Tao Yue, Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

Tao Yue, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense at UT Southwestern Medical Center and an affiliate member of the Kidney Cancer Program in the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Yue also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Immunology.

Dr. Yue received his Ph.D. from UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he studied neural development and tumor suppressor signaling pathways, identifying a crucial tumor suppressor in the Hippo signaling pathway (Yue et al., Developmental Cell; Yue et al., J Neuroscience). During his postdoctoral training under Nobel Laureate Dr. Bruce Beutler, he expanded his expertise in genetic screens to include forward-genetic screens in mice, aiming to identify novel genes affecting immunity. His efforts led to the discovery of the critical function of a tRNA-binding protein, SLFN2, in safeguarding T cells from oxidative stress, which is essential for T cell expansion, immunity, and defense against viral infections (Yue et al., Science; Zhang, Yue, et al., Nature Immunology). Subsequently, while working with the renowned cancer immunologist Dr. Yang-Xin Fu, Dr. Yue developed IL-2-based immunotherapeutic molecules designed to specifically activate T cells within the tumor microenvironment (Wang et al., Signal Transduct Target Ther).

Leveraging his expertise in immunology and cancer biology, he has been creating a cutting-edge translational immunology platform for biomarker discovery and immunotherapy development. His research program focuses on: (i) dissecting the acidic tumor microenvironment using fluorescent nanotechnologies and multi-omic approaches to develop novel acid-resistant immunocytokines for cancer immunotherapy; (ii) utilizing a live tumor bank from the UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer SPORE to identify predictive biomarkers of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and to design immunotherapy strategies for unresponsive patients; (iii) deploying tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and humanized tumorgraft mouse models with autologous immune systems to test novel immunotherapy approaches for localized drug delivery, improved efficacy, and reduced systemic toxicity.

The ultimate goal of his group is to develop innovative treatments with predictive biomarkers that enable personalized cancer immunotherapy, thereby optimizing outcomes for cancer patients.

Education

Undergraduate: Unlisted - International Colle (1999), Biology
Graduate School: Univ of Tx Southwestern Med Ct (2011), Philosophy

Research Interest

Renal Cell Carcinoma and Osteosarcoma
T cell-mediated Immunity
Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy

Publications

Featured Publications

SLFN2 protection of tRNAs from stress-induced cleavage is essential for T cell-mediated immunity.: Yue T, Zhan X, Zhang D, Jain R, Wang KW, Choi JH, Misawa T, Su L, Quan J, Hildebrand S, Xu D, Li X, Turer E, Sun L, Moresco EMY, Beutler B, Science 2021 05 372 6543
Syndromic immune disorder caused by a viable hypomorphic allele of spliceosome component Snrnp40.: Zhang D, Yue T, Choi JH, Nair-Gill E, Zhong X, Wang KW, Zhan X, Li X, Choi M, Tang M, Quan J, Hildebrand S, Moresco EMY, Beutler B, Nat. Immunol. 2019 Aug
The cell adhesion molecule echinoid functions as a tumor suppressor and upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway.: Yue T, Tian A, Jiang J Dev. Cell 2012 Feb 22 2 255-67
A critical role for dorsal progenitors in cortical myelination.: Yue T, Xian K, Hurlock E, Xin M, Kernie SG, Parada LF, Lu QR J. Neurosci. 2006 Jan 26 4 1275-80
Myelinogenesis and axonal recognition by oligodendrocytes in brain are uncoupled in Olig1-null mice.: Xin M, Yue T, Ma Z, Wu FF, Gow A, Lu QR J. Neurosci. 2005 Feb 25 6 1354-65
Targeting tumor microenvironment with antibody-guided IL-2 pro-cytokine promotes and rejuvenates dysfunctional CD8⁺ T cells.: Wang X, Liu L, Yue T, Sun Z, Bae J, Tseng KF, Zhang A, Qiao J, Fu YX, Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023 Jul 8 1 268
Sulfatides are endogenous ligands for the TLR4-MD-2 complex.: Su L, Athamna M, Wang Y, Wang J, Freudenberg M, Yue T, Wang J, Moresco EMY, He H, Zor T, Beutler B, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 07 118 30
Thousands of induced germline mutations affecting immune cells identified by automated meiotic mapping coupled with machine learning.: Xu D, Lyon S, Bu CH, Hildebrand S, Choi JH, Zhong X, Liu A, Turer EE, Zhang Z, Russell J, Ludwig S, Mahrt E, Nair-Gill E, Shi H, Wang Y, Zhang D, Yue T, Wang KW, SoRelle JA, Su L, Misawa T, McAlpine W, Sun L, Wang J, Zhan X, Choi M, Farokhnia R, Sakla A, Schneider S, Coco H, Coolbaugh G, Hayse B, Mazal S, Medler D, Nguyen B, Rodriguez E, Wadley A, Tang M, Li X, Anderton P, Keller K, Press A, Scott L, Quan J, Cooper S, Collie T, Qin B, Cardin J, Simpson R, Tadesse M, Sun Q, Wise CA, Rios JJ, Moresco EMY, Beutler B, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 07 118 28
Dominant atopy risk mutations identified by mouse forward genetic analysis.: SoRelle JA, Chen Z, Wang J, Yue T, Choi JH, Wang KW, Zhong X, Hildebrand S, Russell J, Scott L, Xu D, Zhan X, Bu CH, Wang T, Choi M, Tang M, Ludwig S, Zhan X, Li X, Moresco EMY, Beutler B, Allergy 2021 04 76 4 1095-1108
Mutual inhibition between Prkd2 and Bcl6 controls T follicular helper cell differentiation.: Misawa T, SoRelle JA, Choi JH, Yue T, Wang KW, McAlpine W, Wang J, Liu A, Tabeta K, Turer EE, Evers B, Nair-Gill E, Poddar S, Su L, Ou F, Yu L, Russell J, Ludwig S, Zhan X, Hildebrand S, Li X, Tang M, Murray AR, Moresco EMY, Beutler B, Sci Immunol 2020 Jan 5 43

Honors & Awards

NCI Kidney Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence Basic Project Co-Leader
Rally Foundation Cancer Career Development Award

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American Association for Cancer Research
Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer