Research interests: Insects have no adaptive immunity that plays a very important role in the immunity of vertebrate animals and human beings. Therefore, insects have to depend on the so-called innate immunity to fight against the invaded bacteria, fungi and parasites so as to protect them to develop fluently. My lab is interested in studying the insect innate immune responses and finding some important target genes for the pest biological control. We now focus on studying: (1) Prophenoloxidase-activation cascade and its function on melanization around foreigners; (2) Cellular immunity like circulating hemocytes induced phagocytosis and encapsulation and their mechanism; (3) The interaction of bacteria and insect hosts inside the body and gut; (4) Pest biological control through constructing transgenic plants or microbes using the key genes to block the insect innate immunity.

1990-1994, Anhui Agricultural University, Sericulture, B.S.;

1994-1997, Anhui Agricultural University, Sericulture, M.S.;

1999-2003, Shinshu University, Japan, Ph.D.;

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1997- 1999, Anhui Agricultural University, Researcher;

2003-2004, Shinshu University, Japan, Post-doc;

2004-2007, University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA, Post-doc;

2007- 2008, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, Post-doc;

2008-present, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Professor.

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1.        Erjun Ling*, Zhen Zou* (2018) Editorial introduction to the special issue: Insect innate immunity in China. Developmental & Comparative Immunology 83, 1-2

2.        Jie Zhang, Wuren Huang, Chuanfei Yuan, Yuzhen Lu, Bing Yang, Cheng-Yuan Wang, Peng Zhang, Leonard Dobens, Zhen Zou, Chengshu Wang*, Erjun Ling* (2017) Prophenoloxidase-mediated ex vivo immunity to delay fungal infection after insect ecdysis. Frontiers in Immunology 8, 1445, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01445.

3.        Shenglei Yuan, Wuren Huang, Lei Geng, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Hongsheng Song, Erjun Ling* (2017) Differentiation of lepidoptera scale cells from epidermal stem cells followed by ecdysone-regulated DNA duplication and scale secreting. Cell Cycle 16(21):2156-2167. doi: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1376148.

4.        Fei Liu, Wuren Huang, Kai Wu, Zhongying Qiu, Yuan Huang, Erjun Ling* (2017) Exploiting innate immunity for biological pest control. Advances in Insect Physiology 52: 199–230.

5.        Fang Han^#, Anrui Lu^#, Yi Yuan, Wuren Huang, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Junyi Huang*, Erjun Ling* (2017) Characterization of an entomopathogenic fungi target integument protein, Bombyx mori single domain von Willebrand factor type C, in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Insect Molecular Biology 26(3), 308–316.

6.        Bing Yang, Wuren Huang, Jie Zhang, Qiuyun Xu, Shoulin Zhu, Qiaoli Zhang, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Hongsheng Song*, Erjun Ling* (2016) Analysis of gene expression in the midgut of Bombyx mori during the larval molting stage. BMC Genomics 17(1):866.

7.        Kai Wu, Bing Yang, Wuren Huang, Leonard Dobens, Hongsheng Song*, Erjun Ling* (2016) Gut immunity in Lepidopteran insects. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 64:65-74 .

8.        Wuren Huang, Jie Zhang, Bing Yang, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Hongsheng Song*, Erjun Ling*. (2016) DNA duplication is essential for the repair of gastrointestinal perforation in the insect midgut. Scientific Reports. 6, 19142.

9.        Kai Wu, Jie Zhang, Qiaoli Zhang, Shoulin Zhu, Qimiao Shao, Kevin D. Clark, Yining Liu*, Erjun Ling* (2015). Plant phenolics are detoxified by prophenoloxidase in the insect gut. Scientific Reports. 5, 16823.

10.    Anrui Lu, Qiaoli Zhang, Jie Zhang, Bing Yang, Kai Wu, Wei Xie, Yun-Xia Luan, Erjun Ling* (2015) Insect prophenoloxidase: the view beyond immunity. Frontiers in Physiology. 5: 252 doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00252 (Invited review)

11.    Lulu Kong, Anrui Lu, Jingmin Guan, Bing Yang, Muwang Li, Julián F. Hillyer, Nalini Ramarao, Kenneth Söderhäll, Chaoliang Liu*, Erjun Ling* （2015）Thermolysin damages animal life through degradation of plasma proteins enhanced by rapid cleavage of serpins and activation of proteases. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 88(1):64-84.

12.    Yujia Hu, Yi Han, Yingyao Shao, Xingjun Wang, Yeqing Ma, Erjun Ling, Lei Xue (2015) Gr33a Modulates Drosophila Male Courtship Preference. Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/srep07777.

13.    Jie Zhang, Anrui Lu, Lulu Kong, Qiaoli Zhang, Erjun Ling* (2014) Functional analysis of insect molting fluid proteins on the protection and regulation of ecdysis. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289: 35891–35906. 

14.    Anrui Lu, Xuquan Li, Julián F. Hillyer, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Kenneth Söderhäll, Erjun Ling* (2014) Recombinant Drosophila prophenoloxidase 1 is sequentially cleaved by α-chymotrypsin during in vitro activation. Biochimie. 102:154-165.

