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Yu Y, Trottmann NF, Schärer MR, Fenner K, Robinson SL. Substrate promiscuity of xenobiotic-transforming hydrolases from stream biofilms impacted by treated wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121593. [PMID: 38631239 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Organic contaminants enter aquatic ecosystems from various sources, including wastewater treatment plant effluent. Freshwater biofilms play a major role in the removal of organic contaminants from receiving water bodies, but knowledge of the molecular mechanisms driving contaminant biotransformations in complex stream biofilm (periphyton) communities remains limited. Previously, we demonstrated that biofilms in experimental flume systems grown at higher ratios of treated wastewater (WW) to stream water displayed an increased biotransformation potential for a number of organic contaminants. We identified a positive correlation between WW percentage and biofilm biotransformation rates for the widely-used insect repellent, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) and a number of other wastewater-borne contaminants with hydrolyzable moieties. Here, we conducted deep shotgun sequencing of flume biofilms and identified a positive correlation between WW percentage and metagenomic read abundances of DEET hydrolase (DH) homologs. To test the causality of this association, we constructed a targeted metagenomic library of DH homologs from flume biofilms. We screened our complete metagenomic library for activity with four different substrates, including DEET, and a subset thereof with 183 WW-related organic compounds. The majority of active hydrolases in the metagenomic library preferred aliphatic and aromatic ester substrates while, remarkably, only a single reference enzyme was capable of DEET hydrolysis. Of the 626 total enzyme-substrate combinations tested, approximately 5% were active enzyme-substrate pairs. Metagenomic DH family homologs revealed a broad substrate promiscuity spanning 22 different compounds when summed across all enzymes tested. We biochemically characterized the most promiscuous and active enzymes identified based on metagenomic analysis from uncultivated Rhodospirillaceae and Planctomycetaceae. In addition to characterizing new DH family enzymes, we exemplified a framework for linking metagenome-guided hypothesis generation with experimental validation. Overall, this study expands the scope of known enzymatic contaminant biotransformations for metagenomic hydrolases from WW-receiving stream biofilm communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaochun Yu
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Niklas Ferenc Trottmann
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Milo R Schärer
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Fenner
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Serina L Robinson
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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2
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Bian R, Huang S, Cao X, Qi W, Peng J, Liu H, Wu X, Li C, Qu J. Spatial and temporal distribution of the microbial community structure in the receiving rivers of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River under the influence of different wastewater types. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 462:132835. [PMID: 37879279 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The gradual intensification of human activity has caused severe negative impacts on the ecosystems of the Yangtze River Basin. Treated effluents still affect the environment and health of receiving rivers, particularly in terms of microbial community structure. However, relatively few studies have been conducted on the differences in the effects of wastewater types on microbial community structure. Three sampling campaigns (237 samples) were conducted in the Nanjing and Wuhan sections of the Yangtze River Basin. Our results showed that the microbial community structure differed significantly among the water periods and could recover to its original state at > 500 m downstream of the outfall. The diversity of the receiving rivers under the influence of industrial wastewater was higher than that of the other wastewater types, although the number of taxa was lower than that of other wastewater types. Cyanobium_PCC-6307 and Rhodoferax were screened for biomarkers in samples affected by domestic and industrial wastewater, respectively. Although different kinds of wastewater influenced the microbial community structure, environmental factors, and geographical distance were still the main drivers. This study suggests that treated wastewater still poses a risk to ecosystems and highlights the importance of effective management strategies for assessing ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Bian
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; Yangtze Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Shier Huang
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaofeng Cao
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Weixiao Qi
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Jianfeng Peng
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Huijuan Liu
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xinghua Wu
- Yangtze Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Chong Li
- Yangtze Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Jiuhui Qu
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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3
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Shivaram KB, Bhatt P, Verma MS, Clase K, Simsek H. Bacteriophage-based biosensors for detection of pathogenic microbes in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165859. [PMID: 37516175 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater is discarded from several sources, including industry, livestock, fertilizer application, and municipal waste. If the disposed of wastewater has not been treated and processed before discharge to the environment, pathogenic microorganisms and toxic chemicals are accumulated in the disposal area and transported into the surface waters. The presence of harmful microbes is responsible for thousands of human deaths related to water-born contamination every year. To be able to take the necessary step and quick action against the possible presence of harmful microorganisms and substances, there is a need to improve the effective speed of identification and treatment of these problems. Biosensors are such devices that can give quantitative information within a short period of time. There have been several biosensors developed to measure certain parameters and microorganisms. The discovered biosensors can be utilized for the detection of axenic and mixed microbial strains from the wastewaters. Biosensors can further be developed for specific conditions and environments with an in-depth understanding of microbial organization and interaction within that community. In this regard, bacteriophage-based biosensors have become a possibility to identify specific live bacteria in an infected environment. This paper has investigated the current scenario of microbial community analysis and biosensor development in identifying the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Basthi Shivaram
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Pankaj Bhatt
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Mohit S Verma
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA; Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kari Clase
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Halis Simsek
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.
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4
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Pavić D, Grbin D, Blagajac A, Ćurko J, Fiket Ž, Bielen A. Impact of nutrients and trace elements on freshwater microbial communities in Croatia: identifying bacterial bioindicator taxa. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-28179-4. [PMID: 37328727 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28179-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since aquatic microbial communities promptly respond to environmental changes, it is now evident that they can complement traditional taxa such as fish, macroinvertebrates and algae as bioindicators of water quality. The aim of this study was to correlate the physico-chemical parameters of water with the microbial community structure and the occurrence of putative bioindicator taxa. Thirty-five water samples were collected throughout Croatia and their physico-chemical parameters, including the concentration of trace elements using the high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS), and the composition of the microbial communities by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA marker gene, were analysed in parallel. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) modelling revealed that a number of microbial taxa were positively correlated with some of the water parameters. For example, some taxa from the phylum Proteobacteria were positively correlated with the ion content of the water (e.g. Erythrobacter, Rhodobacteraceae, Alteromonadaceae), while some Firmicutes taxa, such as the well-known faecal indicators Enterococcus and Clostridium, were correlated with nutrient content (ammonium and total phosphorus). Among the trace elements, uranium was positively correlated with a highest number of microbial taxa. The results obtained will aid in development of protocols for eDNA-based biological assessment of water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Pavić
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dorotea Grbin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Amalija Blagajac
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josip Ćurko
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Željka Fiket
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Bielen
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
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5
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Esser M, Hoggarth C, Baulch H, Challis JK, Xie Y, Giesy JP, Hecker M, Brinkmann M. Wastewater discharges alter microbial community composition in surface waters of the canadian prairies. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 334:138991. [PMID: 37209843 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities are an important component of freshwater biodiversity that is threatened by anthropogenic impacts. Wastewater discharges pose a particular concern by being major sources of anthropogenic contaminants and microorganisms that may influence the composition of natural microbial communities. Nevertheless, the effects of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents on microbial communities remain largely unexplored. In this study, the effects of wastewater discharges on microbial communities from five different WWTPs in Southern Saskatchewan were investigated using rRNA gene metabarcoding. In parallel, nutrient levels and the presence of environmentally relevant organic pollutants were analyzed. Higher nutrient loads and pollutant concentrations resulted in significant changes in microbial community composition. The greatest changes were observed in Wascana Creek (Regina), which was found to be heavily polluted by wastewater discharges. Several taxa occurred in greater relative abundance in the wastewater-influenced stream segments, indicating anthropogenic pollution and eutrophication, especially taxa belonging to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Chlorophyta. Strong decreases were measured within the taxa Ciliphora, Diatomea, Dinoflagellata, Nematozoa, Ochrophyta, Protalveolata, and Rotifera. Across all sample types, a significant decline in sulfur bacteria was measured, implying changes in functional biodiversity. In addition, downstream of the Regina WWTP, an increase in cyanotoxins was detected which was correlated with a significant change in cyanobacterial community composition. Overall, these data suggest a causal relationship between anthropogenic pollution and changes in microbial communities, possibly reflecting an impairment of ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Esser
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Cameron Hoggarth
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Helen Baulch
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Jonathan K Challis
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Yuwei Xie
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - John P Giesy
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; Department of Environmental Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA; Department of Zoology and Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, 426 Auditorium Road East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada.
