Si-Ming Zhang, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology
Department of Biology
MSC 03- 0202
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

E-mail: zhangsm@unm.edu
Office phone: (505) 277 4589

Member of the Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI)

Member of the Biomphalaria glabrata Genome Initiative

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Invertebrate/mollusc immunity; Snail host-pathogen interactions; Schistosomiasis control; Molecular parasitology

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., 1998, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• B.S., 1984, Huazhong Agricultural University, P. R. China

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• Research associate professor, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico (UNM) (2008- )
• Research assistant professor, Department of Biology, UNM (2003-2008)
• Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Biology, UNM (2000-2002)
• Professor, Yangtze River Institute of Fisheries (YRIF), Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences (CAFS) (1999-2000)
• Associate professor, YRIF of CAFS, PRC (1997-1999)
• Assistant professor, YRIF of CAFS, PRC (1993-1997)
• Research assistant, YRIF of CAFS, PRC (1984-1993)
• Consultant to World Bank/UNDP of UN project (fisheries) in Bangladesh 1993
• Consultant to Asian Development Bank project (aquaculture) in Pakistan 1992
• Scientist to FAO of UN supported project (fish genetics) at Central Institute for Aquaculture, India (1989-1990)

ACADEMIC AWARDS

1. The presidential award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, PRC in 1999
2. The second prize of progress in science and technology, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, in 1995
3. The third prize of progress in science and technology, Ministry of Agriculture, PRC in 1991
4. The second prize of progress in science and technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, PRC in 1987

