Luan Vu Luan Vu

B.Sc: Department of Biochemistry, Vietnam National University, 2006
M.Sc: Department of Biochemistry, Vietnam National University, 2010
Ph.D.: School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Australia, 2017
Post-Doc: Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 2017-2023

Phone: 225-763-2526
Lab phone: 225-763-2533
Office/Lab: C2008 Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Email: lvu2@lsu.edu 

Area of Interest

Investigating viral respiratory immunopathogenesis, particularly for SARS-CoV-2 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), is crucial in addressing global public health concerns. These infections often lead to severe morbidity and mortality among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, infants, and those with underlying health issues. Understanding the immune mechanisms involved in the host response to these viruses is vital to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies. We can identify factors contributing to disease severity and long-term health impacts by exploring the intricate relationship between viral pathogens and host immunity. This understanding will help us establish innovative therapeutic approaches to lessen the effects of viral respiratory infections and improve health outcomes for affected populations.

Our lab specializes in viral infection and immune responses, emphasizing high-quality research and exceptional training experiences for students and researchers. Our long-term research plan adopts a multidisciplinary approach to examine immune mechanisms related to viral respiratory infections during pregnancy and early infancy, addressing significant public health challenges.

We aim to understand the immune response to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies and explore the long-term consequences of such infections, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and subsequent respiratory infection. Our lab focuses on three key questions:

  1. How do maternal immune responses balance pathogen control and maternal-fetal tolerance?
  2. What role do early lung development events play in modulating infantile immune responses against viral respiratory infections?
  3. How do respiratory infections during pregnancy and early infancy impact subsequent pulmonary diseases later in life?

At the outset, our lab will concentrate on two major projects exploring the mechanisms governing (1) the predisposition of pregnant women with elevated maternal IL10 levels to severe COVID-19 and (2) the enhancement of epithelial stem/progenitor cell expansion during alveolarization due to neonatal RSV infection-induced IL33.

We integrate basic and translational research. At the basic level, we will evaluate immune responses to viral respiratory infections in pregnant women and infants using multi-omics approaches. At the translational level, we will identify novel intervention targets and develop innovative therapeutic strategies.

We will employ in vitro and in vivo models, including organ-on-a-chip models, animal models, and patient samples, to achieve these goals. Our research program fosters strong collaborations with clinicians, immunologists, and virologists. We are committed to training the next generation of researchers and guiding our lab's graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Selected Publications

complete list of publications

Patent

Vu LD, Cormier Stephania A, Gartia Manas, Phan Anh Thi Quynh. Development of a biosensor device using localized surface plasmon resonance (lspr). World Intellectual property Organization – January 27th, 2022. WO2022020725A1 

Book chapters

Global Virology - Identifying and Investigating Viral Diseases. Flavivirus Encephalitis Immunopathogenesis of Disease and Immunomodulation. Caryn van Vreden, Paula Niewold, Luan Vu Dinh, Luis Munoz-Erazo, Daniel Getts and Nicholas J.C. King. Springer International Publishing AG.

Invited reviews

Vu LD*, Diego R. Hijano*, Lawrence M. Kauwar, Ralph A. Tripp, Fernando P. Polack, and Stephania A. Cormier. Role of type I interferon (IFN) in the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immune response and Disease Severity. Front.Immunol. 10:566. March 26th 2019.

Adam Taylor, Suan-Sin Foo, Roberto Bruzzone, Luan D. Vu, Nicholas J.C King, and Suresh Mahalingam. Fc receptors in antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of viral infections. Immunological reviews 268(1):340-364. doi: 10.1111/imr.12367

Original research articles

Vu LD, Wallace S, Phan AT, Christofferson RC, Turner E, Parker S, Elkind-Hirsch K, Landry D, Stansbury A, Rose R, Nolan DJ, Lamers SL, Hirezi M, Ogden B, Cormier SA. Absence of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 N protein in COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2022 Nov;247(21):1923-1936. doi: 10.1177/15353702221134097. Epub 2022 November 19th. PMID: 36408542; PMCID: PMC9679329. Current issue highlighted article.

Vu LD, Phan ATQ, Hijano DR, Siefker DT, Tillman H, Cormier SA. IL-1β Promotes Expansion of IL-33+ Lung Epithelial Stem Cells Following RSV Infection During Infancy. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2021 December 3rd. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2021-0313OC. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34861136. Current issue highlighted article

Vu LD,  Siefker D, Jones TL, You D, Taylor R, DeVincenzo J, Cormier SA. Elevated Levels of Type 2 Respiratory Innate Lymphoid Cells in Human Infants with Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 200: 1414-1423.  Current issue highlighted article.

Vu LD, Saravia J, Jaligama S, Baboeram Panday RV, Sullivan RD, Mancarella S, Cormier SA, Kimura D. Deficiency in ST2 signaling ameliorates RSV-associated pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2021 Aug 1;321(2):H309-H317. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00018.2021. Epub 2021 June 25th. PMID: 34170196; PMCID: PMC8410119.

Selected Awards

  1. Parker B. Francis Fellowship, 2024-2027. Parker B Francis Foundation: Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
  2. Leading medical professionals and researchers on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 in the United States
    NAFSA: Association of International Educators – 2021, United States
  3.  Notable young Investigators in Respiratory Research American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, March 2022
  4. Highlighted Articles in the COVID-19 vaccine study Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2022.
  5. The publication was selected for Current issue highlights and Editorial topics. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, March 2022
  6. Leveraging Innovation for Technology Transfer (LIFT2) Grant awardee The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, 2020-2021, United States
  7. The publication was selected for Current issue highlights and Editorial topics. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, June 2019