Yue Chen, PhD

--- HIV infects oral mucosal tissues and dysregulates oral microbiota, which could lead to microbial translocation and serve as a source of chronic and systemic immune activation. In our recent herpesvirus shedding study, we found that HIV(+) subjects on ART had a trend for higher total herpesvirus shedding rate, especially EBV and CMV compared with the HIV(-) individuals in throat washings. Therefore, we did pilot study on the oral microbiome profiles and subclinical herpesvirus shedding in HIV infected men on ART.  The results showed that both alpha diversity and beta diversity of oral bacteria were significantly different in patients with HHV6 shedding compared to those who had no HHV6 shedding regardless of HIV status. The same phenomena were not observed based on EBV, CMV or HHV8 shedding status. Our results suggest there may be intricate interplays in the oral microbiome. To further explore the role of microbiome and herpesvirus coinfection in HIV pathogenesis, we are doing a prospective study to examine the association of oral and fecal microbiome with herpesvirus infection and other cytokine markers in HIV infected people on ART.     

--- The gut microbiome dysbiosis may occur during HIV infection and enhance development of AIDS. To reveal the pattern of gut microbiome changes in the early stages of HIV seroconversion and its associations with HIV disease progression, we are studying the changes of fecal microbiome and levels of selected short chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by fecal bacteria in the fecal samples collected from HIV seroconverters in the MACS. We are also measuring inflammatory cytokine concentration in plasma samples collected in concurrent respective visits. This study will provide important information regarding the role of gut microbiome changes occurred at seroconvertion in HIV pathogenesis.   

---Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (PA/MidAtlantic AETC) provides education, consultation, technical assistance and resource materials of HIV/AIDS/HCV/STD/substance abuse to health care professionals throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and District of Columbia. Our effort to educate and train healthcare professionals will increase the providers' capacity to provide high-quality HIV/AIDS care and fight against current opioid epidemics.  

1978-1983 | Dalian Medical University, China | MD, Medicine
1986-1989 | Xian Medical University, China | MS, Pathophysiology
1992-1998 | University o Pittsburgh, PA | PhD,  Virology
1998-1999 | Department of IDM, University of Pittsburgh | Post-doc Fellow

IDM 2023, Microbiology Laboratory

IDM 2003, Host Response to Microbial Infection
IDM 2002, Molecular Virology
IDM 2038, Prevention, Treatment, and Control of Global Infectious Diseases
IDM 2013, Viral Pathogenesis
IDM 2034, Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS

Rossi F, Li X, Jacobson L, Levine AJ, Chen Y, Palella FJ, Margolick J, Viscidi R.  (2015).  BK virus capsid antibodies are associated with protection against subsequent development of PML in HIV-infected patients. Virology. 485:467-472. 

Kuniholm MH, Ong E, Hogema BM, Koppelman M, Anastos K, Peters MG, Seaberg EC, Chen Y, Nelson KE, Linnen JM.  (2016). Acute and Chronic Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected U.S. Women. Hepatology. 63:712-720.

Sankapal S, Gupta P, Ratner D, Ding M, Shen C, Sanyal A, Stolz D, Cu-Uvin
S, Ramratnam B,  Chen Y.  (2016). HIV exposure to epithelial cells in ectocervical and colon tissues induces inflammatory cytokines without tight junction disruption. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 32:1054-1066.

Chen Y, Shen C, Guha D, Ding M, Kulich S, Ashimkhanova A, Rinaldo C, Seaberg E, Margolick J, Stosor V, Martínez-Maza O, Gupta P.  (2016). Identification of the transcripts associated with spontaneous HCV clearance in individuals co-infected with HIV and HCV. BMC Infect Dis 16:693.

Sanyal A, Mailliard RB, Rinaldo CR, Ratner D, Ding M, Chen Y, Zerbato JM, Giacobbi NS, Venkatachari NJ, Patterson BK, Chargin A, Sluis-Cremer N, Gupta P.  (2017). Novel assay reveals a large, inducible, replication-competent HIV-1 reservoir in resting CD4+ T cells.  Nature Medicine doi:10.1038/ nm.4347.