Yufeng Wang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Bioinformatics
Office: SCB 3.01.20
Phone: (210) 458-6492
Yufeng.Wang@utsa.edu
Lab Page: http://www.utsa.edu/wanglab/
Research Interests
Research in my laboratory focuses on the comparative genomics, molecular evolution, and population genetics of gene families. Approaches range from the use of cutting edge bioinformatic and genomic tools, to statistical modeling and analysis based on evolution and population genetics theory. We are particularly interested in (1) the evolutionary mechanisms and population genetics of infectious diseases. We are using genomic and related data, coupled with other biochemical and microbiological information, to identify new therapeutic targets and to further study the underlying evolutionary mechanisms in diseases such as malaria; (2) the molecular evolution of vertebrate gene families, with a particular emphasis on the age distribution and functional divergence of duplicated genes, which are believed to provide the raw material for functional novelty in higher eukaryotes. We are also interested in the association between sequence evolution and gene network regulation.
Recent Publications
Wang Y, Wu Y. (2004) Computer assisted searches for drug targets with emphasis on proteases and their inhibitors. Current Drug Targets: infectious disorders. 4(1) 25-40.
Florens L, Liu X, Wang Y, Yang S, Schwart O, Peglar M, Carucci DJ, Yates JR, Wu Y. (2004) Proteomics approach reveals novel antigens on the surface of malaria-infected erythrocytes. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 135:1-11.
Wu Y, Wang X, Liu X, Wang Y (2003) Data-mining approaches reveal hidden families of proteases in the genome of Malaria parasite. Genome Research. 13:601-616.
Feng X, Carlton JM, Joy DA, Mu J, Furuya T, Suh BB, Wang Y, Barnwell JW, Su XZ. (2003) Single-nucleotide polymorphisms and genome diversity in Plasmodium vivax. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A. 100:8502-8507.
Wang Y, Pollak E (2002) The effective number of a population that varies cyclically in size. II. Continuous generations. Math. Biosci. 179: 161-181.
Wang Y, Gu X (2002) Evolutionary and expression profiles of gene families crucial for central nervous system development. Information Sciences 145:215-223.
Gu X, Wang Y, Gu J (2002) Age-distribution of human gene families showing equal roles of large and small-scale duplications in vertebrate evolution. Nature Genetics. 31:205-209.
Gu X, Wang Y, Gu J (2002) Evolutionary perspective for functional divergence of gene family and applications in functional genomics. Current Genomics. 3:201-211.
Gu J, Wang Y, Gu X (2002) Evolutionary analysis for functional divergence of jak protein kinase domains and tissue-specific genes. J. Mol. Evol. 54:725-733.
Wang Y, Gu X (2001) Functional divergence in caspase gene family and altered functional constraints: statistical analysis and prediction. Genetics 158: 1311-1320.