Baoyu Liu

Baoyu Liu, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Pathology

Academic Office Information

baoyu.liu@utah.edu

Lab

Our lab investigates antigen recognition by T cell receptors (TCRs) and B cell receptors (BCRs) - the molecular foundation of adaptive immunity. Once a T or B cell expresses a functional receptor, its development, fate, and immune responses are governed by how that receptor engages its cognate antigen. Similarly, antibodies - the secreted forms of BCRs - depend on antigen binding to trigger effector functions like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). By characterizing binding kinetics and structural mechanisms, we map these biophysical properties to downstream immune outcomes and leverage these insights to engineer therapeutic receptors and antibodies.

Research Statement

Our lab investigates antigen recognition by T cell receptors (TCRs) and B cell receptors (BCRs) - the molecular foundation of adaptive immunity. Once a T or B cell expresses a functional receptor, its development, fate, and immune responses are governed by how that receptor engages its cognate antigen. Similarly, antibodies - the secreted forms of BCRs - depend on antigen binding to trigger effector functions like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). By characterizing binding kinetics and structural mechanisms, we map these biophysical properties to downstream immune outcomes and leverage these insights to engineer therapeutic receptors and antibodies.

Education History

Undergraduate Fudan University
 BA
Graduate Training Fudan University
 MS
Doctoral Training Washington University in St. Louis
 PhD

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Choi HK, Cong P, Ge C, Natarajan A, Liu B, Zhang Y, Li K, Rushdi MN, Chen W, Lou J, Krogsgaard M, Zhu (2023). Catch bond models may explain how force amplifies TCR signaling and antigen discrimination. Nature communications, 14(1), 2616.
  2. Bettini M, Scavuzzo MA, Liu B, Kolawole E, Guo L, Evavold BD, Borowiak M, Bettini M (2020). A Critical Insulin TCR Contact Residue Selects High-Affinity and Pathogenic Insulin-Specific T Cells. Diabetes, 69(3), 392-400.
  3. Hong J, Ge C, Jothikumar P, Yuan Z, Liu B, Bai B, Li K, Rittase W, Shinzawa M, Zhang Y, Palin A, Love P, Yu X, Salaita K, Evavold B, Singer A, Zhu (2018). A TCR mechanotransduction signaling loop induces negative selection in the thymus. Nature immunology, 19(12), 1379¿1390.
  4. Kolawole EM, Andargachew R, Liu B, Jacobs JR, Evavold B (2018). 2D Kinetic Analysis of TCR and CD8 Coreceptor for LCMV GP33 Epitopes. Frontiers in immunology, 9, 2348.

Review

  1. Liu B, Kolawole EM, Evavold B (2021). Mechanobiology of T Cell Activation: To Catch a Bond. Annual review of cell and developmental biology, 37, 65-87.