Research Interests

Molecular Parasitology and Evolution

Parasites are a unique group of organisms that require one or more hosts for survival. Our research focuses not only on basic parasitological characteristics (e.g., morphology, life cycle, infectivity, drug resistance) but also on the function and evolution of parasite genes and proteins.

Programs Offered for Student Recruitment

  • Master’s Program: Microbiology
  • Doctoral Programs: Zoology; Biomedical Science and Health

Professional Experience

  • 2013 – Present Associate Professor & Doctoral Supervisor, Sun Yat-sen University
  • 2018 – 2021 Secretary-General, Asian Society of Protistologists
  • 2014 – Present Council Member & Standing Council Member, Guangdong Zoological Society
  • 2017 – Present Council Member & Deputy Secretary-General, Protistology Branch, Chinese Zoological Society
  • 2018 – Present Council Member, Guangdong Society of Parasitology
  • 2010 – 2012 Marie Curie Fellow, University of Oxford, UK
  • 2011 – 2012 STEM Ambassador, Researchers in Residence, UK
  • 2008 – 2010 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
  • 2003 – 2008 PhD, Sun Yat-sen University
  • 1999 – 2003 Bachelor, Sun Yat-sen University

Courses Taught

  • Marine Zoology Internship (Freshman Summer, Undergraduate)
  • Biochemistry (First Semester of Sophomore Year, Undergraduate)
  • Academic Ethics and Thesis Writing (Second Semester of First Year, Graduate)

Academic Achievements

Dr. Lai has long been engaged in research on zoonotic parasites, with remarkable accomplishments. Since 2005, he has published numerous papers in top international journals, including PNAS, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, and Molecular Biology and Evolution. His publication record includes over 80 SCI-indexed papers, among which more than 10 have an impact factor (IF) of 10 or higher. His work has gained recognition from domestic and international peers in the parasitology field.His research has deepened the academic community’s understanding of the biological characteristics of parasites at the cellular, protein, and molecular levels. It has also made positive contributions to macro-level studies such as speciation and evolution, while providing a critical theoretical basis for parasite control and drug target design.Dr. Lai has received funding from various talent programs, including the Guangdong Outstanding Young Scholar Program, the EU Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Young Scientist Program, and the Guangzhou Pearl River New Star Program.

Research Grants

Principal Investigator (PI)

  1. 2023 – 2026 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32270446): The Mechanism of Basal Body Protein BBLP in Basal Body Assembly of Trypanosoma brucei
  2. 2022 – 2024 Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou (Agriculture-related Project, Grant No. 202201011831): Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Clonorchis sinensis Infection in Grass Carp
  3. 2022 – 2024 Guangdong S&T Programme  (Grant No. 2022A1515011874): Using Trypanosome Model to Study the Function of Key Centrosome Proteins
  4. 2018 – 2021 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31772445): Using iNOS knock-out rats to study regulating effect of host's NO on Toxoplasma gondii proliferation and differentiation
  5. 2016 – 2020 Guangdong Province Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar  (Grant No. 2016A030306048): Genetic Characteristics and Differentiation Regulation of Zoonotic Trypanosoma 
  6. 2015 – 2018 Guangzhou Pearl River Nova Project (Grant No. 201506010011): Genetic Characteristics and Differentiation Regulation of Zoonotic trypanosome pathogen
  7. 2015 – 2018 Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (General Program, Grant No. 2014A030313164): Using the BBCP protein of Trypanosoma brucei to study the protein composition and function of centrosomes in eukaryotes
  8. 2015 – 2017 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Young Scientist Program, Grant No. 31402029): Protein Composition and Functional Study of Centrosome Via BBCP Protein in Trypanosoma brucei

