Guofa Zhou
Scientist, Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Biography
Guofa Zhou, Ph.D., is a Scientist in the Program in Public Health at the University of California, Irvine. Zhou received a Ph.D. in Ecology from Beijing Normal University in 1998. His research focuses on the ecology and control of malaria vectors and the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, with particular emphasis on spatial-temporal dynamics of disease transmission in Africa and Asia.
Zhou has served as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects examining malaria vector ecology and leishmaniasis transmission in East Africa and Asia. His work includes studies on the larval ecology of invasive Anopheles stephensi in Ethiopia, epidemiology of Leishmania donovani infections in Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and malaria transmission dynamics across rural and urban landscapes in Ethiopia. He has also contributed as an investigator to several International Centers of Excellence in Malaria Research projects in East Africa and Southeast Asia, focusing on population biology of malaria vectors and parasites.
Zhou has published over 230 peer-reviewed journal articles in venues including PNAS, Emerging Infectious Diseases, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Malaria Journal, and Parasitology Research. His research has addressed topics ranging from the impact of environmental modifications on malaria transmission to insecticide resistance in mosquito populations and the development of integrated vector control strategies. He serves as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals including Lancet Planetary Health, PNAS, and Trends in Parasitology, and is a member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Return to topEducation
- Ph.D. in Ecology, Beijing Normal University, 1998
- B.S. in Statistics, Peking University, 1985
Distinctions
- Century-End Youth Scientist Award, Beijing Science and Technology Commission, 1997
- Distinguished Youth Intellectual, Beijing Municipal Government, 1992
- Leading Scholar in Higher Education in Beijing, Beijing Education Agency, 1992
- Teacher of the Year, Beijing Education Committee, 1996-1997
Areas of Expertise
- Vector-Borne Disease Epidemiology
- Malaria Transmission Dynamics
- Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms
- Spatial Population Ecology
- Anopheles Stephensi Invasion
- Leishmaniasis Molecular Epidemiology
- Larval Habitat Surveillance
Recent Publications
- Machani M.G., Zhou G., Oyweri J., Nzioki I., Githure J., Atieli H., Wang C., Zhong D., Lee M.-C., Afrane Y.A., Yan G., “Reduced bio-efficacy of aged PermaNet® 3.0 Nets against local pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles arabiensis in Western Kenya” (opens in new tab), Frontiers in Tropical Diseases, vol. 7, 2026.
- Huang Q, Zhou Y, Xu J, Zhou G, Guo Q, Duan Y, Zheng G, Zhu M, Zhong S, Zhong D, Fu F, Wen S, Jiang Y, He T, Liu S, Lu G, Li Y, Li T, “Mechanisms of pyrethroid resistance in Culicidae mosquitoes from Hainan Island, China” (opens in new tab), Parasites and Vectors, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 411, 2025.
- Zhou G, Zhong D, Yewhalaw D, Yan G, “Anopheles stephensi ecology and control in Africa” (opens in new tab), Trends in Parasitology, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 102-105, 2024.
- Zhou G, Lee MC, Wang X, Zhong D, Githeko AK, Yan G, “Mapping potential malaria vector larval habitats for larval source management in Western Kenya: Introduction to multimodel ensembling approaches” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 110, no. 3, pp. 421-430, 2024.
- Zhou G, Githure J, Lee MC, Zhong D, Wang X, Atieli H, Githeko AK, Kazura J, Yan G, “Malaria transmission heterogeneity in different eco-epidemiological areas of western Kenya: a region-wide observational and risk classification study for adaptive intervention planning” (opens in new tab), Malaria Journal, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 74, 2024.
- Zhou G, Taffese HS, Zhong D, Wang X, Lee MC, Degefa T, Getachew D, Haileselassie W, Hawaria D, Yewhalaw D, Yan G, “Resurgence of clinical malaria in Ethiopia and its link to Anopheles stephensi invasion” (opens in new tab), Pathogens, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 748, 2024.
- Wang J, Zheng X, Wang X, Zhong D, Zhou G, “E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes regulates dengue virus-2 replication in Aedes albopictus” (opens in new tab), Microorganisms, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 2508, 2024.
- Atieli HE, Zhou G, Zhong D, Wang X, Lee MC, Yaro AS, Diallo M, Githure J, Kazura J, Lehmann T, Yan G, “Wind-assisted high-altitude dispersal of mosquitoes and other insects in East Africa” (opens in new tab), Journal of Medical Entomology, vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 698-707, 2023.
- Orondo PW, Zhou G, Ochwedo KO, Wang X, Ondeto BM, Lee MC, Nyanjom SG, Atieli H, Githeko AK, Kazura JW, Yan G, “Effect of predators on Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus larval survivorship in Homa Bay County Western Kenya” (opens in new tab), Malaria Journal, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 298, 2023.
- Zhou G, Li Y, Jeang B, Wang X, Cummings RF, Zhong D, Yan G, “Emerging Mosquito Resistance to Piperonyl Butoxide-Synergized Pyrethroid Insecticide and Its Mechanism” (opens in new tab), Journal of Medical Entomology, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 638-647, 2022.
- Zhou J, Liu S, Liu H, Xie Z, Liu L, Lin L, Jiang J, Yang M, Zhou G, Gu J, Zhou X, Yan G, James AA, Chen XG, “Interspecific mating bias may drive Aedes albopictus displacement of Aedes aegypti during its range expansion” (opens in new tab), PNAS Nexus, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. pgac041, 2022.
