Education:
1999-2003 B.S. School of Life Sciences, Shandong University
2003-2008 Ph.D. School of Life Sciences, Fudan University
Professional Positions:
2008-2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, Department of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, USA
2011-2014 Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
2014-2019 Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
2019-2024 Professor, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
2024-now Professor, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Center for Infection Biology, Beijing, China
Research Areas:
My studies focus on the molecular dissection of the mosquito-virus-host interphase, which aims to identify key factors involved in viral pathogenesis, transmission, and immunity in mosquitoes and hosts, thus developing novel approaches to control these viral diseases spreading in nature. Multiple mosquito-borne flaviviruses are the pathogens of particular interest. I have identified multiple key factors in both host blood and mosquitoes to determine the effectiveness of flavivirus acquisition from infected hosts to fed mosquitoes. Recently, my team demonstrated that mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses can manipulate host skin microbiota to produce a scent that attracts mosquitoes, thus facilitating flavivirus acquisition. Additionally, my studies aim at understanding the molecular basis of flavivirus infection in mosquitoes and the viral transmission from infected mosquitoes to naïve hosts. Based on a series of findings in the flaviviral lifecycle between hosts and mosquitoes, I made another remarkable achievement by uncovering that adaptive mutations in Zika virus (ZIKV) promote the rapid ZIKV transmission between hosts and mosquitoes. These pioneering works offer insight into the emergence and re-emergence of flaviviruses in nature, thus providing an avenue for disease prevention. To date, I have published over 90 research or review articles in prestigious journals such as Nature, Cell, Science, and PNAS.
Honors and Awards:
➢ 2023 New Cornerstone Investigator
➢ 2023 Beijing Advanced Science and Technology Worker
➢ 2023 First prize of Natural Science Award of MOE
➢ 2022 The Science Xplore Award
➢ 2021 The Second prize of Chinese Medical Science Prize
➢ 2020 The First prize of Natural Science Award of Beijing
➢ 2019 The 22th Mao Yi-sheng Science and Technology Award for Beijing Youth
➢ 2018 The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar
➢ 2018 MOE Changjiang Young Scholar
➢ 2018 The C.C. Tan Award for Life Sciences and Medicine
➢ 2018 The 12th Annual Wuxi PharmaTech Life Science and Chemistry Awards
➢ 2017 The 2th VCANBIO Award for Innovations and Breakthroughs in Life Science and Medicine
➢ 2016 The 3th SHUSEN LANJUAN Medical Youth Award
➢ 2015 Grand Challenge Youth Scientist, MOST/Gates Foundation
➢ 2015 Newton Advanced Fellow, the Royal Society
➢ 2014 The National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholar
➢ 2013 Beijing Excellent Talents Cultivation Program, Beijing
Selected Publications:
1. Zhang LM*, Wang DX*, Shi PB, Li JZ, Niu JC, Chen JL, Wang G, Wu LJ, Chen L, Yang ZX, Li SS, Meng JX, Ruan FC, He YW, Zhao HL, Ren ZR, Wang YBN, Liu Y, Shi XL, Wang YF, Liu QY, Li JH, Wang PH, Wang JL#, Zhu YB#, Cheng G#. (2024) A naturally isolated symbiotic bacterium suppresses flavivirus transmission by Aedes mosquitoes. Science. 2024, 384(6693): eadn9524.
2. Wu LJ, Zhang LM, Feng SY, Chen L, Lin C, Wang G, Zhu YB, Wang PH, Cheng G#. (2024) An evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin ligase drives infection and transmission of flaviviruses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2024, 121(16): e2317978121.
3. Wang ZY, Nie KX, Liang Y, Niu JC, Yu X, Zhang OJ, Liu L, Shi XL, Wang Y, Feng XC, Zhu YB, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2024) A mosquito salivary protein-driven influx of myeloid cells facilitates flavivirus transmission. The EMBO Journal. 43(9):1690-1721.
4. Tai WB*, Yang K*, Liu YB*, Li RF*, Feng SY*, Chai BJ*, Zhuang XY*, Qi SL, Shi HC, Lei JQ, Ma EH, Wang WX, Tian CY, Tian MY #, Xiang Y #, Yu GC #, Cheng G #. (2023) A lung-selective delivery of mRNA encoding broadly neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Communications. 14: 8042.
