Molecular ecological networks reveal the spatial-temporal variation of microbial communities in drinking water distribution systems

Dynamic microbial community assembly and molecular ecological network responses in biological activated carbon filters: effects of algal organic matter exposure and empty bed contact time

Biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration plays a crucial role in advanced drinking water treatment. Recent researches have shifted from decontamination performance evaluation to process optimization and customization of microbial communities. The responses of microbial communities to seasonal water quality variations caused by algal outbreaks or deaths, and operational conditions of filtration medium and empty bed contact time (EBCT), along with dynamics of assembly processes and molecular ecological networks remain insufficiently understood. Herein, the decontamination performance of four BAC columns packed with varied physicochemical properties of granular activated carbon (GAC), exposed to algal organic matter (AOM) and changes of EBCT was investigated. Microbial diversity, assembly mechanisms, and dynamics of molecular ecological networks were systematically evaluated. Results showed that coal-based BAC exhibited superior decontamination performance under AOM exposure, with average removals of CODMn (47.23 %), UV254 (55.82 %), and NH4+-N (65.01 %), along with higher microbial diversity and richness than that of wood-based BAC. AOM exposure increased microbial diversity, while shortened EBCT reduced it. Deterministic processes in community assembly intensified under both AOM exposure and a shortened EBCT of 10 min, the proportion were up to 82 % and 75 %, respectively. AOM exposure increased network scale and complexity, whereas the opposite trend was observed with a shortened EBCT of 10min. Structural equation modeling identified that influent water quality (path coefficient = 1.00) was the dominant driver of microbial diversity, followed by GAC properties (0.30) and EBCT (-0.35). These findings provide insights for microbial community customization and BAC process optimization to control algal-derived organic contamination.

Hydraulic and thermal performance trigger the deterministic assembly of water microbiomes: From biogeographical homogenization to machine learning model

Water quality at the point of consumption has long been a health issue because of the potential for microbial ecology. However, research on water hydraulic performance remains in its infancy, and in particular, little is known about the effects of thermal performance during winter. This study explored the effects of stagnation and municipal heating on microbial communities in tap water, focusing on spatial and temporal variations in microbial community composition. The results revealed that stagnation significantly alters the microbial community, especially in heating areas, where the temperature exacerbates microbial growth. Furthermore, hydraulic and thermal performance drive deterministic assembly processes in microbial communities, as evidenced by the reductions in β-diversity, normalized stochasticity ratio (NST), and neutral community model (NCM) fit. Machine learning models revealed that stagnation time greater than 8 h results in increased community abundance because of longer exposure to organic matter and nutrients. The study finding illustrate the importance of environmental influences on microbial community dynamics, and provide valuable insights into the water microbial community, particularly in areas with prolonged stagnation.

Comprehensive gut microbiota composition and microbial interactions among the three age groups

There is a growing interest in studying the microbiota associated with aging by integrating multiple longevity researches while minimizing the influence of confounding factors. Here, we reprocessed metagenomic sequencing data from four different aging research studies and evaluated potential confounding factors in order to minimize the batch effect. Subsequently, we detected the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome in three different age cohorts. Out of 1053 different bacteria species, only four showed substantial depletion across different age groups: Ligilactobacillus ruminis, Turicibacter sp. H121, Blautia massiliensis, and Anaerostipes hadrus. Archaea accumulated more in young individuals compared to elderly and centenarians. Candida albicans was more prevalent in centenarians, but Nakaseomyces glabratus (also known as Candida glabrata) was more common in elderly adults. Shuimuvirus IME207 showed a significant increase in centenarians compared to both control groups. In addition, we utilized a Fisher's exact test to investigate topological properties of differentially abundant microbiota in the co-occurrence network of each age group. Microbial signatures specific to different age stages were identified based on the condition: the reads showing differential abundance were higher compared to the other age groups. Lastly, we selected Methanosarcina sp. Kolksee for the Y group, Prevotella copri for the E group and Shuimuvirus IME207 for the C group as representatives of age-related characteristics to study how their interactions change during the aging process. Our results provide crucial insights into the gut microbiome's ecological dynamics in relation to the aging process.

