID: 22700966

 

Y. Liu and Y. P. Di. Effects of second hand smoke on airway secretion and mucociliary clearance. Front. Physio. 3:342. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00342

 

R. Birru, and Y. P. Di. Pathogenic mechanism of lung diseases associated with cigarette smoke induced inflammation. Front. Physio. 3:348. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00348

 

S. Sayeed, L. Nistico, C. St Croix, and Y. P. Di.  Multifunctional role of human SPLUNC1 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Infect Immun. 2013 Jan; 81(1):285-91. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00500-12. Epub 2012 Nov 6.PMID: 23132494

 

Y. Liu, J. A. Bartlett, M. E. Di, J. M. Bomberger, Y. R. Chan, L. Gakhar, R. K. Mallampalli, P. B. McCray, Jr., and Y. P. Di.  SPLUNC1/BPIFA1 contributes to pulmonary host defense against Klebsiella pneumoniae respiratory infection. Am J of Pathology 2013 May;182(5):1519-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.01.050..PMID: 23499554

 

Leikauf GD, Concel VJ, Bein K, Liu P, Berndt A, Martin TM, Ganguly K, Jang AS, Brant KA, Dopico Jr RA, Upadhyay S, Cario CL, Di Y.P., Vuga LJ, Kostem E, Eskin E, You M, Kaminski N, Prows DR, Knoell DL, Fabisiak JP. Functional Genomic Assessment of Phosgene-induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013 Apr 5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23590305

 

Volonte D, Liu Z, Musille PM, Stoppani E, Wakabayashi N, Di Y.P., Lisanti MP, Kensler TW, Galbiati F. Inhibition of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) by caveolin-1 promotes stress-induced premature senescence. Mol Biol Cell. 2013 Jun;24(12):1852-62. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E12-09-0666. Epub 2013 May 1. PMID: 23637463

 

Y.P. Di, A. V. Tkach, N. Yanamala, S. Stanley, S Gao, M. R. Shurin, E. R Kisin, V. E. Kagan, A. Shvedova. Dual Acute Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Fibrotic Pulmonary Effects of SPLUNC1 After Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013 May 30. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23721177

 

Y. Liu, M. E. Di, H.W. Chu, X. Liu, L. Wang, S. Wenzel, and Y.P. Di. Increased susceptibility to pulmonary Pseudomonas infection in Splunc1 knockout mice. J of Immunology 2013 Oct 15;191(8):4259-4268. Epub 2013 Sep 18.PMID: 24048904

 

L Zhu, Y.P. Di, R Wu, KE Pinkerton, Y Chen. Repression of CC16 by cigarette smoke (CS) exposure. PLOS One 2015 Jan 30;10(1):e0116159. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone. 0116159. eCollection 2015. PMID: 25635997

 

B Lee, KM Robinson, KJ McHugh, EV Scheller, S Mandalapu, C Chen, Y.P. Di, ME Clay, RI Enelow, PJ Dubin, JF Alcorn. Influenza-induced Type I Interferon Enhances Susceptibility to Gram-negative and Gram-positive Bacterial Pneumonia in Mice. American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 2015 May 22;ajplung.00338.2014. PMID:26001778. doi:10.1152/ajplung.00338.2014.

 

Di Grazia, F. Cappiello, H. Cohen, B Casciaro, V. Luca, A. Pini, Y.P. Di,  . Shai, and M.Mangoni. D-amino acids Incorporation in the Frog skin-derived Peptide Esculentin-1a(1-21)NH2 is beneficial for its Multiple Functions. Amino Acids. 2015 Dec;47(12):2505-19. doi: 10.1007/s00726-015-2041-y. PMID: 26162435

 

D. G. Phinney, M. Di Giuseppe, J. Njah, E. Sala, S. Shiva, C. M. St Croix, D. B. Stolz, S. C. Watkins, Y.P. Di, G. D. Leikauf, J. Kolls, D. W. Riches, G. Deiuliis, N. Kaminski, S. V Boregowda, D. H. McKenna, and L. A. Ortiz. Mesenchymal stem cells use extracellular vesicles to outsource mitophagy and shuttle micro RNAs. Nature Communication. 2015 Oct 7;6:8472. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9472. PMID: 26442449

 

E. Travanty, B. Zhou, H. Zhang, Y.P. Di, J. Alcorn, D. Wentworh, R. Mason, and J. Wang. Differential susceptibility of human lung primary cells to H1N1 influenza viruses. Journal of Virology. 2015 Dec;89(23):11935-44. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01792-15. Epub 2015 Sep 16. PMID: 26378172

