Dr Wei Xu
Ph.D., M.Sc, B.Sc

I am an insect biologist.  My research focuses are on insect chemical ecology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biological control and functional genomics to improve our understanding of insect behaviors, insect-host interaction and evolution.

I received my PhD in the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) in 2010 under the supervision of Professor Walter Leal, a leading authority in insect chemical ecology. I came to Australia with an OCE (Office of the Chief Executive) Postdoctoral Fellowship and joined CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences (CES). My study focus was the molecular mechanisms of insect chemosensory systems and their functions in insect-host interaction and co-evolution. I joined Murdoch University in January 2015 as a lecturer in Entomology in Agricultural Sciences.

Crop Protection, Plant Biosecurity and Chemical Ecology.

1. ANS208 Crop Protection and Plant Biosecurity (Unit Coordinator)
2. BIO601 Biosecurity Plant Pests (Unit Coordinator)
3. BIO538 Plant Biosecurity in Practice (Unit Coordinator)
4. BIO537 Detection and Diagnostics (Unit Coordinator)
5. BIO257, Australia Biodiversity (Invertebrate Module)

1. Insect Chemical Ecology

Insects play a critical role in various ecosystems and their chemical sensory systems are essential for their survival and behavior. By understanding the molecular basis of these systems, we can shed light on how insects have evolved to sense and respond to their environment, which can have significant implications for fields such as agriculture and pest control. Furthermore, research on insect chemosensory mechanisms can help us develop new strategies for controlling insect populations, which is crucial for food security and ecosystem health. By disrupting the chemical sensory systems of pests, we can potentially reduce their impact on crops and ecosystems while minimizing the use of harmful pesticides. Overall, my research has the potential to make significant contributions to the field of chemical ecology and to help us better understand the intricate and fascinating world of insect chemistry. 

2. Soil fauna

Research on soil fauna and their interactions with soil microorganisms is highly important as it aims to shed light on the crucial roles that these organisms play in regulating nutrient cycles and ecosystem functioning. Soil fauna are essential for maintaining healthy soils, and their impact on nutrient cycling and decomposition is critical for plant growth, ecosystem productivity, and overall environmental sustainability. By developing new standardized methodologies and generating a new framework for soil biodiversity assessment and conservation, our research has the potential to significantly improve Australia’s international leadership in soil faunal research. Our research has significant implications for understanding the complex and intricate relationships between soil fauna, microorganisms, and nutrient cycling, and the development of effective strategies for conserving soil biodiversity and improving soil health.

3. Native pollinators

Australia has a rich diversity of native pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, and beetles. These pollinators play a crucial role in pollinating native plants and crops, and their decline can have significant impacts on ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. Some of the most important native pollinators in Australia include stingless bees, blue-banded bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, and hoverflies. These pollinators are adapted to local environmental conditions and play important roles in pollinating specific plant species. Unfortunately, many native pollinators are facing threats such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and competition with invasive species. Climate change is also affecting the timing of flowering and the availability of nectar and pollen, which can impact the behavior and survival of native pollinators. Efforts to conserve native pollinators in Australia include habitat restoration, promoting the use of native plants in gardens and agriculture, reducing pesticide use, and monitoring pollinator populations. The Australian government has also launched initiatives such as the National Pollinator Strategy and the Threatened Species Strategy to address the conservation of native pollinators. The conservation of native pollinators is critical for maintaining the health and productivity of ecosystems and agricultural systems in Australia. It is essential to continue to support research and conservation efforts to ensure the survival of these important organisms.

4. Insect pest biological control

Insect biological control is a method of pest management that uses natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to control pest populations. This method is based on the principle of reducing pest populations to levels that are not economically or environmentally harmful. Insect biological control has several advantages over traditional pest control methods, such as reducing the use of harmful pesticides, minimizing non-target effects, and promoting natural pest control mechanisms. One example of insect biological control is the use of parasitoids, which are insects that lay their eggs in or on the bodies of other insects, eventually killing them. Parasitoids are often highly specific to certain pest species and can be very effective in controlling pest populations. Another example is the use of predators, such as ladybirds, lacewings, and predatory mites, which feed on pest insects. Insect biological control can also be used in combination with other pest management methods, such as crop rotation, cultural practices, and chemical control, to achieve greater control efficacy. However, it is important to note that insect biological control requires a good understanding of the ecology and behavior of both the pest and the natural enemies being used.  

