Faculty

LI Xiaolong
Special Research Fellow

Started a combined master's and Ph.D. program at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2011. Participated in joint training at Peking University (2012-2014) and Harvard Medical School (2014-2016). Received a Ph.D. in 2016 under the supervision of Professors Jiahuai Wang and Maikun Teng. Conducted postdoctoral research at Dana-Farber from 2016 to 2021 with mentors Professors Jiahuai Wang and Ellis L. Reinherz. Since 2021, has been a Research Scientist at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, working with Professor Bruce D. Walker.

 

In 2023, joined the School of Life Sciences at USTC to conduct interdisciplinary research in structural biology, immunology, and infectious diseases. Utilizes biochemical, molecular, structural, and cellular immunology methods to address issues related to immunity and disease prevention or treatment. Investigates the relationship between T cell repertoires selected by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in different populations and disease control or occurrence, providing strategies for T cell-based vaccine development. Establishes platforms for antigen screening, T cell modification, and immunotherapy research to bridge basic research and translational applications.

 

The applicant has long been engaged in interdisciplinary research in biochemistry, structure, and immunology, achieving numerous results. Published as first or corresponding author in journals such as Science, Nature Chemical Biology, Nature Communications, Cellular & Molecular Immunology, Protein Cell, and Frontiers in Immunology; and as a co-author in Cell Metabolism, PNAS, JBC, Cell Discovery, among others. The research has garnered significant attention, with invitations to present at the International Protein Society Annual Meeting, American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting, International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) Congress, and universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and the Pasteur Institute. Awarded the Ragon Fellowship and the Distinguished Research Award in Life Sciences by the Harvard Medical School Scholars Association.

 

Main Research Interests

1. Investigating the molecular basis of T cell thymic development involving various MHC types.

2. Revealing the molecular mechanisms by which HIV elite controllers use T cells to control viral mutations.

3. Developing technologies for research on antigen presentation, T cell recognition, and T cell immune response.

4. T cell immunity research in infectious diseases and cancer.

 

Representative Papers (*indicates co-first author, # indicates corresponding author):

1. Li X#, Singh NK, Ng R, Zhang A, Lamothe-Molina PA, Shahinian P, Xu S, Tan K, Piechocka-Trocha A, Weber JK, Collins G, Mbah OCT, Huynh T, Birnbaum M, Zhou R, Walker BD#, Wang JH#. Molecular basis of differential HLA class I-restricted T cell recognition of a highly networked HIV peptide. Nature Communications. 2023,14, 2929. (# corresponding author)

 

2. Li X, Mizsei R, Tan K, Mallis RJ, Duke-Cohan JS, Akitsu A, Tetteh PW, Dubey A, Hwang W, Wagner G, Lang MJ, Arthanari H, Wang JH, Reinherz EL. Pre-T cell receptors topologically sample self-ligands during thymocyte β-selection. Science. 2021 Jan 181-185.

 

3. Tano-Menka R, Singh NK, Muzhingi I, Li X, Mandanas MV, Kaseke C, Zhang A, Ogunshola F, Vecchiarello L, Piechocka-Trocha A, Birnbaum M, Carrington M, Walker BD, Gaiha GD. HLA class I Amino Acid Residues Associated with HIV Control Modulate Both TCR and KIR Recognition of HLA-peptide Complexes. (In Review, co-first author)

 

4. Tan K, Chen J, Kaku Y, Wang Y, Donius L Khan A.R., Li X, Richter H, Walz T. Seaman M.S. Hwang W, Reinherz E.L. Kim M. Inadequate structural constraint on Fab approach rather than paratope elicitation limits HIV-1 MPER vaccine utility.Nature Communications 14 (1), 7218

 

5. Jiang C, Liu J, He S, Xu W, Huang R, Pan W, Li X, Dai X, Guo J, Zhang T, Inuzuka H, Wang P, Asara JM, Xiao J, Wei W. PRMT1 orchestrates with SAMTOR to govern mTORC1 methionine sensing via Arg-methylation of NPRL2. Cell Metabolism.2023 Dec 5;35(12):2183-2199.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.11.001.

 

6. Chen A, Zhao W, Li X, Sun G, Ma Z, Peng L, Shi Z, Li X, Yan J. Comprehensive Oncogenic Features of Coronavirus Receptors in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Frontiers in Immunology,2022, 13.

 

7. Zhang A, Piechocka-Trocha A, Li X#, Walker BD#, A Leucine Zipper Dimerization Strategy to Generate Soluble T Cell Receptors Using the Escherichia Coli Expression System. Cells.2022, 11, 312. (# corresponding author)

 

8. Mizsei R, Li X, Chen WN, Szabo M, Wagner G, Wang JH, Reinherz EL, Mallis RJ. A general chemical crosslinking strategy for structural analyses of weakly interacting proteins applied to preTCR-pMHC complexes. J Biol Chem.2021, RA120. 016906.

 

9. Xu S, Liu Y, Li X, Liu Y, Meijers R, Zhang Y, Wang JH. The binding of DCC-P3 motif and FAK-FAT domain mediates the initial step of netrin-1/DCC signaling for axon attraction. Cell Discov. 2018 Feb 20; 4:8

 

10.Li X, Lamothe PA, Walker BD, Wang JH. Crystal structure of HLA-B5801 with a TW10 HIV Gag epitope reveals a novel mode of peptide presentation. Cell Mol Immunol. 2017 Jul;14(7):631-634.

 

11.Li X, Lamothe PA, Ng R, Xu S, Teng M, Walker BD, Wang JH. Crystal structure of HLA-B5801, a protective HLA allele for HIV-1 infection. Protein Cell.2016 Oct;7(10):761-765.

 

12.Chen X, Zhao C, Li X, Wang T, Li Y, Cao C, Ding Y, Dong M, Finci L, Wang JH, Li X, Liu L. Terazosin activates Pgk1 and Hsp90 to promote stress resistance. Nat Chem Biol. 2015 Jan;11(1):19-25. (co-first author)

 

13.Das DK, Feng Y, Mallis RJ, Li X, Keskin DB, Hussey RE, Brady SK, Wang JH, Wagner G, Reinherz EL, Lang MJ. Force-dependent transition in the T-cell receptor β-subunit allosterically regulates peptide discrimination and pMHC bond lifetime. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.2015 Feb 3;112(5):1517-22.

 

14.Li X, Teng M, Reinherz EL, Wang JH. Strict Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecule Class-Specific Binding by Co-Receptors Enforces MHC-Restricted αβTCR Recognition during T Lineage Subset Commitment. Front Immunol.2013 Nov 22;4:383.

 

15.Li X,Sun J, Pan B, Zhu L, Huang X, Zhang B.  ΔSACE_0065,ΔSACE_2559 and ΔSACE_2565 genes mutation in Saccharopolyspora erythraea and their effect on spore differentiation. Military Medical Sciences. 2011 Dec; 35(12): 913-916.

 

The lab is recruiting special associate researchers and research assistants, and is continuously accepting postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate interns. We warmly welcome talented individuals interested in our research areas. Requirements: Passion for scientific research, motivation, strong independent work ability, and team spirit. Background in biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology (crystallography or cryo-EM), virology, or molecular and cellular immunology.

 

Email: xiaolongli@ustc.edu.cn 

https://xiaolonghefei.wixsite.com/website-1