Host–Microbe Interactions

Lyu Lab

Understanding how gut microbes and their products shape inflammation, cancer, and responses to immunotherapy.

Host–Microbe Interactions

The Lyu lab investigates how gut microbes and their products communicate with the host to regulate inflammation, cancer development and progression, and responses to cancer immunotherapy. We use multiomic approaches, together with studies of microbial signals and antigen-specific immune responses, to define mechanisms linking host–microbe interactions to disease. Our long-term goal is to uncover new mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies for cancer and inflammatory diseases.

01

MICROBIAL METABOLITES AND CANCER

Identifying novel microbial products and defining the mechanisms by which they influence cancer development and responses to immunotherapy.

02

ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC IMMUNE RESPONSES AND CANCER

Investigating how microbial antigens and antigen-specific immune responses shape inflammation, cancer, and immunotherapy responses.

03

TRANSLATIONAL STUDIES IN HUMAN CANCER

Translating insights from experimental models to human cancer to identify host–microbe interactions and immune pathways with potential for therapeutic application.

Meet the Lyu Lab

Mengze Lyu

Mengze Lyu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Division of Medical Oncology
Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Rutgers University

Dr. Mengze Lyu earned his Ph.D. in Cell Biology at Peking University, where he identified manganese as a key regulator of antitumor immunity through activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. He subsequently pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Gregory F. Sonnenberg at Weill Cornell Medicine, where his research focused on the complex interplay between host immunity and the gut microbiota.


His work has defined the heterogeneity and immunological functions of RORγt⁺ antigen-presenting cells and their roles in immune tolerance and inflammation. Dr. Lyu's long-term goal is to uncover fundamental mechanisms of host–microbe crosstalk in chronic inflammation and cancer, with the ultimate aim of developing novel strategies for cancer and inflammatory disease treatment.

Resident Faculty Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine
Associate Member Center for Immunity & Inflammation
Member Rutgers Cancer Institute
FUNDING
K99/R00 – National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Selected Publications

Also published as Lv, Mengze

2026
Lyu M*, Sonnenberg GF*. B7 costimulation antagonizes RORγt⁺ regulatory T cells and immune tolerance in the intestine.
Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2026 Apr 24; 223(6):e20251094.
*Corresponding author; Primary Research
DOI: 10.1084/jem.20251094
2024
Abramson J*, Dobeš J*, Lyu M*, Sonnenberg GF*. The emerging family of RORγt⁺ antigen-presenting cells.
Nature Reviews Immunology. 2024 Jan; 24:64–77.
*Equal contributions
DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00906-5
2022
Lyu M, Suzuki H, Kang L, Gaspal F, Zhou W, Goc J, Zhou L, Zhou J, Zhang W, JRI Live Cell Bank, Shen Z, Fox JG, Sockolow RE, Laufer TM, Fan Y, Eberl G, Withers DR, Sonnenberg GF. ILC3s select microbiota-specific regulatory T cells to establish tolerance in the gut.
Nature. 2022 Oct; 610:744–751.
Highlight in Nature, Immunity and Science Immunology
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05141-x
2022
Zhang W, Lyu M, Bessman NJ, Xie Z, Arifuzzaman M, Yano H, Parkhurst CN, Chu C, Zhou L, Putzel GG, Li T, Jin W, Zhou J, JRI Live Cell Bank, Hu H, Tsou AM, Guo C, Artis D. Gut-innervating nociceptors regulate the intestinal microbiota to promote tissue protection.
Cell. 2022 Oct 27; 185(22):4170–4189.e20.
Highlight in Cell, Immunity and Nature Reviews Immunology
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.008
2021
Goc J, Lv M, Bessman NJ, Flamar A-L, Sahota S, Suzuki H, Teng F, Putzel GG, JRI Live Cell Bank, Eberl G, Withers DR, Arthur JC, Shah MA, Sonnenberg GF. Dysregulation of ILC3s unleashes progression and immunotherapy resistance in colon cancer.
Cell. 2021 Sep 16; 184(19):5015–5030.e16.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.07.029
2020
Lv M*, Chen M*, Zhang R, Zhang W, Wang C, Zhang Y, Wei X, Guan Y, Liu J, Feng K, Jing M, Wang X, Liu Y, Mei Q, Han W, Jiang Z. Manganese is critical for antitumor immune responses via cGAS-STING and improves the efficacy of clinical immunotherapy.
Cell Research. 2020 Nov; 30(11):966–979.
Featured as Cover Story; *Equal contributions
DOI: 10.1038/s41422-020-00395-4

Latest News

July 2026
Lyu Lab launches at Rutgers University

The Lyu Lab begins its independent research program at Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine.

Lyu Lab launches at Rutgers University

We are recruiting

Opportunities

We are looking for motivated researchers who are excited about host–microbe interactions, immunology, cancer biology, and inflammatory disease.

Postdocs
Research Technicians
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Researchers

Prospective postdocs: please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information for three references directly to Dr. Lyu.

Contact

Principal Investigator Mengze Lyu, Ph.D.
Address Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Room 342B
679 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone 848-445-9814
Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School