Dr Zhigang Yu
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology
Researcher biography
Dr Zhigang Yu is an early career researcher who obtained a PhD degree from ACWEB, University of Queensland in 2022. Since then, he has been a Postdocoral Research Fellow at ACWEB. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in top tier journals including PNAS, Adavanced Science, The ISME Journal, with 12 as a first author and H index of 30. He acts as a Guest Editor of three journals and has been invited as a reviewer for over 20 journals.
Dr Yu has a strong curiosity on the project of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which spans from chemistry to microbiology. His interests include the emergence and spread of bacterial AMR in both environmental and clinical (e.g., human gut) settings, bacterial adaptation, and the development of efficient disinfection technologies to contain AMR in the environment.
| Featured projects | Duration |
|---|---|
|
Novel disinfection to combat antibiotic resistance Australian Research Council |
2022–2024 |
Publications
Journal Articles
Guo, Zicong, Tang, Xiang, Wang, Wenjun, Luo, Zhangxiong, Zeng, Yuxi, Zhou, Nan, Yu, Zhigang, Wang, Dongbo, Song, Biao, Zhou, Chengyun and Xiong, Weiping (2025). The photo-based treatment technology simultaneously removes resistant bacteria and resistant genes from wastewater. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 148, 243-262. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2024.01.005
Yan, Hongbin, Gu, Zhiqiang, Zhang, Qi, Wang, Yunpu, Cui, Xian, Liu, Yuhuan, Yu, Zhigang and Ruan, Roger (2024). Detoxification of copper and zinc from anaerobic digestate effluent by indigenous bacteria: Mechanisms, pathways and metagenomic analysis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 469 133993, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133993
Gu, Zhiqiang, Yan, Hongbin, Zhang, Qi, Wang, Yunpu, Liu, Cuixia, Cui, Xian, Liu, Yuhuan, Yu, Zhigang, Wu, Xiaodan and Ruan, Roger (2024). Elimination of copper obstacle factor in anaerobic digestion effluent for value-added utilization: Performance and resistance mechanisms of indigenous bacterial consortium. Water Research, 252 121217, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121217
Yan, Hongbin, Zhang, Qi, Wang, Yunpu, Cui, Xian, Liu, Yuhuan, Yu, Zhigang, Xu, Shuming and Ruan, Roger (2023). Rice straw as microalgal biofilm bio-carrier: Effects of indigenous microorganisms on rice straw and microalgal biomass production. Journal of Environmental Management, 341 118075, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118075
Yang, Xu, Li, Zihao, Wang, Tantan, Yang, Zhongzhu, Wen, Xin, Yang, Kaihua, Huang, Yicai, Chen, Wenhao, He, Yubo, Shi, Xiaohong, Zhang, Chang and Yu, Zhigang (2023). Resupply, diffusion, and bioavailability of Hg in paddy soil-water environment with flood-drain-reflood and straw amendment. Environmental Research, 231 (Pt 1) 116127, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116127
Tan, Chang, Yao, Fubing, Ma, Chi, He, Li, Yang, Xu, Wang, Tantan, Xiang, Ling, Yu, Guanlong, Yu, Zhigang, Zeng, Zhuotong and Zhang, Chang (2023). Electrochemical hydrogenation detoxication of p-nitrophenol via self-supported rGO/CoP/CF electrode: Performance, mechanism and biotoxicity. Chemical Engineering Journal, 467 143448, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.143448
Fu, Qiqi, Chen, Zhiqiang, Yu, Zhigang, Wu, Yiqi, Bao, Huanyu, Guo, Jianhua and Wen, Qinxue (2023). Ozonation enables to suppress horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in microbial communities during swine manure composting. Chemical Engineering Journal, 462 142218, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.142218
Chen, Wenhao, Yu, Zhigang, Yang, Xu, Wang, Tantan, Li, Zihao, Wen, Xin, He, Yubo and Zhang, Chang (2023). Unveiling the role of dissolved organic matter on the Hg phytoavailability in biochar-amended soils. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (4) 3761, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043761
Wang, Yue, Yu, Zhigang, Ding, Pengbo, Lu, Ji, Mao, Likai, Ngiam, Lyman, Yuan, Zhiguo, Engelstädter, Jan, Schembri, Mark A. and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Antidepressants can induce mutation and enhance persistence toward multiple antibiotics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (5) e2208344120, 1-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2208344120
Zhong, Jiexi, Ahmed, Yunus, Yu, Zhigang, Mueller, Jochen F. and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Synergistic combination of graphitic carbon nitride and peroxymonosulfate for efficient photocatalytic destruction of emerging contaminants under simulated solar irradiation. ACS - ES & T Water, 3 (1), 6-15. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00237
Yu, Zhigang, Henderson, Ian R. and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Non-caloric artificial sweeteners modulate conjugative transfer of multi-drug resistance plasmid in the gut microbiota. Gut Microbes, 15 (1) 2157698, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2157698
Ma, Chi, Yu, Zhigang, Wei, Jingjing, Tan, Chang, Yang, Xu, Wang, Tantan, Yu, Guanlong, Zhang, Chang and Li, Xin (2022). Metal-free ultrathin C3N5 photocatalyst coupling sodium percarbonate for efficient sulfamethoxazole degradation. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 319 121951, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121951
Wang, Yue, Yu, Zhigang, Ding, Pengbo, Lu, Ji, Klümper, Uli, Murray, Aimee K., Gaze, William H. and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals promote conjugative plasmid transfer at a community-wide level. Microbiome, 10 (1) 124, 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s40168-022-01314-y
Cai, Yihui, Zhai, Ligong, Fang, Xiaoman, Wu, Kangping, Liu, Yuhuan, Cui, Xian, Wang, Yunpu, Yu, Zhigang, Ruan, Roger, Liu, Tongying and Zhang, Qi (2022). Effects of C/N ratio on the growth and protein accumulation of heterotrophic Chlorella in broken rice hydrolysate. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, 15 (1) 102, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s13068-022-02204-z
