Liwang Cui, PhD

David Cohen Professor, Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine

Contact Info

• USF Infectious Disease Research
  12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MDC84
  Tampa FL 33612
• Academic Email: liwangcui@usf.edu
• Academic Phone: (813) 974-9606
• View My C.V. | View My Website

Education

Biography

Dr. Cui is a professor at the Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine. He received his BA in entomology from Shenyang Agricultural University, China; PhD in biology from Moldova Agricultural University, former USSR; and PhD in virology from University of Kentucky. He joined USF in 2018 after 18 years as a professor at the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Cui focuses on several aspects of malaria including developmental biology, drug resistance, and epidemiology. Specifically, his lab uses functional genomics tools to study translational control by RNA-binding proteins during sexual development, and epigenetic regulation of gene expression by histone and chromatin modifiers. Employing genome-wide association studies and genetic analytic tools on Plasmodium falciparum isolates procured from the epicenter of drug resistance in Southeast Asia, his lab aims to identify and validate genes and pathways involved in drug resistance. Malaria epidemiology study focuses on malaria along international borders of countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion in Southeast Asia, and aims to determine the population structures of the parasites in response to control measures and under different endemic settings

Interdisciplinary and Emerging Signature Programs

• Allergy, Immunology & Infectious Disease

Awards/Honors

• Preeminent Scholar (University of South Florida - 2018)
• Editorial Board (Parasite Epidemiology and Control - 2018)
• Guest Editor (PLoS Pathogens - 2017)
• Guest Editor (PLoS Pathogens - 2015)
• Guest Editor (PLoS Genetics - 2015)
• Associate Editor (Malaria Chemotherapy, Control & Elimination - 2014)
• Alex and Jessie C. Black Award for Excellence in Research (The Pennsylvania University - 2010)
• Editorial Board (Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine - 2010)
• Invited Senior Researcher (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) - 2009)
• Academic Editor (malaria Research and Treatment - 2009)
• Fulbright Senior Scholar to Thailand; Adjunct Professor (Mahidol University - 2008)
• Faculty Development - International Collaboration Award (College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania University - 2005)
• International Travel Award (College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania University - 2003)
• Travel Award from the Fogarty International Center (National Institute of Health - 2002)
• Joan Luerssen Faculty Enhancement Award (College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania University - 2000)
• President's Award, Student Paper Competition, Section B (National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America - 1995)
• T. J. Headlee Memorial Graduate Fellowship (Department of Entomology, Rutgers University - 1994)
• Marion Johnson Graduate Fellowship (Graduate School, Rutgers University - 1993)

Memberships

• Fellow (American Society for Microbiology, 2022 - Present)
• Member (American Society for Microbiology, 2007 - Present)
• Member (American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, 2000 - Present)

Recent Publications

• Xu Y, Qiao D, Wen Y, Bi Y, Chen Y, Huang Z, Cui L, Guo J, Cao Y. PfAP2-G2 is associated to productionand maturation of gametocytes in Plasmodium falciparumvia regulating the expression of PfMDV-1 Font. Microbiol. 11, e631444. , 2021.
• Liu F, Yang F, Wang Y, Hong M, Zheng W, Min H, Li D, Jin Y, Tsuboi T, Cui L,.Cao Y. A conserved malaria parasite antigen Pb22 plays a critical role in male gametogenesis in Plasmodium berghei Cell Microbiol. 23, e13294. , 2021.
• Haddawy P, Lawpoolsri S, Sa-ngamuang C, Yin MS, Barkowsky T, Wiratsudakul A, Kaewkungwal J Khamsiriwatchara A, Sa-angchai P, Sattabongkot J, Cui L. Effects of COVID-19 government travel restrictions on mobility in a rural border area of northern Thailand: a mobile phone tracking study PLoS One 16, e0245842. , 2021.
• Aung PL Soe MT Soe TN Oo TL Aung PP Khin A Thi A Phuanukoonnon S Okanurak K Cui L Kyaw MP Parker DM. The acceptability of targeted mass treatment with primaquine for local elimination of vivax malaria in a northern Myanmar township: a mixed-methods study. Parasit Vectors. , 2021.
• Wang P, Jiang X, Zhu L, Zhou D, Hong M, He L, Chen L, Yao S, Zhao Y, Chen G, Wang C, Cui L, Cao Y, Zhu X. A G-protein-coupled receptor modulates gametogenesis via PKG-mediated signaling cascade in Plasmodium berghei Microbiol. Spectr., 10, 20015022. , 2022.
• Zhong D, Aung P L, Mya M, M, Wang X, Qin Q, Soe M, T, Zhou G, Kyaw M, P, Sattabongkot J, Cui L, Yan G. Community structure and insecticide resistance of malaria vectors in northern-central Myanmar Parasit. Vectors, e155. 15, 2022.
• Qian J, Wang M, Wang Z, Feng R, Zhang J, Ye C, Zhang M, Wang B, Cui L. Development of single- and multiplex immunoassays for rapid detection and quantitation of amodiaquine in ACT drugs and rat serum. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 414: 1631-1640, 2022.
• Aung PL, #Soe MT, #Oo TL, Khin A, Thi A, Zhao Y, Cao Y, Cui L, Kyaw MP, Parker D. Predictors of malaria RDT positivity in a high burden area of Paletwa Township, Chin State in western Myanmar Infect. Dis. Poverty. 10(6) , 2021.
• Si Y, ZengW, Li N, Wang C, Siddiqui F, Zhang J, Pe L, He X, Zhao L, Yang Z, .Cui L, . In vitrosusceptibility of Plasmodium falciparumisolates from the China-Myanmar border area to piperaquine and related genotypes suggest lack of resistance Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. (in press). , 2021.
• Kumpitak C Nguitragool W Cui L Sattabongkot J Bantuchai S. Detection of Plasmodium Sporozoites in Anopheles Mosquitoes using an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. J Vis. , 2021.
• Qian J Wang M Zhang M Feng R Zhang J Ye C Wang B Cui L. Development and application of immunoassays for rapid quality control of the antimalarial drug combination artesunate-mefloquine J Pharm Biomed Anal. , 2021.
• He X Zhong D Zou C Pi L Zhao L Qin Y Pan M Wang S Zeng W Xiang Z Chen X Wu Y Si Y Cui L Huang Y Yan G Yang Z. Unraveling the Complexity of Imported Malaria Infections by Amplicon Deep Sequencing. Front Cell Infect. , 2021.

Positions Held

• Professor (Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University 2009 - 2018)
• Associate Professor (Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University 2006 - 2009)
• Assistant Professor (Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University 2000 - 2006)