GRANTS AWARDED AS A PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

1. Molecular studies of immunoparasitology in snails. National Institute of Health (NIH) RO1 grant (AI067686) (July 2007- )
2. Diverse recognition capability: an invertebrate model. A subproject of the NIH COBRE project (2003- 2007)
3. Population genetics of Chinese sturgeon and phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes. Natural Science Foundation of China (1996-1999)
4. Stock identification of grass carp using mitochondrial DNA marker. International Foundation of Sciences (Sweden) (1993-1996)
5. Several research grants awarded from Chinese academy of fisheries sciences, Chinese ministry of agriculture, and Chinese ministry of Sci-technology (1992-1999).
The aims of those projects were to produce new fish breeders for aquaculture using genetic engineering approaches, and to apply molecular genetic markers for identification of fish stocks/populations.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Zhang, S.-M., Zeng, Y., Loker, E. S. (2008) Expression profiling and binding properties of fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs), plasma lectins from the schistosome snail host Biomphalaria glabrata. Innate Immunity, 14 (3): x-y.
2. Zhang, S.-M., Nian, H., Zeng, Y., DeJong R. J. (2008) Fibrinogen-bearing protein genes in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata: Characterization of two novel genes and expression studies during ontogenesis and trematode infection. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 32(10): x-y (doi:10.1016/j.dci.2008.03.01).
3. Stout, B. A., Adema, C. M., Zhang, S.-M., Loker, E. S. (2008) The biology of FREPs: diversified lectins with fibrinogen-related domains from the freshwater snail B. glabrata. In Animal Lectins: A Functional View. Eds: G. Vasta & H. Ahmed. CRC Press Taylor & Francis.
4. Zhang, S.-M., Zeng, Y., Loker, E. S. (2007) Characterization of immune genes from the schistosome snail host Biomphalaria glabrata that encode peptidoglycan recognition proteins and gram-negative bacteria binding protein. Immunogenetics, 59, 883-898.
5. Adema, C. M., Luo, M, Z., Hanelt, B., Hertel, L. A., Marshall, J. J., Zhang S,-M., DeJong, R. J., Kim, H. R., Kudrna, D., Wing, R. A., Soderlund, C., Knight, M., Lewis, F. A., Caldeira, R. L., Jannotti-Passos, L. A., Carvalho, O. D. S., Loker, E. S. (2006) A bacterial chromosome library for Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate snail host of Schistosoma mansoni. Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 101 (suppl. 1): 167-177.
6. Jiang, Y., Loker, E. S., Zhang, S.-M. (2006) In vivo and in vitro knockdown of FREP2 gene expression in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata using RNA interference. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 30: 855-866.
7. Jung, Y., Nowak, T. S., Zhang, S.-M., Hertel, L. A., Loker, E. S., Adema, C. M. (2005) Manganese superoxide dismutase from Biomphalaria glabrata. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 90: 59-63.
8. Zhang, S.-M., Adema, C. M., Kepler, T. B., Loker, E. S. (2004) Diversification of Ig superfamily genes in an invertebrate, Science, 305: 251-254.
9. Zhang, S.-M., Loker, E. S. (2004) Representation of an immune responsive gene family encoding fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs) in the freshwater mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni. Gene, 341: 255-266.
10. Loker, E. S., Adema, C. M., Zhang, S.-M., Kepler, T. B. (2004) Invertebrate immune systems – not homogeneous, not simple, not well understood. Immunological Review, 198: 10-24.
11. Zhang, S.-M., Loker, E. S. (2003) The FREP gene family in Biomphalaria glabrata: additional members and evidence consistent with alternative splicing and FREP retrosequences. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 27: 175-187.
12. Zhang, S.-M., Wang, D. Q., Zhang, Y.-P. (2003) Mitochondrial DNA variation, effective female population size and population history of the endangered Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis. Conservation Genetics, 4: 673-683.
13. Zhang, S.-M., Wang, D. Q., Deng, H., Yu, L. N. (2002) Mitochondrial DNA variation of silver carp and grass carp from populations of the Yangtze River system revealed by RFLP-PCR method. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 26(2): 142-147.
14. Zhang, S.-M., Léonard, P. M., Adema,C. M., Loker, E. S. (2001) Parasite responsive IgSF members in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata: characterization of novel genes with tandemly arranged IgSF domains and a fibrinogen domain. Immunogenetics, 53: 684-694.
15. Zhang, S.-M., Wu, Q. J., Zhang, Y. P. (2001) On the taxonomic status of the Yangtze, Asian and American green sturgeons based on mitochondrial control region sequences. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 47(6): 623-639.
16. Zhang, S.-M., Deng, H, Wang, D., Yu, L. N. (2001) Population structure and gene diversity of silver carp and grass carp from populations of the Yangtze River systems revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 25(4): 255-330.
17. Léonard, P. M., Adema, C. M., Zhang, S.-M., Loker, E. S. (2001) Structure of two FREP genes that combine IgSF and fibrinogen domains, with comments on the diversity of the FREP gene family in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata. Gene, 269: 155-165.