5. Mosquito olfaction

Mosquitoes display preferences for certain hosts over others, which is primarily determined by volatile chemicals produced by hosts. This project aims to further identify and functionally investigate mosquito smell receptors, which are critical in detecting these host volatile compounds and regulating mosquito host-seeking behaviours. Expected outcomes of this project are an enhanced understanding of mosquito smell system and behaviours. This could provide significant benefits to how we can fight mosquitoes and mosquito-transmitted diseases in a more efficient and environmentally way.

6. Molecular basis of Fruit fly response to (sub)lethal stresses

With the loss of chemical control options such as Fenthion and Dimethoate for postharvest treatment of horticulture commodities susceptible to fruit fly infestation, it has become even more important to understand how stress-based control techniques such as heat, cold and irradiation can be used most effectively for disinfestation.
This project aims to explore the stress-induced molecular response of two fruit fly species of horticultural significance, Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), by characterising the cellular pathways involved in both overall and stressor-specific responses. Three specific steps are: 1) to conduct bioassays and RNAseq across developmental stages and recovery time to identify candidate genes responding to stress or recovery, 2) to construct gene networks to identify pathway membership and relationships by bioinformatics analysis, and 3) to validate specific genes’ involvement in stress response and resistance using functional assays.  We aim to provide the wider research community with tephritid stress-response networks which will aid in the further development of tools to safeguard our fruit and vegetable crops.

1. Soil fauna and their roles in nutrient transformations of agricultural soils (DAFF,  2022-2025).

Soil fauna are critical of soil biodiversity and significantly drive litter decomposition, microbial community composition, and nutrient cycling. This project aims to identify soil faunal communities (especially invertebrate species), reveal their interactions with soil microorganisms, and decipher their roles in regulating nitrogen and phosphorus cycles using combined morphological identification, advanced stable isotope tracing technique, and state-of-the-art molecular approaches. This project will develop new standardized methodologies and generate a new framework that can assist soil biodiversity assessment and conservation, and improve Australia’s international leadership in soil faunal research, and provide significant benefits for improved soil health and agricultural productivity. This is a new project collaborated with Prof. Daniel Murphy (Murdoch), University of Melbourne and Western Sydney University. This project has been funded by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

2. Furthering grower knowledge and understanding of the scientifically unidentified ‘Dongara weevil’ (GRDC, 2023-2026)

Since 2013, a new weevil has been found that which repeatedly attacked canola and coriander crops in Mingenew and Dongara areas. This damage appears to be worse on heavier soils than lighter soils and the weevils are difficult to kill by using insecticides. This weevil species was unable to be identified morphologically, suggesting it may be a new species. It is not clear how widespread this weevil is in Western Australia and or to what extent it causes economic damage to grain crops. Understanding the extent and distribution of the Dongara weevil aids in conserving Australia’s biosecurity and biodiversity status. Additionally, a preliminary understanding of the host and environmental preferences and the taxonomic classification of the pest is important for the development of tools and information to correctly identify the pest, to build a better understanding of the pest, and ultimately to assist with the development of effective management strategies. This investment aims to (1) expand the understanding of its distribution in WA, (2) determine some of the factors that influence the incidence and severity of crop damage caused by this species, and (3) identify or describe the ‘Dongara weevil’. This information will be pivotal to better inform possible future initiatives of managing this unidentified crop pest. 

