Guangming Li, PhD

Ph.D,  Virology and Gene therapy

Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, China

Postdoctoral Fellow, Virology and Immunology 

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel hill, NC

Dr. Guangming Li received his Ph.D. degree in Agronomy from Nanjing Agriculture University and did his post-doctoral training in Virology and Immunology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (HIV-1 immune pathology) in Dr. Lishan Su's lab.  Dr. Li's research has focused on human immuno-pathology of chronic virus infections and novel therapeutics for chronic virus diseases. He models HIV-1, HBV mono-infection or co-infection mediated chronic inflammatory diseases and therapies in humanized mice in vivo. He also establish in vitro model using primary leukocytes from people living with HIV/HBV or HIV/HBV infected cell lines, and to study mechanisms of immune pathogenesis and to develop novel drugs, including antibodies, CAR-T and therapeutic vaccines, for HIV and HBV chronic infection and infection associated inflammatory disease and cancer.

HIV-1, HBV, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, Immunopathology, immunotherapy, humanized mice, CAR-T

1. Li G#, Ma J, Yu H, Tsahouridis O, Lou Y, He X, et al. CD24-Fc resolves inflammation and enhances anti-HIV CD8 T cells with polyfunctionality during HIV-1 infection under cART. PLoS Pathog. 2025 Aug 8;21(8):e1012826. PubMed PMID: 40779581.
2. Li G#, Lou Y, Ma J, Cheng L, Yu H, Tsahouridis O, et al. Depletion of plasmacytoid dendritic cells rescues HIV-reactive stem-like CD8+ T cells during chronic HIV-1 infection. Sci Transl Med. 2025 Nov 5;17(823):eadr3930. PubMed PMID: 41191775.
3. Lou Y, He X, Li G, Sikhondze M, Ma J, Du H, et al. CD4-Based Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cells With Resistance to HIV-1 Infection and Enhanced Anti-HIV Efficacy: Covalent Interaction Between CD4-CAR and HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein. J Med Virol. 2026 Mar;98(3):e70853. PubMed PMID: 41736532.
4. Cheng L, Li G, Luo F, Bi W, Lu M, Liu N, et al. Persistent IFN-I signaling inhibits mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in CD8⁺ T cells during HIV-1 infection under cART. Cell Mol Immunol. 2026 Apr 2. Epub ahead of print. PubMed PMID: 41927787.
5. Dotti G, Walhart T, Biondi M, Stucchi S, Li G, Tsahouridis O, et al. High-avidity cathepsin-G-specific CAR-T cells for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2026 Mar 12. Epub ahead of print.

1. Su L#, Ahodantin J, Li G. Targeting the pDC/IFN-I axis in HIV-1 immunotherapy. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2026 Jan 1;21(1):3-8. PubMed PMID: 41259233.
2. Han R, Yu H, Li G, Su L, Cheng L. Persistent Type I Interferon Signaling Impairs Innate Lymphoid Cells During HIV-1 Infection Under Suppressive ART. Viruses. 2025 Aug 8;17(8):1099. PubMed PMID: 40872811.
3. Yu H, Cao Y, Cheng L, Li G, Zhang L, Su L. Human CD123+AXL+ dendritic cells express Siglec1 that captures and transmits HIV-1 particles to the T cells. J Virus Erad. 2025 Feb 20;11(2):100587. PMID: 40213469.
4. Ahodantin J, Nio K, Funaki M, Zhai X, Wilson E, Kottilil S, et al. Type I interferons and TGF-β cooperate to induce liver fibrosis during HIV-1 infection under antiretroviral therapy. JCI Insight. 2022 Jul 8;7(13). PubMed PMID: 35639478.
5. Hioe CE, Li G, Liu X, Tsahouridis O, He X, Funaki M, et al. Non-neutralizing antibodies targeting the immunogenic regions of HIV-1 envelope reduce mucosal infection and virus burden in humanized mice. PLoS Pathog. 2022 Jan;18(1):e1010183. PubMed PMID: 34986207.
6. Ramirez SH, Buzhdygan TP, Hale JF, Cheng L, Li G, Hoover-Hankerson B, et al. Extracellular Microvesicles Released From Brain Endothelial Cells are Detected in Animal Models Of HIV-1 Signifying Unresolved Inflammation. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2021 Dec;16(4):785-795. PubMed PMID: 34435263.
7. Cheng L, Li G, Pellegry CM, Yasui F, Li F, Zurawski SM, et al. TLR9- and CD40-Targeting Vaccination Promotes Human B Cell Maturation and IgG Induction via pDC-Dependent Mechanisms in Humanized Mice. Front Immunol. 2021;12:672143. PubMed PMID: 34093572.
8. Li G, Cheng L, Su L. Phenotypic and Functional Study of Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells. Curr Protoc. 2021 Apr;1(4):e50. PubMed PMID: 33818926.
9. Lichtman EI, Du H, Shou P, Song F, Suzuki K, Ahn S, et al. Preclinical Evaluation of B7-H3-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res. 2021 Jun 1;27(11):3141-3153. PubMed PMID: 33531429.
10. Godot V, Tcherakian C, Gil L, Cervera-Marzal I, Li G, Cheng L, et al. TLR-9 agonist and CD40-targeting vaccination induces HIV-1 envelope-specific B cells with a diversified immunoglobulin repertoire in humanized mice. PLoS Pathog. 2020 Nov;16(11):e1009025. PubMed PMID: 33253297.
11. Cheng L, Yu H, Wrobel JA, Li G, Liu P, Hu Z, et al. Identification of pathogenic TRAIL-expressing innate immune cells during HIV-1 infection in humanized mice by scRNA-Seq. JCI Insight. 2020 Jun 4;5(11). PubMed PMID: 32406872.
12. Sun C, Shou P, Du H, Hirabayashi K, Chen Y, Herring LE, et al. THEMIS-SHP1 Recruitment by 4-1BB Tunes LCK-Mediated Priming of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Redirected T Cells. Cancer Cell. 2020 Feb 10;37(2):216-225.e6. PubMed PMID: 32004441.
13. Bi W, Xu W, Cheng L, Xue J, Wang Q, Yu F, et al, Jiang S. IgG Fc-binding motif-conjugated HIV-1 fusion inhibitor exhibits improved potency and in vivo half-life: Potential application in combination with broad neutralizing antibodies. PLoS Pathog. 2019 Dec;15(12):e1008082. PubMed PMID: 31805154.
14. Li G, Zhang Z, Reszka-Blanco N, Li F, Chi L, Ma J, et al. Specific Activation In Vivo of HIV-1 by a Bromodomain Inhibitor from Monocytic Cells in Humanized Mice under Antiretroviral Therapy. J Virol. 2019 Jun 15;93(12). PubMed PMID: 30971469.
15. Cheng L, Wang Q, Li G, Banga R, Ma J, Yu H, et al. TLR3 agonist and CD40-targeting vaccination induces immune responses and reduces HIV-1 reservoirs. J Clin Invest. 2018 Oct 1;128(10):4387-4396. PubMed PMID: 30148455.
16. Cheng L, Ma J, Li G, Su L. Humanized Mice Engrafted With Human HSC Only or HSC and Thymus Support Comparable HIV-1 Replication, Immunopathology, and Responses to ART and Immune Therapy. Front Immunol. 2018;9:817. PubMed PMID: 29725337.
17. Zhao J, Cheng L, Wang H, Yu H, Tu B, Fu Q, et al. Infection and depletion of CD4+ group-1 innate lymphoid cells by HIV-1 via type-I interferon pathway. PLoS Pathog. 2018 Jan;14(1):e1006819. PubMed PMID: 29304123.
18. Li G, Nunoya JI, Cheng L, Reszka-Blanco N, Tsao LC, Jeffrey J, et al. Regulatory T Cells Contribute to HIV-1 Reservoir Persistence in CD4+ T Cells Through Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate-Dependent Mechanisms in Humanized Mice In Vivo. J Infect Dis. 2017 Dec 19;216(12):1579-1591. PubMed PMID: 29045701.