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6
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Biodegradation of chemicals tested in mixtures and individually: mixture effects on biodegradation kinetics and microbial composition. Biodegradation 2023; 34:139-153. [PMID: 36595149 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-022-10009-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation in the aquatic environment occurs in the presence of many chemicals, while standard simulation biodegradation tests are conducted with single chemicals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the presence of additional chemicals on (1) biodegradation kinetics of individual chemicals and (2) the microbial composition in test systems. Parallel mixture and single substance experiments were conducted for 9 chemicals (phenethyl benzoate, oxacycloheptadec-10-en-2-one, α-ionone, methyl 2-naphthyl ether, decan-5-olide, octan-2-one, 2'-acetonaphthanone, methyl N-methylanthranilate, (+)-menthone) using inoculum from a Danish stream. Biotic and abiotic test systems were incubated at 12 °C for 1-30 days. Primary biodegradation kinetics were then determined from biotic/abiotic peak area ratios using SPME GC/MS analysis. The effect of the mixture on biodegradation varied with test chemical and was more pronounced for chemicals with lag-phases above 14 days: two chemicals degraded in the mixture but not when tested alone (i.e., positive mixture effect), and two degraded when tested alone but not in the mixture (i.e., negative mixture effect). Microbial composition (16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) was highly affected by 14 days incubation and the presence of the mixture (significant carbon source), but less by single chemicals (low carbon source). Growth on chemical mixtures resulted in consistent proliferation of Pseudomonas and Malikia, while specific chemicals increased the abundance of putative degraders belonging to Novosphingobium and Zoogloea. The chemical and microbiological results support (1) that simulation biodegradation kinetics should be determined in mixtures at low environmentally relevant concentrations and (2) that degradation times beyond some weeks are associated with more uncertainty.
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Lafuente E, Carles L, Walser J, Giulio M, Wullschleger S, Stamm C, Räsänen K. Effects of anthropogenic stress on hosts and their microbiomes: Treated wastewater alters performance and gut microbiome of a key detritivore (
Asellus aquaticus
). Evol Appl 2023; 16:824-848. [PMID: 37124094 PMCID: PMC10130563 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human activity is a major driver of ecological and evolutionary change in wild populations and can have diverse effects on eukaryotic organisms as well as on environmental and host-associated microbial communities. Although host-microbiome interactions can be a major determinant of host fitness, few studies consider the joint responses of hosts and their microbiomes to anthropogenic changes. In freshwater ecosystems, wastewater is a widespread anthropogenic stressor that represents a multifarious environmental perturbation. Here, we experimentally tested the impact of treated wastewater on a keystone host (the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus) and its gut microbiome. We used a semi-natural flume experiment, in combination with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, to assess how different concentrations (0%, 30%, and 80%) of nonfiltered wastewater (i.e. with chemical toxicants, nutrients, organic particles, and microbes) versus ultrafiltered wastewater (i.e. only dissolved pollutants and nutrients) affected host survival, growth, and food consumption as well as mid- and hindgut bacterial community composition and diversity. Our results show that while host survival was not affected by the treatments, host growth increased and host feeding rate decreased with nonfiltered wastewater - potentially indicating that A. aquaticus fed on organic matter and microbes available in nonfiltered wastewater. Furthermore, even though the midgut microbiome (diversity and composition) was not affected by any of our treatments, nonfiltered wastewater influenced bacterial composition (but not diversity) in the hindgut. Ultrafiltered wastewater, on the other hand, affected both community composition and bacterial diversity in the hindgut, an effect that in our system differed between sexes. While the functional consequences of microbiome changes and their sex specificity are yet to be tested, our results indicate that different components of multifactorial stressors (i.e. different constituents of wastewater) can affect hosts and their microbiome in distinct (even opposing) manners and have a substantial impact on eco-evolutionary responses to anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Lafuente
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Instituto Gulbenkian de CiênciaOeirasPortugal
| | - Louis Carles
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Jean‐Claude Walser
- Department of Environmental Systems Science D‐USYS, Genetic Diversity CentreSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Marco Giulio
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Simon Wullschleger
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Katja Räsänen
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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8
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Zhang L, Li S, Zhang S, Cai H, Fang W, Shen Z. Recovery trajectories of the bacterial community at distances in the receiving river under wastewater treatment plant discharge. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 326:116622. [PMID: 36368207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microbes in rivers are an important part of the biogeochemical cycle in aquatic ecosystems, and understanding the major factors that influence the composition of microbial communities has an important role in assessing and improving ecosystem functioning. A high-throughput 16 S rRNA gene sequencing technique was employed to sequence bacterial communities in 21 sediment samples and 21 water samples from an urban river WWTP (wastewater treatment plant) discharge. A systematic study of changes in bacterial community composition in downstream river sediment and water was conducted. The study found that compared with the bacterial diversity in the natural upstream area of the wastewater outfall, the bacterial diversity in the sediment lower reaches decreased significantly, while the bacterial abundance and diversity in the water increased significantly. The Mantel test and redundancy analysis showed that the downstream distance and physicochemical properties were significantly related to the succession of bacterial communities in the sediment downstream of the WWTP discharge. Among them, TOC (total organic carbon) was the most important factor affecting the change in the bacterial community in the downstream sediment. The physicochemical properties were significantly correlated with the succession of bacterial communities in the water downstream of the WWTP discharge. Among them, TN (total nitrogen), PO43--P (phosphorus phosphate) and TP (total phosphorus) were the main factors that affected the change in the bacterial community in the downstream water. Key taxa in the co-occurrence network at different distances downstream reflected the depth of the effect of the WWTP effluent on the bacterial community. The bacterial community in the lower reaches of the river sediment showed a strong recovery ability under the influence of pollutants, while the bacterial community in the lower reaches of the river water was difficult to recover under the influence of pollutants. In general, pollutants contained in effluent are the key to changing the composition of bacterial communities in the lower reaches of the river, but exogenous bacteria in effluent are not. This study provides a basis for further improving the effluent discharge standards of WWTPs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China.