Soil microbial community structure, function and network along a mangrove forest restoration chronosequence

Mangrove forests have high ecological, social and economic values, but due to environmental changes and human activities, natural mangrove forests have experienced serious degradations and reductions in distribution area worldwide. In the coastal zones of southern China, an introduced mangrove species, Sonneratia apetala, has been extensively used for mangrove restoration because of its rapid growth and strong environmental adaptability. However, little is known about how soil microorganisms vary with the restoration stages of the afforested mangrove forests. Here, we examined the changes in soil physicochemical properties and microbial biomass, community structure and function, and network in three afforested S. apetala forests with restoration time of 7, 12, and 18 years and compared them with a bare flat and a 60-year-old natural Kandelia obovata forest in a mangrove nature reserve. Our results showed that the contents of soil salinity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and microbial biomass increased, while soil pH and bacterial alpha diversity decreased with afforestation age. Soil microbial community structure was significantly affected by soil salinity, organic carbon, pH, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available kalium, and susceptibility to environmental factors was more pronounced in bacterial than fungal community structure. The relative abundances of aerobic chemoheterotrophy were significantly higher in 12- and 18-year-old S. apetala than in K. obovata forest, while that of sulfate-reducing bacteria showed a decreasing trend with afforestation age. The abundance of dung saprotroph was significantly higher in 12- and 18-year-old S. apetala forests than in the natural forest. With the increasing afforestation age, the modularity of microbial networks increased, while stability and robustness decreased. Our results suggest that planting S. apetala contributes to improving soil fertility and microbial biomass but may make soil microbial networks more vulnerable.

Effects of disinfectant type and dosage on biofilm's activity, viability, microbiome and antibiotic resistome in bench-scale drinking water distribution systems

Drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) are important for supplying high-quality water to consumers and disinfectant is widely used to control microbial regrowth in DWDSs. However, the disinfectant's influences on microbial community and antibiotic resistome in DWDS biofilms and the underlying mechanisms driving their dynamics remain elusive. The study investigated the effects of chlorine and chloramine disinfection on the microbiome and antibiotic resistome of biofilms in bench-scale DWDSs using metagenomics assembly. Additionally, the biofilm activity and viability were monitored based on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and flow cytometer (FCM) staining. The results showed that both chlorine and chloramine disinfectants decreased biofilm ATP, although chloramine at a lower dosage (1 mg/L) could increase it. Chloramine caused a greater decrease in living cells than chlorine. Furthermore, the disinfectants significantly lowered the microbial community diversity and altered microbial community structure. Certain bacterial taxa were enriched, such as Mycobacterium, Sphingomonas, Sphingopyxis, Azospira, and Dechloromonas. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited high resistance towards disinfectants. The disinfectants also decreased the complexity of microbial community networks. Some functional taxa (e.g., Nitrospira, Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas) were identified as keystones in chloramine-treated DWDS microbial ecological networks. Stochasticity drove biofilm microbial community assembly, and disinfectants increased the contributions of stochastic processes. Chlorine had greater promotion effects on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and ARG hosts than chloramine. The disinfectants also selected pathogens, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonia, and these pathogens also harbored ARGs and MGEs. Overall, this study provides new insights into the effects of disinfectants on biofilm microbiome and antibiotic resistome, highlighting the importance of monitoring and managing disinfection practices in DWDSs.