3. Chemical Cues used by Aphidophagous Arthropods to locate Aphids in Canola fields (DPIRD, + GRDC, 2019-2023) . This project aims to study the chemical interactions between crops (canola), pests (aphids) and natural enemies (parasitoid wasps and predators). We will identify the volatile compounds released by damaged canola to attract natural enemies to control aphids and protect crops. These compounds will be used as attractants in biological control of canola pests and safeguard our agricultural crops.

4. Plastic-eating bug could solve our waste problem (Murdoch and CSIRO, 2023-2026)

Annually, around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced, which can persist within the environment for hundreds of years. Novel strategies to degrade both synthetic and biodegradable plastic waste in an efficient and environmentally friendly way is increasingly urgent for safeguarding our environment and ecosystem. Multiple insect species including mealworm and wax moth have been reported to consume and digest plastic as food sources, suggesting an enormous potential to use insects as bio-transformers to convert plastic waste to high value protein products. However, the mechanism underlying this ‘insect mining of plastics’ is still not thoroughly investigated, and this knowledge gap is hindering the further application in large scale. This is a PhD scholarship to study the insect mechanisms and improve our understanding why and how insects can digest plastics. The scholarship has been advertised and attracted over 40 applications until now.

5. Container Redesign (DAFF, 2022-2025).

This project aims to recommendations towards the development of an international standard for sea containers that will minimise the risk of hitchhikers and contaminants that will assist in minimising the risk of hitchhikers being present and provide greater surety to governments and industry when managing the movement of containers at ports of arrival and departure. The new standard could result in a 2-channel system for container arrival which provides expedited biosecurity clearance and release from border controls for low-risk containers that meet the new standard.

1. Scientific Advisory Committee member for International Society of Chemical Ecology 2023 in India.
2. 2021, Business Events Perth, ASPIRE Award Winner (to support WA researchers, academics, and professionals to attend an international business event in the interest of professional development).
3. Councillor of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) (2020-2023)
4. Councillor of the Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecologists (APACE) (2020-2023)
5. Associate Editor for Frontiers in Physiology (Q1)
6. Associate Editor for Journal of Economic Entomology (Q1 in Insect Science)
7. Editor panel member for Insects (Q1)
8. Associate Editor for Arthropod-Plant Interaction (Q2 in Insect Science)
9. 2016 APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) Australia Runner-up Prize (only one champion and two runner-ups every year).
10. 2015 FASIC Program Early Career Fellowships ($7,000)
11. 2011-2012 CSIRO Acorn Grant ($25,000)
12. 2010-2013 CSIRO OCE (Office of the Chief Executive) postdoctoral fellowship.
13. 28^th International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) annual conference travel award, 2012.
14. 6^th Asia-Pacific association of chemical ecology conference organization award, 2011.
15. 8^th Chinese national chemical ecology conference paper competition, 1^st Place, 2010.
16. 56^th ESA annual meeting president’s award, 2008.

1. 2021    Electroantennogram responses of the parasitoid wasp, Diadegma semiclausum, to plant-related odours. The 36th ISCE annual conference. Stellenbosch, South Africa, September 5–10.

   2021    Electroantennogram responses of the parasitoid wasp, Diadegma semiclausum, to plant-related odours. 17th Symposium on Insect-Plant Interactions. Leiden, Netherlands, July 25–30.

   2020   Molecular basis of gustatory receptors in Lepidoptera”, National Chemical Laboratory in India. Webinar, Sep. 10.

   2020    How do fruit flies smell and taste? Fruit Fly Chemical Ecology, the ARC Centre for Fruit Fly Biosecurity Innovation, Macquarie University, Macquarie, NSW, Australia. Jun. 8.

   2019    How do insects smell and taste? Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, China. Oct. 14.

   2019    Responses of Tribolium castaneum to infested wheat and aggregation pheromone. The 10th APACE conference. Hangzhou, China, October 9–13.

   2019    A phylogenomics approach to characterizing sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in Lepidoptera. The 35th ISCE annual conference. Atlanta, Georgia, USA June 2–6.

   2018    Sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. 12th Chinese Chemical Ecology Annual Conference. Fuzhou, China. June 22–25.