| | - Shuo Li
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China
| | - Siqing Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China
| | - Hua Cai
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, 239000, China
| | - Wangkai Fang
- School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, 232000, China
| | - Zhen Shen
- Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
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9
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Burdon FJ, Reyes M, Schönenberger U, Räsänen K, Tiegs SD, Eggen RIL, Stamm C. Environmental context determines pollution impacts on ecosystem functioning. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francis J. Burdon
- Eawag – Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology Dübendorf Switzerland
- Te Aka Mātuatua – School of Science, Univ. of Waikato Hamilton New Zealand
| | - Marta Reyes
- Eawag – Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Urs Schönenberger
- Eawag – Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Katja Räsänen
- Eawag – Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology Dübendorf Switzerland
- Dept of Biological and Environmental Science, Univ. of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Finland
| | - Scott D. Tiegs
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Oakland Univ. Rochester MI USA
| | - Rik I. L. Eggen
- Eawag – Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology Dübendorf Switzerland
- ETH Zürich, Inst. of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics Zürich Switzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag – Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology Dübendorf Switzerland
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10
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Nagarajan D, Lee DJ, Varjani S, Lam SS, Allakhverdiev SI, Chang JS. Microalgae-based wastewater treatment - Microalgae-bacteria consortia, multi-omics approaches and algal stress response. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157110. [PMID: 35787906 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable environmental management is one of the important aspects of sustainable development goals. Increasing amounts of wastewaters (WW) from exponential economic growth is a major challenge, and conventional treatment methods entail a huge carbon footprint in terms of energy use and GHG emissions. Microalgae-based WW treatment is a potential candidate for sustainable WW treatment. The nutrients which are otherwise unutilized in the conventional processes are recovered in the beneficial microalgal biomass. This review presents comprehensive information regarding the potential of microalgae as sustainable bioremediation agents. Microalgae-bacterial consortia play a critical role in synergistic nutrient removal, supported by the complex nutritional and metabolite exchange between microalgae and the associated bacteria. Design of effective microalgae-bacteria consortia either by screening or by recent technologies such as synthetic biology approaches are highly required for efficient WW treatment. Furthermore, this review discusses the crucial research gap in microalgal WW treatment - the application of a multi-omics platform for understanding microalgal response towards WW conditions and the design of effective microalgal or microalgae-bacteria consortia based on genetic information. While metagenomics helps in the identification and monitoring of the microbial community throughout the treatment process, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics aid in studying the algal cellular response towards the nutrients and pollutants in WW. It has been established that the integration of microalgal processes into conventional WW treatment systems is feasible. In this direction, future research directions for microalgal WW treatment emphasize the need for identifying the niche in WW treatment, while highlighting the pilot sale plants in existence. Microalgae-based WW treatment could be a potential phase in the waste hierarchy of circular economy and sustainability, considering WWs are a rich secondary source of finite resources such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillirani Nagarajan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Duu-Jong Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tang, Hong Kong
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382 010, India
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007, India
| | - Suleyman I Allakhverdiev
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow 127276, Russia
| | - Jo-Shu Chang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li, Taiwan.
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11
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Carles L, Wullschleger S, Joss A, Eggen RIL, Schirmer K, Schuwirth N, Stamm C, Tlili A. Wastewater microorganisms impact microbial diversity and important ecological functions of stream periphyton. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119119. [PMID: 36170769 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Effluents of wastewater treatment plants can impact microbial communities in the receiving streams. However, little is known about the role of microorganisms in wastewater as opposed to other wastewater constituents, such as nutrients and micropollutants. We aimed therefore at determining the impact of wastewater microorganisms on the microbial diversity and function of periphyton, key microbial communities in streams. We used a flow-through channel system to grow periphyton upon exposure to a mixture of stream water and unfiltered or ultra-filtered wastewater. Impacts were assessed on periphyton biomass, activities and tolerance to micropollutants, as well as on microbial diversity. Our results showed that wastewater microorganisms colonized periphyton and modified its community composition, resulting for instance in an increased abundance of Chloroflexi and a decreased abundance of diatoms and green algae. This led to shifts towards heterotrophy, as suggested by the changes in nutrient stoichiometry and the increased mineralization potential of carbon substrates. An increased tolerance towards micropollutants was only found for periphyton exposed to unfiltered wastewater but not to ultra-filtered wastewater, suggesting that wastewater microorganisms were responsible for this increased tolerance. Overall, our results highlight the need to consider the role of wastewater microorganisms when studying potential impacts of wastewater on the receiving water body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Carles
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Simon Wullschleger
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Joss
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Rik I L Eggen
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland; School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nele Schuwirth
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland.
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12
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Xuan Y, Mai Y, Xu Y, Zheng J, He Z, Shu L, Cao Y. Enhanced microbial nitrification-denitrification processes in a subtropical metropolitan river network. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118857. [PMID: 35868099 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban rivers are hotspots of regional nitrogen (N) pollution and N transformations. Previous studies have reported that the microbial community of urban rivers was different from that of natural rivers. However, how microbial community affects N transformations in the urban rivers is still unclear. In this study, we employed N nutrients-related isotope technology (includes natural-abundance isotopes survey and isotope-labeling method) and bioinformatics methods (includes 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR analysis) to investigate the major N transformations, microbial communities as well as functional gene abundances in a metropolitan river network. Our results suggested that the bacterial community structure in the highly urbanized rivers was characterized by higher richness, less complexity and increased abundances of nitrification and denitrifying bacterium compared to those in the suburban rivers. These differences were mainly caused by high sewage discharge and N loadings. In addition, the abundances of nitrifier gene (amoA) and denitrifier genes (nirK and nirS) were significantly higher in the highly urbanized rivers (2.36 × 103, 7.43 × 107 and 2.28 × 107 copies·mL-1) than that in the suburban rivers (0.43 × 103, 2.18 × 107 and 0.99 × 107 copies·mL-1). These changes in microbes have accelerated nitrification-denitrification processes in the highly urbanized rivers as compared to those in the suburban rivers, which was evidenced by environmental isotopes and the rates of nitrification (10.52 vs. 0.03 nmol·L-1·h-1) and denitrification (83.31 vs. 22.49 nmol·g-1·h-1). Overall, this study concluded that the excess exogenous N has significantly shaped the specific aquatic bacterial communities, which had a potential for enhancing nitrification-denitrification processes in the highly urbanized river network. This study provides a further understanding of microbial N cycling in urban river ecosystems and expands the combined application of isotopic technology and bioinformatics methods in studying biogeochemical cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Xuan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingwen Mai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yunqiu Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianyi Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhili He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Longfei Shu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yingjie Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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13
