On June 2, 2023, Prof. Xiao-Fang Yu from Zhejiang University Cancer Institute, delivered a lecture titled "Virus-Host Interactions and Tumor-Related Research: Achievements, Regrets, and Expectations" at the Lihu Campus of Shenzhen University. Prof. Xiao-Fang Yu was invited by Prof. Wei-Guo Zhu from the Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, to help mark the 40th-anniversary celebration of Shenzhen University. These celebrations involved, a series of 800 academic activities in total, with this event being the 900^th, and the 75^nd lecture of the Shenzhen University Medicine Forum.

HIV/AIDS remains an incurable disease for humanity. Although in recent years, the "cocktail" therapy of anti-HIV drugs has effectively controlled the spread of HIV-1, the high cost, emergence of drug-resistant strains, side effects of long-term medication, and the inability to completely eradicate the virus in the patient's body have limited the use of these drugs. Additionally, the rapid mutation of HIV strains has made the development of an AIDS vaccine extremely challenging. Currently, two major HIV vaccine trials worldwide have been declared unsuccessful, with one crucial issue being the unclear molecular mechanism of how the HIV virus overcomes the host cell defense mechanisms. Professor Yu and his research team have long focused on the pathogenesis of AIDS and the development of novel anti-HIV drugs and vaccines. In the presentation, Professor Yu introduced his research journey in studying AIDS, with a particular emphasis on the novel mechanisms of viral replication facilitated by the accessory proteins VPX and VPr of the HIV virus, as well as the immune evasion mechanisms of antagonizing host proteins SAMHD1 and the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. These findings provide potential targets for the discovery of new anti-HIV drugs. After the presentation, the attendees actively engaged in a Q&A session, and Professor Yu provided detailed and lively responses, creating a relaxed and lively atmosphere.

Brief introduction of the Speaker

Professor Xiao-Fang Yu, a doctoral supervisor, is a Professor and the Director of Zhejiang University Cancer Institute. He completed his undergraduate studies in Clinical Medicine at Peking University Medical College and obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has also served as a tenured professor at Johns Hopkins University. He is the Chief Scientist of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan Major Project on AIDS Vaccine" and a 973 Chief Scientist.

His main research focuses on tumor immunology, virus-host interactions, and other related areas. As the first author, he has been awarded the National Natural Science Second Prize and the Ministry of Education Natural Science First Prize. He has published about 200 SCI papers in academic journals including Nature, Science, Lancet, Cell Host & Microbe, Nature Communication, PNAS,Genes & Development, with >16,000 citations.