Sulfoxaflor biodegradation: environmental fate, degrading microorganisms, and mechanisms of nitrile hydratase-mediated catalysis

Sulfoxaflor (SXF), a novel sulfoximine insecticide, has been widely used as a substitute for traditional neonicotinoids (NEOs) to control piercing-sucking pests in agriculture. However, its environmental persistence, high mobility in water and soil, and potential toxicity to non-target organisms (e.g., honeybees, aquatic invertebrates) as well as the toxic risks of its long-lasting metabolites (e.g., X11719474) have raised significant ecological concerns. Biodegradation, as an environmentally fr