Chenhua Li

Biography

I grew up in China and completed my BSc degree in agriculture at the Northwest A&F University. Then I went to Winnipeg, Canada, for my MSc at the University of Manitoba and started my journey with parasites. I used stable isotope analysis to fill gaps in our knowledge of parasite lifecycles and transmission. 

One summer, I found a Leucochloridium-infected snail during my field collection, and I became fascinated by the host manipulation phenomenon. That led me to work on host manipulation for my PhD at the University of Calgary, where I studied the mechanisms underlying the zombie ant behaviour caused by the lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum. I'm looking forward to explore the parasites in New Zealand with my time here at the University of Otago.

In addition to research, I’m committed to science communication. As the founder of the Global Parasitologist Coalition, I lead international outreach efforts to make parasitology accessible, engaging, and joyful. Through comics, documentaries, global events like Parasite Biodiversity Day, or playful tools like the Parasite Personality Quiz that invite people to discover which parasite best matches their personality, I aim to connect science with society in creative and inclusive ways.

Publications

Li, C.-H., C.P. Goater, and J.D. Wasmuth. 2025. Gene Expression Associated With Behaviour Manipulation in Wood Ants Infected With Larval Lancet Fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Molecular Ecology e70099. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.70099. [PDF]

Li, C.-H., and R. Poulin. 2025. Biased availability of genetic data for parasites: it’s all about the host. International Journal for Parasitology In Press. [PDF]

Li, C.-H., Y.R. Wang, K. Lesack, X. Xiao, S.M.J. Pollo, T.K. Jonsdottir, E. Charrier, R. Poulin. 2025. Perceptions of parasites: reflections from a new parasitology outreach initiative. Trends in Parasitology 41: 509 - 513 [PDF]

Li, C.-H., and R. Poulin. 2025. Alteration of host gene and protein expression by manipulative parasites. Trends in Parasitology 41: 83-86 [PDF]

Friesen, OC, C.-H. Li, E. Sykes, J.M. Stout, H.M. Aukema, A. Kumar, J.T. Detwiler. 2022. Density-dependent prophylaxis in freshwater snails driven by oxylipin chemical cues. Frontiers in Immunology 13, 826500. [PDF]

Li, C.-H., J.D. Roth, J.T. Detwiler. 2018. Isotopic turnover rates and diet-tissue discrimination depend on feeding habits of snails. PLoS One 13(7): e0199713. [PDF]

Li, C.-H. 2023. A metabolomic-and transcriptomic-level investigation of ant brains infected with the lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary. [PDF]

Li, C.-H. 2017. Improving the accuracy of stable isotope analysis in ecological studies of wildlife and helminth parasites. Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba. [PDF]