15.    Anrui Lu, Qin Peng, Erjun Ling* (2014) Formation of disulfide bonds in insect prophenoloxidase enhances immunity through improving enzyme activity and stability. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 44(2):351-358.

16.    Fei Liu, Qiuyun Xu, Qiaoli Zhang, Brenda T. Beerntsene, Erjun Ling* (2013) Hemocytes and hematopoiesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Invertebrate Survival Journal 10: 102-109 (Invited review).

17.    Bing Yang, Aanrui Lu, Qin Peng, Qing-Zhi Ling, Erjun Ling^* (2013) Activity of fusion prophenoloxidase-GFP and its potential applications for innate immunity study. PLoS ONE 8(5):e64106.

18.    Xiaoguang Duan, Jia Xu, Erjun Ling, Peng Zhang (2013) Expression of Cry1Aa in cassava improves its insect resistance against Helicoverpa armigera. Plant Molecular Biology 83:131–141.

19.    Qiuyun Xu^#, Anrui Lu^#, Guohua Xiao, Bing Yang, Jie Zhang, Xuquan Li, Jingmin Guan, Qimiao Shao, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Peng Zhang, Chengshu Wang, Erjun Ling^* (2012) Transcriptional profiling of midgut immunity response and degeneration in the wandering silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS ONE 7(8): e43769.

20.    Yupu Diao, Anrui Lu, Bing Yang, Wenli Hu, Qing Peng, Qing-Zhi Ling, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Kenneth Söderhäll, Erjun Ling* (2012) Existence of Prophenoloxidase in Wing Discs: A Source of Plasma Prophenoloxidase in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS ONE 7(7): e41416.

21.    Chen Yang, Liu Fei, Yang Bing, Lu Aanrui, Shiwei Wang, Jingfang Wang, Qing-Zhi Ling, Xuan Li, Brenda T. Beerntsene, Erjun Ling* (2012) Specific amino acids affecting Drosophila melanogaster prophenoloxidase activity in vitro. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 38(1): 88-97.

22.    Qimiao Shao, Bing Yang, Qiuyun Xu, Xuquan Li, Zhiqiang Lu, Chengshu Wang, Yongping Huang, Kenneth Söderhäll*, Erjun Ling* (2012)Hindgut innate immunity and regulation of fecal microbiota through melanization in insects. Journal of Biological Chemistry 287: 14270-14279.

23.    Xuquan Li, Miaolian Ma, Fei Liu, Yang Chen, Anrui Lu, Qing-Zhi Ling, Jianyong Li, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Xiao-Qiang Yu, Chaoliang Liu*, Erjun Ling* (2012) Properties of Drosophila melanogaster prophenoloxidases expressed in Escherichia coli. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 36(4): 648-656.

24.    Fei Liu, Yang Chen, Bing Yang, Jingfang Wang, Qin Peng, Qimiao Shao, Xuan Li, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Yechun Xu, Jianyong Li, Xiao-Qiang Yu, Erjun Ling* (2012) Drosophila melanogaster prophenoloxidases respond inconsistently to Cu²⁺ and have different activity in vitro. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 36(3): 619-628.

25.    Yupu Diao, Yumin Qi, Yajun Ma, Ai Xia, Igor Sharakhov, Xiaoguang Chen, Jim Biedler, Erjun Ling, Zhijian Jake Tu (2011) Next-generation sequencing reveals recent horizontal transfer of a DNA transposon between divergent mosquitoes. PLoS ONE 6 (2): e16743

26.    Zhixiang Wang, Anrui Lu, Xuquan Li, Qimiao Shao, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Chaoliang Liu, Yajun Ma, Yamin Huang, Huaimin Zhu*, Erjun Ling* (2011) A systematic study on hemocyte identification and plasma prophenoloxidase from Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus at different developmental stages. Experimental Parasitology 127:135–141.

27.    Shan Wu, Xiaofeng Zhang, Yongqiang He, Jiangbing Shuai, Xiaomei Chen, Erjun Ling* (2010) Expression of antimicrobial peptide genes in Bombyx mori gut modulated by oral bacterial infection and development. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 34(11):1191-1198.

28.    Shan Wu, Xiaofeng Zhang, Xiaomei Chen, Pingsheng Cao, Erjun Ling* (2010) BmToll9, an Arthropods conservative Toll, is probably involved in the local gut immune response in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 34(2):93-96.

29.    Chenglong Wang, Zhixiang Wang, Qing-zhi Ling, Michael M. Kariuki, Kenji Kiguchi, Erjun Ling* (2010) Physiological functions of hemocytes newly emerged from the cultured hematopoietic organs in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Insect Science 17:7-20.

30.    Xiang-Jun Rao^#, Erjun Ling^# and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2010) The role of lysozyme in the prophenoloxidase activation system of Manduca sexta: An in vitro approach. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 34(3):264-271 (^# Equal contribution).