 

Walton WG, Ahmad S, Little MS, Kim CS, Tyrrell J, Lin Q, Di Y.P., Tarran R, Redinbo MR. Structural Features Essential to the Antimicrobial Functions of Human SPLUNC1. Biochemistry. 2016 May 31;55(21):2979-91. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00271. Epub 2016 May 17. PMID: 27145151

 

F. Cappiello, A. Di Grazia, L. A Segev-Zarko, S. Scali, L. Ferrera, L. Galietta, A. Pini, Y. Shai, Y.P. Di, M.L. Mangoni. Esculentin-1a-Derived Peptides Promote Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Internalized in Bronchial Cells of Cystic Fibrosis Patients and Lung Cell Migration: Biochemical Properties and a Plausible Mode of Action. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. 2016; 60(12):7252-7262. PMID: 27671059 PMCID: PMC5119005

 

T. Wu, J. Huang, P.J. Moore, M.R. Little, W.G. Walton, R.C. Fellner, N. E. Alexis, Y.P. Di, M.R. Redinbo, S.L. Tilley and R. Tarran. Identification of BPIFA1 as an epithelium-derived smooth muscle relaxing factor. Nature Communication. 8, Published online: 06 February 2017 doi:10.1038/ncomms14118. PMID: 28165446 PMCID: PMC5303822

 

32.Y Chen, M. M. Vasquez, L. Zhu, R. E. Lizarraga, M. Krutzsch, J. Einspahr, D. S. Alberts, Y.P. Di, F. D. Martinez, and S. Guerra. Effects of retinoids on augmentation of club cell secretory protein. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 Feb 23. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201608-1611LE. PMID: 28231434. PMID: 28231434

 

Deslouches and Y.P. Di. Antimicrobial peptides with selective antitumor mechanisms: prospect for anticancer applications. Oncotarget. 2017 Mar 31. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget. 16743. PMID: 28422728, PMCID: PMC5542299

 

Chen, M. Mangoni, and Y.P. Di. In vivo therapeutic efficacy of frog skin-derived peptides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pulmonary infection. Scientific Reports. 2017 Aug 17;7(1):8548. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08361-8. PMID: 28819175, PMCID: PMC5561116

 

Chen, B. Deslouches, R. Montelaro and Y.P. Di. Enhanced efficacy of the engineered antimicrobial peptide WLBU2 via direct airway delivery in a murine model of P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2017 Sep 4. pii: S1198-743X(17)30492-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.08.029. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 28882728, PMCID: PMC5835169

 

K. Ngo, P. Pohl, D. Wang, A. Leme, J. Lee, Y.P. Di, P. Roughley, P.D. Robbins, L. Niedernhofer, G. Sowa, J. Kang, S. Shapiro and N.V. Vo.  ADAMTS5 Deficiency Protects Mice From Chronic Tobacco Smoking-induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2017 Oct 15;42(20):1521-1528. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002258. PMID: 28570296, PMCID: PMC5633483

 

B. Deslouches and Y.P. Di. Antimicrobial Peptides: A Potential Therapeutic Option for Surgical Site Infections. Clinics in Surgery 2017 Nov 2;1740: 1-4. NIHMS981044

 

Caves, r. Butch, S. Cook, L. Wasil, C. Chen, Y.P. Di, N. Lee, and K. Shair. Latent Membrane Protein 1 is a novel determinant of Epstein-Barr virus genome persistence and reactivation. mSphere 2: e00453-17. PMID: 29134204, PMCID: PMC5677982

 

D. Volonte, A. Vyas, C. Chen, S. Dacic, L. Stabile, B. Kurland, S. Abberbock, T. Burns, J. Herman, Y.P. Di and F. Galbiati. Caveolin-1 promotes the tumor suppressor properties of oncogene-induced cellular senescence. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2018 Feb 2;293(5):1794-1809. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M117.815902. Epub 2017 Dec 15.PMID: 29247004, PMCID: PMC5798308

 

C. Chen, X Zhang, Q. Lin, N. Remlinger, T. Gilbert and Y.P. Di. Urinary bladder matrix protects host in a murine model of bacterial-induced lung infection. Tissue Engineering, Part A 2018 Jul 18; https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEA.2018.0080, DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2018. 0080 PMID: 30019635

 

