Research groups
MRC iCASE Partnership - Student Project:
Promoting cancer cells' antigen presentation for serving as better targets for T cell immunotherapy
Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), which kill tumour cells upon recognition of antigenic peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the cell surface, are the goal of precision medicine including immunotherapies. However, tumour cells engage several mechanisms to avoid the presentation of tumour-specific antigens (TSAs or TAAs) and consequently, they can escape CTL-mediated cell death. This contributes to the failure of many immunotherapies to control tumour growth even when immunity (e.g. CTLs) has been properly stimulated. Most immunotherapies targeting antigen presentation focus on professional antigen-presenting cells and rarely on tumour cells themselves, which leads to poor efficacy. Hence, immunotherapies and products that enhance the antigen presentation process in tumour cells are an unmet need.
Working with Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd (OVM), the student will test the small molecules co-developed by the Departments of Chemistry and Oncology in the vaccine models used by OVM. Moreover, the students will gain hands-on experience in OVM learning new skills regarding technology transfer and drug development.
Shisong Jiang
MBBS, PhD
Associate Professor/ Senior Industrial Fellow
- Immunology
Therapeutic vaccines; TNF-related inflammation
Research Interests
Research at Dr Jiang’s Laboratory focuses on understanding mechanisms of antigen presentation to the immune system; biomarker discovery and the development of new vaccines, including therapeutic vaccines with a particular emphasis on translating discoveries into new treatments for cancer patients. One major outcome of this work has been the development of a recombinant overlapping peptides technology for cancer therapeutic vaccines and diagnostics. This innovation has led to the formation of a spinout company, Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd. Two candidates are close to clinical trials. Meanwhile the lab continues to focus on reaching an in-depth understanding of the immune pathways activated by ROPs and identifying additional targets that are amenable to the approach.
Another discovery at Dr Jiang’s Lab is a new biomarker, Inflammation Enhancer (IE). IE is an autoimmune disease factor - together with TNF, IE deteriorates inflammatory diseases such as sepsis and leads to high incidence of fatality. The lab is focusing on elucidating the pathway of IE that leads to inflammation. Diagnostic methods as well as treatments are also in development.
GROUP MEMBERS
Alexander Stephens, DPhil Student
Yuqian Ou, DPhil Student
Sichen Liu, DPhil Student
Constantinos Demetriou, DPhil Student
Hanjun Zhao, DPhil Student
Yihan Zhou, MRes Student
Group Alumni & Next Destinations
Cedric Song Chan, PhD Student, University College London, UK
Jian Wang - Associate Professor, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
Rong Hu, Attending Doctor, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology Beijing
Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
Sophie Owen - PhD Tropical Medicine, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK
Wenshu Lu - CEO, Shanghai Inflinhix Ltd
Neha Vashist-Postdoctoral Researcher, Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
Jason Huang - Associate Medical Director, Oncology, Asia-Pacific at Merck Group, Singapore
Qiongyu Chen - Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
Hongwei Zhang - Associate Chief Physician, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
Hai Hong - Associate Professor, Sun Yat-Sen University, China
ROP vaccine OVM-200 Phase I Clinical Trial featured on TV
The phase I clinical trial of cancer therapeutic vaccine OVM-200 at The Christie Hospital in Manchester was featured on ITV's Granada News on Wednesday 7th September 2022.
Read the full article and watch the video report here: Chorley mum with ovarian cancer first in North West to get new vaccine trialled at the Christie
Key publications
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Journal article
Zhang H. et al, (2009), J Biol Chem, 284, 9184 - 9191
Recent publications
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Journal article
Jiang S., (2023), Front Immunol, 14
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Journal article
Chen Q. et al, (2023), Front Immunol, 14
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Journal article
Jiang S. et al, (2022), Front Immunol, 13
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Journal article
Zhang Q. et al, (2022), Front Immunol, 13
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Journal article
Stephens AJ. et al, (2021), Frontiers in Immunology, 12
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Journal article
Li Y. et al, (2021), Expert Opin Biol Ther
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Journal article
Zhang L. et al, (2021), Front Immunol, 12
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Journal article
Lu W. et al, (2019), Clin Exp Immunol
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ANTIBODY FACILITATING PROGRAMMED NECROSIS OF CELLS AND APPLICATION THEREOF
Patent
JIANG S. and Lu W., (2018)
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PROTEIN FOR NEUTRALIZING PROGRAMMED NECROCYTOSIS PROMOTION ANTIBODY, AND APPLICATION OF PROTEIN
Patent
JIANG S. and Lu W., (2018)
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Journal article
Cai L. et al, (2017), Oncotarget, 8, 76516 - 76524
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ARTIFICIAL MULTI-ANTIGEN FUSION PROTEIN AND PREPARATION AND USE THEREOF
Patent
JIANG S. et al, (2017)
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A DC vaccine and its preparation method and applications
Patent
Weixing S. et al, (2014)
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Journal article
Tchilian E. et al, (2013), Vaccine, 31, 4624 - 4631
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Overlapping peptides taken as reagents for skin tests detecting specific cellular immune and applications
Patent
JIANG S., (2013)
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TNF-alpha short peptide- related to apoptosis or necrosis and applications thereof
Patent
JIANG S., (2012)
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Journal article
Hong H. et al, (2010), Clin Exp Immunol, 159, 93 - 99
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Journal article
Zhang H. et al, (2009), J Biol Chem, 284, 9184 - 9191
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Journal article
JIANG S., (2009), Journal of Biological Chemistry
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Journal article
Jiang S. et al, (2007), Vaccine, 25, 7470 - 7479