   2018    Molecular basis of response to post-harvest treatment stresses. PBCRC Scientific Exchange Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, May 28–31.

   2017    Molecular basis of Fruit fly response to (sub)lethal stresses. Science Protecting Plant Health in Brisbane, Queensland, Sep 25–28.

   2016    Molecular basis of Fruit fly response to (sub)lethal stresses. PBCRC Scientific Exchange Program, Creswick, Victoria, Australia, Oct. 25–39.

   2016    Expansion of a taste receptor family in a polyphagous insect herbivore. International Congress of Entomology (ICE) in Orlando, Florida, USA. Sep. 25–Oct. 1.

   2016    Molecular basis of response to postharvest treatment stresses. TAAO Symposium, Putrajay, Malaysia, Aug. 15–18.

   2016    Insect Chemical Ecology. Vietnam national university of agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov 2.

   2016    Insect Chemical Ecology. Forest Protection Research Centre (FPRC), Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences (VAFS), Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct 31.

   2016    How do insects smell and taste? Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), Vietnamese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct 31.

   2016   Molecular basis of response to sub(lethal) stresses. PBCRC Evaluation Workshop, Melbourne, Australia, June 7.

   2016    How do insects smell and taste? Royal Society of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, Apr. 18.

   2014    How do insects smell and taste? Australia National University. Aug. 7.

• International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) councillor (2020-2023)
• Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecologists (APACE) councillor (2020-2023)
• Associate Editor for Journal of Economic Entomology (Q1 in Insect Science
• Review Editor for Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (Chemical Ecology) (Q1 in Ecology)
• Review Editor for Frontiers in physiology (Invertebrate Physiology)
• Symposium “Chemical Information flow among organisms” organizer, The 10th Conference of Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecologist (APACE). Hangzhou, China, October 9-13, 2019.
• Symposium “Molecular Mechanisms in Terrestrial and Aquatic Chemical Ecology” organizer and student competition judge, 35^th ISCE annual conference. Atlanta, Georgia, USA June 2-6, 2019.
• Reviewer for ARC Discovery, Linkage projects, Future Fellowship and DECRA proposals (2017, 2018 and 2019
• Convener for “Functional Genomics and Transgenesis” section of the International Congress of Entomology (ICE) 2016 in Orlando, Florida, USA
• Australia Association of Chemosensory Science (AACSS) ordinary member (2015 – Now).
• Scientist in School program in Harrison School, Canberra, ACT, 2012-2013.
• Symposium “Chemical ecology meets evolutionary and molecular biology” co-organizer, 28^th ISCE annual conference. Vilnius, Lithuania, July 22-26, 2012.
• Symposium “Olfaction and receptors” co-organizer, 6^th APACE conference. Beijing, China. Oct. 13^th, 2011.
• 2008 Pacific Branch ESA Annual Conference Moderator

Ph.D. Students

Basman Al-Jalely (2015-2020) (Primary supervisor), Chemical communications between insect pests and their natural enemies

Farhan Al-Behadili  (2016-2020) (Primary supervisor), Cold treatment and low-oxygen treatment to Mediterranean fruit fly

Annirudha Agnihotri (2017- 2021) (Primary supervisor), Odorant recognition in insect olfactory system to control insect behaviour

Andrew Phillips (2019-2023) (Primary supervisor), Chemical cues used by aphidophagous arthropods to locate aphids in canola fields

Miyuki Taniguchi (2019-2023) (Primary supervisor) Australian native pollinators for avocado flowers.

Shovon Sarkar (2020-2023) (Primary supervisor) Australian native predators for invasive Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP)

Freya Jackson (2021-2024) (Primary supervisor) Advancing native bees in Western Australia

Afroja Rahman (2022-2025) (Primary supervisor) GMO Canola-insect pest chemical interactions

Naiyong Liu (2012-2014) (Co-supervisor), currently a faculty member in Southwest Forestry University, China

M.Sc. Students

Natasha Zhou (2022-2023) (Primary supervisor) Evaluation of the green lacewing Mallada signatus as a biological control for the invasive tomato potato psyllid pest Bactericera cockerelli

Honours Student

Andrew Phillips (2016-2017 ) (Primary supervisor)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr Kay Anantanawat (2015-2017), currently Facility Manager, at the The ithree Institute,  University of Technology Sydney

Dr Antonios Augustinos (2016-2017), currently a research entomologist in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.