Representative Publications & Monographs

  1. Luo JY, Wang JF, Yang J, Zhang P, Hide G, Lai DH*, Lun ZR. (2025) Thermo-related degeneration of stumpy forms of Trypanosoma brucei, the pathogen of African sleeping sickness. Adv Biotechnol (Singap). 3(4):28. doi: 10.1007/s44307-025-00081-9. 
  2. Li Q, Luo JY, Fu C, Kang W, Wang L, Tong H, Lun Z, Zhang Q, Lai DH*, Liu H*. (2025) Discovery of novel CRK12 inhibitors for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis: an integrated computational and experimental approach. Pharmaceuticals  18(6):778. 
  3. Wang JF, Li XT, Zhang P, Xu LW, Zhang JY,Hide G, Lai DH*, Lun ZR. (2025) Characterization of a trypanosome from large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), cage-cultured in seawater, in China. Aquacult Rep 43:102868.
  4. Zhou JY, Xu L, Bi YX, Zhang J, Geoff Hide, Lai DH*, Lun ZR. (2024) First outbreak of trypanosomiasis in farmed blood parrot cichlids (Vieja melanura♀ × Amphilophus citrinellus♂) from southern China. Aquaculture. 588:740944. 
    doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.740944. 
  5. Zhixun Li, Wenjing Du, Jiong Yang, De-Hua Lai, Zhao-Rong Lun, Qiang Guo. (2023) Cryo-electron tomography of Toxoplasma gondiiindicates that the conoid fiber may be derived from microtubules. Advanced Sciences. 2206595.
  6. Yang J, Long S, Hide G, Lun ZR, Lai DH*. (2024) Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation. Trends in Parasitology. 40(5): 416–426. doi:10.1016/j.pt.2024.03.008
  7. Wan W#, Dong H#, Lai DH#, Yang J, He K, Tang X, Liu Q, Hide G, Zhu XQ, Sibley LD, Lun ZR, Long S*. (2023) The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments. Nat Commun 14:977. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-36571-4
  8. Chen K, Zhang P, Yang TB, Wen YZ, Hide G, Lun ZR*, Lai DH*. (2022) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) can be experimentally infected with both marine and fresh water fish trypanosomes. Exp Parasitol. 239:108288.
  9. Su BX, Wang JF, Yang TB, Hide G, Lai DH*, Lun ZR*. (2022) A new species of mammalian trypanosome, Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) bubalisi sp. nov., found in the freshwater leech Hirudinaria manillensis. Int J Parasitol 52:253–264. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.10.009
  10. Chen YF#, Liao L-F#, Wu N, Gao JM, Zhang P, Wen YZ, Hide G, Lai DH*, Lun ZR*. (2021) Species identification and phylogenetic analysis ofLeishmania isolated from patients, vectors and hares in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, The People’s Republic of China. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 15(12): e0010055. (Onlined) Doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010055
  11. Wang ZJ, Yu SM, Gao JM, Zhang P, Hide G, Yamamoto M, Lai DH*, Lun ZR*. (2021) High resistance to Toxoplasma gondii infection in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout rats. iScience. 24:103280. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103280
  12. Lai DH*, Moreira-Leite F, Xu ZS, Yang J, Gull K. (2021) A specific basal body linker protein provides the connection function for basal body inheritance in trypanosomes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 118(8): e2014040118.
  13. Li SJ, Zhang X, Lukeš J, Li BQ, Wang JF, Qu LH, Hide G, Lai DH*, Lun ZR. (2020) Novel organization of mitochondrial minicircles and guide RNAs in the zoonotic pathogen Trypanosoma lewisi. Nucl. Acids Res. 48(17):9747–9761. 25 Sep, doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa700
  14. Xiong J#, Chen JP#, Chen XG#,..., Lai DH#, et al. (2019) Progress of protozoological studies in China: Hot spots and new patterns (in Chinese).  Sci Sin Vitae. 49(10):1301–1322. doi:10.1360/SSV-2019-0127[熊杰#, 陈建平#, 陈晓光#,...赖德华#, 等. 进展中的原生动物学研究: 热点领域与新格局 (2019) 中国科学: 生命科学. 49(10):1301–1322]
  15. An R, Tang Y, Chen L, Cai H, Lai DH, Liu K, Wan L, Gong L, Yu L, Luo Q, Shen J, Lun ZR,  Ayala FJ, Du J. (2018) Encephalitis is mediated by ROP18 of Toxoplasma gondii, a severe pathogen in AIDS patients. Pro. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 115(23):E5344–E5352. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1801118115
  16. Shen J#, Lai DH#, Wilson RA, Chen YF, Wang LF, Yu ZL, Li MY, He P, Hide G, Sun X, Yang TB, Wu ZD*, Ayala FJ*, Lun ZR*. (2017) Nitric oxide blocks the development of the human parasite Schistosoma japonicum. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 114 (38): 10214–10219. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1708578114. (影响因子: 9.6) 2017.9.5