Effects of treatments and distribution on microbiome and antibiotic resistome from source to tap water in three Chinese geographical regions based on metagenome assembly

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) represent emerging environmental pollutants that present health risks. Drinking water supply systems (DWSSs), including sources to tap water, play crucial roles in the dissemination and propagation of ARGs. However, there was a paucity of knowledge on the relative abundance, diversity, mobility, and pathogenic hosts of ARGs in DWSSs from source to tap. Therefore, the effects of treatments and distributions on the microbial community and ARGs from three geographical regions (downstream areas of the Yellow, Yangtze, and Pearl Rivers) were elucidated in the present study. Treatment processes lowered the complexity of the microbial community network, whereas transportation increased it. The assembly mechanisms of the microbial community and antibiotic resistome were primarily driven by stochastic processes. Distribution greatly increased the contribution of stochastic processes. Multidrug ARGs (for example, multidrug transporter and adeJ) and bacitracin ARG (bacA) were the primary mobile ARGs in drinking water, as identified by the metagenomic assembly. Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Acinetobacter junii harbored diverse multidrug ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) (recombinases, integrases, and transposases) as potential pathogens and were abundant in the disinfected water. Environmental factors, including pH, chlorine, latitude, longitude, and temperature, influenced the ARG abundance by directly regulating the MGEs and microbial community diversity. This study provides critical information on the fate, mobility, host pathogenicity, and driving factors of ARGs in drinking water, which is conducive to ARG risk assessment and management to provide high-quality drinking water to consumers.

Microbial interaction patterns and nitrogen cycling regularities in lake sediments under different trophic conditions

Exploring how nitrogen (N) cycling microbes interact in eutrophic lake sediments and how biogenic elements influence the nitrogen cycle is crucial for understanding biogeochemical cycles and nitrogen accumulation mechanisms. In this study, sediment samples were collected from various areas of Taihu Lake with different trophic conditions in all four seasons from 2015 to 2017. Using high-throughput sequencing and molecular ecological network analysis, we investigated the microbial interaction patterns and the role of nitrogen cycling in sediments from lakes with different trophic conditions. The results showed distinct structures of sediment microbial networks between lake areas with different trophic conditions. In the more eutrophic region, network indices indicate higher transfer efficiency of energy, material, and information, more significant competition, and weaker niche differentiation of the microbial community. The sedimentary environment in the moderately eutrophic area exhibited greater potential for denitrification, nitrification, and anammox compared to the mesotrophic area, but the inhibition between N functional microbes and limitations in N removal processes were also more likely to occur. The topological structure of the networks showed that the carbon (C), sulfur (S), and iron (Fe) cycles had a strong influence on the nitrogen cycle in both lake areas. In the moderately eutrophic lake area, C- and S-cycling functional bacteria facilitated a closed cycle of the coupled N fixation-nitrification-DNRA (dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium) process and reduced N removal. In the mesotrophic lake area, C- and S-cycling functional bacteria promoted both N fixation and mineralization, and Fe-cycling functional bacteria coupled with denitrifiers enhanced the nitrogen removal process of products from nitrogen fixation and mineralization. This study improved the understanding of the nitrogen cycling mechanism in lake sediments under different trophic conditions.

Behaviors and mechanisms of microbially-induced corrosion in metal-based water supply pipelines: A review

Microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) is unstoppable and extensively spread throughout drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) as the cause of pipe leakage and deteriorating water quality. For maintaining drinking water safety and reducing capital inputs in pipe usage, the possible consequences from MIC in DWDSs is still a research hotspot. Although most studies have investigated the effects of changing environmental factors on MIC corrosion, the occurrence of MIC in DWDSs has not been discussed sufficiently. This review aims to fill this gap by proposing that the formation of deposits with microbial capture may be a source of MIC in newly constructed DWDSs. The microbes early attaching to the rough pipe surface, followed by chemically and microbially-induced mineral deposits which confers resistance to disinfectants is ascribed as the first step of MIC occurrence. MIC is then activated in the newly-built, viable, and accessible microenvironment while producing extracellular polymers. With longer pipe service, oligotrophic microbes slowly grow, and metal pipe materials gradually dissolve synchronously with electron release to microbes, resulting in pipe-wall damage. Different corrosive microorganisms using pipe material as a reaction substrate would directly or indirectly cause different types of corrosion. Correspondingly, the formation of scale layers may reflect the distribution of microbial species and possibly biogenic products. It is therefore assumed that the porous and loose layer is an ideal microbial-survival environment, capable of providing diverse and sufficient ecological niches. The usage and chelation of metabolic activities and metabolites, such as acetic, oxalic, citric and glutaric acids, may lead to the formation of a porous scale layer. Therefore, the microbial interactions within the pipe scale reinforce the stability of microbial communities and accelerate MIC. Finally, a schematic model of the MIC process is presented to interpret MIC from its onset to completion.

