Limited information is currently available on the contribution of eukaryotes to the reactor performance of membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Using high-throughput Illumina sequencing of 18S rRNA genes and microscopic observations, we investigated eukaryotic microbiomes in membrane-attached biofilms in MBRs treating piggery wastewater. Protozoa preying on bacteria were frequently detected under stable conditions when membrane clogging was suppressed. However, the eukaryotes preying upon protozoa became predominant in biofilms when membrane fouling rapidly progressed. We herein demonstrated that a comprehensive investigation of eukaryotic microbiomes using high-throughput sequencing contributes to a better understanding of the microbial ecology involved in wastewater treatment.
Keywords: Biofilm; Biofouling; Eukaryotic microbiome; High-throughput sequencing; Membrane bioreactor.