Z. Yu, B. Deslouches, W. G. Walton, M. R. Redinbo, and Y.P. Di. Enhanced biofilm prevention activity of a SPLUNC1-derived antimicrobial peptide against Staphylococcus aureus. PLOS ONE 2018 Sep 14; 13(9):e0203621. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203621. eCollection 2018 PMID: 30216370, PMCID: PMC6138395

 

Q. Lin, B. Deslouches, RC. Montelaro and Y.P. Di. Prevention of ESKAPE pathogen biofilm formation by antimicrobial peptides WLBU2 and LL37. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 2018 Nov; 52(5):667-672. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.04.019. PMID: 29753132, PMCID: PMC6230315

 

Kumagai, F. G. Dupuy, Z. Arsov, Y. Elhady, D. Moody, R. K. Ernst, B. Deslouches, R. C. Montelaro, Y. P. Di, and S. Tristram-Nagle. Elastic behavior of model membranes with antimicrobial peptides depends on lipid specificity and D-enantiomers. Soft Matter 2019 Jan 31; DOI: 10.1039/c8sm02180e, PMID: 30702120

 

S. Jiang, B. Deslouches, C. Chen, M. E. Di, and Y. P. Di. Antibacterial Properties and Efficacy of a Novel SPLUNC1-Derived Antimicrobial Peptide, α4-Short, in a Murine Model of Respiratory Infection. mBio 2019 Apr 9;10(2). pii: e00226-19. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00226-19. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00226-19. PMID: 30967458

 

N. Schaefer, M. A. X. Li, Seibold, N. N. Jarjour, L. C. Denlinger, M. Castro, A. M. Coverstone, W. G. Teague, J. Boomer, E. R. Bleecker, D. A. Meyers, J. Fahy, B. R. Phillips, D. T. Mauger, A. Dakhama, S. Gellatly, R. Berman, Y. P. Di*, S. E. Wenzel*, and H. W. Chu* (*co-corresponding authors). The effect of SPLUNC1 genetic variation on its expression and function in asthmatic airway epithelial cells. JCI Insight 2019 Apr 18;4(8). pii: 127237. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.127237. eCollection 2019 Apr 18. PMID: 30996135

 

B. Casciaro, I. d'Angelo, X. Zhang, M. Loffredo, G. Conte, F. Cappiello, F. Quaglia, Fabiana; Y. P. Di, F. Ungaro, and M. Mangoni. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles for prolonged therapeutic efficacy of esculentin-1a-derived antimicrobial peptides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection: in vitro and in vivo studies. Biomacromolecules2019 Apr 23. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01829. PMID: 31013061

 

B. Casciaro, Q. Lin, S. Afonin, M. R. Loffredo, V. de Turris, V. Middel, A. S. Ulrich, Y. P Di, and M. L. Mangoni. Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation and expression of virulence genes by selective epimerization in the peptide Esculentin‐1a(1‐21)NH2. The FEBS Journal 2019 May 30. doi: 10.1111/febs.14940. PMID: 31144441

 

Z. Li, M. Zeng, Y. Deng, J. Zhao, X. Zhou, J.B. Trudeau, E. Goldschmidt, J.A. Moore, H. Chu, W. Zhang, S. Yin, Z. Liu, Y. P. Di, S.E. Lee, S.E. Wenzel. Nasal polyps 15-lipoxygenase 1 promotes CCL26/Eotaxin3 expression through ERK activation. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2019 Jul 10. pii: S0091-6749(19)30905-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.06.037. PMID: 31301373

 

B. Mashbat, E. Bellos, S. Hodeib, F Bidmos, R. S. Thwaites, Y. Lu, V. Wright, J. Herberg, D. S. Klobassa, W. Zenz, T. Hansel, S. Nadel, P. R. Langford, L. J. Schlapbach, M. Li, M. Redinbo, Y. P. Di, M. Levin and V. Sancho-Shimizu. A rare mutation in SPLUNC1 underlies meningococcal disease affecting bacterial adherence and invasion. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020 May 6;70(10):2045-2053, doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz600 PMID: 31504285, PMCID: PMC7201419

 

Cappiello, D. Ranieri, V. Carnicelli, B. Casciaro, HT. Chen, L. Ferrera, Y. P. Di, and M. L. Mangoni. Bronchial epithelium repair by Esculentin-1a-derived antimicrobial peptides: involvement of metalloproteinase-9 and interleukin-8, and evaluation of peptides' immunogenicity. Scientific Reports 2019 Dec 12;9(1):18988. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55426-x. PMID: 31831857

