Xiao-jiang Gao, Ph.D.

Xiao-jiang Gao, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.
Cancer and Inflammation Program

Team Member of:

Mary N. Carrington, Ph.D.

Dr. Gao is characterizing the genetic diversity of class I and class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes using high-resolution and large-throughput molecular gene typing. The goal is to understand the role played by these highly polymorphic immunogenetic genes in disease pathogenesis. He is also studying the interaction between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) to determine its impact on cancer and infectious disease. These investigations will provide insights into the synergistic interaction between these two systems and a better understanding of the cross-pairing between acquired and innate immunity.

Areas of Expertise
1) human leukocyte antigen (HLA), 2) major histocompatibility complex (MHC), 3) killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR)

Contact Info

Xiao-jiang Gao, Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Bldg. 560, Rm 21-75
Frederick, MD 21702-1201
Ph: 301-846-5324
gaoxia@mail.nih.gov
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Research Projects:

1. Characterization of the genetic diversity of HLA genes. High-resolution and large-throughput molecular gene typing for class I and class II HLA genes for disease cohorts have become a prerequisite for understanding the role played by these highly polymorphic immunogenetic genes. Inherited genetic variations at the nucleotide as well as peptide level provide crucial information to the understanding of disease pathogenesis.

2. Interaction between MHC and KIR and its impact on cancer and infectious disease. Investigation of both MHC and KIR genes provides insights into the synergistic interaction between the two highly polymorphic immunogenetic systems and its relevance to cancer and infectious diseases and lead to an overall understanding of the cross-passing between the acquired immunity and innate immunity.

Selected Publications

  1. Associations between human leukocyte antigen class I variants and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis subtypes causing disease.
    Salie M, van der Merwe L, Möller M, Daya M, van der Spuy GD, van Helden PD, Martin MP, Gao XJ, Warren RM, Carrington M, Hoal EG.
    J Infect Dis. 209: 216-23, 2014. [ Journal Article ]
  2. LILRB2 interaction with HLA class I correlates with control of HIV-1 infection.
    Bashirova AA, Martin-Gayo E, Jones DC, Qi Y, Apps R, Gao X, Burke PS, Taylor CJ, Rogich J, Wolinsky S, Bream JH, Duggal P, Hussain S, Martinson J, Weintrob A, Kirk GD, Fellay J, Buchbinder SP, Goedert JJ, Deeks SG, Pereyra F, Trowsdale J, Lichterfeld M, Telenti A, Walker BD, Allen RL, Carrington M, Yu XG.
    PLoS Genet. 10: e1004196, 2014. [ Journal Article ]
  3. Association of HLA-DRB1-restricted CD4? T cell responses with HIV immune control.
    Ranasinghe S, Cutler S, Davis I, Lu R, Soghoian DZ, Qi Y, Sidney J, Kranias G, Flanders MD, Lindqvist M, Kuhl B, Alter G, Deeks SG, Walker BD, Gao X, Sette A, Carrington M, Streeck H.
    Nat Med. 19: 930-3, 2013. [ Journal Article ]
  4. Genetic interplay between HLA-C and MIR148A in HIV control and Crohn disease.
    Kulkarni S, Qi Y, O'hUigin C, Pereyra F, Ramsuran V, McLaren P, Fellay J, Nelson G, Chen H, Liao W, Bass S, Apps R, Gao X, Yuki Y, Lied A, Ganesan A, Hunt PW, Deeks SG, Wolinsky S, Walker BD, Carrington M.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 110: 20705-10, 2013. [ Journal Article ]
  5. Influence of HLA-C expression level on HIV control.
    Apps R, Qi Y, Carlson JM, Chen H, Gao X, Thomas R, Yuki Y, Del Prete GQ, Goulder P, Brumme ZL, Brumme CJ, John M, Mallal S, Nelson G, Bosch R, Heckerman D, Stein JL, Soderberg KA, Moody MA, Denny TN, Zeng X, Fang J, Moffett A, Lifson JD, Goedert JJ, Buchbinder S, Kirk GD, Fellay J, McLaren P, Deeks SG, Pereyra F, Walker B, Michael NL, Weintrob A, Wolinsky S, Liao W, Carrington M.
    Science. 340: 87-91, 2013. [ Journal Article ]

Dr. Gao graduated from Beijing Second Medical College, China. After a brief residency he started his research career at the Beijing Lung Tumor Institute. From 1986-1990 he was a visiting research fellow in the South Western Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He went on to become a Ph.D. scholar at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University in Canberra, Australia and received his Ph.D. in human genetics in 1993. Dr. Gao is currently a senior scientist with Leidos Biomedical, Inc., and works in the Cancer and Inflammation Inflammation Program. His research interests are mainly focused on the genetic diversity of human populations and its impact on diseases, in particular, the polymorphism of MHC genes and its interaction with killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genes.