PI: Prof. Dr. Nanqin Gan 

Team members: 

Group leaders: Prof. Dr. Lirong Song; Prof. Dr. Xuezhi Zhang; Associate Prof. Dr. Lin Li; Associate Prof. Dr. Yunlu Jia; Associate Prof. Dr. Haiyang Zhang 

Technicians: Jin Liu; Jing Li 

Post-doctors: Jun Sha; Qian Xiong; Muhammad Mubashar; Shaozhe Cheng 

Students: 7 PhD students; 16 Master students     

Research Topics: 

1. Algal Ecology and Physiology 

Elucidating the physiological and ecological response and feedback mechanisms of algae adapting to environmental changes; understanding the adaptive evolutionary strategies of bloom-forming algae; unraveling the biological functions of algal secondary metabolites; developing algal AI monitoring and early warning technologies based on machine vision and artificial intelligence. 

2. Algal Resources and Bioactive Product 

Isolation, screening and evaluation of new algae resources from different habitats, development of complete sets of techniques for scale-up algal cultivation and low-cost biomass harvesting techniques, and promotion of the establishment of a new industrial model of ‘new energy technology & algae cultivation & product recycling’. 

3. Harmful Algae Control and Biomass Reuse 

Develop robust monitoring technology for algae-derived harmful pollutants (cyanobacterial toxins and odorants); establish key technologies for prevention and control of harmful algal blooms; integrate technologies for re-utilization of algal bloom biomass.   

Collaborations and Projects: 

1.     National Key Research and Development Program of China 

1)     evaluating the efficiency of artificial cyanophages in controlling algae and reducing toxicity，2019-2024 

2)     Algal biomass reduction and control technology in reservoirs, 2022-2026 

3)     Carbon transfer characteristics of typical aquaculture systems and key technology development and integrated demonstration, 2023-2025  

2.     National Natural Science Foundation of China 

1)     Gene evolution and physiological response of toxic cyanobacteria in response to changes in carbon dioxide concentration，2021-2024 

2)     Study on the functional groups binding mechanisms and overcoming strategies in algal organic matters inhibiting coagulation of Microcystis removal，2023-2026 

3)     Study on the influence of changes in algal community structure in Poyang Lake on the coagulation-based algae removal in drinking water treatment plant，2023-2026 

4)     Salt stress response and adaption of toxic freshwater Microcystis, 2022-2024 

5)     A Systematic Taxonomic Study on Oedogoniales，2024-2026 

6)     Cascade response and mechanism of continuous low intensity oxidative stress triggering death of blue-green algae in algal blooms, 2024-2026 

3.     Other projects 

1)     Biomass assessment of cyanobacterial blooms and resourceful technology for aquafeed production, Jiangsu Province R&D, 2022-2024 

2)     Comprehensive Programming Project for the Management of the Water Environment in the Langhe Sub-basin, 2024 

3)     Functionalized bubble air flotation technology for in-situ prevention and control of algal blooms in drinking water sources, Hubei Province R&D, 2023-2025 

4)     Research on ecological risks and technologies to control emerging algal blooms, Yunnan Province, 2023-2024 

5)     Monitoring and evaluation of algae growth in the Caihai Lake and prevention and control technology, Guizhou Province R&D, 2021-2024 

6)     Development and application of culture technology of Haematococcus Pluvialis, 2024-2026 

7)     Development of off-flavor compounds reduction technology for recirculating water aquaculture system, 2024-2024 

8)     Source identification and controlling measures of off-flavor compounds in drinking water treatment plant, 2024-2025 

Selective publications for the past three years (*Corresponding author; #Equal contribution) 

2024 

1.        Nian Wei, Chenlin Hu, Elke Dittmann, Lirong Song, Nanqin Gan*, The biological functions of microcystins. Water Research, 2024 (minor revision) 

2.        Jingyu Jiang, Jiaying Zeng, Jingkai Wang, Jun Zuo, Nian Wei, Lirong Song, Kun Shan*, Nanqin Gan*, Changes in CO2 concentration drive a succession of toxic and non-toxic strains of Microcystis blooms. Water Research, 2024(250): 121056 

3.        Yang Siyu, Zuo Jun*, Hans-Peter Grossart, Guofei Dai, Jin Liu, Lirong Song, |Gan Nanqin*, Evaluating microcystinase A-based approach on microcystins degradation during harvested cyanobacterial blooms. Environmental Pollution, 2024,123878 

4.        Gao Guangbin, Dong Bai, Tianli Li, Jie Li, Yunlu Jia, Jing Li, Zhi Wang, Xiuyun Cao*, and Lirong Song*. Understanding Filamentous Cyanobacteria and Their Adaptive Niches in Lake Honghu, a Shallow Eutrophic Lake. Journal of Environmental Sciences 152 (2024): 219-34. 