Technical Officer

Vineeta Bilgi (2016-2017), currently a research entomologist in Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DIPIRD).

Sarkar S, Milroy S and Xu W. (2022) Potential of variegated lady beetle Hippodamia variegata in management of invasive tomato potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli. Pest Manag. Sci. (Accepted). DOI: 10.1002/ps.7247

Li K, Liu J, Geng Z, Xu W et al. (2022) Resistance to dinotefuran in Bemisia tabaci in China – status and characteristics. Pest Manag. Sci. (Accepted). DOI: 10.1002/ps.7251

Zhang Z, Wen Z, Li K, Xu W et al. (2022) A cytochrome P450 gene, CYP6CX3 is involved in the resistance to cyantraniliprole in Bemisia tabaci, J. Agric. Food Chem. 70 (39), 12398–12407. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c04699 

Liu Z, Xie QP, Guo HW, Xu W & Wang JJ. (2022) An odorant binding protein mediates Bactrocera dorsalis olfactory sensitivity to host plant volatiles and male attractant compounds, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 219, 538-544. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.198

Guo L, Zhang Z, Xu W et al. (2022) Expression profile of CYP402C1 and its role in resistance to imidacloprid in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, Insect Sci. DOI: 10.1111/174 4-7917.13081

Cai L, Macfadyen S, Hua B, Xu W & Ren Y. 2022, The correlation between volatile compounds emitted from Sitophilus granarius (L.) and its electrophysiological and be-havioral responses. Insects, 13 (5), 478. DOI: 10.3390/insects13050478

Cai L, Macfadyen S, Hua B, Zhang H, Xu W and Ren Y (2022) Identification of biomarker volatile organic compounds released by three stored-grain insect pests in wheat. Molecules, 27 (6), 1963. DOI: 10.3390/molecules27061963

Anantanawat K, Papanicolaou A, Hill K and Xu W (2022) Mediterranean fruit fly genes exhibit different expression patterns between heat and cold treatments. Bull Entomol Res, 112, 236-242. DOI: 10.1017/S000748532100078X 

He P, Liu Y, Hull J, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Guo X and Xu W (2022) Insect olfactory proteins (from gene identification to functional characterization), Volume II. Front Physiol, 177. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.858728

Cai L, Li T, Lin X, Huang Y, Qin J, Xu W and You M (2022) Identification and characterization of zero population growth (zpg) gene in Plutella xylostella. Physiol Entomol, 47(1), 46–54. DOI: 10.1111/phen.12372

Agnihotri A, Liu N and Xu W (2021) Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. Insects, 13 (1), 29. DOI: 10.3390/insects13010029

Al-Jalely B and Xu W (2021) Olfactory sensilla and olfactory genes in the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Insects, 12 (11), 998. DOI: 10.3390/insects12110998

Zhang Z, Li K, Xu W et al. (2021) Characterization of the ryanodine receptor gene in Encarsia formosa (Gahan) and its expression profile in response to diamide insecticides. Pestic Biochem Physiol, 178, 104921. DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.104921

Xu W, et al. (2021) Characterization of sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Insect Sci, 28 (3), 769-779. DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12816

Cai L, Zheng L, Huang Y, Xu W and You M. (2021) Identification and characterization of odorant binding proteins in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Insect Sci, 28 (4) 987-1004, DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12817

Zhang Z, Shi H, Xu W et al. (2021) Pymetrozine-resistant whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) populations in China remain susceptible to afidopyropen. Crop Prot, 149, 105757, DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105757

Al-Behadili FJM, Agarwal M, Xu W and Ren Y. (2020) Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Eggs and Larvae Responses to a Low-Oxygen/High-Nitrogen Atmosphere. Insects

Cai L, Cheng X, Qin J, Xu W and You M (2020). Expression, purification and characterization of three odorant binding proteins from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Insect Mol Biol. DOI: 10.1111/imb.12664.  