5. Tai WB*, Feng SY*, Chai BJ*, Lu S*, Zhao G*, Chen D*, Yu W, Ren L, Shi H, Lu J, Cai Z, Pang M, Tan X, Wang P, Lin J #, Sun QM #, Peng XZ #, Cheng G #. (2023) An mRNA-based T-cell-inducing antigen strengthens COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Nature Communications. 14: 2962.
6. Liu YB*, Wang ZY*, Zhuang X*, Zhang S*, Chen Z, Zou Y, Sheng J, Li T, Tai W, Yu J, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Tong L, Yu X, Wu L, Chen D, Zhang R, Jin N, Shen W, Zhao JC #, Tian MR #, Wang XQ #, Cheng G #. (2023) Inactivated vaccine-elicited potent antibodies can broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants. Nature Communications. 14: 2179
7. Zhang H*, Zhu YB*, Liu ZW, Peng YM, Peng WY, Tong LQ, Wang JL, Liu QY, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2022) A volatile from the skin microbiota of flavivirus-infected hosts promotes mosquito attractiveness. Cell. 185: 2510–2522.
8. Tong LQ*, Xiao XP*, Li M*, Fang SS*, Yu X, Zhu YB, Wu CL, Tian DY, Yang F, Sun J, Qu J, Zheng NZ, Liao SM, Tai WB, Feng SY, Zhang LM, Li YH, Wang L, Han XL, Sun SH, Yang L, Zhao JC, Liu WJ, Liu XH, Wang PH, Li L #, Zhao GY #, Zhang RL #, Cheng G #. (2022) A glucose-like metabolite deficient in diabetes inhibits cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. Nature Metabolism. 4: 547–558.
9. Chen L*, Zhang XW*, Guo X*, Peng WY*, Zhu YB, Wang ZY, Yu X, Shi HC, Li YH, Zhang LM, Wang L, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2022) Neighboring mutation-mediated enhancement of dengue virus infectivity and spread. EMBO Rep. e55671.
10. Yu X*, Tong LQ*, Zhang LM*, Yang Y, Xiao XP, Zhu YB, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2022) Lipases secreted by a gut bacterium inhibit arbovirus transmission in mosquitoes. PLoS Pathogens. 18: e1010552.
11. Tong LQ*, Wang L*, Liao SM*, Xiao XP, Qu J, Wu CL, Zhu YB, Tai WB, Huang YH, Wang PH, Li L #, Zhang RL #, Xiang Y #, Cheng G #. (2022) A retinol derivative inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection by interrupting spike-mediated cellular entry. mBio. e0148522.
12. Tai WB*, Chai BJ*, Feng SY*, Zhuang XY*, Ma J, Pang MJ, Pan L, Yang Z, Tian MY #, Cheng G #. (2022) Development of a ferritin-based nanoparticle vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 7: 173.
13. Zhu YB, Zhang C, Zhang LM, Yang Y, Yu X, Wang JL, Liu QY, Wang PH, Cheng G #. ( 2021) A human blood-derived microRNA facilitates flavivirus infection in fed mosquitoes. Cell Reports. 37: 110091.
14. Yu X, Shan C, ZHu YB, Ma EH, Wang JL, Wang PH, Shi PY, Cheng G #. (2021) A mutation-mediated evolutionary adaptation of Zika virus in mosquito and mammalian host. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences. 118: e2113015118
15. Ma EH, Zhu YB, Liu ZW, Wei TY, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2021) Interaction of Viruses with the Insect Intestine. Annual Review of Virology. 8:115-131
16. Sun P*, Nie KX*, Zhu YB, Liu Y, Wu P, Liu ZW, Du SY, Fan HH, Chen CH, Zhang RL, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2020) A mosquito salivary protein promotes flavivirus transmission by activation of autophagy. Nature Communications. 11: 260
17. Yin CH*, Sun P*, Yu X, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2020) Roles of symbiotic microorganisms in arboviral infection of arthropod vectors. Trends in Parasitology. 36: 607-615
18. Yu X*, Zhu YB*, Xiao XP*, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2019) Progress towards understanding the mosquito-borne virus lifecycle. Trends in Parasitology. 35: 1009-1017
19. Zhu YB, Tong LQ, Nie KX, Wiwatanaratanabutr I, Sun P, Li QQ, Yu X, Wu P, Wu TS, Yu C, Liu QY, Bian ZQ, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2019) Host serum iron modulates dengue virus acquisition by mosquitoes. Nature Microbiology. 4: 2405–2415
20. Du SY*, Liu Y*, Liu JY*, Zhao J, Champagne C, Tong LQ, Zhang RL, Zhang FC, Qin CF, Ma P, Chen CH, Liang GD, Liu QY, Shi PY, Cazelles B, Wang PH, Tian HY #, Cheng G #. (2019) Aedes mosquitoes acquire and transmit Zika virus by breeding in contaminated aquatic environments. Nature Communications. 10: 1324
21. Wu P, Sun P, Nie KX, Zhu YB, Shi MY, Xiao CG, Liu H, Liu QY, Zhao TY, Chen XG, Zhou HN, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2019) A gut commensal bacterium promotes mosquito permissiveness to arboviruses. Cell Host & Microbe, 25, 1-12.
