Exploring the Shift in Structure and Function of Microbial Communities Performing Biological Phosphorus Removal

PLoS One. 2016 Aug 22;11(8):e0161506. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161506. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

A sequencing batch reactor fed mainly by acetate was operated to perform enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). A short-term pH shock from 7.0 to 6.0 led to a complete loss of phosphate-removing capability and a drastic change of microbial communities. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing showed that large proportions of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) (accounted for 16% of bacteria) bloomed, including Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis and Defluviicoccus-related tetrad-forming organism, causing deteriorated EBPR performance. The EBPR performance recovered with time and the dominant Candidatus Accumulibacter (Accumulibacter) clades shifted from Clade IIC to IIA while GAOs populations shrank significantly. The Accumulibacter population variation provided a good opportunity for genome binning using a bi-dimensional coverage method, and a genome of Accumulibacter Clade IIC was well retrieved with over 90% completeness. Comparative genomic analysis demonstrated that Accumulibacter clades had different abilities in nitrogen metabolism and carbon fixation, which shed light on enriching different Accumulibacter populations selectively.

MeSH terms

  • Alphaproteobacteria / classification
  • Alphaproteobacteria / genetics
  • Alphaproteobacteria / metabolism*
  • Batch Cell Culture Techniques
  • Betaproteobacteria / classification
  • Betaproteobacteria / genetics
  • Betaproteobacteria / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Bioreactors
  • Carbon Cycle / genetics
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microbial Consortia / genetics*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Phosphorus / isolation & purification
  • Phosphorus / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Wastewater / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*
  • Water Purification / methods

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen

Grants and funding

This research was financially supported by Hong Kong General Research Fund (HKU 172057/15E) and Project supported by Shenzhen University R/D Fund (2016008). YM and LL received postdoctoral fellowships from the University of Hong Kong. XJ received postgraduate scholarship from the University of Hong Kong. ZW was financially supported by the Hong Kong Scholar Program (XJ2012030). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.