Publications

* corresponding author; † equal contribution

2025

23. Zheng, C.†, Xing, Y.†, Kang, X., Men, Y.* (2025). Environmental heterogeneity altered the growth fitness of antibiotic-resistant mutants and the resistance prevalence in Escherichia coli populations. Water Res.: X. Under review. BioRxiv: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.18.670914

22. Jin, B., Zhao, W., Zhu, Y., Liu, Z., Yu, Y., Che, S., Liu, J., Men, Y.* (2025). Anaerobic microbial defluorination of polyfluoroalkylether substances (ether PFAS): Transformation pathways and roles of different microorganisms. Environ. Sci. Technol. In revision. ChemRxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-wfkg9-v2

2024

21. Xu, F.†, Thoma, C.J.†, Zhao, W., Zhu, Y., Men, Y.*, Wackett, Y.* (2024). Dual feedback inhibition of ATP-dependent caffeate activation economizes ATP in caffeate-dependent electron bifurcation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. DOI: 10.1128/aem.00602-24.

Dual feedback inhibition of ATP-dependent caffeate activation economizes ATP in caffeate-dependent electron bifurcation

20. Che, S.†, Guan, X.†, Rodrigues R., Xie, Y., Yu, Y., Liu, C.*, Men, Y.* Synergistic material-microbe interface toward deeper anaerobic defluorination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 12(31), e2400525121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400525121

19. Yu, Y., Xu, F., Zhao, W., Thoma, C., Che, S., Richman, J.E., Jin, B., Zhu, Y., Xing, Y., Wackett, L., Men, Y.* (2024). Electron bifurcation and fluoride efflux systems implicated in defluorination of perfluorinated unsaturated carboxylic acids by Acetobacterium spp. Sci. Adv. 10 (29): eado2957. DOI: doi:10.1126/sciadv.ado2957 Media coverage: UCR News, Science Daily,

Electron bifurcation and fluoride efflux systems implicated in defluorination of perfluorinated unsaturated carboxylic acids by Acetobacterium spp

2023

18. Jin, B., Zhu, Y., Zhao, W., Liu, Z., Che, S., Chen, K., Lin, Y.H., Liu, J., and Men, Y.* (2023). Aerobic biotransformation and defluorination of fluoroalkylether substances (ether PFAS): Substrate specificity, pathways, and applications. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00411. (Supplemental Cover Article)

17. Jin, B., Liu, H., Che, S., Gao, J., Yu, Y., Liu, J., Men, Y.* (2023). Substantial defluorination of polychlorofluorocarboxylic acids triggered by anaerobic microbial hydrolytic dechlorination. Nat. Water. DOI: 10.1038/s44221-023-00077-6. Media coverage: UCR News, Nature Research Highlights, BBC.

Substantial defluorination of polychlorofluorocarboxylic acids triggered by anaerobic microbial hydrolytic dechlorination

16. Gao, J., Liu, Z., Chen, Z., Rao, D., Che, S., Gu, C., Men, Y., Huang, J., and Liu, J. (2023). Photochemical degradation pathways and near-complete defluorination of chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl substances. Nat. Water. DOI: 10.1038/s44221-023-00046-z.

Photochemical degradation pathways and near-complete defluorination of chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl substances. Nat. Water

2022

15. Han, P.*, Rios-Miguel, A.B., Tang, X., Yu, Y., Zhou, L.J.*, Hou, L.J., Liu, M., Zhao, Q., Sun, D., Jetten M.S.M., Welte, C.U., Men, Y.*, Lücker, S. (2023). Benzimidazole fungicide biotransformation by comammox Nitrospira bacteria: transformation pathways and associated proteomic responses. J. Hazard. Mater. 445: 130558. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130558

Benzimidazole fungicide biotransformation by comammox Nitrospira bacteria: transformation pathways and associated proteomic responses

14. Xing, Y., Herrera D., Zhang, S., Kang X., Men, Y.* (2022). Site-specific target-modification mutations exclusively induced by the coexposure to low levels of pesticides and streptomycin caused strong streptomycin resistance in clinically relevant Escherichia coli. J. Hazard. Mater. Adv. 7: 100141. DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2022.100141

Site-specific target-modification mutations exclusively induced by the coexposure to low levels of pesticides and streptomycin caused strong streptomycin resistance in clinically relevant Escherichia coli. J. Hazard. Mater

