Microbial community changes in biological phosphate-removal systems on altering sludge phosphorus content

• Published in: Microbiology (Society for General Microbiology) 2000-05, Vol.146 (5), p.1099-1107
• Main Authors: Liu, Wen-Tso, Linning, Katrina D, Nakamura, Kazunori, Mino, Takashi, Matsuo, Tomonori, Forney, Larry J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria - isolation & purification; Actinobacteria - metabolism; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biomarkers - analysis; Biotechnology; Caulobacter - isolation & purification; Caulobacter - metabolism; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Ribosomal - analysis; Environment and pollution; Environmental Microbiology; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Molecular Sequence Data; Phosphates - analysis; Phosphates - metabolism; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus - metabolism; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proteobacteria; Proteobacteria - isolation & purification; Proteobacteria - metabolism; Quinones - analysis; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sewage - analysis; Sewage - microbiology; ubiquinone
• ISSN: 1350-0872; 1465-2080
• DOI: 10.1099/00221287-146-5-1099

Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Central University, Chungli 32054, Taiwan 1 Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA 2 Department of Urban Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113, Japan 3 National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1 Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566 Japan 4 Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 5 Author for correspondence: Wen-Tso Liu. Tel: [phone] ext 4683. Fax: [phone]. e-mail: liuwt{at}cc.ncu.edu.tw Biomarkers (respiratory quinones and cellular fatty acids) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes were used to characterize the microbial community structure of lab-scale enhanced biological phosphate-removal (EBPR) systems in response to altering sludge phosphorus (P) content. All the data suggest that the microbial community structures of sludge samples with a P content between 8 and 12·3% (sludge dry weight) (i.e. good EBPR activity) were very similar, but differed from those with 2% P content (i.e. no EBPR activity). For all samples analysed, ubiquinones Q-8 and Q-10, menaquinone MK-8(H 4 ), and fatty acids C 16:0 , C 16:1 9 c and C 18:1 11 c were the major components. The dominance of Q-8, Q-10 and MK-8(H 4 ) suggested that large numbers of organisms belonging to the ß and subclasses of the Proteobacteria and the Actinobacteria from the high G+C Gram-positive bacteria, respectively, were present. DGGE analysis revealed at least 7–9 predominant DNA bands and numerous other fragments in each sample. Five major DGGE fragments from each of the 2% and 12% P-containing sludge samples, respectively, were successfully isolated and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences indicated that both 2% and 12% P-containing sludge samples shared three common phylotypes that were separately affiliated with a novel bacterial group from the subclass of the Proteobacteria , two MK-8(H 4 )-containing actinobacteria previously isolated from the 2% P-containing sludge, and a Caulobacter spp. in the subclass of the Proteobacteria . The phylogenetic analysis also revealed phylotypes unique to both sludge samples. Changes in sludge P content therefore had an effect on the composition and abundance of the predominant microbial populations, though specific phylotypes could not be unequivocally associated with EBPR. Keywords: Activated