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Kalinowska A, Pierpaoli M, Jankowska K, Fudala-Ksiazek S, Remiszewska-Skwarek A, Łuczkiewicz A. Insights into the microbial community of treated wastewater, its year-round variability and impact on the receiver, using cultivation, microscopy and amplicon-based methods. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154630. [PMID: 35307432 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Apart from chemical constituents, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents also release microorganisms that can be important to the receiving water bodies either from a sanitary point of view, or taking to the account the biogeochemical potential of the recipients. However, little is known about the treated wastewater microbial community, its composition, seasonal changes, functions and fate in the waters of the receiver. Thus, this study presents a synergistic approach coupling new and traditional methods: analytical chemistry, classical microbiology (cultivation- and microscopy-based methods), as well as Next Generation Sequencing and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results show that in terms of bacterial community composition, treated wastewater differed from the environmental samples, irrespectively if they were related or unrelated to the WWTP effluent discharge. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) taking into account chemical parameters and taxonomical biodiversity indirectly confirmed the seasonal deterioration of the treated wastewater quality as a result of temperature-driven change of activated sludge community structure and biomass washout (observed also by DAPI staining). Despite seasonal fluctuations of total suspended solids and inter-related parameters (such as COD, BOD, TN, TP), the treated wastewater quality remained within current discharge limits. It was due to treatment processes intensively adjusted by WWTP operators, particularly those necessary to maintain an appropriate rate of autotrophic processes of nitrification and to support biological phosphorus removal. This can explain the observed microbiome composition similarity among WWTP effluents at high taxonomic levels. Obtained data also suggest that besides wastewater treatment efficiency, WWTP effluents are still sources of both human-related microorganisms as well as bacteria equipped in genes involved in N-cycling. Their potential of participation in nutrients cycling in the receivers is widely unknown and require critical attention and better understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kalinowska
- Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
| | - Mattia Pierpaoli
- Department of Metrology and Optoelectronics, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Jankowska
- Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
| | - Sylwia Fudala-Ksiazek
- Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
| | - Anna Remiszewska-Skwarek
- Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
| | - Aneta Łuczkiewicz
- Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
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14
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Zhang Y, Huo Y, Zhang Z, Zhu S, Fan W, Wang X, Huo M. Deciphering the influence of multiple anthropogenic inputs on taxonomic and functional profiles of the microbial communities in Yitong River, Northeast China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:39973-39984. [PMID: 35112248 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18386-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We conducted the analysis of physicochemical parameters, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to explore the impact of human inputs on the bacterioplankton communities within a tributary of the largest river flowing through a megacity in northeast China. Agriculture largely accounted for the alteration of diversity and functions of the microbial communities. Furthermore, nitrate and total phosphorus declined at the reservoir outlet. The WWTP effluent discharge caused a decrease of the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria, while the impact on the variation of alpha diversity of river microbial community was slight. Carbon fixation and nitrogen cycle varied with the change of land use type. The rare taxa contributed with a predominant role in the response to environmental variables and NH3-N as well as NO3--N were the main environmental factors that drove the shift in the bacterial community. The occurrence of the human-specific fecal indicator was mostly derived from agriculture, and its increase in relative abundance was observed in the WWTP effluent. Thus, our study provides guidance for ecological assessment and management of rivers by revealing the response pattern of river bacterioplankton to multiple types of anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Yang Huo
- Science and Technology Innovation Center for Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Water Quality Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China.
- School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China.
| | - Zhiruo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Suiyi Zhu
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China
- Science and Technology Innovation Center for Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Water Quality Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Wei Fan
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Xianze Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China
- Science and Technology Innovation Center for Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Water Quality Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Mingxin Huo
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China.
- Science and Technology Innovation Center for Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Water Quality Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130117, China.
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15
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Keck F, Hürlemann S, Locher N, Stamm C, Deiner K, Altermatt F. A triad of kicknet sampling, eDNA metabarcoding, and predictive modeling to assess richness of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies in rivers. METABARCODING AND METAGENOMICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/mbmg.6.79351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring biodiversity is essential to understand the impacts of human activities and for effective management of ecosystems. Thereby, biodiversity can be assessed through direct collection of targeted organisms, through indirect evidence of their presence (e.g. signs, environmental DNA, camera trap, etc.), or through extrapolations from species distribution and species richness models. Differences in approaches used in biodiversity assessment, however, may come with individual challenges and hinder cross-study comparability. In the context of rapidly developing techniques, we compared three different approaches in order to better understand assessments of aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity. Specifically, we compared the community composition and species richness of three orders of aquatic macroinvertebrates (mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies, hereafter EPT) obtained via eDNA metabarcoding and via traditional in situ kicknet sampling to catchment-level based predictions of a species richness model. We used kicknet data from 24 sites in Switzerland and compared taxonomic lists to those obtained using eDNA amplified with two different primer sets. Richness detected by these methods was compared to the independent predictions made by a statistical species richness model, that is, a generalized linear model using landscape-level features to estimate EPT diversity. Despite the ability of eDNA to consistently detect some EPT species found by traditional sampling, we found important discrepancies in community composition between the kicknet and eDNA approaches, particularly at a local scale. We found the EPT-specific primer set fwhF2/EPTDr2n, detected a greater number of targeted EPT species compared to the more general primer set mlCOIintF/HCO2198. Moreover, we found that the species richness measured by eDNA from either primer set was poorly correlated to the richness measured by kicknet sampling (Pearson correlation = 0.27) and that the richness estimated by eDNA and kicknet were poorly correlated with the prediction of the species richness model (Pearson correlation = 0.30 and 0.44, respectively). The weak relationships between the traditional kicknet sampling and eDNA with this model indicates inherent limitations in upscaling species richness estimates, and possibly a limited ability of the model to meet real world expectations. It is also possible that the number of replicates was not sufficient to detect ambiguous correlations. Future challenges include improving the accuracy and sensitivity of each approach individually, yet also acknowledging their respective limitations, in order to best meet stakeholder demands and address the biodiversity crisis we are facing.
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16
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Spatio-temporal patterns of multi-trophic biodiversity and food-web characteristics uncovered across a river catchment using environmental DNA. Commun Biol 2022; 5:259. [PMID: 35322190 PMCID: PMC8943070 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03216-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate characterisation of ecological communities with respect to their biodiversity and food-web structure is essential for conservation. However, combined empirical study of biodiversity and multi-trophic food webs at a large spatial and temporal resolution has been prohibited by the lack of appropriate access to such data from natural systems. Here, we assessed biodiversity and food-web characteristics across a 700 km2 riverine network over seasons using environmental DNA. We found contrasting biodiversity patterns between major taxonomic groups. Local richness showed statistically significant, season-dependent increases and decreases towards downstream location within the catchment for fish and bacteria, respectively. Meanwhile, invertebrate richness remained spatially unchanged but varied across seasons. The structure of local food webs, such as link density and nestedness, also varied across space and time. However, these patterns did not necessarily mirror those observed for biodiversity and functional feeding characteristics. Our results suggest that biodiversity patterns and food-web dynamics are not directly scalable to each other even at the same spatial and temporal scales. In order to conserve species diversity as well as the functional trophic integrity of communities, patterns of biodiversity and food-web characteristics must thus be jointly studied. By sampling environmental DNA across a large riverine network over multiple seasons, the varied dynamics between biodiversity and food-web dynamics are revealed.
