Research Areas:

Entomology; Microbiology; Genomics; Biological Engineering;

Research Interests:

Mosquitoes are vectors of many human pathogens including dengue virus, Zika virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, Mayaro virus, and malaria. Roughly half of the world’s population is at risk of these diseases, with the highest burden falling on socially and economically disadvantaged populations. Dengue incidence has increased over 30-fold in the past 50 years, currently resulting in over 400 million new infections per year. The group uses genomics as the main method, based on genomics, gene editing, microbial isolation and screening, aseptic system, and other approaches to explore the interactions between host and microbiota, and develop new technologies using microbiome and genome editing for mosquito control.

1. New mosquito control technologies based on microbiome and gene editing/drive

Developing new economic, sustainable, and environment-friendly mosquito control technologies based on microbiome and gene editing.

2. Microbial function mining

Using parasitic wasps and mosquitoes as model systems, we will deeply explore the role of microorganisms in the evolution of host adaptability and drug resistance, develop probiotics or engineered functional bacteria.

3. Microbial structure regulation mechanisms

Using metagenomics, metabolomics, gene editing, and aseptic system, we will focus on the molecular and physiological mechanisms how host regulates microbiota structure, paving the way for the establishment of microbial technology for pest control.