Cuong Nguyen

Cuong Nguyen,

Associate Professor

Department: Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology
Business Phone: (352) 294-4180
Business Email: nguyenc@ufl.edu

Accomplishments

Career Development Award “Immune-Pathophysiology of Lymphocytic Foci in Sjögren’s Syndrome”
2009-2014 · National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Mentoring Opportunity Scholarship
2005 · Graduate Student Council, University of Florida

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2016-2024
VEM5110 Animal Systems 1
2015-2017,2020-2023
DEN6128 Host Defense
2020
DEN6213C Fundamen of Occlusion
2019,2021-2024
VME6505 Autoimmunity
2019
IDH2930 (Un)common read
2017-2018
VME6934 Topics in Veterinary Medical Sciences
2018
GMS7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2018
VME7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2018
VME7979 Advanced Research
2018
GMS7979 Advanced Research
2021-2024
GMS6140 Principles of Immunology
2022
GMS6143 Cells of the Innate Immune System

Research Profile

I. Elucidating the pathogenesis of Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS). Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) is an autoimmune disease that involves the destruction/dysfunction of the salivary glands and lacrimal glands leading to dry mouth and dry eye disease. Several aspects of the disease are intriguing which permits us to apply novel approaches in both understanding the pathogenesis and transitioning my basic research findings to the clinical application: a) SjS predominantly affects postmenopausal women with a gender predilection of 10:1 women to men ratio; b) SjS patients have a diminishing quality of life as the disease progresses and affects multiple organ systems; c) 4-6% of patients develop low-grade B cell lymphomas, some of which eventually become high-grade and lifethreatening; and d) The pathogenesis is triggered by yet undefined genetic susceptibility and unknown environmental factors. Thus, SjS offers multiple interesting facets for studying the immunopathophysiological processes of the autoimmune disease and a tremendous challenge in designing effective diagnostic markers and therapeutic treatments for patients

II. Developing therapeutic antibodies to protect against Zika and Dengue viruses using single-cell technology. Zika virus (ZIKV) infections are an emerging health pandemic of significant medical importance. The current outbreak has garnered attention by exhibiting unique characteristics of devastating neurodevelopmental defects in newborns of infected pregnant women. Over the past year, doctors in Brazil have documented over 4,000 cases of microcephaly in which infants are born with abnormally small heads. Typical symptoms of ZIKV infection include joint pain, fever, and rash. In addition, there is emerging a potential link to the dramatic increase in the reported cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, another rare disorder of the peripheral nervous system characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis; in severe cases, Zika patients require life support. Meanwhile, belong to the same family as ZIKV, Dengue virus (DENV) is the most common human arboviral infection, and the most important public health threat from mosquito-borne viral pathogens causing an estimated 100 million cases of dengue fever and half a million cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) per year. Of those infected with DHF, 90% are children who ultimately succumb and make up the 5% of people who die of the infection. As Dengue is endemic on all continents except Europe, over half of the world’s population is at risk of infection. Over the past fifty years, incidents of dengue infection have increased by over 30-fold. Currently, there is no vaccine against ZIKV. Clinical trials of DENV vaccines have shown promising results, but prototype vaccines remain inadequate against all four DENV serotypes. One critical challenge to the development of effective vaccines is our incomplete ability to examine and understand the protective humoral immunity against the virus. This challenge is attributed to the limitation of the current technologies to provide a comprehensive profile of the protective neutralizing antibodies in dengue infection. Our research focuses on identifying and characterizing neutralizing antibodies protect against Zika and Dengue viruses using single-cell technology.

III. Developing of a point-of-care diagnostic test for measurement of oxalate in kidney stone disease Hyperoxaluria, defined as the presence of excess oxalic acid and/or oxalate salts in urinary excretions, is a physiological condition associated with an increasing number of common and debilitating chronic diseases whose prevalences are increasing in both the United States and the rest of the world. Oxalic acid is a natural and abundant by-product of metabolism, but also a highly oxidized organic compound with powerful chelating activity that, in high concentrations, can cause death in both animals and humans due to its corrosive effects. More commonly, however, hyperoxaluria is now associated (or correlated) with a variety of pathological disorders, including cardiomyopathy, cardiac conductance disorders, urolithiasis, fungal infections, cystic fibrosis, colitis, primary hyperoxaluria type-I, pyridoxine deficiency, steatorrhea and now autism. Thus, regulating oxalate levels in the body is receiving greater recognition as an important factor in controlling the effects of hyperoxaluria in multiple pathologies. Unfortunately, current testing for hyperoxaluria is expensive, time-consuming and mainly conducted by trained technicians in well-equipped laboratories.

