Chaoqun Yao, BMed, PHD
Dr. Chaoqun Yao received BMed and PhD degrees from Huazhong University of Science & Technology and the University of Georgia, respectively. He pursued postdoctoral trainings at the Washington State University and the University of Iowa followed by a non-tenure track faculty position at the University of Iowa. He was a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Wyoming with a concomitant appointment of adjunct professor at the University of Washington. He was also the parasitology section head of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory at the same time. He joined Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine as an associate professor in 2014.
Dr. Yao’s research interests are molecular pathogenesis and host-parasite interaction of parasites of medical/veterinary importance. He has authored many peer-reviewed publications. He reviews manuscripts for over 40 scientific journals as an associated editor, an editorial board member, or an ad hoc reviewer. He has organized three symposia for the annual meeting of American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Education
Medicine, Huazhong University of Science & Technology (BMed)
Veterinary Parasitology, University of Georgia (PhD)
Research
Leishmania spp. and leishmaniasis
Parasitic diseases of medical/veterinary importance
Achievements
Outstanding Service as an Online Mentor, American Society for Microbiology Minority Mentoring Program 2011
MRP, Veterans’ Affairs, October 2006-September 2009
MREP, Veterans’ Affairs, April 2002-March 2005
Training Grants in Infectious Diseases & Parasitology, NIH, July 1999-March 2002
Publication Highlights
Wang J, Li T, Liu G, Zhu X, Yao C. 2017. Two tales of Cytauxzoon felis infections in domestic cats. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 30: 861-885 DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00010-17 http://cmr.asm.org/content/current
Sun H, Wang S, Zhao X, Yao C, Zhang H, Huang Y, Chen X, Yang Y, Du A. 2017. Targeted overexpression of cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Subunit in Toxoplasma gondii promotes replication and virulence in host cells. Veterinary Parasitology. 243: 248-255 DOI 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.06.002 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401717302583
Sun H, Zhou X, Zhao X, Yang Y, Chen X, Yao C, Du A. 2017. The heat shock protein 90 of Toxoplasma gondii is essential for invasion of host cell and tachyzoite growth. Parasite. 24: 22 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2017023 https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/pdf/2017/01/parasite170030.pdf
Yao C*, Wilson ME. 2016. Dynamics of sterol synthesis during development of Leishmania spp. parasites to their virulent form. Parasites & Vectors 9:200. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1470-0 http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/9/1/200
Yao C, Köster LS. 2015 Tritrichomonas foetus infection, a cause of chronic diarrhea in the domestic cat. BMC Veterinary Research 46: 35 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0169-0 http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/46/1/35
Jin Y, Schumaker B, Logan J and Yao C. 2014. Risk factors associated with bovine trichomoniasis in beef cattle determined by a questionnaire. Journal of Medical Microbiology 63: 896-902. http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.074971-0#tab2
Yao C, Gaur Dixit U, Barker J, Teesch LM, Love-Homan L, Donelson JE, Wilson ME. Attenuation of Leishmania metacyclic promastigotes by sterol depletion. Infection and Immunity. 2013;81:2507-2517. http://iai.asm.org/content/81/7/2507.full
Yao C. Diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus-infected bulls, an ultimate approach to eradicate bovine trichomoniasis in US cattle? Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2013;62:1-9. http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.047365-0#tab2
Yao C, O’Toole D, Driscoll M, McFarland W, Fox J, Cornish T and Jolly W. 2011. Filaroides osleri (Oslerus osleri): Two case reports and a review of canid infections in North America. Veterinary Parasitology 179: 123-129 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401711001403
Yao C. Major surface protease (MSP, or GP63) of trypanosomatids, one size fits all? Infection and Immunity. 2010;78:22-31. http://iai.asm.org/content/78/1/22.full
Yao C, Li Y, Donelson JE, Wilson ME. Proteomic examination of Leishmania chagasi plasma membrane proteins: contrast between avirulent and virulent (metacyclic) parasite forms. Proteomics – Clinical Applications. 2010;4:4-16. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1002/prca.200900050/
Dr. Yao’s publication - PUBMED; Google Scholar
Current Projects
First whole genome draft of Trichomonas tenax.
The effects of anthelminthic treatment on GI microbiome.
Parasitic diseases of the skeletal muscles, myocardium and lungs of the small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus).
Tritrichomonas foetus infection in the domestic cats in St. Kitts.