Professional Profile

Dr. Ying Fang is a professor at the Department of Pathobiology and is affiliated with Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Fang obtained her PhD degree in microbiology in December 2004 from South Dakota State University. She was appointed as Assistant Professor at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Vaccinology at South Dakota State University in January 2005 and promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. In 2013, Dr. Fang moved to Kansas State University and served as Associate Professor and Full Professor. In 2019, Dr. Fang joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a Full Professor. 

• During the past 20 years, Prof. Fang's research interests have been focused on understanding the basic molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis, and applying the basic knowledge to develop vaccines and diagnostic assays. She is a pioneer and world-renowned leader in studying molecular pathogenesis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), one of the most economically important viral pathogens in swine industry worldwide. She constructed the first reverse genetic system of an emerging North American PRRSV-1 and developed diagnostic assays and vaccines in aid of disease control and prevention programs. Her laboratory was the first to conduct in-depth studies on the structure-function of PRRSV replicases, which led to the later discoveries of novel PRRSV proteins and unprecedented viral replication mechanisms. These findings have significant impacts on the current understanding of PRRSV biology, pathogenesis, and host immunity. Besides PRRSV, her research program has expanded to study other important veterinary and zoonotic viral pathogens, including influenza virus, coronavirus, and African swine fever virus. In addition to her contributions to basic science, Dr. Fang’s research has also resulted in commercial products and technologies that have directly benefited the livestock industry. Dr. Fang’s research has been supported by research grants from the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Health, National Pork Board and industry partners.

• 2024 Elected fellow, National Academy of Inventors
• 2023 Zoetis Animal Health Award for Research Excellence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
• 2017 Zoetis Animal Health Award for Research Excellence, Kansas State University
• 2013 Distinguished Researcher Award, South Dakota State University
• 2009 Intellectual Property Commercialization Award, South Dakota State University
• 2005 Dean’s Research Award, South Dakota State University
• 2004 Research Paper Award, South Dakota State University Chapter of the Society of Sigma Xi
• 2003 Graduate Student Travel Award, South Dakota State University
• 2000 VIIIth International Nidovirus Symposium Travel Award
• 1999 Research Proposal Award, South Dakota State University Chapter of the Society of Sigma Xi
• 1996 Professional Advancement Grant Award, Iowa State University

• Shang P, Li Y, Napthine S, Chen C, Brierley I, Firth AE, Fang Y. 2025. An intra-family conserved high-order RNA structure within the M ORF is important for arterivirus subgenomic RNA accumulation and infectious virus production. Journal of Virology, 2025 May 20; 99(5):e0216724.
• Yuan F, Chen C, Covaleda LM, Martins M, Reinhart JM, Sullivan DR, Diel DG, Fang Y. 2023. Development of monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals. mSphere, 8(4):e0006723.
• Fang, Y., Snijder, E. J., & Balasuriya, U.B. 2022. Chapter 5. Arterivirus. In P. Howley, & D. Knipe (Ed.). Fields Virology: RNA Viruses (7^th Edition), Wolters Kluwer Production.
• Guo R, Yan X, Li Y, Cui J, Misra S, Firth AE, Snijder EJ, Fang Y. 2021. A swine arterivirus deubiquitinase stabilizes two major envelope proteins and promotes production of viral progeny. PLoS Pathogens. 2021 Mar 18;17(3):e1009403.
• Shang P, Misra S, Hause B, Fang Y. 2017. A Naturally Occurring Recombinant Enterovirus Expresses a Torovirus Deubiquitinase. Journal of Virology, Jun 26;91(14). Selected as Spotlight Feature Article.
• Li Y, Treffers EE, Napthine S, Tas A, Zhu L, Sun Z, Bell S, Mark BL, van Veelen PA, van Hemert MJ, Firth AE, Brierley I, Snijder EJ, Fang Y. 2014. Trans-activation of programmed ribosomal frameshifting by a viral protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 111:E2171-81. 
• Fang Y, E. E. Treffers, Y. Li, A. Tas, Z. Sun, Y. van der Meer, A. H. de Ru, P. A. van Veelen, J. F. Atkins, E. J. Snijder, A. E. Firth. 2012. Efficient -2 frameshifting by mammalian ribosomes to synthesize an additional arterivirus protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109(43):E2920-8. 
• Fang, Y., Rowland, R. R., Roof, M., Lunney, J. K., Christopher-Hennings, J., and Nelson, E. A. 2006. A full-length cDNA infectious clone of North American type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus: expression of green fluorescent protein in the nsp2 region. J. Virology. 80(23):11447-11455.

View all publications in My Bibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/ying.fang.4/bibliography/public/

December 13, 2024: “Faculty Member Elected to National Academy of Inventors”, https://vetmed.illinois.edu/2024/12/13/faculty-member-elected-to-national-academy-of-inventors/

March 17, 2024: “Newborn piglets serve as a model for studying influenza”, https://www.igb.illinois.edu/article/newborn-piglets-serve-model-studying-influenza

January 24, 2024: “PRRS Conference Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Honors Two Industry Leaders”. https://vetmed.illinois.edu/2024/01/24/prrs-conference-celebrates-20th-anniversary-honors-two-industry-leaders/

July 10, 2023: “Scientists Develop ‘All Species’ COVID Test.” U.S. News. July 10, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-07-10/scientists-develop-all-species-covid-test

December 13, 2022: “Global Experts in Swine Viral Diseases Convene in Chicago”, https://www.farms.com/news/global-experts-in-swine-viral-diseases-convene-in-chicago-187868.aspx

Feb 25, 2022: “Can pet dogs be infected with coronavirus?” https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1127153832