Institution & Position

Professor, Vanke School of Public Health / School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University

Secretary of The Party Committee, Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University

Education & Training

Sep/1999-Jun/2003	B.S.	Shandong University, Shandong, P.R. China	Microbiology
Sep/2003-Jun/2008	Ph.D.	Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China	Microbiology

Professional Position

2008-2010	Postdoctoral Associate	Department of Infectious Diseases	Yale University / HHMI, New Haven, CT, USA
2010-2011	Postdoctoral Fellow	Department of Infectious Diseases	Yale University / HHMI, New Haven, CT, USA
2011-2014	Tenure-track Assistant Professor	School of Medicine	Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
2014-2017	Tenure-track Associate Professor	School of Medicine	Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
2017-2019	Associate Professor with Tenure	School of Medicine	Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
2019-2024	Professor	School of Medicine	Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
2024-2026	Professor	School of Basic Medical Sciences	Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
2026-Now	Professor	Vanke School of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences	Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China

Personal Statement

Dr. Cheng’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing the mosquito–virus–host interface, aiming to identify key factors that regulate viral pathogenesis, transmission, and immune responses in both mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts. His work has significantly advanced the conceptual framework of mosquito‑borne viral diseases and provided fundamental insights for the development of innovative intervention strategies. Dr. Cheng has published more than 100 peer‑reviewed papers and invited reviews as corresponding author in leading international journals including Nature, Science, and Cell. His discoveries have elucidated the biological basis underlying the natural transmission of mosquito‑borne viruses and revealed critical determinants responsible for the emergence and spread of pathogens such as Zika virus. These findings provide important theoretical foundations for antiviral drug and vaccine development and offer key technological support for the prevention and control of emerging vector‑borne infectious diseases.

Significant Professional Activities and Awards

2025 mBio, Senior Editor

2025 2024 Top 10 Life Science Breakthroughs of China

2024 (Cell Press) "50 Scientists that Inspire"

2024 Deputy Director, Branch of Medical Virology, Chinese Medical Association

2024 Deputy Director, Branch of Microbiology and Immunology, Chinese Medical Association

2023 New Cornerstone Investigator, New Cornerstone Foundation

2023 Advanced Science and Technology Worker Award in Beijing

2023 Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (in Natural Science, First Prize), the Ministry of Education

2023 Science Bulletin, Editorial Board Member

2022 XPLORER Prize, Tencent Foundation

2022 Current Opinion in Insect Science, Editorial Board Member

2021 Executive Director, Chinese Society of Microbiology

2021 Director, Branch of Interaction between Vectors and Pathogens, Chinese Society of Entomology

2021 Director, Branch of Microbiology and Biosafety, Chinese Society of Microbiology

2021 Director, Branch of Virology, Young Committee, Chinese Society of Microbiology

2021 Deputy Director, Branch of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Society of Biophysics

2021 Medical Science and Technology Award, Chinese Medical Association (Second Prize)

2021 Viruses, Editorial Board Member

2020 Beijing Science and Technology Award in Natural Science (First Prize)

2019 Mao Yisheng Beijing Youth Science and Technology Award

2018 C.C. Tan Award for Life Sciences and Medicine, C.C. Tan Foundation

2018 WuXi PharmaTech Life Science and Chemistry Award, WuXi PharmaTech Foundation

2018 The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, NSFC

2018 Young Scholar of Yangtze River Scholars Award, the Ministry of Education

2018 eLife, Reviewing Guest Editor

2017 Standing Committee Fellow, Asia Pacific Health Emergency Committee, IAEM

2017 Deputy Director, Branch of Insect Immunology, The Entomological Society of China

2017 Committee Fellow, Vector Biology and Control Committee, CPMA

2017 Virologica Sinica, Editorial Board Member

2017 VCANBIO Award for Innovations and Breakthroughs in Life Sciences and Medicine, VABM Foundation

2017 Committee Fellow, Branch of Experimental Animals, Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences

2016 Shusen-Lanjuan Medical Award, The Academician Shusen-Lanjuan Talent Foundation

2016 Standing Committee Fellow, Branch of Vector Biology, Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences

2016 Committee Fellow, Branch of Microbiology and Biosafety, Chinese Society of Microbiology

2016 Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Associate Editor

2015 Newton Advanced Fellow, the Academy of Medical Sciences / the Newton Fund, the UK

2015 Grand Challenge-Young Scientist, Gates Foundation / Ministry of Science and Technology of China

2015 Visiting Research Fellow, Imperial College London

2014 National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, NSFC

2013 Excellent Talents Award, the Beijing Municipal CPC Committee talents project

2013 Committee Fellow, Youth Commission, Branch of Virology, Chinese Society for Microbiology

2012 Janssen Investigator, Tsinghua University / Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.

2011 Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Editorial Reviewer

2010 James Hudson Brown-Alexander Brown Coxe Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University

2010 Travel Award, Dengue Virus Workshop, Regional Centers of Excellence, NIAID

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications(# Corresponding Author)

1. Niu JC*, Ma J*, Zhu YB*, Wang G, Xu X, Wang M, Wang ZY, Bao XH, Liu JY, Ma EH, Zhang XW, Liu L, Zhang Y, Liu QY, Li CX, Yin H, Xiang Y, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2026) Mosquito–capsid interactions contribute to flavivirus vector specificity. Nature. 651:1039-1050.

2. 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. 384: eadn9524.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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: 101-112.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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. 121: e2317978121.

12. Wang ZY, Nie KX, Liang Y, Niu JC, Yu X, Zhang OJ, Liu L, Shi XL, Wang YBN, 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: 1690-1721. (Cover story)

13. Liu JY*, Zhang LM, Tong H, Li J, Yuan YL, ZhuYB, Shi XL, Zheng XY, Liu Y #, Cheng G #. (2025) Microorganisms in mosquitoes for controlling mosquito-borne viral diseases: from lab to field. Trends in Microbiology. 34(3):277-292. (Cover story)

14. Zhu YB, Cao YY, Jiang LP, Wang PH, Cheng G #. (2025) Interactions between commensal microbes and mosquito-borne viruses. Annual Review of Virology. 12(1):79-92.

15. Zhu YB*, Liu JY*, Cheng G#. (2023) Progress towards research on mosquito-borne arboviral transmission and infection. Sicence Bulletin. 68: 2884-2888.

16. 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.

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. Cheng G #, Liu Y, Wang PH, Xiao XP. (2016) Mosquito defense strategies against viral infection. Trends in Parasitology. 32: 177-186.

20. 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.

Book Chapter

1. Liu Y, Cheng G #. (2016) Techniques for Experimental Infection of Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus. Chapter 13: West Nile Virus Methods and Protocols (Methods Mol Biol 1435) pp: 151-163.

2. Zhu Y, Yu X, Cheng G #. (2020) Lectin in Host Defense Against Microbial Infections. Chapter 5: Insect C-Type Lectins in Microbial Infections (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1204) pp: 129-140.