School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Home>Our People>Honorary and Emeritus Professors>Chu, Ka Hou

Professor Chu, Ka Hou

Emailkahouchu@cuhk.edu.hk
Web

https://research.cuhk.edu.hk/en/persons/ka-hou-chu/

Education

1984 Ph. D. (Biological Oceanography), Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography, USA
1976 A. B. (Biological Sciences, with specialisation in Marine Biology), University of California at Berkeley, USA

Positions

  • Professor Emeritus, School of Life Sciences
  • Honorary Fellow, New Asia College

Research Interests

  1. Molecular marine biology and biotechnology
    a) Molecular systematics and ecology
    b) Molecular and immunological studies on seafood allergy
  2. Biology of crustaceans
    a) Crustacean genomics
    b) Larval development, growth and reproduction
    c) Fisheries, aquaculture and pollution biology

Representative Publications

  • Yuan J, Zhang X, Li S., Wang K, Sun Y, Luo M, Yang S, Kou Q, Liu C, Yu Y, Li R, Wang L, Li X, Chu K*, Xiang J*, Li F* (2026) Deep-sea megafauna co-opts microbial energy metabolism genes to withstand ultra-long starvation. Cell: published online.

  • Li S, Bian J, Xiong Q, Wong BSH, Tsui SKW, Kwan KM, Leung NYH., Leung TF, Leung PSC, Chu KH*, Xiao X*, Wai, CYY* (2026) Revealing the diverse allergenic protein repertoire of six widely consumed crab species: A species-specific allergen in king crab. Allergy 81:1500-1521.

  • Cui Z*, Liu Y, Yuan J, Zhang X, Ventura T, Ma KY, Sun S, Song C, Zhan D, Yang Y, Liu H, Fan G, Cai Q, Du J, Qin J, Shi C, Hao S, Fitzgibbon QP, Smith GG, Xiang J, Chan TY, Hui M, Bao C, Li F*, Chu KH* (2021) The Chinese mitten crab genome provides insights into adaptive plasticity and developmental regulation. Nature Communications 12:2395.

  • Wai, CYY, Leung NYH, Leung, PSC*, Chu KH* (2019) Immunotherapy of food allergy: a comprehensive review. Clinical Reviews of Allergy and Immunology 57:55-73 (Invited review)

  • Zhang X, Yuan J, Sun Y, Li S, Gao Y, Yu Y, Yu Y, Liu C, Wang Q, Lv X, Zhang X, Ma KY, Wang X, Lin W, Wang L, Zhu X, Zhang C, Zhang J, Jin S, Yu K, Kong J, Xu P, Chen N, Zhang H, Sorgeloos P, Sagi A, Alcivar-Warren A, Liu Z, Wang L, Ruan J, Chu KH*, Liu B*, Li F*, Xiang J* (2019) Penaeid shrimp genome provides insights into benthic adaptation and frequent molting. Nature Communications 10:356.

  • Leung NYH, Wai CYY, Ho MHK, Liu RW, Lam KS, Wang JJ, Shu SA, Chu KH*, Leung PSC* (2017) Screening and identifying mimotopes of the major shrimp tropomyosin using one-bead-one-compound combinatorial peptide libraries. Cellular and Molecular Immunology 14:308-318.

  • Wai CYY, Leung NYH, Leung PSC*, Chu KH* (2016) T-cell epitope immunotherapy ameliorates allergenic responses in a murine model of shrimp allergy. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 46:491-503.

  • Tsang LM, Schubart CD, Ahyong ST, Lai J, Au E, Ng PKL, Chan TY, Chu KH* (2014) Evolutionary history of the true crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura), including the origin of the freshwater crabs. Molecular Biology and Evolution 31:1173-1187.

  • Ma KY, Chan TY, Chu KH* (2011) Refuting the six-genus classification of Penaeus s.l.: a combined analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. Zoologica Scripta 40:498-508.

  • Tsang LM, Chan TY, Ahyong S, Chu KH* (2011) Hermit to king, or hermit to all: multiple transitions to crab-like forms from hermit crab ancestors. Systematic Biology 60:616-629.

  • Xu J, Chan T.Y, Tsang LM, Chu KH* (2009): Phylogeography of the mitten crab Eriocheir sensu stricto in East Asia: Pleistocene isolation, population expansion and secondary contact. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52:45-56.

  • Tsang LM, Chan BKK, Ma KY, Chu KH* (2008) Genetic differentiation, hybridization and adaptive significance in two subspecies of the acorn barnacle, Tetraclita japonica, in northwestern Pacific. Molecular Ecology 17:4136-4148.

  • Tsang LM, Ma KY, Ahyong ST, Chan TY, Chu KH* (2008) Phylogeny of Decapoda using two nuclear protein-coding genes: Origin and evolution of the Reptantia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48:359-368.

  • Chu KH*, Li CP, Qi J (2006) Ribosomal RNA as molecular barcodes: A simple correlation analysis without sequence alignment. Bioinformatics 22:1690-1701.

  • Chu KH*, Qi J, Yu ZG, Anh V (2004) Origin and phylogeny of chloroplasts revealed by a simple correlation analysis of complete genomes. Molecular Biology and Evolution 21:70-76.

  • Lavery S, Chan TY, Tam YK, Chu KH* (2004) Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the shrimp genus Penaeus s.l. derived from mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31:39-49.

Research Grants

  • 2021-2022, Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Open Collaborative Research Fund, Evolution of decapod- micorbiome symbiosis in deep-sea biomes, HK$800,000
  • 2020-2023, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, On the origin of Southwest China biodiversity hotspot: a biogeographical study of atyid shrimps, HK$996,285
  • 2018-2021, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, Phylophysiology of caridean shrimps: Uncovering osmoregulatory innovations underlying marine-freshwater transitions, HK$965,925
  • 2017-2020, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, Understanding the evolutionary ecology of brachyuran crabs: a transcriptomic approach, HK$970,371
  • 2016-2018, Environment and Conservation Fund, Genetic diversity and population structure of freshwater Caridina and Neocaridina shrimps in Hong Kong, HK$1,651,200
  • 2015-2018, Research Grants Council (RGC) Collaborative Research Fund, Marine genomics: crustacean evolution and aquaculture, $7,200,000
  • 2015-2018, National Science Foundation of China, Phylogenetics of higher taxa (families and superfamilies) in Caridea based on nuclear protein-coding genes and mitochondrial genomes, RMB940,000
  • 2015-2017, Environment and Conservation Fund, Genetic diversity and population structure of freshwater fish in Hong Kong and South China, $1,016,460
  • 2015-2017, Health and Medical Research Fund, Immunotherapy and modulatory mechanisms of hypoallergen DNA vaccines for shellfish allergy, $999,657
  • 2013-2016, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, Comparative phylogeography of East Asian crabs using a multi-locus approach: The role of adult habitat specificity in shaping genetic structure of coastal fauna, $848,712
  • 2011-2014, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, Gene therapy of shellfish allergy, $1,035,000
  • 2010-2013, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, A multi-locus approach to the origin and phylogeny of thoracotreme crabs, the most diversified of all brachyurans, $963,815
  • 2010-2013, Environment and Conservation Fund, Genetic diversity and population differentiation of freshwater fish in Hong Kong, $854,440
  • 2009-2012, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, Diversity, distribution and genetic differentiation of two barnacle species complexes: dissecting the driving forces of biogeographic patterns in the Asian intertidal zone, $543,203
  • 2004-2008, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Molecular barcodes of decapod crustaceans: the development of a DNA-based taxonomic identification system, $1,406,920
  • 2003-2007, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Gene expression in ovarian maturation of penaeid shrimp, $1,679,600
  • 2002-2005, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Development of an animal model of shrimp allergy, $816,000
  • 2001-2005, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Molecular population structure of penaeid shrimp in the Indo-West Pacific, $1,182,000
  • 2000-2003, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Isolation, characterization, and molecular cloning of the androgenic hormone of the mud crab Scylla spp.: Development of monosex crab aquaculture, $763,200
  • 1999-2002, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Evolutionary and population genetics of the mitten crabs, Eriocheir spp, $822,080
  • 1998-2001, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Development of molecular markers for genome mapping in penaeid shrimp, $600,000
  • 1997-1999, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Molecular studies on shellfish allergens: Cloning, expression and immunological responses, $686,880
  • 1996-1999, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Evolutionary and population genetics of penaeid shrimp in the Indo-West Pacific: Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA analyses, $692,000
  • 1994-1997, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grant, Fisheries biology and population genetics of brachyuran crabs in the Zhujiang estuary, $603,000
  • 1994-1996, Croucher Foundation, Molecular cloning and expression of crustacean allergens, $600,000
  • 1991-1994, Croucher Foundation, Diversity, distribution and production of penaeid shrimp in the Zhujiang River Estuary, $800,000

Awards

  • 2023, Excellence in Research Award, The Crustacean Society
  • 2015, Outstanding Fellow, Faculty of Science, CUHK
  • 2012, Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology) in the category of Natural Sciences (Second Class), Ministry of Education, PRC
  • 2007-2008, Research Excellence Award, CUHK
  • 2005, Exemplary Teaching Award, Faculty of Science, CUHK

Professional Activities

  • Associate Editor, Journal of Crustacean Biology
  • Associate Editor, Zoological Studies
  • Associate Editor, Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology
  • Member, Editorial Board of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
  • Member, Editorial Board of the journal Marine Biotechnology
  • Visiting Professor, Education University of Hong Kong
  • Li Dak Sum Chair Professor, Ningbo University
  • Honorary Professor, Shanghai Ocean University, China
  • Adjunct Professor, Xiamen University, China
  • Adjunct Professor, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
  • Visiting Scientist, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Visiting Scholar, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • Scientific Advisor, International Foundation for Science, Sweden