On October 11, 2023, Professor Liang Chen, from the Department of Medicine at McGill University in Canada was invited to TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology of Nankai University for academic exchanges, and gave an academic report on the theme of A Decade of IFITM Research: Antiviral and Beyond.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that causes defects in the human immune system. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by infection with this virus, is the leading cause of death among infected people. Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) are genes whose expression can be stimulated by interferon, playing a crucial role in the host's resistance against viral infections. Through shRNA-based screening, professor Liang has identified that IFITM proteins (interferon-induced transmembrane proteins) are pivotal in anti-HIV-1 activity. Further research has elucidated that IFITM proteins protect cells from various viral infections by inhibiting virus-cell fusion. Professor Liang's research work is of great significance for understanding the molecular mechanism of Type I interferon against HIV-1, and lays a theoretical foundation for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by HIV. Following the conclusion of Professor Liang’s report, there was extensive interaction and discussion between the faculty and students of institute. This visit laid a solid foundation for collaboration between our institute and the Department of Medicine at McGill University in the field of virus infection and host innate immune responses.

Liang Chen, male, holds both his Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees from the Department of Biology at Nankai University. From 1995 to 1999, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Lady Davis Institute at McGill University in Canada. In 2017, he was appointed as a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University. Since 2021, he has served as the Director of the McGill Centre for Viral Diseases. Liang’s research primarily focuses on the function of HIV’s own genes and the molecular mechanism of their interactions with the host. In recent years, he has been particularly interested in the innate immune suppression and viral resistance mechanism of HIV-1 infection. He has published numerous articles in many internationally renowned journals such as Cell Host Microbe, Cell Reports, and Journal of Virology, and received multiple funding supports from the Canadian government.