Bioaugmentation of activated sludge by an indigenous 3-chloroaniline-degrading Comamonas testosteroni strain, I2gfp

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000 Jul;66(7):2906-13. doi: 10.1128/AEM.66.7.2906-2913.2000.

Abstract

A strain identified as Comamonas testosteroni I2 was isolated from activated sludge and found to be able to mineralize 3-chloroaniline (3-CA). During the mineralization, a yellow intermediate accumulated temporarily, due to the distal meta-cleavage of chlorocatechol. This strain was tested for its ability to clean wastewater containing 3-CA upon inoculation into activated sludge. To monitor its survival, the strain was chromosomally marked with the gfp gene and designated I2gfp. After inoculation into a lab-scale semicontinuous activated-sludge (SCAS) system, the inoculated strain maintained itself in the sludge for at least 45 days and was present in the sludge flocs. After an initial adaptation period of 6 days, complete degradation of 3-CA was obtained during 2 weeks, while no degradation at all occurred in the noninoculated control reactor. Upon further operation of the SCAS system, only 50% 3-CA removal was observed. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA genes revealed a dynamic change in the microbial community structure of the activated sludge. The DGGE patterns of the noninoculated and the inoculated reactors evolved after 7 days to different clusters, which suggests an effect of strain inoculation on the microbial community structure. The results indicate that bioaugmentation, even with a strain originating from that ecosystem and able to effectively grow on a selective substrate, is not permanent and will probably require regular resupplementation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / metabolism*
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Bioreactors
  • Comamonas testosteroni / genetics
  • Comamonas testosteroni / growth & development
  • Comamonas testosteroni / metabolism*
  • Culture Media
  • Ecosystem
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / methods
  • Genes, rRNA
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sewage / microbiology*
  • Water Purification

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Culture Media
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Sewage
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • 3-chloroaniline
  • aniline