22. Wu P, Yu X, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2019) Arbovirus lifecycle in mosquito: acquisition, propagation and transmission. Expert Review in Molecular Medicine. 21: e1.
23. Jin L*, Guo XM*, Shen CB*, Hao X*, Sun P*, Li PP, Xu T, Li Y, Rose O, Zhou HN, Yang MD, Qin CF, Peng H, Zhu MZ, Cheng G #, Qi XP #, Lai R #. (2018) Salivary factor LTRIN from Aedes aegypti facilitates Zika virus transmission by interfering with the lymphotoxin-β receptor. Nature Immunology, 19: 342-353
24. Zhu YB, Zhang RD, Zhang B, Zhao TY, Wang PH, Liang GD, Cheng G #. (2017) Blood meal acquisition enhances arbovirus replication in mosquitoes through activation of the GABAergic system. Nature Communications. 8: 1262
25. Liu Y, Liu JY, Du SY, Shan C, Nie KX, Zhang RD, Li XF, Zhang RL, Wang T, Qin CF, Wang PH, Shi PY #, Cheng G #. (2017) Evolutionary enhancement of Zika virus infectivity in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Nature. 545: 482-486
26. Xiao XP, Yang LJ, Pang XJ, Zhang RD, Zhu YB, Wang PH, Gao GJ #, Cheng G #. (2017) A Mesh-Duox pathway regulates homeostasis in the insect gut. Nature Microbiology. 2: 17020
27. Zhang RD, Zhu YB, Pang XJ, Xiao XP, Zhang RL #, Cheng G #. (2017) Regulation of antimicrobial peptides in Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 7: 22
28. Liu JY, Liu Y, Nie KX, Du SY, Qiu JJ, Pang XJ, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2016) Flavivirus NS1 protein in infected host sera enhances viral acquisition by mosquitoes. Nature Microbiology. 1: 16087
29. Pang XJ, Xiao XP, Liu Y, Zhang RD, Liu JY, Liu QY, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2016) Mosquito C-type lectins maintain gut microbiome homeostasis. Nature Microbiology. 1: 16023.
30. Cheng G #, Liu Y, Wang PH, Xiao XP. (2016) Mosquito defense strategies against viral infection. Trends in Parasitology. 32: 177-186.
31. Liu Y, Liu JY, Cheng G #. (2016) Vaccines and immunization strategies for dengue prevention. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 5: e77
32. Pang X, Zhang R, Cheng G #. (2016) Progress towards understanding the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Virol Sin., 32: 16-22
33. Wang Q, Yang H, Liu X, Dai L, Ma T, Qi J, Wong G, Peng R, Liu S, Li J, Li S, Song J, Liu J, He J, Yuan H, Xiong Y, Liao Y, Li J, Yang J, Tong Z, Griffin BD, Bi Y, Liang M, Xu X, Qin C, Cheng G, Zhang X, Wang P, Qiu X, Kobinger G, Shi Y, Yan J, Gao GF. (2016) Molecular determinants of human neutralizing antibodies isolated from a patient infected with Zika virus. Sci Transl Med. 8: 369ra179.
34. Wang X, Yin F, Bi Y, Cheng G, Li J, Hou L, Li Y, Yang B, Liu W, Yang L. (2016) Rapid and sensitive detection of Zika virus by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification. J Virol Methods. 238: 86-93.
35. Xiao XP, Zhang RD, Pang XJ, Liang GD, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2015) A neuron-specific antiviral mechanism prevents lethal flaviviral infection of mosquitoes.PLoS Pathogens. 11: e1004848.
36. Liu Y, Liu J, Pang X, Liu T, Ning Z, Cheng G #. (2015) The roles of direct recognition by animal lectins in antiviral immunity and viral pathogenesis. Molecules. 20, 2272-2295.
