Hiep Vu

Ph.D., Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2013
M.S., Veterinary Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009
BVSc (DVM Equivalent), Nong Lam University, 2005

Dr. Vu is a passionate researcher in the field of swine virology. He received his bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine from Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2005. He then pursued his graduate training at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL), where he earned his master's degree in 2007 and PhD in 2013. Dr. Vu joined the Department of Animal Science in 2017. He is now an Associate Professor at the Nebraska Center for Virology and the Department of Animal Science at UNL.

Vu's laboratory studies three major swine viruses: PRRSV, swine influenza virus, and African swine fever virus. Research topics in his lab include investigating host immune responses to viral infection or vaccination, molecular characteristics of viruses circulating in the swine population, and designing vaccine antigens to promote broadly protective immunity. His research is funded by the US Department of Agriculture and the National Pork Board.

Courses
ASCI 444/484 Domestic Animal Immunology
Semester: Fall
Summary: The Domestic Animal Immunology course is tailored for students who have a keen interest in agriculture animal production. The primary emphasis of the course will be on understanding the fundamental principles of the animal immune system and applying immunological knowledge to enhance animal health and optimize production outcomes.

VetMed 687 Veterinary Virology
Semester: Spring
Summary: The objective of the Veterinary Virology course is to equip students with a fundamental understanding of virus biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prevention of viral diseases. The course is divided into two parts. Part A (18 lecture periods) focuses on the principles of virology, viral immunology, and epidemiology. Part B (19 lecture periods) centers around zoonotic viruses and viruses affecting companion animals, livestock, and laboratory animals.

Publication since 2020
Book chapters

• Kennedy M, Delhon G, McVey DS, Vu H, and Borca M. 2021. Chapter 49: Asfarviridae and Iridoviridae. In Veterinary Microbiology, 4th Edition.; McVey, S., Kennedy, M., M.M. Chengappa, M.M., Wilkes, R., Eds. Wiley Blackwell: 2022.

Publications

• Chaudhari J, Leme RA, Durazo-Martinez K, Sillman S, Workman AM, Vu H.L.* 2022. A single amino acid substitution in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus glycoprotein 2 significantly impairs its infectivity in macrophages. Viruses 2022 Dec 18;14(12):2822. PMID: 36560826.
• Kumari S., Chaudhari J., Huang Q., Gauger P., Almeida M., Liang Y., Ly H., Vu H.L.*, Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a recombinant Pichinde viral vectored vaccine expressing influenza virus hemagglutinin antigen. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Aug 26;10(9):1400. PMID: 36146478.
• Hille, M.M., Spangler, M.L., Clawson, M.L., Heath, K.D., Vu, H.L., Rogers, R.E.S., Loy, J.D., A Five Year Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Antibody Responses to a Commercial and Autogenous Vaccine for the Prevention of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Jun 9;10(6):916. PMID: 35746524.
• Chaudhari, J., Nguyen, T.N., Vu, H.L.*, Identification of Cryptic Promoter Activity in cDNA Sequences Corresponding to PRRSV 5' Untranslated Region and Transcription Regulatory Sequences. Viruses. 2022 Feb 15;14(2):400. PMID: 35215993.
• Luong Q.H., Lai T.L.H., Do L.D., Ha X.B., Nguyen V.G. and Vu H.L., 2022. Differential antibody responses in sows and finishing pigs naturally infected with African swine fever virus under field conditions. Virus Res. 2022 Jan 2;307:198621. PMID: 34799123.
• Dhakal J, Vu H.L, Chaudhari J, Nguyen K, Chaves B D . 2022. Method Validation for the Recovery of the Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome Virus a Potential SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate, from Stainless Steel. Letters in Applied Microbiology, ovac068, https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovac068.
• Chaudhari J., Liew CS, Riethoven JJ, Sillman S., and Vu H.*, 2021. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection upregulates negative immune regulators and T cell exhaustion markers. J Virol. 2021 Oct 13;95(21):e0105221. PMID: 34379512.
• Truong, Q.L., Nguyen, T.L., Nguyen, T.H., Shi, J., Vu, H.L., Lai, T.L.H., Nguyen, V.G., 2021. Genome Sequence of a Virulent African Swine Fever Virus Isolated in 2020 from a Domestic Pig in Northern Vietnam. Microbiol Resour Announc 10:e00193-21. PMID: 33986078
• Chaudhari J., and Vu H*. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Reverse Genetics and the Major Applications. Viruses. 2020 Oct 31;12(11). Review. PMID: 33142752
• Luong, H.Q., Lai, T.L.H., and Vu, H*., 2020. Evaluation of Antibody Response Directed against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Structural Proteins. Vaccines 2020, 8, 533. PMID: 32947931
• Chaudhari J., Liew CS, Workman A, Riethoven JJ, Steffen D., Sillman S and Vu H.*, 2020. Host Transcriptional Response to Persistent Infection with a Live-Attenuated Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Strain. Viruses 2020, 12(8), 817. PMID: 32731586

Professional Highlights
Honors and Awards
2020 Omtvedt Innovation Award Nomination for Teams
2018 Parents Recognition award for service to students, UNL Parents Association
2017 Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research, awarded by ARD IANR
2015 Breakthrough Innovation of the Year awarded by NUtech Ventures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuVVhuQsG2Y&feature=youtu.be

Professional Services
2020 – Present - Associate Editor of Journal of Medical Virology 2019-present Member at large, the NC-229 Multistate Committee
2016 – present -  Scientific Committee Member, North American PRRSV Symposium
2020-2023 -  Member, The American Society for Virology Membership Review Committee
2021 - Ad hoc reviewer, Discovery-Skin Disorders Review Panel, Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
2021 - Guest Editor, Special Issue in Vaccines titled "Swine Vaccines and Vaccinology" for Vaccines
2020 - Guest Editor, Special Issue in Vaccines titled "PRRSV Vaccinology and Immunology"
2020 - Member - Coronavirus Disease-Immunology Review Panel, Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
2019 - Ad hoc reviewer, Conference proposal for USDA-NIFA
2018 - Ad hoc reviewer, USDA-NIFA Exploratory Research program
2018 - Ad hoc reviewer, Minnesota Pork Board
2017 - Ad hoc reviewer - Industrial Research Fund of Ghent University in Belgium