1) Algae-bacteria-virus intereactions and their driving role in ocean carbon cycling

2) Macroalgal (seaweed) carbon sequestration

3) Marine microbial ecology and resource utilization

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1. Feng XT, Nair S*, Hancke K,  Lønborg C, Li HM, Zhang ZH, Zheng Q, He C, Shi Q, Li XZ, Bellerby R, Jiao NZ*, Zhang YY*. Global Dispersal of macroalgae-derived recalcitrant DOC may substantially contribute to deep ocean carbon storage. Science Advances, 2026

2.Zhao HS, Zhang ZH, Feng XT, Nair S, Yuan HM, Song JM, Li XZ, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Sustained algal-bacterial interactions promote accumulation of recalcitrant particulate carbon with accelerated radiocarbon aging signatures. Nature Communications, 2026

3. Li CC, Nair S, Zhang ZH, Zhao JL, Wang ZM, Zhou C, Zhang R, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Lifestyle-dependent evolution and CtrA-mediated lifestyle transitions shape phage resistance in marine roseobacter. Nature Communications, 2026

4. Yang LQ, He XT, Ru SG, Zhang YY*.  Herbicide leakage into seawater impacts primary productivity and zooplankton globally. Nature Communications, 2024. 15:1783.

5. Nair S, Zhang ZH, Li HM, Zhao HS, Shen H, Gao SJ, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Inherent tendency of Synechocccus and heterotrophic bacteria for mutualism on long-term coexistence despite environmental interference. Science Advances, 2022. 8, eabf4792

6. Li HM, Zhang ZH, Chen J, Nair S, Xiong TQ, Zhao HS, He D, Lee K, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Fate and carbon sequestration potential of sunken macroalgae in coastal oceans: From long-term microbial degradation perspective. National Science Review, 2025. DOI:10.1093/nsr/nwaf273

7. Zhang YY, He PM, et al. Ulva prolifera Green Tide Outbreaks and Their Environmental Impact in the Yellow Sea, China.  National Science Review ,  2019, 6:825-838.

8. Zhao HS, Zhang ZH*, Nair S, Li HM, He C, Shi Q, Zheng Q, Cai RH, Luo GM, Xie SC, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*, Overlooked vital role of persistent algae-bacteria interaction in ocean recalcitrant carbon sequestration and its response to ocean warming, Global Change Biology, 2024. DOI:10.1111/gcb.17570

9. Zhao JL, Nair S, Zhang ZH, Wang ZM, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Macroalgal virosphere assists with host-microbiome equilibrium regulation and affects prokaryotes in surrounding marine environments.  The ISME Journal, 2024.18(1), wrae083

10. Zhang ZH, Li DH, Xie RZ, Guo RY, Nair S, Han H, Zhang GJ, Zhao Q, Zhang LH, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Plastoquinone synthesis inhibition by tetrabromo biphenydiol as a widespread algicidal mechanism of marine bacteria. The ISME Journal, 2023, 17(11)：1979-1992.

11. Kumar B, Zhao HS, Yang LQ, Xiong TQ, Li XZ, Zhang YY*. Macroalgal ecosystem provides a scalable solution to coastal herbicide pollution via macroalga-microbiome synergy.  Communications Earth & Environment, 2025, 6, 962. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02911-z

12. Feng  XT, Zhao HS, Zhang ZH, Nair S, Mou SL, He C, Shi Q, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*.  Phytoplankton directly release recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon as  a hidden pathway in ocean carbon sequestration. Environmental Science & Technology, 2026, 60(3):2528-2538

13. Li HM, Wang XJ, Tian Y, Wan XH, Zhan LY, Zhang ZH, Xiao YH, Zhang YY*. Multiple pathways drive CH4 and N2O emissions in coastal macroalgal ecosystems. Environmental Science & Technology, 2026

14. Zhang YY*,Nair S*,   Zhang ZH, Zhao JL, Zhao HS, Lu LF, Chang LR, Jiao NZ. Adverse environmental perturbations may threaten kelp farming sustainability by exacerbating Enterobacterales diseases.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2024, DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c09921.

15. Xiong TQ, Li HM, Yue YF, Hu YB, Zhai WD, Xue L, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Legacy effects of late macroalgal blooms on dissolved inorganic carbon pool through alkalinity enhancement in coastal ocean.  Environmental Science & Technology,  2023, 57:2186-2196

16.  Li HM, Feng XT, Xiong TQ, He C, Wu WC, Shi Q, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*.Green tides significantly alter the molecular composition and properties of coastal DOC and perfom dissolved carbon sequestration.  Environmental Science & Technology,  2023. 57,770-779

17.  Li HM, Feng XT, Xiong TQ, Shao W, Wu WC, Zhang YY*.  Particulate organic carbon released during macroalgal growth has significant carbon sequestration potential in the ocean.   Environmental Science & Technology, 2023, 57(48): 19723-19731.

18.  Li HM, Zhang ZH, Xiong TQ, Tang KX, He C, Shi Q, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Carbon sequestration in the form of recalcitrant DOC in seaweed (kelp) farming environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 2022. 56, 9112-9122

19.Chen J, Li HM, Zhang ZZ, He C, Shi Q, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY *. DOC dynamics and bacterial community succession during long-term degradation of Ulva prolifera and their implications for the legacy effect of green tides on refractory DOC pool in seawater. Water Research , 2020, 116268.

20. Yang LQ, Mu SL, Li HM, Zhang ZH, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*,  Terrestrial input  of herbicides has significant impacts on phyto- and bacterioplankton  communities in coastal wateres. Limnology and Oceanography, 2021, 999(11):1-18

21. Gao XY, Xiao YH, Wang ZW, Zhao HS, Yue YF, Nair S, Zhang ZH*, Zhang YY*. Adaptive traits of Planctomycetota bacteria to thrive in macroalgal habitats and establish mutually beneficial relationship with macroalgae. Limnology and Oceangraphy Letters, 2024. DOI:10.1002/lol2.10424

22. Xia ZY, Zhang ZH, Zhao JL, Wang XJ, Mou SL, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*. Microbial regulation of global macroalgal blooms (green tides): From holobiont interactions to bloom dynamics and biogeochemistry. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 2026, 11(2) e70106

23.  Zhang ZH#, Shailesh Nair#, Tang LL, Zhao HS, Hu ZZ, Chen MM, Zhang Y,  Kao SJ, Jiao NZ, Zhang YY*, Long-term survival of Synechococcus and  heterotrophic bacteria without external nutrient supply after changes in  their relationship from antagonism to mutualism. mBio, 2021. 12(4),e01614-21