19. Cheng L, Zhang Z, Li G, Li F, Wang L, Zhang L, et al. Human innate responses and adjuvant activity of TLR ligands in vivo in mice reconstituted with a human immune system. Vaccine. 2017 Oct 27;35(45):6143-6153. PubMed PMID: 28958808.
20. Li G, Zhao J, Cheng L, Jiang Q, Kan S, Qin E, et al. HIV-1 infection depletes human CD34+CD38- hematopoietic progenitor cells via pDC-dependent mechanisms. PLoS Pathog. 2017 Jul;13(7):e1006505. PubMed PMID: 28759657.
21. Cheng L, Yu H, Li G, Li F, Ma J, Li J, et al. Type I interferons suppress viral replication but contribute to T cell depletion and dysfunction during chronic HIV-1 infection. JCI Insight. 2017 Jun 15;2(12). PubMed PMID: 28614789.
22. Ye C, Wang W, Cheng L, Li G, Wen M, Wang Q, et al. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Anti-HIV scFv Efficiently Protects CD4 T Cells from HIV-1 Infection and Deletion in hu-PBL Mice. J Virol. 2017 Feb 1;91(3). PubMed PMID: 27881659.
23. Cheng L, Ma J, Li J, Li D, Li G, Li F, et al. Blocking type I interferon signaling enhances T cell recovery and reduces HIV-1 reservoirs. J Clin Invest. 2017 Jan 3;127(1):269-279. PubMed PMID: 27941247.
24. Whitehurst CB, Li G, Montgomery SA, Montgomery ND, Su L, Pagano JS. Knockout of Epstein-Barr virus BPLF1 retards B-cell transformation and lymphoma formation in humanized mice. mBio. 2015 Oct 20;6(5):e01574-15. PubMed PMID: 26489865.
25. Zhang Z, Cheng L, Zhao J, Li G, Zhang L, Chen W, et al. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells promote HIV-1-induced group 3 innate lymphoid cell depletion. J Clin Invest. 2015 Sep;125(9):3692-703. PubMed PMID: 26301812.
26. Wang Y, McGivern DR, Cheng L, Li G, Lemon SM, Niu J, et al. Ribavirin Contributes to Hepatitis C Virus Suppression by Augmenting pDC Activation and Type 1 IFN Production. PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0135232. PubMed PMID: 26274905.
27. Li G, Cheng M, Nunoya J, Cheng L, Guo H, Yu H, et al. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells suppress HIV-1 replication but contribute to HIV-1 induced immunopathogenesis in humanized mice. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Jul;10(7):e1004291. PubMed PMID: 25077616.
28. Liu SY, Aliyari R, Chikere K, Li G, Marsden MD, Smith JK, et al. Interferon-inducible cholesterol-25-hydroxylase broadly inhibits viral entry by production of 25-hydroxycholesterol. Immunity. 2013 Jan 24;38(1):92-105. PubMed PMID: 23273844.
29. Zhang L, Jiang Q, Li G, Jeffrey J, Kovalev GI, Su L. Efficient infection, activation, and impairment of pDCs in the BM and peripheral lymphoid organs during early HIV-1 infection in humanized rag2⁻/⁻γ C⁻/⁻ mice in vivo. Blood. 2011 Jun 9;117(23):6184-92. PubMed PMID: 21505190; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3122941.
30. Li G, Jiang P, Li Y, Wang X, Huang J, Bai J, et al. Inhibition of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication by adenovirus-mediated RNA interference both in porcine alveolar macrophages and swine. Antiviral Res. 2009 Jun;82(3):157-65. PubMed PMID: 19428607.
31. Li G, Jiang P, Li Y, Wang X, Huang J, Du Y, et al. Effective suppression of replication of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by adenovirus-mediated small interfering RNAs targeting ORF1b, 5 and 7 genes. J Virol Methods. 2009 Apr;157(1):40-6. PubMed PMID: 19118577.
32. Li G, Huang J, Jiang P, Li Y, Jiang W, Wang X. Suppression of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication in MARC-145 cells by shRNA targeting ORF1 region. Virus Genes. 2007 Dec;35(3):673-9. PubMed PMID: 17671836.

• Defining mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction and immune exhaustion in chronic HIV infection. 
• Advancing immunotherapeutic strategies for HIV using engineered T cells. 
• Establishing humanized mouse models to evaluate HIV-1 and HBV vaccines and antibody-mediated protection. 
• Translational studies targeting immune pathways to restore antiviral T-cell responses in chronic viral infection, including HIV and HBV. 

05/07/2026 - 05/06/2027        UMB Pivot Funding

https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/news/2025/-new-study-identifies-key-mechanism-driving-hiv-associated-immune-suppression.html