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17
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Tamminen M, Spaak J, Tlili A, Eggen R, Stamm C, Räsänen K. Wastewater constituents impact biofilm microbial community in receiving streams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:151080. [PMID: 34678363 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Microbial life in natural biofilms is dominated by prokaryotes and microscopic eukaryotes living in dense association. In stream ecosystems, microbial biofilms influence primary production, elemental cycles, food web interactions as well as water quality. Understanding how biofilm communities respond to anthropogenic impacts, such as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, is important given the key role of biofilms in stream ecosystem function. Here, we implemented 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing of stream biofilms upstream (US) and downstream (DS) of WWTP effluents in four Swiss streams to test how bacterial and eukaryotic communities respond to wastewater constituents. Stream biofilm composition was strongly affected by geographic location - particularly for bacteria. However, the abundance of certain microbial community members was related to micropollutants in the wastewater - among bacteria, micropollutant-associated members were found e.g. in Alphaproteobacteria, and among eukaryotes e.g. in Bacillariophyta (algal diatoms). This study corroborates several previously characterized responses (e.g. as seen in diatoms), but also reveals previously unknown community responses - such as seen in Alphaproteobacteria. This study advances our understanding of the ecological impact of the current wastewater treatment practices and provides information about potential new marker organisms to assess ecological change in stream biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Tamminen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Finland.
| | - Jenny Spaak
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag, Switzerland
| | - Rik Eggen
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Katja Räsänen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Switzerland; Dept. of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
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18
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Wang J, Chen Y, Cai P, Gao Q, Zhong H, Sun W, Chen Q. Impacts of municipal wastewater treatment plant discharge on microbial community structure and function of the receiving river in Northwest Tibetan Plateau. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127170. [PMID: 34537645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents carrying plenty of nutrients and micropollutants pose serious threats to receiving rivers, however, the response of microbial community structure and function to WWTP effluents discharge is still poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, paired water and sediment samples from 17 sites of the Huangshui River, and effluents from 6 WWTPs were collected to investigate the effect of WWTP discharge on riverine microbial communities. Our results revealed that WWTP effluents exerted significant effects on planktonic rather than sedimentary microorganisms in the receiving river. Notably, lower diversity and richness of planktonic communities were observed in the effluent-influenced section (WRW) than other river sections (RW) along the urban river. Meanwhile, network analysis potentially revealed lower stability of co-occurrence patterns of microbial communities in WRW. The remarkably higher antibiotics, nitrate-nitrogen, and water temperature in WRW samples caused by WWTPs played essential roles in shaping the structure and function of planktonic microbial communities. This study suggested the enrichment of multiple-drug resistance genes and destruction of energy metabolisms were caused by sewage effluents, and highlighted the importance of effective management strategies for protecting the ecological health of the receiving river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Wang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Materials Flux in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ying Chen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Pinggui Cai
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Haohui Zhong
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Materials Flux in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Weiling Sun
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Materials Flux in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China; State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Qian Chen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Materials Flux in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China; State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
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19
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Ruprecht JE, King IP, Dafforn KA, Mitrovic SM, Harrison AJ, Birrer SC, Crane SL, Glamore WC. Implications of bacterial mineralisation in aquatic ecosystem response models. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 209:117888. [PMID: 34847391 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Widespread wastewater pollution is a major barrier to the sustainable management of freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems worldwide. Integrated multi-disciplinary studies are necessary to improve waterway management and protect ecosystem integrity. This study used the Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology to link microbial community ecotoxicology laboratory data to a mechanistic aquatic ecosystem response model. The generic model provided good predictive skill for major water quality constituents, including heterotrophic bacteria dynamics (r2 = 0.91). The model was validated against observed data across a gradient of effluent concentrations from community whole effluent toxicity (WET) laboratory tests. GLUE analysis revealed that a combined likelihood measure increased confidence in the predictive capability of the model. This study highlights the importance of calibrating aquatic ecosystem response models with net growth rates (i.e., sum of the growth minus loss rate parameter terms) of biological functional groups. The final calibrated net growth rate value of heterotrophic bacteria determined using the GLUE analysis was selected to be 0.58, which was significantly greater than the average literature value of -0.15. This finding demonstrated that use of literature parameter values without a good understanding of the represented processes could create misleading outputs and result in unsatisfactory conclusions. Further, fixed bulk mineralisation rate literature values are typically higher than realistically required in aquatic ecosystem response models. This indicates that explicitly including bacterial mineralisation is crucial to represent microbial ecosystem functioning more accurately. Our study suggests that improved data collection and modelling efforts in real-world management applications are needed to better address nutrients released into the natural environment. Future studies should aim to better understand the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystem response models to bacterial mineralisation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Ruprecht
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - I P King
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - K A Dafforn
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - S M Mitrovic
- Freshwater and Estuarine Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - A J Harrison
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - S C Birrer
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - S L Crane
- Ferrari Lab, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - W C Glamore
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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20
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Athanasakoglou A, Fenner K. Toward Characterizing the Genetic Basis of Trace Organic Contaminant Biotransformation in Activated Sludge: The Role of Multicopper Oxidases as a Case Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:313-324. [PMID: 34932304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Activated sludge treatment leverages the ability of microbes to uptake and (co)-metabolize chemicals and has shown promise in eliminating trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) during wastewater treatment. However, targeted interventions to optimize the process are limited as the fundamental drivers of the observed reactions remain elusive. In this work, we present a comprehensive workflow for the identification and characterization of key enzymes involved in TrOCs biotransformation pathways in complex microbial communities. To demonstrate the applicability of the workflow, we investigated the role of the enzymatic group of multicopper oxidases (MCOs) as one putatively relevant driver of TrOCs biotransformation. To this end, we analyzed activated sludge metatranscriptomic data and selected, synthesized, and heterologously expressed three phylogenetically distinct MCO-encoding genes expressed in communities with different TrOCs oxidation potentials. Following the purification of the encoded enzymes, we screened their activities against different substrates. We saw that MCOs exhibit significant activities against selected TrOCs in the presence of the mediator compound 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and, in some cases, also in the presence of the wastewater contaminant 4'-hydroxy-benzotriazole. In the first case, we identified oxidation products previously reported from activated sludge communities and concluded that in the presence of appropriate mediators, bacterial MCOs could contribute to the biological removal of TrOCs. Similar investigations of other key enzyme systems may significantly advance our understanding of TrOCs biodegradation and assist the rational design of biology-based water treatment strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Athanasakoglou
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Fenner
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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21
