Irwin I. Puc, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow at Academia Sinica, Taipei City, Taiwan

Exploring the rare and overlooked world of unconventional T cells—iNKT, MAIT, γδ, and CD1-restricted.  
#Mucosal • #LiverCancer • #Psoriasis • #Immunology

Experience

Postdoctoral Fellow

Academia Sinica | Dr. Cheng Yang
Tasks
  • Investigating the roles of conventional and unconventional T cells in the context of chronic HBV infection, HBV-associated liver disease, and liver cancer. This research involved analyzing T cell-mediated immune responses and their implications for disease progression and therapeutic interventions.
  • Conducting in-depth studies of CD1d-restricted iNKT cells and MR1-restricted MAIT cells in Tonsil, Nasal, PBMC, and liver tissue samples from patients. Utilizing multiplexed combinatorial tetramer staining and mass cytometry to characterize these unconventional T cell populations and their functional states.
  • Developing and employed lipid-loaded tetramer and endo-tetramer technologies to investigate rare CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c-restricted iNKT cells in psoriasis patients cohort and liver cancer tissue samples. This work provided insights into the antigen specificity and functional attributes of these T cell subsets.
  • Investigating the role and phenotypic profiles of myeloid cells in patients with chronic rhinitis, with a focus on distinguishing type 2 versus non-type 2 inflammatory responses.
June 2023 - Present

Researcher & laboratory assistant

National Cheng Kung University | Prof. Oscar Guey-Chuen Perng †
Tasks
  • Investigated cytokine signatures in dengue patients across different disease severities and used predictive modeling to identify severity biomarkers.
  • Investigated dengue virus entry receptors in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell populations using proteomics, binding assays and receptor-blocking experiments.
  • Investigated the mobilization, functional capacity, and latent viral potential of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in dengue patients and in vertical transmission during pregnancy.
  • Implemented new experiment protocols for lab use.
  • Designed and prepared new experiment for preliminary data for grant applications.
  • Maintained laboratory equipment and reagent inventory, ensuring that all supplies were available and in good working order.
  • Trained and supervised new laboratory members, providing guidance on experimental techniques and safety protocols.
  • Preparation of scientific papers, reports and English editing.
January 2019 - July 2023

Researcher

University of Belize - Micropropagation Laboratory Central Farm | Dr. Stephan Williams
Tasks
  • Perform laboratory experiments.
  • Execute new protocols for more efficient propagation.
  • Maintained laboratory equipment and reagent inventory, ensuring that all supplies were available and in good working order.
  • Maintain database of: expenses, materials and study data.
  • Trained and supervised new laboratory members, providing guidance on experimental techniques and safety protocols.
August 2013 - August 2015

Education

National Cheng Kung University

Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
Ph. D Basic Medical Sciences
Thesis title: Longitudinal analysis of cytokine and hematopoietic stem cells mobilization profiling in subsequent dengue infection.
Advisors: Prof. Oscar Guey-Chuen Perng † & Co-Advisor Prof. Shaw-Jenq Tsai

August 2018 - June 2023

National Cheng Kung University

Institute of Basic Medical SCIENCE
Master’s Degree in Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis title: Skin stem cells are highly permissive to dengue virus infection.
Advisors: Prof. Oscar Guey-Chuen Perng †

August 2016 - August 2018

University of Belize

Faculty of SCIENCE and Technology
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology
Thesis title: Effects of four different capping systems in the micropropagation of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) Variety B79-474.
Advisors: Dr. Dion Daniels

August 2013 - August 2015

University of Belize

Faculty of SCIENCE and Technology
Associate's Degree in Information Technology

January 2011 - June 2014

University of Belize

Faculty of SCIENCE and Technology
Associate's Degree in Biology

January 2011 - June 2013

Core competencies

Programming Languages & Laboratory skills

Coding: Python, R, HTML, CSS, FlowCore

Interest: Precision medicine, Machine learning, AI, Global health, Infectious diseases, Mucosal malignancies, Cancer immunology

Personal qualities: Team player, Communication, Critical thinker, Problem solving, Multitasking, Time efficient, Adaptability

Language: English (Native), Spanish (Native), Mandarin Chinese (Professional)

Experimental techniques/assays: Mass-cytometry (CyTOF), Flow cytometry, Tetramer/Antibody conjugation, Confocal microscopy, Proteomics, scRNA-seq, RNA interference, Laboratory techniques (cell culture, handling/processing human clinical samples, ELISA, CO-IP, RT-PCR, Western blot), Mouse Handling, Molecular Cloning, High-dimensional Data Analysis and visualization.

Certificates:

National Cheng Kung University IRB Training Programme

CISCO Certification

Publications & Patents

First author
  1. Puc, Irwin*; Ho, Tzu-Chuan; Chien, Yu-Wen; ; Tan, Sia-Seng; Fong, Yu-Cin; Yen, Ko-Lun; Chen, Yi-Ju; Wang, Sheng-Hsuan; Li, Yun-Hsuan; Chen, Po-Lin; Perng, Guey Chuen; Tsai, Jih-Jin. 2021. Mobilizing capacity of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells during dengue virus infection. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214330
  2. Puc, Irwin*; Ho, Tzu-Chuan; Yen, Ko-Lun; Vats, Amrita; Tsai, Jih-Jin; Chen, Po-Lin; Chien, Yu-Wen; Lo, Yu-Chih; Perng, Guey Chuen. 2021. Cytokine Signature of Dengue Patients at Different Severity of the Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062879
  3. Puc, Irwin*; Alegria, Javier; Dion, Daniels; Guerra, Daniels; Williams, Stephan. 2017. Effects of Four Different Capping Systems in the Micropropagation of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) Variety B79-474. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10699.49440
Co-author
  1. Vats, Amrita; Ho, Tzu-Chuan; Puc, Irwin*; Chang, Chiung-Hsin; Perng, Guey Chuen; Chen, Po-Lin. 2023. The CD133 and CD34 cell types in human umbilical cord blood have the capacity to produce infectious dengue virus particles. Scientific Reports. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37707-8
  2. Chen, Yi-Ju; Ho, Tsao - Yu-Cian; Ho , Tzu-Chuan, Puc, Irwin*; Chen, Chia-Chang, Perng, Guey Chuen. 2022. Antrodia cinnamomea Suppress Dengue Virus Infection through Enhancing the Secretion of Interferon-Alpha. Plants. DOI: 10.3390/plants11192631
  3. Vats, Amrita; Ho, Tzu-Chuan; Puc, Irwin*; Chen, Yi-Ju; Chang, Chiung-Hsin; Chien, Yu-Wen; Yen, Ko-Lun; Perng, Guey Chuen. 2021. Evidence that hematopoietic stem cells in human umbilical cord blood isinfectable by dengue virus: proposing a vertical transmission candidate. Heliyon. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06785
Patents
  1. Use of dengue virus for preparing anti-hepatoma drug. Taiwan Patent. Patent Number:202330001 Pending.

Awards and Invited Talks

Awards
Invited Talks