Publications

2023
A current and future perspective on T cell receptor repertoire profiling.
Frontiers in genetics. 14 [DOI] 10.3389/fgene.2023.1159109. [PMID] 37408774.
2023
Ancestral origins are associated with SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and protection in a Florida patient population.
PloS one. 18(1) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0276700. [PMID] 36649279.
2023
Evidence of a Sjögren’s disease-like phenotype following COVID-19 in mice and humans.
JCI insight. 8(24) [DOI] 10.1172/jci.insight.166540. [PMID] 37676726.
2023
Expression and secretion of glycosylated barley oxalate oxidase in Pichia pastoris.
PloS one. 18(5) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0285556. [PMID] 37167324.
2023
Treatment with a Lactococcus lactis that chromosomally express E. coli cfaI mitigates salivary flow loss in a Sjögren’s syndrome-like disease.
Scientific reports. 13(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-023-46557-3. [PMID] 37945636.
2022
A MZB Cell Activation Profile Present in the Lacrimal Glands of Sjögren’s Syndrome-Susceptible C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 Mice Defined by Global RNA Transcriptomic Analyses.
International journal of molecular sciences. 23(11) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms23116106. [PMID] 35682784.
2022
Blocking IAg7 class II major histocompatibility complex by drug-like small molecules alleviated Sjögren’s syndrome in NOD mice.
Life sciences. 288 [DOI] 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120182. [PMID] 34843735.
2022
Bone marrow-derived macrophages from a murine model of Sjögren’s syndrome demonstrate an aberrant, inflammatory response to apoptotic cells.
Scientific reports. 12(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-022-12608-4. [PMID] 35597820.
2022
Epitope Mapping of Pathogenic Autoantigens on Sjögren’s Syndrome-Susceptible Human Leukocyte Antigens Using In Silico Techniques.
Journal of clinical medicine. 11(6) [DOI] 10.3390/jcm11061690. [PMID] 35330015.
2022
Evidence of a Sjögren’s disease-like phenotype following COVID-19.
medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences. [DOI] 10.1101/2022.10.20.22281265. [PMID] 36324812.
2022
Lysosomal exocytosis of HSP70 stimulates monocytic BMP6 expression in Sjögren’s syndrome.
The Journal of clinical investigation. 132(6) [DOI] 10.1172/JCI152780. [PMID] 35113815.
2021
Defective Efferocytosis in a Murine Model of Sjögren’s Syndrome Is Mediated by Dysfunctional Mer Tyrosine Kinase Receptor.
International journal of molecular sciences. 22(18) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms22189711. [PMID] 34575873.
2021
Early Covert Appearance of Marginal Zone B Cells in Salivary Glands of Sjögren’s Syndrome-Susceptible Mice: Initiators of Subsequent Overt Clinical Disease.
International journal of molecular sciences. 22(4) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms22041919. [PMID] 33671965.
2021
Stimulation of regulatory T cells with Lactococcus lactis expressing enterotoxigenic E. coli colonization factor antigen 1 retains salivary flow in a genetic model of Sjögren’s syndrome.
Arthritis research & therapy. 23(1) [DOI] 10.1186/s13075-021-02475-1. [PMID] 33823920.
2021
Upregulated Chemokine and Rho-GTPase Genes Define Immune Cell Emigration into Salivary Glands of Sjögren’s Syndrome-Susceptible C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 Mice.
International journal of molecular sciences. 22(13) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms22137176. [PMID] 34281229.
2020
Contributions of Major Cell Populations to Sjögren’s Syndrome.
Journal of clinical medicine. 9(9) [DOI] 10.3390/jcm9093057. [PMID] 32971904.
2020
Inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein 6 receptors ameliorates Sjögren’s syndrome in mice.
Scientific reports. 10(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-020-59443-z. [PMID] 32076051.
2020
Single-Cell Sequencing of T cell Receptors: A Perspective on the Technological Development and Translational Application.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 1255:29-50 [DOI] 10.1007/978-981-15-4494-1_3. [PMID] 32949388.
2019
Sjogren’s Syndrome and TAM Receptors: A Possible Contribution to Disease Onset.
Journal of immunology research. 2019 [DOI] 10.1155/2019/4813795. [PMID] 31214622.
2018
Therapeutic Antibody Discovery in Infectious Diseases Using Single-Cell Analysis.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 1068:89-102 [DOI] 10.1007/978-981-13-0502-3_8. [PMID] 29943298.
2018
Unique glandular ex-vivo Th1 and Th17 receptor motifs in Sjögren’s syndrome patients using single-cell analysis.
Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.). 192:58-67 [DOI] 10.1016/j.clim.2018.04.009. [PMID] 29679709.
2017
BK viruria and viremia in children with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Pediatric rheumatology online journal. 15(1) [DOI] 10.1186/s12969-017-0156-2. [PMID] 28399927.
2017