5.        Yang Siyu, Zuo Jun*, Yang Ping, Lirong Song, |Gan Nanqin*, Structural and functional analyses of microcystinase A: optimized heterologous expression, stability, and degradability. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2024 

6.        Li L., Xue S., Zhang Y., Gao Y., Yang J., Zhang X.*, Zhang W*. A Chemical-free magnetophoretic approach for recovering magnetic particles in microalgae removal through magnetic separation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2024. 

7.        Li L., Chen X., Shao S., Zhang X., Zhang H*. Study on the mechanism of hydrodynamic manipulation of floc structure to achieve high-flux of coagulation macro-filtration for the rapid removal of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2024, 434: 140397. 

8.        Cheng S., Zhang H., Wang H., Mubashar M., Li L., Zhang X*. Influence of algal organic matter in the in-situ flotation removal of Microcystis using positively charged bubbles. Bioresource Technology, 2024, 397: 130468. 

9.        Wang H. ^#, Li L^#., Cheng S., Chen L., Zhang H., Zhang X*. Production and release of 2-MIB in Pseudanabaena: Effects of growth phases on cell characteristics and 2-MIB yield. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2024, 274: 116198. 

10.    Zhang H., Li L., Ding W., Cheng Z., Lin Z., Zhu L*., Zhang X*. Effect mechanism of metal cations on the interface interaction of cell-collector-bubble for microalgal foam flotation. Chemosphere, 2024, 349: 140899. 

2023 

11.    Lirong Song^# ,Yunlu Jia^#, Boqiang Qin,  Renhui Li, Wayne W. Carmichael,  Nanqin Gan,  Hai Xu,  Kun Shan,  and Assaf Sukenik. Harmful cyanobacterial blooms: biological traits, mechanisms, risks, and control strategies. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 2023, 48: 123-147. 

12.    Liang Zhao, Li-Zhou Lin, Ying Zeng, Wen-Kai Teng, Meng-Yun Chen, Jerry J. Brand, Ling-Ling Zheng, Nan-Qin Gan, Yong-Hui Gong, Xin-Yi Li, Jin Lv, Ting Chen, Bo-Ping Han*, Li-Rong Song* & Wen-Sheng Shu*.The facilitating role of phycospheric heterotrophic bacteria in cyanobacterial phosphonate availability and Microcystis bloom maintenance. Microbiome, 2023, 11(1): 1-16 

13.    Nian Wei, Aifa Chen, Xiaohe Guo, Shubing Zhang, Lirong Song, Nanqin Gan, Lingling Zheng, Yunlu Jia*, Jie Li*. Changes in nitrogen metabolism of phosphorus-starved bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa: Implications for nutrient management. Science of The Total Environment, 2023, 903: 166832. 

14.    Fang Bai, Yunlu Jia*, Jie Li, Zhongxing Wu, Lin Li, Lirong Song*. Paraquat induces different programmed cell death patterns in Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella luteoviridis. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2023, 249: 114429. 

15.    Fang Bai, Guangbin Gao, Tianli Li, Jin Liu, Lin Li, Yunlu Jia*, Lirong Song. Integrated physiological and metabolomic analysis reveals new insights into toxicity pathways of paraquat to Microcystis aeruginosa. Aquatic Toxicology, 2023, 259: 106521. 

16.    Zhang H., Li L., Cheng S., Li C., Liu F., Wang P., Sun L., Huang J., Zhang W.*, Zhang X*. Enhanced Microcystis aeruginosa removal and novel flocculation mechanisms using a novel continuous co-coagulation flotation (CCF). Science of the Total Environment, 2023, 857(Pt 2): 159532. 