 

Y. P. Di Antimicrobial peptides in host defense against drug resistant bacterial and viral infections. Current Medicinal Chemistry 2020;27(9):1385-1386. doi: 10.2174/ 092986732709200327085156, PMID: 32238124

 

Heinrich, A. Salyapongse, A. Kumagai, F. G. Dupuy, K. Shukla, A. Penk, D. Huster, R. K. Ernst, A. Pavlova, J. C. Gumbart, B. Deslouches, Y. P. Di, and S. Tristram-Nagle. Synergistic biophysical techniques reveal structural mechanisms of engineered cationic antimicrobial peptides in lipid model membranes. Chemistry—A European Journal2020 Mar 15;26(28):6247-6256, doi: 10.1002/chem.202000212. PMID: 32166806

 

Y. P. Di, Q. Lin, C. Chen, R. C. Montelaro, Y.Doi, and B. Deslouches. Enhanced therapeutic index of an antimicrobial peptide in mice by increasing safety and activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Science Advances 01 May 2020, 6: 18, eaay6817; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay6817. PMID: 32426473, PMCID: PMC7195177

 

B. Deslouches 1, R. C. Montelaro, K. L. Urish, and Y. P. Di. Engineered cationic antimicrobial peptides (eCAPs) to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Pharmaceutics2020, 12(6), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12060501

 

X. Li, S. E. Kim, T. Chen, J. Wang, X. Yang, T. Tabib, J. Tan, B. Guo, S. Fung, J. Zhao, J. Sembrat, M. Rojas, S. Shiva, R. Lafyatis, C. St. Croix, J. K. Alder, Y. P. Di, D. J. Kass1, and Y. Zhang. Toll Interacting Protein Protects Bronchial Epithelial Cells from Bleomycin-Induced Apoptosis. The FASEB Journal 2020 2020 Aug;34(8):9884-9898. doi: 10.1096/fj.201902636RR. Epub 2020 Jun 28. PMID: 32596871

 

K. Bein, K. Ganguly, T. M. Martin, V. J. Concel, K. A. Brant, Y. P. Di, S. Upadhyay, J. P. Fabisiak, L. J. Vuga, N. Kaminski, E. Kostem, E. Eskin, D. R Prows, A. Jang, G. D Leikauf. Genetic determinants of ammonia-induced acute lung injury in mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2021 Jan 1;320(1):L41-L62. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00276.2020. Epub 2020 Oct 14. PMID: 33050709

 

R. L Birru, K. Bein, H. Wells, N. Bondarchuk, A. Barchowsky, Y. P. Di, G. D Leikauf. Phloretin, an Apple Polyphenol, Inhibits Pathogen-Induced Mucin Overproduction. Mol Nutr Food Res 2021 Jan;65(2):e2000658. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202000658. Epub 2020 Dec 7. PMID: 33216464

 

C. Liu, Z. Chen, K. Chen, F. Liao, C. Zhong, X. Liu, Y. Lin, P. Keohavong, G. D. Leikauf, and Y. P. Di. Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Chronic Inflammation Promotes Tobacco Carcinogen-Induced Lung Cancer and Determines the Efficacy of Immunotherapy. Cancer Res. 2021 Jan 1;81(1):144-157. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-1994. Epub 2020 Oct 29. PMID: 33122306

 

Q. Lin, X. Zhang, D. Yang, C. Liu, L. Huleihel, N. T. Remlinger, T. W. Gilbert and Y. P. Di. Treatment with Urinary Bladder Matrix Alters the Innate Host Response to Pneumonia Induced by Escherichia Coli. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2021 Mar 8;7(3):1088-1099. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01090. Epub 2021 Feb 2. PMID: 33528242

 

Cigarette smoke-associated inflammation impairs bone remodeling through NFκB activation. Y. Lu*, Y. P. Di*, M. Chang*, X. Huang, Q. Chen, N Hong, B. A. Kahkonen, M. E. Di, C. Yu, E. T. Keller, J. Zhang. J Transl Med. 2021 Apr 21;19(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s12967-021-02836-z. PMID: 33882954, PMCID: PMC8061040 (*Equal Contribution) 

 

Q. Lin, J. M. Pilewski, and Y. P. Di. Cystic Fibrosis Microenvironment Determines Antibiotic Susceptibility and Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Submitted to eLife (under review, bioRxiv).