Abstract: The cortical actin provides mechanical support for cells. Our previous studies have suggested that the cortical actin is also a natural barrier that can impede viral entry and intracellular migration. To overcome the cortical actin barrier, viruses frequently hijack cellular actin modulators such as cofilin and Arp2/3 to promoting actin dynamics to facilitate infection. In this presentation, I will share our recent efforts in developing novel technologies to promote actin dynamics to enhance gene and drug delivery through lenti- and retro-viral vectors, and extracellular vesicles.

Biography: Professor Yuntao Wu is a virologist studying viruses for over 30 years. He is specialized in molecular virology and immunology (Ph.D, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; post-doc, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA), and is an internationally recognized expert in HIV-1 virology. Dr. Wu is a pioneer in studying HIV-preintegration transcription (Science, 2001, 293:1503), HIV-mediated chemokine co-receptor signaling and viral interaction with actin cytoskeleton. He discovered the role of cofilin in HIV infection and pathogenesis (Cell, 2008, 134:782; Science Advances, 2019, 5:eaat7911). Recently, his lab also co-discovered the antiviral mechanisms of PSGL-1 and the SHREK family of host antiviral proteins (Nature Microbiology, 2019, 4:8132; PNAS, 2020,117:9537). Dr. Wu has a broad interest in studying virus-host interaction in human diseases such as virus-induced immune dysfunction, auto-immunity, and cancers. Recently, his lab also developed a novel alphavirus-based SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus system for screening and quantifying viral variants, anti-viral drugs, and neutralizing antibodies (Cell Rep Methods, 2022, 2:100181). Dr. Wu is also the Editor-in-Chief of Current HIV Research, and the Associated Editor of Virologic Sinica. He is currently a tenured full professor in the Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA.