Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · BiochemistryThe Aedes Initiative
Zhijian Jake Tu · Blacksburg, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. Zhijian Jake Tu's lab focuses on understanding the sex-determination mechanisms in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are known carriers of diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. The lab is investigating the M factor, a critical genetic component that dictates whether a mosquito becomes male or female, with the goal of developing innovative methods for controlling mosquito populations. By deciphering the sex-determining pathways, the research aims to create safe and effective strategies to combat mosquito-borne illnesses.
Aedes aegyptisex determinationmosquito controldisease transmissionsex chromosomes
Research Aims
3AIM 01Decipher the sex locus in Aedes aegypti
AIM 02Identify and characterize the target(s) of Nix
AIM 03Develop efficient sex-separation methods through Nix-mediated innovations
Skills the Lab Values
RNA splicinggenomic analysisgene editingPCRtransgene engineering
Output against the department
Publications192top 44% of dept.177th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations11ktop 47% of dept.188th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.