Overview
Background
Dr Zhigang Yu is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow 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 32. 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.
Availability
- Dr Zhigang Yu is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Bacterial evolution
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Antimicrobial resistance
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Microbial interactions
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Water-based epidemiology
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Disinfection
Research impacts
Dr Yu establishes a microfluidic system to visualise AMR transfer at the single-cell level. This platform has generated several publications in journals including PNAS, ISME Journal, Advanced Science, and Microbiome.
Three of his publications are selected as Editors’ Choice and 1 is Best Paper Award Winner (only 3 winners worldwide) in ISME Journal, as well as 8 Highly Cited Papers. The "Best Paper" was also cited in the report from the office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, New Zealand. Dr Yu's research findings have attracted wide attention with >1,000 mentions and >10 M potential viewers globally.
Works
Search Professor Zhigang Yu’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Integrated application of nanoscale zero-valent iron for sulfide and methane control in sewers and improved wastewater treatment
Cen, Xiaotong, Hu, Zhetai, Yu, Zhigang, Huang, Xin, Zuo, Zhiqiang, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo and Zheng, Min (2025). Integrated application of nanoscale zero-valent iron for sulfide and methane control in sewers and improved wastewater treatment. Water Research, 276 123248, 123248. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123248
2025
Journal Article
The photo-based treatment technology simultaneously removes resistant bacteria and resistant genes from wastewater
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
2024
Journal Article
Sweet sorghum as alternative carbon sources for Chlorella sp. valued-added compounds production: a mechanistic insight using transcriptomics
Lu, Rumeng, Lai, Jiangling, Wu, Kangping, Zhang, Qi, Wang, Yunpu, Cui, Xian, Liu, Yuhuan, Wu, Xiaodan, Yu, Zhigang, Luo, Hailong and Ruan, Roger (2024). Sweet sorghum as alternative carbon sources for Chlorella sp. valued-added compounds production: a mechanistic insight using transcriptomics. Chemical Engineering Journal, 500 157096, 157096. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.157096
2024
Journal Article
Optimizing Chlorella vulgaris cultivation to enhance biomass and lutein production
Wu, Kangping, Lai, Jiangling, Zhang, Qi, Wang, Yunpu, Cui, Xian, Liu, Yuhuan, Wu, Xiaodan, Yu, Zhigang and Ruan, Roger (2024). Optimizing Chlorella vulgaris cultivation to enhance biomass and lutein production. Foods, 13 (16) 2514, 2514. doi: 10.3390/foods13162514
2024
Journal Article
Cation defects anchoring single-atom nickel enable photocatalytic converting of CO2 under visible light irradiation
Yang, Kaihua, Yu, Zhigang, Yang, Zhongzhu, Zhang, Chang and Ma, Chi (2024). Cation defects anchoring single-atom nickel enable photocatalytic converting of CO2 under visible light irradiation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 461 142650, 461. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142650
2024
Journal Article
Detoxification of copper and zinc from anaerobic digestate effluent by indigenous bacteria: Mechanisms, pathways and metagenomic analysis
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
2024
Journal Article
Elimination of copper obstacle factor in anaerobic digestion effluent for value-added utilization: Performance and resistance mechanisms of indigenous bacterial consortium
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
2023
Journal Article
Microbial community function and methylmercury production in oxygen-limited paddy soil
Li, Zihao, Wang, Tantan, Yang, Xu, Wen, Xin, Chen, Wenhao, He, Yubo, Yu, Zhigang and Zhang, Chang (2023). Microbial community function and methylmercury production in oxygen-limited paddy soil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 266 115585, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115585
2023
Journal Article
Rice straw as microalgal biofilm bio-carrier: Effects of indigenous microorganisms on rice straw and microalgal biomass production
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
2023
Journal Article
Resupply, diffusion, and bioavailability of Hg in paddy soil-water environment with flood-drain-reflood and straw amendment
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
2023
Journal Article
Electrochemical hydrogenation detoxication of p-nitrophenol via self-supported rGO/CoP/CF electrode: Performance, mechanism and biotoxicity
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
2023
Journal Article
Ozonation enables to suppress horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in microbial communities during swine manure composting
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
2023
Journal Article
Ozonation enables to suppress horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in microbial communities during swine manure composting
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
2023
Journal Article
Unveiling the role of dissolved organic matter on the Hg phytoavailability in biochar-amended soils
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
2023
Journal Article
Antidepressants can induce mutation and enhance persistence toward multiple antibiotics
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
2023
Journal Article
Non-caloric artificial sweeteners modulate conjugative transfer of multi-drug resistance plasmid in the gut microbiota
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
2023
Journal Article
Synergistic combination of graphitic carbon nitride and peroxymonosulfate for efficient photocatalytic destruction of emerging contaminants under simulated solar irradiation
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
2022
Journal Article
Metal-free ultrathin C3N5 photocatalyst coupling sodium percarbonate for efficient sulfamethoxazole degradation
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
2022
Journal Article
Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals promote conjugative plasmid transfer at a community-wide level
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
2022
Journal Article
Effects of C/N ratio on the growth and protein accumulation of heterotrophic Chlorella in broken rice hydrolysate
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Zhigang Yu is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Bacterial evolution of antimicrobial resistance in urban water systems
Reveal the evolutionary trajectories of waterborne pathogens and investigate the temporal dynamics of antimicrobial resistance transmission across biofilm pathogens in urban water systems.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance between bacteria and environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding roles of disinfection agents on the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Professor Jianhua Guo
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Doctor Philosophy
Efficient control the spread of antibiotic resistance in urban water systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo
Media
Enquiries
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