Si-Ming Zhang

Si-Ming Zhang is a Research Professor at the Center for Evolutionary & Theoretical Immunology and Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. from The Chinese Academy of Sciences (1998) and a B.S. from Huazhong Agricultural University.

• Research interests: Comparative Immunology, Genetics, Genomics, Parasitology, Vector Biology, Medical Malacology, Host-Parasite Interactions, Schistosomiasis, Fish Biology

Zhang's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying snail-schistosome interactions, including immune signaling pathways in snails, genomic basis of resistance, and transcriptomic responses to parasitic infections. His work spans both freshwater snail vectors (Biomphalaria, Bulinus) and human-infecting schistosomes (S. mansoni, S. haematobium).

His recent publications (2024-2025) highlight advances in

• haplotype-like snail genome assembly
• mitochondrial genomics of vector snails
• transcriptomic profiling of immune gene families
• yolk protein-mediated germline delivery in snails
• compatibility between snails and schistosomes
• evolution of immune recognition mechanisms

These studies integrate genomics, transcriptomics, and functional molecular biology.

Grants awarded include:

• NIH R21 (2025-): Fine-resolution genetic mapping of Biomphalaria glabrata
• NIH R01 (2022-): Genetics/genomics of schistosome resistance in snails
• NIH R21 (2021-2023): Yolk protein-mediated germline delivery
• NIH R21 (2019-2021): Genomic basis of snail resistance
• NIH RO1 (2007-2012): Molecular studies of immunoparasitology in snails

He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on these projects.