Conserved HIV Epitopes for an Effective HIV Vaccine.
Journal of clinical & cellular immunology. 8(4) [DOI] 10.4172/2155-9899.1000518. [PMID] 29226015.
2017
Plant Science a Chemical Genetic Roadmap to Improved Tomato Flavor
Science. 355(6323):391-394 [DOI] 10.1126/science.aal1556.
2017
Single-cell analysis reveals sexually dimorphic repertoires of Interferon-γ and IL-17A producing T cells in salivary glands of Sjögren’s syndrome mice.
Scientific reports. 7(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-017-12627-6. [PMID] 28970488.
2017
What can Sjögren’s syndrome-like disease in mice contribute to human Sjögren’s syndrome?
Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.). 182:14-23 [DOI] 10.1016/j.clim.2017.05.001. [PMID] 28478104.
2016
Aquaporin gene therapy corrects Sjögren’s syndrome phenotype in mice.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113(20):5694-9 [DOI] 10.1073/pnas.1601992113. [PMID] 27140635.
2016
IL-22 regulation of functional gene expression in salivary gland cells.
Genomics data. 7:178-84 [DOI] 10.1016/j.gdata.2015.11.014. [PMID] 26981401.
2016
Oxalate-degrading microorganisms or oxalate-degrading enzymes: which is the future therapy for enzymatic dissolution of calcium-oxalate uroliths in recurrent stone disease?
Urolithiasis. 44(1):45-50 [DOI] 10.1007/s00240-015-0845-6. [PMID] 26645869.
2016
Sexual dimorphic function of IL-17 in salivary gland dysfunction of the C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 model of Sjögren’s syndrome.
Scientific reports. 6 [DOI] 10.1038/srep38717. [PMID] 27958291.
2016
Single-cell antibody nanowells: a novel technology in detecting anti-SSA/Ro60- and anti-SSB/La autoantibody-producing cells in peripheral blood of rheumatic disease patients.
Arthritis research & therapy. 18(1) [DOI] 10.1186/s13075-016-1010-5. [PMID] 27184054.
2015
Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus Type-I: A Unique Association with Myelopathy in Sjögren’s Syndrome.
Clinical microbiology (Los Angeles, Calif.). 4(1) [PMID] 25914892.
2015
MicroRNA-125b modulates inflammatory chemokine CCL4 expression in immune cells and its reduction causes CCL4 increase with age.
Aging cell. 14(2):200-8 [DOI] 10.1111/acel.12294. [PMID] 25620312.
2015
Review article: BK virus in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Pediatric rheumatology online journal. 13 [DOI] 10.1186/s12969-015-0033-9. [PMID] 26293687.
2015
Sexual dimorphism in an animal model of Sjögren’s syndrome: a potential role for Th17 cells.
Biology open. 4(11):1410-9 [DOI] 10.1242/bio.013771. [PMID] 26453623.
2014
Beyond the Glands: An in-Depth Perspective of Neurological Manifestations in Sjögren’s Syndrome.
Rheumatology (Sunnyvale, Calif.). 2014 [PMID] 26246960.
2014
The value of animal models to study immunopathology of primary human Sjögren’s syndrome symptoms.
Expert review of clinical immunology. 10(4):469-81 [DOI] 10.1586/1744666X.2014.883920. [PMID] 24506531.
2013
Serial analysis of lumen geometry and hemodynamics in human arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis using magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics.
Journal of biomechanics. 46(1):165-9 [DOI] 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.09.005. [PMID] 23122945.
2013
Single-cell analysis reveals isotype-specific autoreactive B cell repertoires in Sjögren’s syndrome.
PloS one. 8(3) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0058127. [PMID] 23516437.
2013
The important role of T cells and receptor expression in Sjögren’s syndrome.
Scandinavian journal of immunology. 78(2):157-66 [DOI] 10.1111/sji.12079. [PMID] 23679844.
2013
The Interferon-Signature of Sjögren’s Syndrome: How Unique Biomarkers Can Identify Underlying Inflammatory and Immunopathological Mechanisms of Specific Diseases.
Frontiers in immunology. 4 [DOI] 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00142. [PMID] 23847613.
2013
Transcriptional landscapes of emerging autoimmunity: transient aberrations in the targeted tissue’s extracellular milieu precede immune responses in Sjögren’s syndrome.
Arthritis research & therapy. 15(5) [DOI] 10.1186/ar4362. [PMID] 24286337.
2012
Advancement in the development of models for hepatitis C research.
Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology. 2012 [DOI] 10.1155/2012/346761. [PMID] 22701302.
2012
Gene therapy using IL-27 ameliorates Sjögren’s syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy.
Arthritis research & therapy. 14(4) [DOI] 10.1186/ar3925. [PMID] 22827855.
2012
Local delivery of AAV2-CTLA4IgG decreases sialadenitis and improves gland function in the C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mouse model of Sjögren’s syndrome.
Arthritis research & therapy. 14(1) [DOI] 10.1186/ar3753. [PMID] 22369699.
2012
Transcriptome analysis of the interferon-signature defining the autoimmune process of Sjögren’s syndrome.
Scandinavian journal of immunology. 76(3):237-45 [DOI] 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2012.02749.x. [PMID] 22703193.