18. Zhang, S.-M., Zhang, Y. P, Cheng, Y. J., Wei, Q. W., Cheng,Y., Deng, H, Wang, D. Q., Wei Q. W, Nei, L., Wu, Q. J. (2000) Molecular phylogeny of twelve species of Acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 sequence analysis. Science in China (series C: English version), 43(2): 129-137.
19. Zhang, S.-M., Zhang, Y. P., Wu, Q. J. (2000) Tandem repeats of mtDNA control region in the Chinese sturgeon and related species, and its significance of evolution. Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 16(4): 458-461.
20. Zhang, S.-M., Deng, H., Yang, Y., Wu, Q. J. (2000) Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genetic diversity of the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 31(1): 1-7.
21. Zhang, S.-M., Deng, H., Wang, D., Zhang, Y. P., Wu, Q. J. (1999) Mitochondrial DNA length variation and heteroplasmy in the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). Acta Genetica Sinica, 26(5): 489-496.
22. Zhang, S.-M., Deng, H, Wang, D., Wu, Q. J. (1999) The relationships among seven species of Acipenseriformes inferred from random amplified polymorphoric DNA. Progress in Natural Science, 9(9): 816-823.
23. Zhang, S.-M., Yang, Y., Deng, H., Wei, Q, W., Wu, Q.J. (1999) Genome size and ploidy characters of several species of sturgeons and paddlefishes with comments on cellular evolution of Acipenseriformes. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 45(2): 200-206.
24. Zhang, S.-M., Deng, H, Wei., Q, Wang, D., Wu, Q. J. (1999) The preliminary evidence for low genetic diversity of the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) revealed by protein electrophoresis. Zoological Research, 20(2): 93-98.
25. Zhang, S.-M. , Zhang, Y. P,, Zheng, X. Z., Cheng, Y. J., Deng, H, Wang, D. Q., Wei, Q. W., Zhang, Y. W., Nie, L., Wu, Q. J. (1999) Molecular phylogeny of 12 species of Acipenseriformes based on ND4L-ND4 sequence analysis. Science in China (series C), 29(6): 607-614.
26. Liu, J. D., Huang, X., Yu, Q. X., Zhou, R. J., Guo, Y. Q., Zhang, S.-M., Deng, H,. Wang, D. (1999) Cytogenetic evidences for confirming the existence of sex chromosomes in Mastacembelus aculeatus (Osteichthyes, Perciformes). Journal of Wuhan University (Nat. Sci. Ed.), 45(2): 185-190.
27. Deng, H., Zhang, S.-M., Wang, D., Zhou, S. (1998) Use of RAPD to identify ten species of freshwater fishes. Freshwater Fisheries, 1: 8-11.
28. Deng, H., Zhang, S.-M., Wang, D. (1998) Genetic analysis of gynogenetic silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) by the means of RAPD and protein electrophoresis. Freshwater Fisheries, 6: 8-13.
29. Zhang, S.-M. (1997) Molecular biology techniques and their application to fisheries sciences. Journal of Fisheries of China, 21(Supl): 97-106.
30. Zhang, S.-M., Long, H., Yan, Y. (1996) Mitochondrial DNA RFLP analysis of blunt snout beam (Megalobrama amblycephala) population in Yuli lake, Hubei. Chinese Journal of Fisheries, 20(4): 289-293.
31. Zhang, S.-M. (1995) Interaction between exogenous and indigenous fish stocks and management of their genetic resources. Journal of Fisheries Science in China, 2(5): 164-171.
32. Yao, H., Zhang, S.-M., Zeng, Y. (1994) Automated karyotypic analysis of silver carp chromosomes with an imagine analysis system. Journal of Fisheries Science of China, 1(2): 18-25.
33. Zhang, S.-M., Zhang, X., Zeng, Y. (1993) Induction of tetraploidy in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val) by heat shock. Asian Fisheries Sciences, 6: 213-217.
34. Zhang, S.-M. (1993) A new method for fish chromosomes preparation. Hereditas, 15(3): 35-36.
35. Zhang, S.-M., Zeng, Y. (1993) NORs of three Cyprinid fish. Chromosome Information Service, 54: 19-20.
36. Zhang, S.-M., Long, H., Zhang, X. (1992) Comparative study in restriction endonuclease digestion of mtDNAs of Carassius auratus gibelio, C. a. cavieri and C. a. auratus. Chinese Journal of Fisheries, 16(2): 120-129.
37. Zhang, S.-M., Zeng, Y., Zhang, X. (1992) Nucleolar organizer regions in four species of fishes. Chromosome Information Service, 53: 6-8.
38. Zhang, S.-M., Zhang, X. Z. (1992) Advances in transgenic fish. Biotechnology, 2(1): 1-6.
39. Zhang, S.-M. (1992) The latest progress in chromosome sets manipulation in fish. Guwaishuchan, 3: 25-29.
40. Zhang, S.-M., Reddy, P. V. G. K. (1991) On comparative karyomorphology of three Indian major carps, Catla catla (Hamilton), Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton). Aquaculture, 97(1): 7-12.
41. Zhang, S.-M., Long, H. (1991) MtDNA analysis of snakehead using restriction endonuclease. Freshwater Fisheries, 4: 38-39.
42. Zhang, S.-M., Reddy, P. V. G. K., Khan, H. K. (1991) Karyomorphological studies in four species of fishes from India. Veterinarski Arhir. 61(1): 57-62.
43. Qian, H. X., Zhang, S.-M. (1991) Application of cell culture technology to fisheries sciences. Freshwater Fisheries, 5: 40-42.
44. Zhang, X. Z., Feng, G. H., Zhang, S.-M., Wang, K. (1991) Investigation on germplasmic resources of freshwater bream from Yuni lake, Hubei. Freshwater Fisheries, 3: 12-16.
45. Zhang, S.-M. (1990) Karyotypic studies in two species of Chanda (Centropomidae: Pisces). Chromosome Information Service, 49: 7-9.
46. Zhang, S.-M. (1990) Fish cyto-engineering and its applications. Chinese Journal of Zoology, 25 (1): 41-45.
47. Zhang, S.-M. (1990) Somatic chromosomes of two air-breathing fishes Chana punctatus (Bloch) and Hereopneusters fossilis (Bloch). Journal of Applied Zoological Research, 1: 7-10.
48. Zhang, S.-M., Zhang, X. Z. (1989) A rapid method of removing choron from the eggs of crucian c method of removing choron from eggs of the carp, Carassius auratus. Journal of Zoological Research, 2(1/2): 43-46.