37. Xiao XP, Liu Y, Zhang XY, Wang J, Li ZF, Pang XJ, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2014) Complement-related proteins control Flavivirus infection of Aedes aegypti by inducing antimicrobial peptides. PLoS Pathogens. 10: e1004027.
38. Liu Y, Zhang FC, Liu JY, Xiao XP, Zhang SY, Qin CF, Xiang Y, Wang P, Cheng G #. (2014) Transmission-blocking antibodies against mosquito C-type lectins for Dengue prevention. PLoS Pathogens. 10: e1003931.
39. Wang PH*, Yang L*, Cheng G, Xu ZY, Sun Q, Lin RT, Fikrig E, Sutton RE. (2013) UBXN1 interferes with Rig-I-like receptor-mediated antiviral immune response by targeting MAVS. Cell Reports. 3: 1057-1070.
40. Wang PW, Bai FW, Zenewicz LA, Dai JF, Gate D, Cheng G, Yang L, Qian F, Yuan XL, Montgomery RR, Flavell RA, Town T, Fikrig E. (2012) IL-22 Signaling Contributes to West Nile Encephalitis Pathogenesis. PLoS ONE 7: e44153.
41. Zhao X*, Cheng G*, Jiao Y , Yan W , Liu M, and Zheng ZX. (2012) Cloning and characterization of porcine interferon-δ related genes identified by genomic database screening. Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research. 32: 378-385. (* , the authors contributed equally)
42. Anderson JF, Main AJ, Cheng G, Ferrandino FJ, Fikrig E. (2012) Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of West Nile Virus Genotype NY99 by Culex salinarius and Genotypes NY99 and WN02 by Culex tarsalis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 86:134-139.
43. Liu L, Narasimhan S, Dai JF, Zhang LL, Cheng G, Fikrig E. (2011) Ixodes scapularis salivary gland protein P11 facilitates migration of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from the tick gut to salivary glands. EMBO reports. 12: 1196-1203.
44. Cheng G, Liu L, Wang P, Zhang Y, Zhao YO, Colpitts TM, Feitosa F, Anderson JF, Fikrig E. (2011) An In Vivo Transfection Approach Elucidates a Role for Aedes aegypti Thioester-Containing Proteins in Flaviviral Infection. PLoS ONE. 6: e22786.
45. Colpitts TM, Cox J, Vanlandingham DL, Feitosa FM, Cheng G, Kurscheid S, Wang PH, Krishnan MN, Higgs S, Fikrig E. (2011) Alterations in the Aedes aegypti Transcriptome during Infection with West Nile, Dengue and Yellow Fever Viruses. PLoS Pathogens. 7: e1002189.
46. Cheng G, Cox J, Wang PH, Krishnan MN, Dai JF, Qian F, Anderson JF, Fikrig E. (2010) A C-Type Lectin collaborates with a CD45 phosphatase homolog to facilitate West Nile Virus infection of mosquitoes. Cell. 142, 714-725.
47. Cheng G, Zhao X, Li ZF, Liu XY, Yan WY, Zhang XY, Zhong Y, Zheng ZX. (2009) Identification of a putative invertebrate helical cytokine similar to the Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor/Leukemia Inhibitory Factor family by PSI-BLAST-based approach. Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research. 29: 461-468.
48. Zhao X, Cheng G, Yan WY, Liu MQ, He Y, Zheng ZX. (2009) Characterization and virus-induced expression profiles of the porcine interferon-omega multigene family. Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research. 29: 687-693.
49. Cheng G, Zhao X, Yan WY, et al. (2007) Alpha interferon is a powerful adjuvant for a recombinant protein vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus in swine, and an effective stimulus of in vivo immune response. Vaccine. 25: 5199-5208.
50. Wang JL, Liu MQ, Han J, Chen WZ, Cong W, Cheng G, Gao YH, Lu YG, Chen JL, Zuo XP, Yan WY, Zheng ZX. (2007) A peptide of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype Asia1 generating a neutralizing antibody response, and an immunostimulatory peptide. Veterinary Microbiology. 125: 224-231.
51. Cheng G, Chen WZ, Li ZF, Xie J, Yan WY, Liu MQ, Zhang H, Zhong Y, Zheng ZX. (2006) Characterization of the porcine alpha interferon multigene family. Gene. 382: 28-38.
52. Chen WZ, Liu MQ, Cheng G, Yan WY, Fei L, Zheng ZX. (2005) RNA silencing: a remarkable parallel to protein-based immune systems in vertebrates? FEBS Lett. 579: 2267-2272.
Complete list of publications:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=s1jNBOMAAAAJ&hl=en