2011
Current concepts: mouse models of Sjögren’s syndrome.
Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology. 2011 [DOI] 10.1155/2011/549107. [PMID] 21253584.
2011
Expression of interleukin-22 in Sjögren’s syndrome: significant correlation with disease parameters.
Scandinavian journal of immunology. 74(4):377-82 [DOI] 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2011.02583.x. [PMID] 21645026.
2011
Gene expression profiling of early-phase Sjögren’s syndrome in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice identifies focal adhesion maturation associated with infiltrating leukocytes.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 52(8):5647-55 [DOI] 10.1167/iovs.11-7652. [PMID] 21666236.
2011
IL17: potential therapeutic target in Sjögren’s syndrome using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer.
Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology. 91(1):54-62 [DOI] 10.1038/labinvest.2010.164. [PMID] 20856230.
2011
Sjögren’s syndrome: studying the disease in mice.
Arthritis research & therapy. 13(3) [DOI] 10.1186/ar3313. [PMID] 21672284.
2011
The current concept of T (h) 17 cells and their expanding role in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Arthritis. 2011 [DOI] 10.1155/2011/810649. [PMID] 22164330.
2010
Genetic variations at loci involved in the immune response are risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). 52(6):2034-43 [DOI] 10.1002/hep.23943. [PMID] 21105107.
2010
Pathogenic effect of interleukin-17A in induction of Sjögren’s syndrome-like disease using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer.
Arthritis research & therapy. 12(6) [DOI] 10.1186/ar3207. [PMID] 21182786.
2009
Differential gene expression in the salivary gland during development and onset of xerostomia in Sjögren’s syndrome-like disease of the C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mouse.
Arthritis research & therapy. 11(2) [DOI] 10.1186/ar2676. [PMID] 19379516.
2009
Differential gene expressions in the lacrimal gland during development and onset of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in Sjögren’s syndrome (SJS)-like disease of the C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mouse.
Experimental eye research. 88(3):398-409 [DOI] 10.1016/j.exer.2008.10.006. [PMID] 19103199.
2009
Sjögren’s syndrome: an old tale with a new twist.
Archivum immunologiae et therapiae experimentalis. 57(1):57-66 [DOI] 10.1007/s00005-009-0002-4. [PMID] 19219532.
2009
Unraveling the Pathophysiology of Sjogren Syndrome-Associated Dry Eye Disease
The ocular surface. 7:11-27
2009
Unraveling the pathophysiology of Sjogren syndrome-associated dry eye disease.
The ocular surface. 7(1):11-27 [PMID] 19214349.
2008
Characterization of intraocular immunopathology following intracameral inoculation with alloantigen.
Molecular vision. 14:615-24 [PMID] 18385797.
2008
Identification of possible candidate genes regulating Sjögren’s syndrome-associated autoimmunity: a potential role for TNFSF4 in autoimmune exocrinopathy.
Arthritis research & therapy. 10(6) [DOI] 10.1186/ar2560. [PMID] 19032782.
2008
Salivary gland tissue expression of interleukin-23 and interleukin-17 in Sjögren’s syndrome: findings in humans and mice.
Arthritis and rheumatism. 58(3):734-43 [DOI] 10.1002/art.23214. [PMID] 18311793.
2007
Autoimmune dacryoadenitis of NOD/LtJ mice and its subsequent effects on tear protein composition.
The American journal of pathology. 171(4):1224-36 [PMID] 17823290.
2007
Development of Sjogren’s syndrome in nonobese diabetic-derived autoimmune-prone C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice is dependent on complement component-3.
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). 179(4):2318-29 [PMID] 17675493.
2007
Evidence that aging and amyloid promote microglial cell senescence.
Rejuvenation research. 10(1):61-74 [PMID] 17378753.
2007
IL-4-STAT6 signal transduction-dependent induction of the clinical phase of Sjögren’s syndrome-like disease of the nonobese diabetic mouse.
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). 179(1):382-90 [PMID] 17579059.
2007
Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS)-like disease of mice: the importance of B lymphocytes and autoantibodies.
Frontiers in bioscience : a journal and virtual library. 12:1767-89 [PMID] 17127420.
2006
Early pathogenic events associated with Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS)-like disease of the NOD mouse using microarray analysis.
Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology. 86(12):1243-60 [PMID] 17075579.
2006
Role of complement and B lymphocytes in Sjögren’s syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy of NOD.B10-H2b mice.
Molecular immunology. 43(9):1332-9 [PMID] 16221495.
2006
Sjögren’s syndrome in the NOD mouse model is an interleukin-4 time-dependent, antibody isotype-specific autoimmune disease.
Journal of autoimmunity. 26(2):90-103 [PMID] 16413168.