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Birch H, Sjøholm KK, Dechesne A, Sparham C, van Egmond R, Mayer P. Biodegradation Kinetics of Fragrances, Plasticizers, UV Filters, and PAHs in a Mixture─Changing Test Concentrations over 5 Orders of Magnitude. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:293-301. [PMID: 34936331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of organic chemicals emitted to the environment is carried out by mixed microbial communities growing on multiple natural and xenobiotic substrates at low concentrations. This study aims to (1) perform simulation type biodegradation tests at a wide range of mixture concentrations, (2) determine the concentration effect on the biodegradation kinetics of individual chemicals, and (3) link the mixture concentration and degradation to microbial community dynamics. Two hundred ninety-four parallel test systems were prepared using wastewater treatment plant effluent as inoculum and passive dosing to add a mixture of 19 chemicals at 6 initial concentration levels (ng/L to mg/L). After 1-30 days of incubation at 12 °C, abiotic and biotic test systems were analyzed using arrow solid phase microextraction and GC-MS/MS. Biodegradation kinetics at the highest test concentrations were delayed for several test substances but enhanced for the reference chemical naphthalene. Test concentration thus shifted the order in which chemicals were degraded. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing indicated that the highest test concentration (17 mg C/L added) supported the growth of the genera Acidovorax, Novosphingobium, and Hydrogenophaga, whereas no such effect was observed at lower concentrations. The chemical and microbial results confirm that too high mixture concentrations should be avoided when aiming at determining environmentally relevant biodegradation data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Birch
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karina Knudsmark Sjøholm
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Dechesne
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Chris Sparham
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Bedford MK44 1LQ, U.K
| | - Roger van Egmond
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Bedford MK44 1LQ, U.K
| | - Philipp Mayer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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22
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Pelsma KAJ, In 't Zandt MH, Op den Camp HJM, Jetten MSM, Dean JF, Welte CU. Amsterdam urban canals contain novel niches for methane-cycling microorganisms. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:82-97. [PMID: 34863018 PMCID: PMC9299808 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Urbanised environments have been identified as hotspots of anthropogenic methane emissions. Especially urban aquatic ecosystems are increasingly recognised as important sources of methane. However, the microbiology behind these emissions remains unexplored. Here, we applied microcosm incubations and molecular analyses to investigate the methane‐cycling community of the Amsterdam canal system in the Netherlands. The sediment methanogenic communities were dominated by Methanoregulaceae and Methanosaetaceae, with co‐occurring methanotrophic Methanoperedenaceae and Methylomirabilaceae indicating the potential for anaerobic methane oxidation. Methane was readily produced after substrate amendment, suggesting an active but substrate‐limited methanogenic community. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the sediment revealed a high relative abundance of Thermodesulfovibrionia. Canal wall biofilms showed the highest initial methanotrophic potential under oxic conditions compared to the sediment. During prolonged incubations the maximum methanotrophic rate increased to 8.08 mmol gDW−1 d−1 that was concomitant with an enrichment of Methylomonadaceae bacteria. Metagenomic analysis of the canal wall biofilm lead to the recovery of a single methanotroph metagenome‐assembled genome. Taxonomic analysis showed that this methanotroph belongs to the genus Methyloglobulus. Our results underline the importance of previously unidentified and specialised environmental niches at the nexus of the natural and human‐impacted carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen A J Pelsma
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Earth System Science Centre, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht, 3584 CS, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel H In 't Zandt
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Earth System Science Centre, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht, 3584 CS, The Netherlands
| | - Huub J M Op den Camp
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Earth System Science Centre, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht, 3584 CS, The Netherlands.,Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua F Dean
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GP, UK
| | - Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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23
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Seller C, Özel Duygan BD, Honti M, Fenner K. Biotransformation of Chemicals at the Water–Sediment Interface─Toward a Robust Simulation Study Setup. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2021; 1:46-57. [PMID: 37101935 PMCID: PMC10114792 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.1c00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Studying aquatic biotransformation of chemicals in laboratory experiments, i.e., OECD 308 and OECD 309 studies, is required by international regulatory frameworks to prevent the release of persistent chemicals into natural water bodies. Here, we aimed to address several previously described shortcomings of OECD 308/309 studies regarding their variable outcomes and questionable environmental relevance by broadly testing and characterizing a modified biotransformation test system in which an aerated water column covers a thin sediment layer. Compared to standard OECD 308/309 studies, the modified system showed little inter-replicate variability, improved observability of biotransformation, and consistency with first-order biotransformation kinetics for the majority of 43 test compounds, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and artificial sweeteners. To elucidate the factors underlying the decreased inter-replicate variability compared to OECD 309 outcomes, we used multidimensional flow cytometry data and a machine learning-based cell type assignment pipeline to study cell densities and cell type diversities in the sediment and water compartments. Our here presented data on cell type composition in both water and sediment allows, for the first time, to study the behavior of microbial test communities throughout different biotransformation simulation studies. We found that sediment-associated microbial communities were generally more stable throughout the experiments and exhibited higher cell type diversity than the water column-associated communities. Consistently, our data indicate that aquatic biotransformation of chemicals can be most robustly studied in test systems providing a sufficient amount of sediment-borne biomass. While these findings favor OECD 308-type systems over OECD 309-type systems to study biotransformation at the water-sediment interface, our results suggest that the former should be modified toward lower sediment-water ratios to improve observability and interpretability of biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Seller
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Birge D. Özel Duygan
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mark Honti
- MTA-BME Water Research Group, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kathrin Fenner
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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24
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Correa Velez KE, Norman RS. Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals That Municipal Wastewater Effluent Enhances Vibrio vulnificus Growth and Virulence Potential. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:754683. [PMID: 34759904 PMCID: PMC8573347 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.754683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic pathogen indigenous to estuarine and marine environments and associated with aquatic organisms. Vibrio vulnificus is of utmost importance because it causes 95% of the seafood-related deaths in the United States due to rapid progression of septicemia. Changes in environmental parameters associated with climate change and coastal population expansion are altering geographical constraints, resulting in increased Vibrio spread, exposure, and rates of infection. In addition, coastal population expansion is resulting in increased input of treated municipal sewage into areas that are also experiencing increased Vibrio proliferation. This study aimed to better understand the influence of treated sewage effluent on effluent-receiving microbial communities using Vibrio as a model of an opportunistic pathogen. Integrated transcriptomic approaches were used to analyze the changes in overall gene expression of V. vulnificus NBRC 15645 exposed to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent for a period of 6h using a modified seawater yeast extract media that contained 0, 50, and 100% filtered WWTP effluent. RNA-seq reads were mapped, annotated, and analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes using the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center analysis tool. The study revealed that V. vulnificus responds to wastewater effluent exposure by activating cyclic-di-GMP-influenced biofilm development. Also, genes involved in crucial functions, such as nitrogen metabolism and bacterial attachment, were upregulated depending on the presence of treated municipal sewage. This altered gene expression increased V. vulnificus growth and proliferation and enhanced genes and pathways involved in bacterial survival during the early stages of infection in a host. These factors represent a potential public health risk due to exposure to environmental reservoirs of potentially Vibrio strains with enhanced virulence profiles in coastal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlen Enid Correa Velez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Robert Sean Norman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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25