17.    Zhang H., Li C., Li L., Cheng S., Wang P., Sun L., Huang J., Zhang X*. Uncovering the optimal structural characteristics of flocs for microalgae flotation using Python-OpenCV. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 385: 135748. 

18.    Liu M., Li L., Mubashar M., Su X., Liang Y., Zhang H., Zhang X*. Techno-economic analysis for the selection of cost-effective treatment for algae removal in drinking water treatment plants [J]. Water, 2023, 15(2): 243. 

19.    Liu M., Zhang J., Wang L., Zhang H., Zhang W.*, Zhang X*. Removal of Microcystis aeruginosa and microcystin-LR using chitosan (CTS)-modified cellulose fibers and ferric chloride. Separation and Purification Technology, 2023, 308: 122889 

20.    Li L., Zhang H., Mubashar M., Chen L., Cheng S., Zhang X*. Parallel filtration for solid-liquid separation: A case study of highly-efficient algal removal under parallel configuration driven by magnetic force. Separation and Purification Technology, 2023, 310: 123098 

2022 

21.    Chen, Meng-Yun, Wen-Kai Teng, Liang Zhao, Bo-Ping Han*, Li-Rong Song*, and Wen-Sheng Shu*. Phylogenomics Uncovers Evolutionary Trajectory of Nitrogen Fixation in Cyanobacteria. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2022, 39: msac171  

22.    Zhao, Liang, Li-Zhou Lin, Meng-Yun Chen, Wen-Kai Teng, Ling-Ling Zheng, Liang Peng, Jin Lv, Jerry J. Brand, Chun-Xiang Hu, Bo-Ping Han*, Li-Rong Song*, and Wen-Sheng Shu*. The Widespread Capability of Methylphosphonate Utilization in Filamentous Cyanobacteria and Its Ecological Significance. Water Research, 2022, 217: 118385 

23.    Wei Huimin^#, Yunlu Jia*, and Zhi Wang. Microcystin Pollution in Lakes and Reservoirs: A Nationwide Meta-Analysis and Assessment in China. Environmental Pollution, 2022, 309: 119791  

24.    Yunlu Jia, Yi Huang, Jin Ma, Shangwei Zhang, Jin Liu, Tianli Li, and Lirong Song. Toxicity of the Disinfectant Benzalkonium Chloride (C14) Towards Cyanobacterium Microcystis Results from Its Impact on the Photosynthetic Apparatus and Cell Metabolism. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2022  

25.    Yang, Zihan, Baolin Xu, Jin Liu, Jiao Zhan, and Lirong Song. Dynamic Changes of Growth and Physiological Parameters of Spirulina Cultivated Outdoors—a Case Study in Spirulina Industrial Park in Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Applied Phycology, 2022, 34: 1163-75 

26.    Zang X., Zhang S., Li L., Wang G., Zhang H.*, Zhang X*. Effects of extracellular organic matter on chitosan coagulation-microfiltration harvesting of Microcystis flos-aquae. Separation and Purification Technology, 2022, 287: 120548 

27.    Nie X., Zhang H.^#, Cheng S., Mubashar M., Xu C., Li Y., Tan D., Zhang X*. Study on the cell-collector-bubble interfacial interactions during microalgae harvesting using foam flotation. Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 806(Pt 4): 150901. 

28.    Mubashar M., Zhang J., Liu Q., Chen L., Li J., Naveed M., Zhang X*. In-situ removal of aquaculture waste nutrient using floating permeable nutrient uptake system (FPNUS) under mixotrophic microalgal scheme. Bioresource Technology, 2022, 363: 128022. 

29.    Li L., Yu T.^#, Cheng S., Li J., Li C., Wang G., Tan D., Li L., Zhang H.*, Zhang X*. Removal of cyanobacteria using novel pre-pressurized coagulation: The effect of cellular properties and algogenic organic matter characteristics. Separation and Purification Technology, 2022, 282: 119927. 

30.    Cheng S., Zhang H_.^#, Li L., Yu T., Wang Y., Tan D., Zhang X*. Harvesting of Microcystis flos-aquae using dissolved air flotation: The inhibitory effect of carboxyl groups in uronic acid-containing carbohydrates. Chemosphere, 2022, 300: 134466.