Anantanawat K, Papanicolaou A, Hill K and Xu W (2020). Molecular response of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), to heat. J Econ Entomol.

 Xu W, et al. (2020) Characterization of sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Insect Sci. DOI:10.1111/1744-7917.12816

Cai L, Zheng L, Huang Y, Xu W and You M. (2020) Identification and characterization of odorant binding proteins in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Insect Sci. DOI:10.1111/1744-7917.12817

Al-Behadili FJM, Agarwal M, Xu W and Ren Y. (2020) Cold Responses of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Blueberry. Insects 11 (5), 276 DOI:10.3390/insects11050276

Zhang HJ, Xu W, et al. (2020) A phylogenomics approach to characterizing sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in Lepidoptera. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 103313

Xu W (2019) How do moth and butterfly taste? —Molecular basis of gustatory receptors in Lepidoptera. Insect Sci. DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12718

Al-Behadili F, Bilgi V, Li J, Wang P, Taniguchi M, Agarwal M, Ren Y, Xu W (2019).  Cold Response of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) on a Lab Diet.  Insects 10 (2), 48.

Liu NY, Xu W, et al. (2018) Genome-wide analysis of ionotropic receptor gene repertoire in Lepidoptera with an emphasis on its functions of Helicoverpa armigera. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.05.005

Kahn S, Liao Y, Du X, Xu W, et al. (2018) Exosomal MicroRNAs in Milk from Mothers Delivering Preterm Infants Survive in Vitro Digestion and Are Taken Up by Human Intestinal Cells. Mol Nutr Food Res 62(11):e1701050. DOI:10.1002/mnfr.201701050

Pearce S., Clarke D., East P., [..] Xu W. et al.  Genomic innovations, transcriptional plasticity and gene loss underlying the evolution and divergence of two highly polyphagous and invasive Helicoverpa pest species. BMC Biology, 2017. DOI:10.1186/s12915-017-0402-6

Xu W & Liao Y (2017) Identification and characterization of aldehyde oxidases (AOXs) in the cotton bollworm. Die Naturwissenschaften 104(11-12):94. DOI:10.1007/s00114-017-1515-z

Stevenson BJ… Xu W. (2017) Walking Responses of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Its Aggregation Pheromone and Odors of Wheat Infestations. J Econ Entomol 110(3):1351-1358. DOI:10.1093/jee/tox051

Gouin A., Bretaudeau A., [..] Xu W. et al. Two genomes of highly polyphagous lepidopteran pests (Spodoptera frugiperda, Noctuidae) with different host-plant ranges. Scientific Reports, 2017. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-10461-4

Liao YL, Weber D, Xu W, et al. (2017) Absolute Quantification of Human Milk Caseins and the Whey/Casein Ratio during the First Year of Lactation. J Proteome Res 16(11):4113-4121. DOI:10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00486

Xu W, Liu NY, Liao YL, & Anderson A (2017) Molecular characterization of sugar taste receptors in the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. Genome 60(12):1037-1044. DOI:10.1139/gen-2017-0086

Xu W, Papanicolaou A, Zhang HJ, & Anderson A (2016) Expansion of a bitter taste receptor family in a polyphagous insect herbivore. Sci Rep 6. DOI:10.1038/srep23666

Xu W, Papanicolaou A, Liu NY, Dong SL, & Anderson A (2015) Chemosensory receptor genes in the Oriental tobacco budworm Helicoverpa assulta. Insect Mol Biol 24(2):253-263.  DOI:10.1111/imb.12153

Xu W & Anderson A (2015) Carbon dioxide receptor genes in cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. Sci Nat-Heidelberg 102(3-4). DOI:10.1007/s00114-015-1260-0