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Carles L, Wullschleger S, Joss A, Eggen RIL, Schirmer K, Schuwirth N, Stamm C, Tlili A. Impact of wastewater on the microbial diversity of periphyton and its tolerance to micropollutants in an engineered flow-through channel system. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 203:117486. [PMID: 34412020 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role in retaining organic matter and nutrients but to a lesser extent micropollutants. Therefore, treated wastewater is recognized as a major source of multiple stressors, including complex mixtures of micropollutants. These can potentially affect microbial communities in the receiving water bodies and the ecological functions they provide. In this study, we evaluated in flow-through channels the consequences of an exposure to a mixture of stream water and different percentages of urban WWTP effluent, ranging from 0% to 80%, on the microbial diversity and function of periphyton communities. Assuming that micropollutants exert a selective pressure for tolerant microorganisms within communities, we further examined the periphyton sensitivity to a micropollutant mixture extracted from passive samplers that were immersed in the wastewater effluent. As well, micropollutants in water and in periphyton were comprehensively quantified. Our results show that micropollutants detected in periphyton differed from those found in water, both in term of concentration and composition. Especially photosystem II inhibitors accumulated in periphyton more than other pesticides. Although effects of other substances cannot be excluded, this accumulation may have contributed to the observed higher tolerance of phototrophic communities to micropollutants upon exposure to 30% and 80% of wastewater. On the contrary, no difference in tolerance was observed for heterotrophic communities. Exposure to the gradient of wastewater led to structural differences in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. For instance, the relative abundance of cyanobacteria was higher with increasing percentage of wastewater effluent, whereas the opposite was observed for diatoms. Such results could indicate that differences in community structure do not necessarily lead to higher tolerance. This highlights the need to consider other wastewater constituents such as nutrients and wastewater-derived microorganisms that can modulate community structure and tolerance. By using engineered flow-through channels that mimic to some extent the required field conditions for the development of tolerance in periphyton, our study constitutes a base to investigate the mechanisms underlying the increased tolerance, such as the potential role of microorganisms originating from wastewater effluents, and different treatment options to reduce the micropollutant load in effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Carles
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Simon Wullschleger
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Joss
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Rik I L Eggen
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nele Schuwirth
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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26
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Lee J, Ju F, Maile-Moskowitz A, Beck K, Maccagnan A, McArdell CS, Dal Molin M, Fenicia F, Vikesland PJ, Pruden A, Stamm C, Bürgmann H. Unraveling the riverine antibiotic resistome: The downstream fate of anthropogenic inputs. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 197:117050. [PMID: 33784606 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
River networks are one of the main routes by which the public could be exposed to environmental sources of antibiotic resistance, that may be introduced e.g. via treated wastewater. In this study, we applied a comprehensive integrated analysis encompassing mass-flow concepts, chemistry, bacterial plate counts, resistance gene quantification and shotgun metagenomics to track the fate of the resistome (collective antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in a microbial community) of treated wastewater in two Swiss rivers at the kilometer scale. The levels of certain ARGs and the class 1 integron integrase gene (intI1) commonly associated with anthropogenic sources of ARGs decreased quickly over short distances (2-2.5 km) downstream of wastewater discharge points. Mass-flow analysis based on conservative tracers suggested this decrease was attributable mainly to dilution but ARG loadings frequently also decreased (e.g., 55.0-98.5 % for ermB and tetW) over the longest studied distances (6.8 and 13.7 km downstream). Metagenomic analysis confirmed that ARG of wastewater-origin did not persist in rivers after 5 ~ 6.8 km downstream distance. sul1 and intI1 levels and loadings were more variable and even increased sharply at 5 ~ 6.8 km downstream distance on one occasion. While input from agriculture and in-situ positive selection pressure for organisms carrying ARGs cannot be excluded, in-system growth of biomass is a more probable explanation. The potential for direct human exposure to the resistome of wastewater-origin thus appeared to typically abate rapidly in the studied rivers. However, the riverine aquatic resistome was also dynamic, as evidenced by the increase of certain gene markers downstream, without obvious sources of anthropogenic contamination. This study provides new insight into drivers of riverine resistomes and pinpoints key monitoring targets indicative of where human sources and exposures are likely to be most acute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jangwoo Lee
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Feng Ju
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China; Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ayella Maile-Moskowitz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Karin Beck
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Maccagnan
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Christa S McArdell
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Marco Dal Molin
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; The Centre of Hydrogeology and Geothermics (CHYN), University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Fenicia
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Peter J Vikesland
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Amy Pruden
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Helmut Bürgmann
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, CH-6047 Kastanienbaum or CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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27
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Rodríguez EA, Ramirez D, Balcázar JL, Jiménez JN. Metagenomic analysis of urban wastewater resistome and mobilome: A support for antimicrobial resistance surveillance in an endemic country. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116736. [PMID: 33618114 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In developing countries, where high levels of antimicrobial resistance are observed in hospitals, the surveillance of this phenomenon in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the environment is very limited, especially using cutting-edge culture-independent methods. In this study, the composition of bacterial communities, the resistome and mobilome (the pool of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), respectively) at a WWTP were determined using shotgun metagenomics and culture-based approaches. Wastewater samples were collected at four sampling points of a WWTP in Antioquia, Colombia. A total of 24 metagenomes were analyzed. Specifically, there were marked differences in bacterial community composition, resistome, and mobilome, according to the WWTP sampling points. Bacterial families of clinical importance such as Moraxellaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae were mainly detected in the WWTP influent and effluent samples. Genes encoding resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin, β-lactams, and those conferring multidrug resistance (e.g., acrB, adeG, and mexD) were the most abundant. Moreover, some clinically important ARGs such as blaKPC-2 and blaCTX-M, and others not reported locally, such as blaTEM-196, blaGES-23, blaOXA-10, mcr-3, and mcr-5 were frequently detected. Co-occurrence network analyses indicated a significant association of ARGs such as blaOXA-58 and blaKPC genes with Aeromonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Among the markers of MGEs, intI1 and ISCR8 were the most frequently detected. Altogether, this work reveals the importance of shotgun metagenomics and culture-based approaches in antimicrobial resistance studies. The findings also support that WWTPs are hotspots for antimicrobial resistance, whose analysis constitutes a powerful tool to predict the impact of antimicrobial resistance in a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika A Rodríguez
- Línea de Epidemiología Molecular y Resistencia Bacteriana. Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (MICROBA), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Diego Ramirez
- Línea de Epidemiología Molecular y Resistencia Bacteriana. Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (MICROBA), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Gestión y Modelación Ambiental, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia
| | - José L Balcázar
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), 17003, Girona, Spain; University of Girona, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - J Natalia Jiménez
- Línea de Epidemiología Molecular y Resistencia Bacteriana. Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (MICROBA), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia.
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28
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Knisz J, Shetty P, Wirth R, Maróti G, Karches T, Dalkó I, Bálint M, Vadkerti E, Bíró T. Genome-level insights into the operation of an on-site biological wastewater treatment unit reveal the importance of storage time. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 766:144425. [PMID: 33418265 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
On-site wastewater treatment systems are gaining popularity in areas where centralized wastewater treatment is not available. In the current case study a domestic activated sludge system was investigated, where treated effluent was stored in a short-term (1 week turn-over time) and a long-term (over 2-3 months) storage tank and was then used for irrigation. This design provided a unique opportunity to assess the chemical and microbial changes of the effluent upon storage. Long-term storage greatly improved both the chemical quality and the degradation efficiency of most organic micropollutants examined, including petroleum hydrocarbons and the pesticide diethyltoluamide. Taxonomic profile of the core microbiome of the effluent was also influenced upon storage. Relative abundance values of the members of Azoarcus and Thauera genera, which are important in degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compounds, clearly indicated the biodegrading activity of these microbes across samples. The abundance of xenobiotics degradation functions correlated with the observed organic micropollutant degradation values indicating efficient microbial decomposition of these contaminants. Functions related to infectious diseases also had the highest abundance in the short-term storage tank corresponding well with the relative abundance of indicator organisms and implying to the significance of storage time in the elimination of pathogens. Based on these results, small, on-site wastewater treatment systems could benefit from long-term storage of wastewater effluent.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knisz
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - P Shetty
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - R Wirth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - G Maróti
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary; Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - T Karches
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - I Dalkó
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - M Bálint
- Bálint Analitika Ltd, Fehérvári út 144, 1116 Budapest, Hungary
| | - E Vadkerti
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - T Bíró
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary.
