Dr. Fang’s research interests focus on understanding of the immune regulatory mechanisms involved in the inability of the host defense system to control systemic infection with intracellular bacteria, such as rickettsiae. She is specifically interested in studying how dendritic cells mediate a defective innate immune response and a suppressed effector T cell response which lead to overwhelming infection in fatal acute spotted fever rickettsiosis. Her current research had explored the role of T regulatory cells in rickettsial infection in vivo and in vitro by using mouse models.

PhD	University of Mediterranee Medical College in Marseille, France	Pathogenesis of Transmissible Tropical Diseases	2003
MS	University of Qingdao Medical College, China	Molecular Biology	1999
MD	University of Qingdao Medical College, China	Clinical Medicine	1996

2008	“First Place” awarded at Pathology Trainee Research Session, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
2008	“Travel Award”awarded by Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
2007	“Travel Award” awarded by American Society for Rickettsiology
2006	“Travel Award” awarded by McLaughlin Grant

• Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society
• The American Society Rickettsiology (ASR).
• The American Association of Immunologists (AAI)

1. Fang R, Ismail N, Shelite T, Walker DH. 2009. CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T regulatory cells produce both IFN-g and IL-10 during acute severe murine spotted fever rickettsiosis. Infect and Immun. 77(9) 3834-49. PMID: 19564386
2. Fang R, Ismail N, Soong L, Popov VL, Whitworth T, Bouyer DH, Walker DH. 2007. Differential interaction of dendritic cells with Rickettsia: Impact on host susceptibility to murine spotted fever rickettsiosis. Infect and Immun. 75(6):3112-23. PMID: 17403875
3. Fang R, Houhamdi L, Raoult D. 2002. Detection of Rickettsia prowazekii in body lice and their faeces by monoclonal antibodies. J Clin Microbiol 40:3358-3363. PMID: 12202579
4. Fang R, Raoult D. 2003. Antigenic Classification of Rickettsia felis by using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 10 (2): 221-8. PMID: 12626446
5. Fang R,  Fournier PE, Houhamdi L,  Azad AF, Raoult D. 2003. Detection of R. felis and R. typhi in fleas using monoclonal antibodies. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 990: 213-20. PMID: 12860628
6. Houhamdi L, Fournier PE, Fang R, Lepidi H, Raoult D. 2002. An experimental model of human body louse infection with Rickettsia prowazekii. J Infect Dis186: 1639-46. PMID: 12447741
7. Houhamdi L, Fournier PE, Fang R, Raoult D. 2003. An experimental model of human body louse infection with Rickettsia typhi. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Jun; 990: 617-27.PMID: 12860699
8. Fang R, Wang B, Lu YB, Song XX, Shao JJ. 2000. Sequence analysis of HIV-1 env V3 region from HIV-1 infected intravenous drug abuse users in Ruili county of Yunnan region. Acta Academiae Medicinae Qingdao Universitatis. 36 (1): 20-22.
9. Wu H, Wang B, Fang R, Lu YB, Qian DM, Zeng Y. 2000. Variation trend of the tetrapeptide on the tip of V3 loop of 62 HIV-1 strains isolated in IDU of Yunnan from 1990 to 1997. Chin J Microbiol Immunol 20 (5): 462-4.
10. Wang B, Fu JH, Wu H, Liu CX, Qian DM, Fang R. 2001. Discovery of natural variant strain of HIV-1 in env gene C2-V3 encoded PND of membrane protein. Chin J Exp Clin Virol. 15 (3): 245-247.
11. Song XX, Qian DM, Fu JH, Fang R, Wu H, Wang B. 2005. Subtypes and sequence analysis of C2-V3 region of env genes among HIV-1 strains in Shandong province during 19971-2002. Med. J. QiLu 20 (5): 385-8.

NIH Biosketch