Yu, Zhigang, Goodall, Emily C. A., Henderson, Ian R. and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Plasmids can shift bacterial morphological response against antibiotic stress. Advanced Science, 10 (2) 2203260, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/advs.202203260
Lu, Ji, Yu, Zhigang, Ding, Pengbo and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Triclosan promotes conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes to opportunistic pathogens in environmental microbiome. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (21), 15108-15119. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05537
Lu, Ji, Yu, Zhigang, Ngiam, Lyman and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Microplastics as potential carriers of viruses could prolong virus survival and infectivity. Water Research, 225 119115, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119115
Yu, Zhigang, Li, Xuemei and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Combat antimicrobial resistance emergence and biofilm formation through nanoscale zero-valent iron particles. Chemical Engineering Journal, 444 136569, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.136569
Huang, Qiaoyun, Yan, Hongbin, Liu, Yuhuan, Cui, Xian, Wang, Yunpu, Yu, Zhigang, Ruan, Roger and Zhang, Qi (2022). Effects of microalgae-bacteria inoculation ratio on biogas slurry treatment and microorganism interactions in the symbiosis system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 362 132271. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132271
Chislett, Mariella, Yu, Zhigang, Donose, Bogdan C., Guo, Jianhua and Yuan, Zhiguo (2022). Understanding the effect of free nitrous acid on biofilms. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (16), 11625-11634. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01156
Yu, Zhigang and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Non-caloric artificial sweeteners exhibit antimicrobial activity against bacteria and promote bacterial evolution of antibiotic tolerance. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 433 128840, 128840. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128840
Yan, Hongbin, Lu, Rumeng, Liu, Yuhuan, Cui, Xian, Wang, Yunpu, Yu, Zhigang, Ruan, Roger and Zhang, Qi (2022). Development of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system for enhanced treatment of biogas slurry. Bioresource Technology, 354 127187, 127187. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127187
Li, Yiming, Yang, Zhongzhu, Yang, Kaihua, Wei, Jingjing, Li, Zihao, Ma, Chi, Yang, Xu, Wang, Tantan, Zeng, Guangming, Yu, Guanlong, Yu, Zhigang and Zhang, Chang (2022). Removal of chloride from water and wastewater: removal mechanisms and recent trends. Science of the Total Environment, 821 153174, 153174. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153174
Xiang, Shuyu, Liu, Yuhuan, Lu, Feihu, Zhang, Qi, Wang, Yunpu, Xiong, Jianghua, Huang, Zhenxia, Yu, Zhigang, Ruan, Roger and Cui, Xian (2022). The combination of aerobic and microaerobic promote hydrolysis and acidification of rice straw and pig manure: balance of insoluble and soluble substrate. Bioresource Technology, 350 126880, 126880. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126880
Yu, Zhigang, Wang, Yue, Henderson, Ian R. and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Artificial sweeteners stimulate horizontal transfer of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes through natural transformation. The ISME Journal, 16 (2), 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41396-021-01095-6
Yu, Zhigang, Rabiee, Hesamoddin and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Synergistic effect of sulfidated nano zerovalent iron and persulfate on inactivating antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Water Research, 198 117141, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117141
Zhang, Shuai, Wang, Yue, Lu, Ji, Yu, Zhigang, Song, Hailiang, Bond, Philip L. and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Chlorine disinfection facilitates natural transformation through ROS-mediated oxidative stress. The ISME Journal, 15 (10), 2969-2985. doi: 10.1038/s41396-021-00980-4
Yu, Zhigang, Wang, Yue, Lu, Ji, Bond, Philip L. and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Nonnutritive sweeteners can promote the dissemination of antibiotic resistance through conjugative gene transfer. The ISME Journal, 15 (7), 2117-2130. doi: 10.1038/s41396-021-00909-x
Zhang, Qi, Wang, Lin, Yu, Zhigang, Zhou, Ting, Gu, Zhiqiang, Huang, Qiaoyun, Xiao, Bo, Zhou, Wenguang, Ruan, Roger and Liu, Yuhuan (2020). Pine sawdust as algal biofilm biocarrier for wastewater treatment and algae-based byproducts production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 256 120449. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120449
Zhang, Qi, Yu, Zhigang, Jin, Shiping, Liu, Cuixia, Li, Yubiao, Guo, Dabin, Hu, Mian, Ruan, Roger and Liu, Yuhuan (2020). Role of surface roughness in the algal short-term cell adhesion and long-term biofilm cultivation under dynamic flow condition. Algal Research, 46 101787, 101787. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101787
Liu, X., Zhang, C. and Yu, Z. (2019). Effect of low-temperature thermo-alkaline pretreatment with alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) for low-organic-content sludge in anaerobic digestion. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 17 (4), 7463-7476. doi: 10.15666/aeer/1704_74637476
Zhang, Chang, Yu, Zhigang, Zeng, Guangming, Huang, Binbin, Dong, Haoran, Huang, Jinhui, Yang, Zhongzhu, Wei, Jingjing, Hu, Liang and Zhang, Qi (2016). Phase transformation of crystalline iron oxides and their adsorption abilities for Pb and Cd. Chemical Engineering Journal, 284, 247-259. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.08.096