Migration of rare and abundant species, assembly mechanisms, and ecological networks of microbiomes in drinking water treatment plants: Effects of different treatment processes

Microorganisms play an important role in the degradation of pollutants. However, they also cause problems in drinking water distribution systems, such as pipe corrosion and biofilm growth. The microbial assembly mechanisms and molecular ecological networks associated with different drinking water treatment processes have not yet been clearly analyzed. Therefore, this study investigated the microbiomes of three processes (coal filtration-activated carbon, ozone-activated carbon and UV, and ozone-activated carbon) during different seasons. The results showed that the microbial composition and diversity among the different processes and during different seasons. Water treatment processes had deterministic effects on the microbial assembly process and significantly changed the composition of rare and abundant species, altering the size and modules of molecular ecology networks. Rare species considered as keystone species play important roles in microbial ecology and microbial community construction. Ozone-activated carbon and UV/chlorination decreased the bacterial concentration, increased the deterministic process of microbial assembly, and significantly reduced the size of the network, which is of great significance to microbial control in drinking water. This research broadens our perspectives on the microbial assembly associated with drinking water treatment processes and contributes to ensuring the safe supply of drinking water.

Assessing the efficacy of bleaching powder in disinfecting marine water: Insights from the rapid recovery of microbiomes

Single-bleaching powder disinfection is a highly prevalent practice to disinfect source water for marine aquaculture to prevent diseases. However, due to the decay of active chlorine and the presence of disinfectant resistance bacteria (DRB), the effects of bleaching powder on prokaryotic community compositions (PCCs) and function in marine water remain unknown. In the present study, the source water in a canvas pond was treated with the normal dose of bleaching powder, and the impact on PCCs and functional profiles was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The bleaching powder strongly altered the PCCs within 0.5 h, but they began to recover at 16 h, eventually achieving 76% similarity with the initial time at 72 h. This extremely rapid recovery was primarily driven by the decay of Bacillus and the regrowth of Pseudoalteromonas, both of which are DRB. Abundant community not only help PCCs recover but also provide larger functional redundancy than rare community. During the recovery of PCCs, stochastic processes drove the community assembly. After 72 h, five out of seven identified disinfectant resistance genes related to efflux pump systems were highly enriched, primarily in Staphylococcus and Bacillus. However, 15 out of the 16 identified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remained unchanged compared to the initial time, indicating that bleaching powder does not contribute to ARGs removal. Overall, the findings demonstrate that single-bleaching powder disinfection cannot successfully meet the objective of disease prevention in marine aquaculture water due to the extremely rapid recovery of PCCs. Hence, secondary disinfection or novel disinfection strategies should be explored for source water disinfection.