31.    Ling Tian, Enen Guo, Yupu Diao, Shun Zhou, Qin Peng, Yang Cao, Erjun Ling, Sheng Li (2010) Genome-wide regulation of innate immunity by juvenile hormone and 20-hydroxyecdysone in the Bombyx fat body. BMC Genomics 11:549.

32.    Ling Tian, Enen Guo, Sheng Wang, Shumin Liu, Rong-Jing Jiang, Yang Cao, Erjun Ling and Sheng Li (2010) Developmental regulation of glycolysis by 20-hydroxyecdysone and juvenile hormone in fat body tissues of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology 2(5):255-263.

33.    Fei Liu, Erjun Ling, Shan Wu (2009) Gene expression profiling during early response to injury and microbial challenges in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 72(1):16-33.

34.    Yang Chen, Erjun Ling, Zhihui Weng (2009) Functional characterization of PGRP-LC1 of Anopheles gambiae through deletion and RNA interference. Insect Science 16:443-453.

35.    Qing-zhi Ling, Chenglong Wang, Michael M. Kariuki, Kenji Kiguchi and Erjun Ling （2009）Reexamination of the role of hematopoietic organs on the hematopoiesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. African Journal of Biotechnology 8 (15):3658-3665.

36.    Erjun Ling, Xiang-jun Rao, Jing-qun Ao and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2009) Purification and characterization of a small cationic peptide from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 39(4):263-271.

37.    Erjun Ling, Jing-qun Ao and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2008) Nuclear Translocation of Immulectin-3 Stimulates Hemocyte Proliferation. Molecular Immunology 45: 2598-2606.

38.    Jing-qun Ao, Erjun Ling and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2008) A Toll Receptor from Manduca sexta is in Response to Escherichia coli Infection Molecular Immunology.  Molecular Immunology 45: 543-552.

39.    Jing-qun Ao, Erjun Ling, Xiang-jun Rao and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2008) A novel ML protein from Manduca sexta may function as a key accessory protein for lipopolysaccharide signaling. Molecular Immunology 45: 2772-2781.

40.    Jing-qun Ao, Erjun Ling and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2007) Drosophila C-type lectins enhance cellular encapsulation. Molecular Immunology 44: 2541-2548.

41.    Erjun Ling and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2006) Cellular encapsulation and melanization are enhanced by immulectins, pattern recognition receptors from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 30: 289-299.

42.    Erjun Ling and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2006) Hemocytes from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta have distinct functions in phagocytosis of foreign particles and self dead cells. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 30: 301-309.

43.    Erjun Ling*, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanekatsu, Kenji Kiguchi, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Tomoo Funayama and Hiroshi Watanabe (2006) Contribution of circulating hemocytes to the regeneration of heavy ion beams (¹²C⁵⁺) irradiated hematopoietic organs in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, through the way of phagocytosis of injured cells after invasion. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 30: 531-543.

44.    Xiao-Qiang Yu, Erjun Ling, Miles E. Tracy and Yifei Zhu (2006) Immulectin-4 from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta binds to lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid. Insect Molecular Biology 15: 119-128.

45.    Erjun Ling*, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanehatsu and Kenji Kiguchi (2005) Reexamination of phenoloxidase in larval circulating hemocytes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Tissue and Cell 37: 101-107.

46.    Erjun Ling*, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanekatsu and Kenji Kiguchi (2005) Hemocyte differentiation in the hematopoietic organs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori: prohemocytes have the function of phagocytosis. Cell and Tissue Research 320: 535-543.

47.    Erjun Ling and Xiao-Qiang Yu (2005) Prophenoloxidase binds to the surface of hemocytes and is involved in hemocyte melanization in Manduca sexta. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 35: 1356-1366.

48.    Xiao-Qiang Yu, Miles E. Tracy, Erjun Ling, Scholz FR and Trenczek T (2005) A novel C-type immulectin-3 from Manduca sexta is translocated from hemolymph into the cytoplasm of hemocytes. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 35: 285-295.

49.    Erjun Ling, Kana Fukamoto, Shiqing Xu, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanekatsu, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Zhen-Li Tu, Tomoo Funayama, Hiroshi Watanabe and Kenji Kiguchi (2003) Regeneration of hemopoietic organs in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, after locally targeted irradiation with heavy ion beams. Journal of Insect Biotechnology and Sericology 72: 95-100.

50.    Erjun Ling, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanekatsu, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Zhen-Li Tu, Tomoo Funayama, Hiroshi Watanabe and Kenji Kiguchi (2003) Why dose hemocyte density rise at the wandering stage in the silkworm, Bombyx mori? Journal of Insect Biotechnology and Sericology 72: 101-109.

51.    Erjun Ling*, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanekatsu and Kenji Kiguchi (2003) Classification of larval circulating hemocytes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, by acridine orange and propidium iodide staining. Histochemistry and Cell Biology 120: 505-511.

2018-06-01-Present, Associate Editor with Archives of Insect Biochemistry & Physiology 
2016-09-16-Present,Academic Editor with Scientific Reports 
2014-05-01-Present,Academic Editor with PLoS ONE