- Zheng X, Zheng Z, Wu S, Wei Y, Luo L, Zhong D, Zhou G, “Spatial heterogeneity of knockdown resistance mutations in the dengue vector Aedes albopictus in Guangzhou, China” (opens in new tab), Parasites and Vectors, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 156, 2022.
- Zhou G, Hemming-Schroeder E, Jeang B, Wang X, Zhong D, Lee MC, Li Y, Bradley L, Gobran SR, David RE, Ondeto BM, Orondo P, Atieli H, Githure JI, Githeko AK, Kazura J, Yan G, “Irrigation-Induced Environmental Changes Sustain Malaria Transmission and Compromise Intervention Effectiveness” (opens in new tab), Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 226, no. 9, pp. 1657-1666, 2022.
- Zhou G, Zhong D, Lee MC, Wang X, Atieli HE, Githure JI, Githeko AK, Kazura J, Yan G, “Multi-Indicator and Multistep Assessment of Malaria Transmission Risks in Western Kenya” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 104, no. 4, pp. 1359-1370, 2021.
- Li Y, Zhou G, Zhong D, Wang X, Hemming-Schroeder E, David RE, Lee MC, Zhong S, Yi G, Liu Z, Cui G, Yan G, “Widespread multiple insecticide resistance in the major dengue vector Aedes albopictus in Hainan Province, China” (opens in new tab), Pest Management Science, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 1945-1953, 2021.
- Karunaweera ND, Senanayake S, Ginige S, Silva H, Manamperi N, Samaranayake N, Dewasurendra R, Karunanayake P, Gamage D, de Silva N, Senarath U, Zhou G, “Spatiotemporal distribution of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka and future case burden estimates” (opens in new tab), Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. e0009346, 2021.
- Wang X, Zhou G, Zhong D, Li Y, Octaviani S, Shin AT, Morgan T, Nguyen K, Bastear J, Doyle M, Cummings RF, Yan G, “Impact of underground storm drain systems on larval ecology of Culex and Aedes species in urban environments of Southern California” (opens in new tab), Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 12667, 2021.
- Zhou G, Lee MC, Wang X, Zhong D, Hemming-Schroeder E, Yan G, “An Adaptive Intervention Trial Design for Finding the Optimal Integrated Strategies for Malaria Control and Elimination in Africa: A Model Simulation Study” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 105, no. 5, pp. 1173-1183, 2021.
Most Cited Publications
- Zhou G, Minakawa N, Githeko AK, Yan G, “Association between climate variability and malaria epidemics in the East African highlands” (opens in new tab), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 101, no. 8, pp. 2375-80, 2004.
- Cui L, Yan G, Sattabongkot J, Cao Y, Chen B, Chen X, Fan Q, Fang Q, Jongwutiwes S, Parker D, Sirichaisinthop J, Kyaw MP, Su XZ, Yang H, Yang Z, Wang B, Xu J, Zheng B, Zhong D, Zhou G, “Malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion: heterogeneity and complexity” (opens in new tab), Acta Tropica, vol. 121, no. 3, pp. 227-39, 2012.
- Taffese HS, Hemming-Schroeder E, Koepfli C, Tesfaye G, Lee MC, Kazura J, Yan G, Zhou G, “Malaria epidemiology and interventions in Ethiopia from 2001 to 2016” (opens in new tab), Infectious Diseases of Poverty, vol. 7, pp. 103, 2018.
- Atieli HE, Zhou G, Afrane Y, Lee MC, Mwanzo I, Githeko AK, Yan G, “Insecticide-treated net (ITN) ownership, usage, and malaria transmission in the highlands of western Kenya” (opens in new tab), Parasites and Vectors, vol. 4, pp. 113, 2011.
- Zhou G, Afrane YA, Vardo-Zalik AM, Atieli H, Zhong D, Wamae P, Himeidan YE, Minakawa N, Githeko AK, Yan G, “Changing patterns of malaria epidemiology between 2002 and 2010 in Western Kenya: the fall and rise of malaria” (opens in new tab), PLoS One, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. e20318, 2011.
- Zhou G, Munga S, Minakawa N, Githeko AK, Yan G, “Spatial relationship between adult malaria vector abundance and environmental factors in western Kenya highlands” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 29-35, 2007.
- Howard AF, Zhou G, Omlin FX, “Malaria mosquito control using edible fish in western Kenya: preliminary findings of a controlled study” (opens in new tab), BMC Public Health, vol. 7, pp. 199, 2007.
- Liu Z, Zhou T, Lai Z, Zhang Z, Jia Z, Zhou G, Williams T, Xu J, Gu J, Zhou X, Lin L, Yan G, Chen XG, “Competence of Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes as Zika virus vectors, China” (opens in new tab), Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 1085-91, 2017.
- Lin W, Zhou G, Cheng X, Xu R, “Fast economic development accelerates biological invasions in China” (opens in new tab), PLoS One, vol. 2, no. 11, pp. e1208, 2007.
- Zhou G, Sirichaisinthop J, Sattabongkot J, Jones J, Bjørnstad ON, Yan G, Cui L, “Spatio-temporal distribution of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria in Thailand” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 256-62, 2005.
Contact Information
Email: zhoug@uci.edu
Phone: (949) 824-0249
Address: Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences
Return to topThis profile was created with the help of AI.
Last updated on 5/14/2026.