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Shengzhang
Dong
,
PhD

Senior Research Associate

Contact Info

615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E3410
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US        

Research Interests

Mosquito-pathogen interaction; Mosquito-borne diseases; Mosquito genome editing and transgenic; Vector biology and control

Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Zhejiang University
2007
MS
Anhui Agricultural University
2004
BS
Anhui Agricultural University
2001
Overview

Mosquito vectors transmit a broad range of human viral and parasitic diseases and over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. Current measures to control arthropod-borne diseases and their mosquito vectors are insufficient partially due to the lack of sustainable vector control strategies and vaccines. The overall goal of my research interests is to study the molecular biology and genomics of mosquitoes and mosquito-pathogen interactions, leading to the development of novel control strategies for vector-borne diseases.

Select Publications

Selected publications

  • Dong S, Dimopoulos G, 2023. Aedes aegypti Argonaute 2 controls arbovirus infection and host mortality. Nature Communications: 14, 5773.

  • Dong Y#, Dong S#, Dizaji NB, Rutkowski N, Pohlenz T, Myles K, Dimopoulos G, 2022. The Aedes aegypti siRNA pathway mediates broad-spectrum defense against human pathogenic viruses and modulates antibacterial and antifungal defenses. PLoS Biology: e3001668. (# Co-first author)

  • Dong S, Dong Y, Simoes ML, Dimopoulos G, 2022. Mosquito transgenesis for malaria control. Trends Parasitol,  38:54-66.

  • Dong S, Ye Z, Tikhe C, Tu Z, Zwiebel L, Dimopoulos G, 2021. Pleiotropic odorant-binding proteins promote Aedes aegypti reproduction and flavivirus transmission. mBio,  12:e02531-21.

  • Dong S, Fu X, Dong Y, Simoes ML, Zhu J, Dimopoulos G, 2020. Broad spectrum immunomodulatory effects of Anopheles gambiae microRNAs and their use for transgenic suppression of Plasmodium. PloS Pathogens 16:e1008453.