Liu NY, Yang K, Xu W, et al. (2015) Two general-odorant binding proteins in Spodoptera litura are differentially tuned to sex pheromones and plant odorants. Comp Biochem Phys A 180:23-31. DOI:10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.11.005

Liu NY, Yang F, He P, Yang K, Niu X, Xu W, et al. (2015) Two subclasses of odorant-binding proteins in Spodoptera exigua display structural conservation and functional divergence. Insect Mol Biol 24(2):167-182. Insect Mol Biol, 2014; 24 (2): 167-182. DOI:10.1111/imb.12143

Liu NY, Xu W, Papanicolaou A, Dong SL, & Anderson A (2014) Identification and characterization of three chemosensory receptor families in the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. BMC Genomics 15. DOI:10.1186/1471-2164-15-597

Xu W, Zhang HJ, & Anderson A (2012) A Sugar Gustatory Receptor Identified from the Foregut of Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. J Chem Ecol 38(12):1513-1520. DOI:10.1007/s10886-012-0221-8

Xu W, Xu XZ, Leal WS, & Ames JB (2011) Extrusion of the C-terminal helix in navel orangeworm moth pheromone-binding protein (AtraPBP1) controls pheromone binding. Biochem Bioph Res Co 404(1):335-338. DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.11.119

Xu XZ, Xu W, et al. (2010) NMR Structure of Navel Orangeworm Moth Pheromone-Binding Protein (AtraPBP1): Implications for pH-Sensitive Pheromone Detection. Biochemistry 49(7):1469-1476. DOI:10.1021/bi9020132

Xu W, Cornel AJ, & Leal WS (2010) Odorant-Binding Proteins of the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles funestus sensu stricto. Plos One 5(10). DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0015403

Mao Y, Xu XZ, Xu W, et al. (2010) Crystal and solution structures of an odorant-binding protein from the southern house mosquito complexed with an oviposition pheromone. P Natl Acad Sci USA 107(44):19102-19107. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1012274107

Xu XZ, Xu W, et al. (2009) H-1, N-15, and C-13 chemical shift assignments of the mosquito odorant binding protein-1 (CquiOBP1) bound to the mosquito oviposition pheromone. Biomol NMR Assign 3(2):195-197. DOI:10.1007/s12104-009-9173-5

Leite NR, Krogh R, Xu W, et al. (2009) Structure of an Odorant-Binding Protein from the Mosquito Aedes aegypti Suggests a Binding Pocket Covered by a pH-Sensitive “Lid”. Plos One 4(11). DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0008006

Leal WS, Ishida Y, Pelletier J, Xu W, et al. (2009) Olfactory Proteins Mediating Chemical Communication in the Navel Orangeworm Moth, Amyelois transitella. Plos One 4(9). DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0007235

Xu W & Leal WS (2008) Molecular switches for pheromone release from a moth pheromone-binding protein. Biochem Bioph Res Co 372(4):559-564. DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.087

Leal WS, Barbosa R, Xu W, et al. (2008) Reverse and Conventional Chemical Ecology Approaches for the Development of Oviposition Attractants for Culex Mosquitoes. Plos One 3(8). DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0003045

Grater F, Xu W, Leal W, & Grubmuller H (2006) Pheromone discrimination by the pheromone-binding protein of Bombyx mori. Structure 14(10):1577-1586.

Chen J, Sun F, Shi Y, Xu W, et al. (2005) Efficient expression of vip184 Delta P gene under the control of promoters plus Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequences of cry genes from Bacillus thuringiensis. J Appl Microbiol 99(2):426-434.

Shi Y, Xu W, et al. (2004) Expression of vip1/vip2 genes in Escherichia coli and Bacillus thuringiensis and the analysis of their signal peptides. J. Appl. Microbiol., 2004, 97:757-765.

Yu JX, Xu W, et al. (2002) Cloning and expression of cyt2Ba7 gene from a soil-isolated Bacillus thuringiensis. Curr Microbiol 45(5):309-314.