  17. Qin A#, Lai DH#, Liu Q#, Huang W#, Wu Y, Chen X, Yan S, Xia H, Hide G, Lun ZR*, Ayala FJ*, Xiang* AP. (2017) Guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1) contributes to the immunity of human mesenchymal stromal cells against Toxoplasma gondii. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.  114(6):1365–1370. (影响因子: 9.6) 2017.2.7
  18. 赖德华，吴娜，谢祎婷，洪晓昆，陈允甫，廖力夫，伦照荣*. (2016)一例输入性皮肤利什曼病病原体的鉴定. 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志34(3):295–296,封3. [Lai DH, Wu N, Xie YT, Hong XK, Chen YF, Liao LF, Lun ZR*. (2016) Pathogen Identification in an Imported Case of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Chin. J. Parasitol. Parasit. Dis. 34(3):295-296.]  国家核心期刊
  19. Lun ZR*, Lai DH, Wen YZ, Zheng LL, Shen JL, Yang TB, Zhou WL, Qu LH, Hide G*, Ayala FJ* (2015) Cancer in the parasitic protozoans Trypanosoma brucei and Toxoplasma gondii. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. July 112(29):8835–8842. (影响因子: 9.6)
  20. Carnes J, Anupama A, Balmer O, Jackson A, Lewis M, Brown R, Cestari1 I, Desquesnes M, Gendrin C, Hertz-Fowler C, Imamura H, Ivens A, Koreny L, Lai DH, MacLeod A, McDermott SM, Merritt C, Monnerat S, Moon W, Myler P, Phan I, Ramasamy G, Sivam D, Lun ZR*, Lukeš J*, Stuart K*, Schnaufer A* (2015) Genome and phylogenetic analyses of Trypanosoma evansi reveal extensive similarity to T. brucei and multiple independent origins for dyskinetoplasty. PLOS Negl. Trop. Dis. 9(1):e3404. (影响因子:4.4)
  21. Gao JM, Yi SQ, Wu MS, Geng GQ, Shen JL, Lu FL, Hide G, Lai DH*, Lun ZR* (2015) Investigation of infectivity of neonates and adults from different rat strains to Toxoplasma gondii Prugniaud shows both variation which correlates with iNOS and Arginase-1 activity and increased susceptibility of neonates to infection. Exp. Parasitol. 149(1): 47–53. (影响因子: 1.6)
  22. Xie YT, Lai DH, Liu GY, Zhou JL, Lun ZR* (2015) Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in China. Lancet Infect. Dis.  February 15(2): 145. (影响因子: 4)
  23. Desquesnes M, Holzmuller P, Lai DH, Dargantes A, Lun ZR, Jittapalapong S (2013)  Trypanosoma evansi and surra: A review and perspectives on origin, history & distribution, taxonomy, morphology, hosts and pathogenic effects. BioMed. Res. Int. 194176 Aug 19 (影响因子: 2.9)
  24. Desquesnes M, Holzmuller P, Lai DH, Dargantes A, Lun ZR, Jittapalapong S (2013)  Trypanosoma evansi and surra: A review and perspectives on transmission, epidemiology and control, impact, and zoonotic aspects. BioMed Res Int.321237 Sep 18 (影响因子: 2.9)
  25. Janouskovec J, Sobotka R(equal contribution),  Lai DH (共同第一作者), Flegontov P, Koník P, Komenda J, Ali S, Prásil O, Pain A, Oborník M, Lukes J, Keeling PJ (2013) Split photosystem protein, linear-mapping topology and growth of structural complexity in the plastid genome of Chromera velia. Mol Biol Evol. Nov;30(11):2447–62. doi: 10.1093/molbev/mst144. (影响因子: 10.4)
  26. Lai DH*, Bontempi EJ*, Lukeš J (2012) Trypanosoma brucei solanesyl-diphosphate synthase localizes to the mitochondrion. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 183(2):189–192. (影响因子: 2.9)
  27. Wang MH, Wen YZ, Wei Y, Lai DH, Bengaly Z, Desquesnes M, Lun ZR (2012) Mitogen-activated protein kinase 5, a novel molecular marker for the identification and detection of Trypanozoon species Acta Trop. 122(2):183–188. (影响因子: 2.3)
  28. 余新炳沈继龙 主编 赖德华 等编者 (2011) 现代病原生物学研究技术 人民卫生出版社 专著
  29. Lun ZR#*, Lai DH#, Li FJ,  Lukeš J, Ayala FJ. (2010) Trypanosoma brucei: two steps to spread out from Africa.Trends Parasitol. 2010 Sep 26(9): 424–427. (影响因子: 4.9)
  30. Lai DH, Wang QP, Li Z, Lukins AG, Reid SA, Lun ZR. (2010) Investigations into human serum sensitivity expressed by stocks of Trypanosoma brucei evansi. Int. J. Parasitol. 40(6): 705–710. (影响因子: 3.8)
  31. Lai DH*, Wang QP, Li Z, Lukeš J, Lun ZR. (2009) Evolution of the serum resistance-associated SRA gene in African trypanosomes. Chin. Sci. Bull. 54(7):1275–1278. (影响因子: 1.0)
  32. Lai DH, Hashimi H, Lun ZR, Ayala FJ, Lukeš J. (2008) Adaptations of Trypanosoma brucei to gradual loss of kinetoplast DNA: Trypanosoma equiperdum and Trypanosoma evansi are petite mutants of T. brucei. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA105(6): 1999–2004. (影响因子: 9.6)
  33. Lai DH, Wang QP, Chen W, Cai LS, Wu ZD, Zhu XQ, Lun ZR. (2008) Molecular genetic profiles among individual Clonorchis sinensis adults collected from cats in two geographic regions of China revealed by RAPD and MGE-PCR methods. Acta Trop. 107(2): 213–216. (影响因子: 2.2)
  34. Wang QP, Lai DH, Zhu XQ, Chen XG, Lun ZR. (2008) Human angiostrongyliasis. Lancet Infect. Dis. Aug 8(10): 621–630. (影响因子: 16.1)
  35. 戴晓俐, 赖德华, 伦照荣. (2006) 四种抗寄生原虫药物对伊氏锥虫、马媾疫锥虫和布氏锥虫感染的治疗作用. 热带医学杂志 6卷12期1240-1244,1248国家核心期刊
  36. Lun ZR, Gasser RB, Lai DH, Li AX, Zhu XQ, Yu XB and Fang YY. (2005) Clonorchiasis: a key foodborne zoonosis in China. Lancet Infect. Dis. 5(1): 31–41. (影响因子: 10.8)