Biography:

Prof. Shu Zhu, Executive Dean of the School of Basic Medicine at USTC, specializes in intestinal immunity and microbiome-based therapies. A National Distinguished Young Scholar, he has published over 70 papers in Cell, Immunity, and PNAS (9,000+ citations, H-index: 41) and serves as a reviewer for Nature and Cell. As the first inventor, he holds 28 national and 7 PCT patents, with 3 projects advancing to clinical trials, including one FDA-approved study.

Research Interest:

Our research focuses on intestinal immune recognition and homeostasis, addressing how the gut senses and responds to pathogens, dietary antigens, and microbial metabolites. We uncover mechanisms maintaining immune balance, inducing tolerance, or promoting disease, with applications in understanding inflammation, cancer, and microbiota-targeted.

What You Can Expect in the Project:

During the internship, students will study intestinal immunity, focusing on how epithelial and immune cell receptors sense viral signals, dietary antigens, and microbial metabolites to regulate immune homeostasis, tolerance, and inflammation. Projects may include investigating NLRP6-mediated IL-18/IFN pathways, the role of microbial metabolites in diseases like IBD and colorectal cancer, and developing microbiota-targeted therapies. Students will apply molecular biology techniques, omics analyses, and mouse models to explore gut immune mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Desired skill and background:

Students with an interest in intestinal immunity and a background in immunology or microbiology are preferred. Basic lab skills and a strong willingness to learn are essential.