Grants

Aug 2022 – Nov 2022
Dry eye disease project
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: SINGH BIOTECHNOLOGY
Mar 2022 – May 2022
Using SBT-500 & SBT-501 for treating and preventing SARS-CoV-2
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: SINGH BIOTECHNOLOGY
Dec 2020 – Jun 2021
COVID-19: Monoclonal Antibody Production
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: LIFESOUTH COM BLOOD CNTR
Apr 2019 – Mar 2020
Alpine Immune Sciences Research Agreement
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: ALPINE IMMUNE SCIENCES
Apr 2019 ACTIVE
Mapping the T cell receptor/antigen complex and identifying the genetic-based treatment in Sjogrens syndrome
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Sep 2018 – Sep 2019
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION FOR SJOGREN'S SYNDROME
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Aug 2017 – Aug 2018
Professional Services to House and Collect Serum and Saliva from NOD Derived C57BL/6.NOD-AEC1/AEC2 Mice
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NHLBI
Aug 2017 – Jan 2021
Identification of potent cross neutralizing Dengue antibodies using single-cell technology
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
Apr 2017 – Mar 2023
Regulatory Cell Therapy for Sj?grens Syndrome.
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Aug 2016 – Jul 2018
A Novel Probiotic for the Treatment of Sjogren's Syndrome.
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: VIRTICI LLC via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jul 2016 – Jul 2017
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION FOR SJOGREN'S SYNDROME
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
May 2016 – Apr 2019
Development of single-cell metabolomics to dissect cellular heterogeneity ofimmune cells
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID
Aug 2014 – Jul 2017
Massive analysis of paired TCR chains of TH17 cells in Sjogren's syndrome using microengraving
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIDCR
Jul 2006 – Dec 2020
21st Century Research & Economic Development Investment Program (REDIP)
Role: Project Manager
Funding: STATE UNIV SYS OF FL BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology
2006 · University of Florida
Bachelor of Science in Biology/Biochemistry
1999 · University of Nebraska

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 294-4180
Emails:
Business:
nguyenc@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 110880
GAINESVILLE FL 32611
Business Street:
1395 CENTER DR
GAINESVILLE FL 32611