Nannan Liu

EDUCATION

• 1990-1995 Ph.D., Cornell, University, Ithaca, NY (Insect Molecular Toxicology); Dissertation: “Molecular Geneticsof P450 Monooxygenase Mediated Resistance in the House Fly, Musca domestica.”

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2023-Present Interim Head of the Department of Poultry Science
• 2014-2020 Chair (100% administration), Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
• 2009-Present Professor (75% research, 25% teaching), Insect Molecular Toxicology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University (AU).
• 2013-2016 Alumni Professor, Auburn University.
• 2010-2016 Faculty Endowed Chair/Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
• 2003-2009 Associate Professor (75% research, 25% teaching), Insect Molecular Toxicology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, AU.
• 1997-2003 Assistant Professor (75% research, 25% teaching), Insect Molecular Toxicology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, AU.
• 1996-1997 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Entomology, Cornell University. Regulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP6D1) gene expression in insecticide resistance of house flies.
• 1995-1996 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. Heme oxygenase gene regulation in rats.
• 1990-1995 Graduate Research Associate, Department of Entomology, Cornell University. Mechanisms of resistance and molecular genetics of monooxygenase-mediated resistance in house flies.

To address the important insecticide resistance issues, my research group has focused our studies on:

• The mechanisms, genes, and polymorphisms involved in insecticide resistance on a genomic scale
• Physiological functions of the genes and polymorphisms involved in insecticide resistance
• The molecular and genetic bases of resistant gene interaction and regulation
• The evolution of the expression and/or codon usage bias of resistance genes following insecticide selection

The accomplishment of these research objectives will not only elucidate mechanisms of insecticide resistance, but will also inform the development of novel means to control insect pests. Our ultimate goal of research is to improve insect pest management.

TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

COURSES TAUGHT

• ENTM 7100 – Toxicology
• ENTM 7200 – Insect Physiology
• ENTM 8970 – Special Problems and Topics in “Molecular Biology and Biotechnology”
• ENTM 7970 – Special Problems and Topics in “Biotechnology, Toxicology, and Insect Physiology”

BOOK CHAPTERS

• Liu, N., Y. Wang, and T. Li. 2023. Assaying insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, Cold Spring Harb Protoc; doi:10.1101/pdb.top107705
• Wang, Y., T. Li, and Liu. 2023. Mosquito larval bioassays. Cold Spring Harb Protoc; doi:10.1101/pdb.prot108040
• Li, T., Y. Wang, and Liu. 2023. Mosquito adult bioassays. Cold Spring Harb Protoc; doi:10.1101/pdb.prot108041
• Li, T., Y. Wang, and Liu. 2023. Synergism Study for Investigating Possible Mechanisms of Insecticide Resistance in Mosquitoes. Cold Spring Harb Protoc; doi:10.1101/pdb.prot108042
• T. and N. Liu. 2018. G-protein-coupled receptors: their expression, function and regulation in insecticide resistance. In: Advances in the Biorational Control of Medical and Veterinary Pests, Edmund J. N., Coats. J. R., Gross, A. D., and Clark, J. M. (Eds.), ACS Publications, ISBN13: 978-084-123-359-1, pp. 153-172.
• Liu, N. Pyrethroid resistance in insects: genes, mechanisms, and regulation. In: Insecticides – Advances in Integrated Pest Management, Perveen F. (Ed.), InTech- Open Access Publisher, ISBN 978-953-307-780-2, pp. 457-468.
• Liu, N. and F. Zhu. 2011. House fly cytochrome p450s: their role in insecticide resistance and strategies in the isolation and characterization. In: Recent Advances in Entomological Research: From Molecular Biology to Pest Management, Liu, T. X and Kang, L. (Eds.), Springer, Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York, ISBA 978-3-642-17814-6, pp. 246-257.
• Xu, Q. and Liu. 2011. The development of pyrethroid resistance in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. In: Recent Advances in Entomological Research: From Molecular Biology to Pest Management, Chapter 17, Liu, T. X and Kang, L. (Eds.), Springer, Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York, ISBA 978-3-642-17814-6, pp. 295-305.
• Liu, N. 2008. Insecticide resistance in mosquitoes: development and mechanisms. In: Recent Advances in Insect Physiology, Toxicology and Molecular Biology, Liu, N. (Ed.), Research Signpost, Kerala, India, pp. 75-91.