Response of microbial interactions in activated sludge to chlortetracycline

Chlortetracycline (CTC) has attracted increasing attention due to its potential environmental risks. However, its effects on bacterial communities and microbial interactions in activated sludge systems remain unclear. To verify these issues, a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) exposed to different concentrations of CTC (0, 0.05, 0.5, 1 mg/L) was carried out for 106 days. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of COD, TN, and TP were negatively affected, and the system functions could gradually recover at low CTC concentrations (≤0.05 mg/L), but high CTC concentrations (≥0.5 mg/L) caused irreversible damage. CTC significantly altered bacterial diversity and the overall bacterial community structure, and stimulated the emergence of many taxa with antibiotic resistance. Molecular ecological network analysis showed that low concentrations of CTC increased network complexity and enhanced microbial interactions, while high concentrations of CTC had the opposite effect. Sub-networks analysis of dominant phyla (Bacteriodota, Proteobacteria, and Actionobacteriota) and dominant genera (Propioniciclava, a genus from the family Pleomorphomonadaceae and WCHB1-32) also showed the same pattern. In addition, keystone species identified by Z-P analysis had low relative abundance, but they were important in maintaining the stable performance of the system. In summary, low concentrations of CTC enhanced the complexity and stability of the activated sludge system. While high CTC concentrations destabilized the stability of the overall network and then caused effluent water quality deterioration. This study provides insights into our understanding of response in the bacteria community and their network interactions under tetracycline antibiotics in activated sludge system.

Discrepancy strategies of sediment abundant and rare microbial communities in response to floating microplastic disturbances: Study using a microcosmic experiment

Floating microplastics (FMPs) in surface water have been extensively studied, but their influence on sedimentary microbial ecosystems is poorly understood. Here, we investigated response patterns of abundant and rare sedimentary microbes to FMP disturbances by performing microcosmic experiments using fluvial sediment with polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs. The results indicated that FMPs altered sediment microbial community diversity and composition. Some organic-degrading, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria significantly decreased in response to FMP disturbances, which may affect the sediment carbon and nitrogen cycles. Rare taxa persisted under FMP disturbances, whereas abundant taxa were more susceptible to FMP disturbances, suggesting a higher sensitivity of abundant taxa to FMP disturbances. Although stochastic processes governed the assembly of the overall microbial communities, the assembly mechanisms of abundant and rare populations have significantly different responses to FMP interference. The relative contribution of deterministic processes was reinforced by enhanced homogenous selection in abundant populations, while it markedly decreased in rare populations under FMP disturbances. Furthermore, FMPs substantially decreased the network complexity, loosened the coexistence relationships, and increased the negative correlations. Rare species play an important role in reshaping complex microbial interactions and coexistence networks in response to FMP disturbances. This research broadens our perspectives for comprehensively evaluating the ecological effects of FMPs in the aquatic environment to formulate further policy controls.

Promotion of the biodegradation of phenanthrene adsorbed on microplastics by the functional bacterial consortium QY1 in the presence of humic acid: Bioavailability and toxicity evaluation

The adsorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) by microplastics (MPs) has attracted great attention in recent years. However, the ultimate environmental fate of the HOCs sorbed on MPs (HOCs-MPs) is poorly understood. In this work, we investigated the potential influence of the biotransformation process on the environmental fate of phenanthrene (PHE, a model HOC) sorbed on MPs (PHE-MPs) under the existence of humic acid (HA, the main ingredient of dissolved organic matter (DOM)) in the aquatic environment. The results indicated that the adsorption behavior of PHE on MPs decreased its bioavailability and thus inhibited its biotransformation efficiency. However, HA significantly promoted the biodegradation rate and percentage of PHE-MPs. This was probably because HA improved the desorption of PHE from MPs, which promoted the acquisition of PHE by bacteria from the aqueous phase. Further, HA dramatically increased the bacterial community diversity and richness and altered the community composition. The richness of some PHE-degrading bacteria, such as Methylobacillus and Sphingomonas, significantly increased, which may also be an important factor for promoting PHE biodegradation. Molecular ecological network analysis implied that HA enhanced the modularity and complexity of bacterial interaction networks, which was beneficial to maintaining the functional stability of the consortium QY1. Besides, HA decreased the cytotoxicity of functional microbes induced by HOCs-MPs. This work broadens our knowledge of the environmental fate of HOCs-MPs and interactions of MPs, HOCs, DOMs and functional microbial consortiums in aqueous environments.