13. Yu, Y., Che, S., Ren, C., Jin, B., Tian, Z., Liu, J., Men, Y.*. (2022). Microbial defluorination of unsaturated per- and polyfluorinated carboxylic acids under anaerobic and aerobic conditions: a structure specificity study. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05509

Microbial defluorination of unsaturated per- and polyfluorinated carboxylic acids under anaerobic and aerobic conditions: a structure specificity study

2021

12. Xing, Y., Kang, X., Zhang, S., Men, Y.*. (2021). Pesticides drive evolutionary trajectories toward strong and irreversible antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli populations under low-level streptomycin selection. ISME Commun. 1: Article number 39. DOI: 10.1038/s43705-021-00041-z

Pesticides drive evolutionary trajectories toward strong and irreversible antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli populations under low-level streptomycin selection

11. Che S, Jin B, Liu Z, Yu Y, Liu J, Men Y*. (2021). Structure-specific aerobic defluorination of short-chain fluorinated carboxylic acids by activated sludge communities. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00511

Structure-specific aerobic defluorination of short-chain fluorinated carboxylic acids by activated sludge communities

2020

10. Yu Y, Zhang K, Li Z, Ren C, Chen J, Lin YH, Liu J, Men Y*. (2020). Microbial cleavage of C−F bonds in two C6 per- and polyfluorinated compounds via reductive defluorination. Environ. Sci. & Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04483

Microbial cleavage of C−F bonds in two C6 per- and polyfluorinated compounds via reductive defluorination

9. Xing Y, Wu S, Men Y*. (2020). Exposure to environmental levels of pesticides stimulates and diversifies evolution in Escherichia coli toward Higher Antibiotic Resistance. Environ. Sci. & Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01155

Exposure to environmental levels of pesticides stimulates and diversifies evolution in Escherichia coli toward Higher Antibiotic Resistance

8. Bentel M, Liu Z, Yu Y, Gao J, Men Y, Liu J. (2020). Enhanced degradation of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) by UV/sulfite treatment: Reaction mechanisms and system efficiencies at pH 12. Environ. Sci. & Technol. Lett. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00236

Enhanced degradation of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) by UV/sulfite treatment: Reaction mechanisms and system efficiencies at pH 12

7. Bentel M, Yu Y, Xu L, Kwon H, Li Z, Wang B, Men Y, Liu J. (2020). Degradation of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) with hydrated electrons: Structure-reactivity relationships and environmental implications. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54(4): 2489-2499. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05869 (Editor's Choice)

Degradation of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) with hydrated electrons: Structure-reactivity relationships and environmental implications

2019

6. Han P†, Yu Y†, Zhou LJ, Tian Z, Li Z, Hou L, Liu M, Wu QL, Wagner M, Men Y*. (2019). Specific micropollutant biotransformation pattern by the comammox bacterium Nitrospira inopinata. Environ. Sci. Technol. 53: 8695-8705. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01037

Specific micropollutant biotransformation pattern by the comammox bacterium Nitrospira inopinata

5. Che S, Men Y*. (2019) Synthetic microbial consortia for biosynthesis and biodegradation: promises and challenges. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol . DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02211-4

4. Zhou LJ, Han P, Yu Y, Wang B, Men Y, Wagner M, Wu QL. (2019). Cometabolic biotransformation and microbial-mediated abiotic transformation of sulfonamides by three ammonia oxidizers. Water Res. 159: 444-453. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.031

Cometabolic biotransformation and microbial-mediated abiotic transformation of sulfonamides by three ammonia oxidizers.

3. Bentel M, Yu Y, Xu L, Li Z, Wong B, Men Y, Liu J. (2019). Defluorination of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) with Hydrated Electrons: Structural Dependence and Implications to PFAS Remediation and Management. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06648

2018

2. Yu Y†, Han P†, Zhou LJ, Li Z, Wagner M, Men Y*. (2018). Ammonia monooxygenase-mediated cometabolic biotransformation and abiotic transformation of micropollutants in an AOB/NOB co-culture. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02801

Ammonia monooxygenase-mediated cometabolic biotransformation and abiotic transformation of micropollutants in an AOB/NOB co-culture

1. Xing Y, Yu Y, Men Y*. (2018). Occurrence and fate of emerging organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants with an enhanced nitrification step. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. DOI: 10.1039/C8EW00278A

Occurrence and fate of emerging organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants with an enhanced nitrification step

M.E.N. Research Group