PEER-REVIEWED AND REFEREED

• Brown, D.J., Houck, R., Liu, N. Transcriptomic Insights into Pyrethroid Resistance Mechanisms in a Genetically Homogenized Cas9 Strain of Aedes aegypti. Int. J. Biol. Sci. (In press).
• Liu, N.; Brown, D.J. Insecticide Resistance in the House Fly (Musca domestica): Metabolic Detoxification, Key Genes, and Regulatory Characterization. Curr. Opin. Insect Sci. (In press).
• Brown, D.J., Dub, M., Manganaris, J., Liu, N. Challenges in Insecticide Resistance Management: Implications of Alternating Selection in the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 217:106832.
• Li, T., Liu, F., Brown, D.J., Liu, N. 2025 Genome-Wide Profiling of P450 Gene Expression Reveals Caste-Specific and Developmental Patterns in Solenopsis Invicta. J. Mol. Sci. 26: 3212.
• Lv, W., Yan, Y., Ma, Y., Deng, K., Xie, D., Jiang, X., Cheng, Y., Liu, N., Zhang, L. Effects of Chlorantraniliprole on Migration and Reproductive Differentiation of Spodoptera frugiperda. Entomologia Generalis 45: 265 – 274.
• Wang, X., Zhou, C., Liu, N. Dual Mechanisms of Synthetic Repellents in Aedes aegypti: Odorant Receptor Inhibition and Odor Volatility Modulation. Entomologia Generalis. 45(5):1475–1487.
• Wang, Y., Wang, X., Wang, Z., Chen, Z., Liu, N. Impact of Broader Ecological and Socio-Environmental Components on Aedes Mosquito Population Dynamics: A Spatial-Temporal Longitudinal Study. Pest Manag. Sci. 81(2):755-765.
• Huang, Y., Chen, Z., Lan, J., Zhang, L., Chen, H., Jiang, L., Tu, H., Liu, N.,Liao, C., Han. Q. 2024. MDR49 coding for both P-glycoprotein and TMOF transporter functions in ivermectin resistance, trypsin activity inhibition, and fertility in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Pest Manag. Sci. 201:105899.
• Xin, J., Brown, D., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Li, M., Li, L., Liu, N. Unveiling the Role of GPCR Genes in Insecticide-Resistant House Flies, Musca domestica. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 25:10618. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijms251910618.
• Liu, N. Curiosity, Passion, Learning, Motivation, and Persistency – The Key for a Successful Career. American Entomologist, 70:9. https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmae050.
• Chen, Z., Wang, X., Liu F., Jia X.Y., Liu, N. Interaction of botanical antagonists and human odorants on the peripheral olfactory system of yellow fever mosquitoes,Aedes aegypti. Entomologia Generalis 43(4). 10.1127/entomologia/2023/2044.
• Li, M., Feng, X., Reid, W.R., Tang, F., Liu, N. 2023. Multiple-P450 Gene Co-up-regulation in the development of permethrin resistance in the house fly, Musca domestica. J. Mol. Sci. 24: 3170. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijms24043170.
• Gong, Y., Cheng, S., Xiu, X., Li, F., Liu, N., Hou, M. 2023 Molecular Evolutionary Mechanisms of CYP6ER1vA-Type Variant 2 Associated with Resistance to Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Field Populations of Nilaparvata lugens. J. Agric. Food Chem. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03167.
• Wang, Y., Wang, X., Brown, D.J., An. M., Xue, R.D., Liu, N. 2023. Insecticide resistance: Status and potential mechanisms in Aedes aegypti. Biochem. Phys. 195:105577.
• Wang, Y., Wilson, A. E., Liu, N. A new method to address the importance of detoxified enzyme in insecticide resistance – meta-analysis. Front. Physiol. 13:818531.
• Gong, Y., Li, T., Li, Q., Liu, S., Liu, N. The central role of multiple P450 genes and their co-factor CPR in the development of permethrin resistance in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. Front. Physiol. 12:802584.
• Wang, Y., An, M., Stevens, K.M., Liu, N. Insecticide resistance in Alabama Populations of the Mosquito Aedes albopictus. J. Med. Entomol. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac085.
• Li, P., Li, H., Zhang, J., Liu, N., Liu, F. 2022. Editorial: Advances in novel natural product pesticides. Agron. (New Journal) https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.1066746.
• Tiana, J., Lia, Y., Fua, H., Rena, L., Hea, Y., Zhaia, S., Yanga, B., Li, Q., Liu, N., S. 2021. Physiological role of CYP17A1-like in cadmium detoxification and its transcriptional regulation in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Sci Total Environ. 149039.
• Liu, F., Chen, Z., Ye. Zi., Liu, N. The olfactory chemosensation of hematophagous hemipteran Insects” has been approved for production and accepted for publication in Frontiers in Physiology, section Invertebrate Physiology. Front. Physiol. 12:703768.
• Liu, N., Y. Wang, T. Li, S. Liu. 2021.G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in Insects – A Potential Target for New Insecticide Development. Molecules 26(10), 2993.
• Liu, N., Y. Wang, T. Li, X. Feng. 2021. G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs): signaling pathways, characterization, and functions in insect physiology and toxicology. J. Mol. Sci. 22, 5260.
• Gong, Y., M. Li, T. Li and Liu. 2021. Molecular and functional characterization of three novel carboxylesterases in the detoxification of permethrin in the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. Insect Sci. 1–16.
• Yang, T., T. Li, Feng, X., M. Li, S. Liu and Liu. 2021. Multiple cytochrome P450 genes – conferring high levels of permethrin resistance in mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus. Sci. Rep. 11:9041.
• Tian, J., Z. Jiao, H. Fu, L. Qi, Q. Li, Liu and S. Liu. 2021. Genome-wide identification and expression profiling revealed tissue-specific inducible expression of cytochrome P450s conferring cadmium tolerance in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Aquac. Rep. 19: 100582.
• Wang, X., C. Zhou, Y. Wang¹, F. Liu, S. Jiang and Liu. 2021. Heterologous expression and functional analysis of Aedes aegypti odorant receptors to human odors in Xenopus oocytes. J. Vis. Exp. e61813.