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29
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The Effect of the Effluent from a Small-Scale Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plant Treating Municipal Wastewater on the Composition and Abundance of the Microbial Community, Antibiotic Resistome, and Pathogens in the Sediment and Water of a Receiving Stream. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13060865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are major contributors of nutrients, microbes—including those carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs)—and pathogens to receiving waterbodies. The effect of the effluent of a small-scale activated sludge WWTP treating municipal wastewater on the composition and abundance of the microbial community as well as the antibiotic resistome and pathogens in the sediment and water of the receiving stream and river was studied using metagenome sequencing and a quantitative approach. Elevated Bacteroidetes proportions in the prokaryotic community, heightened sulfonamide and aminoglycoside resistance determinants proportions, and an increase of up to three orders of magnitude of sul1–sul2–aadA–blaOXA2 gene cluster abundances were recorded in stream water and sediments 0.3 km downstream of a WWTP discharge point. Further downstream, a gradual recovery of affected microbial communities along a distance gradient from WWTP was recorded, culminating in the mostly comparable state of river water and sediment parameters 3.7 km downstream of WWTP and stream water and sediments upstream of the WWTP discharge point. Archaea, especially Methanosarcina, Methanothrix, and Methanoregula, formed a substantial proportion of the microbial community of WWTP effluent as well as receiving stream water and sediment, and were linked to the spread of ARGs. Opportunistic environmental-origin pathogens were predominant in WWTP effluent and receiving stream bacterial communities, with Citrobacter freundii proportion being especially elevated in the close vicinity downstream of the WWTP discharge point.
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30
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Bray RT, Jankowska K, Kulbat E, Łuczkiewicz A, Sokołowska A. Ultrafiltration Process in Disinfection and Advanced Treatment of Tertiary Treated Wastewater. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11030221. [PMID: 33804673 PMCID: PMC8003589 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11030221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The paper presents the results of research on the use of ultrafiltration, using membranes of 200 and 400 kDa separation, for disinfection of municipal treated wastewater. The research was conducted on a fractional technical scale using real municipal treated wastewater from two large wastewater treatment plants treating most of the wastewater over the one-million polycentric Gdańsk agglomeration (1.2 million inhabitants). UF 200 kDa and UF 400 kDa processes enabled further improvement of the physical and chemical parameters of treated wastewater. Total phosphorus (to below 0.2 mg/L–UF 200 kDa, 0.13 mg/L–UF 400 kDa) and turbid substances (to below 0.2 mg/L, both membranes) were removed in the highest degree. COD was reduced efficiently (to below 25.6 mgO2/L–UF 200 kDa, 26.8 mgO2/L–UF 400 kDa), while total nitrogen was removed to a small extent (to 7.12 mg/L–UF 200 kDa and 5.7 mg/L–UF 400 kDa. Based on the reduction of indicator bacteria; fecal coliforms including E. coli (FC) and fecal enterococci (FE) it was found that the ultrafiltration is an effective method of disinfection. Not much indicator bacterial were observed in the permeate after processes (UF 200 kDa; FC—5 CFU/L; FE—1 CFU/L and UF 400 kDa; FC—70 CFU/L; FE—10 CFU/L. However, microscopic analysis of prokaryotic cells and virus particles showed their presence after the application of both membrane types; TCN 3.0 × 102 cells/mL–UF 200 kDa, 5.0 × 103 cells/mL–UF 400 kDa, VP 1.0 × 105/mL. The presence of potentially pathogenic, highly infectious virus particles means that ultrafiltration cannot be considered a sufficient disinfection method for treated wastewater diverted for reuse or discharged from high load wastewater treatment plants to recreational areas. For full microbiological safety it would be advisable to apply an additional disinfection method (e.g., ozonation).
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Sagova-Mareckova M, Boenigk J, Bouchez A, Cermakova K, Chonova T, Cordier T, Eisendle U, Elersek T, Fazi S, Fleituch T, Frühe L, Gajdosova M, Graupner N, Haegerbaeumer A, Kelly AM, Kopecky J, Leese F, Nõges P, Orlic S, Panksep K, Pawlowski J, Petrusek A, Piggott JJ, Rusch JC, Salis R, Schenk J, Simek K, Stovicek A, Strand DA, Vasquez MI, Vrålstad T, Zlatkovic S, Zupancic M, Stoeck T. Expanding ecological assessment by integrating microorganisms into routine freshwater biomonitoring. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 191:116767. [PMID: 33418487 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioindication has become an indispensable part of water quality monitoring in most countries of the world, with the presence and abundance of bioindicator taxa, mostly multicellular eukaryotes, used for biotic indices. In contrast, microbes (bacteria, archaea and protists) are seldom used as bioindicators in routine assessments, although they have been recognized for their importance in environmental processes. Recently, the use of molecular methods has revealed unexpected diversity within known functional groups and novel metabolic pathways that are particularly important in energy and nutrient cycling. In various habitats, microbial communities respond to eutrophication, metals, and natural or anthropogenic organic pollutants through changes in diversity and function. In this review, we evaluated the common trends in these changes, documenting that they have value as bioindicators and can be used not only for monitoring but also for improving our understanding of the major processes in lotic and lentic environments. Current knowledge provides a solid foundation for exploiting microbial taxa, community structures and diversity, as well as functional genes, in novel monitoring programs. These microbial community measures can also be combined into biotic indices, improving the resolution of individual bioindicators. Here, we assess particular molecular approaches complemented by advanced bioinformatic analysis, as these are the most promising with respect to detailed bioindication value. We conclude that microbial community dynamics are a missing link important for our understanding of rapid changes in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, and should be addressed in the future environmental monitoring of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sagova-Mareckova
- Dept. of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 16500, Czechia.
| | - J Boenigk
- Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - A Bouchez
- UMR CARRTEL, INRAE, UMR Carrtel, 75 av. de Corzent, FR-74203 Thonon les Bains cedex, France; University Savoie Mont-Blanc, UMR CARRTEL, FR-73370 Le Bourget du Lac, France
| | - K Cermakova
- ID-Gene Ecodiagnostics, Campus Biotech Innovation Park, 15, av. Sécheron, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T Chonova
- UMR CARRTEL, INRAE, UMR Carrtel, 75 av. de Corzent, FR-74203 Thonon les Bains cedex, France; University Savoie Mont-Blanc, UMR CARRTEL, FR-73370 Le Bourget du Lac, France
| | - T Cordier
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Science III, 4 Boulevard d'Yvoy, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - U Eisendle
- University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - T Elersek
- National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Fazi
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria km 29,300 - C.P. 10, 00015 Monterotondo St., Rome, Italy
| | - T Fleituch
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
| | - L Frühe
- Ecology Group, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - M Gajdosova
- Dept. of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czechia
| | - N Graupner
- Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - A Haegerbaeumer
- Dept. of Animal Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - A-M Kelly
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - J Kopecky
- Epidemiology and Ecology of Microoganisms, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 16106 Prague 6, Czechia
| | - F Leese
- Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Aquatic Ecosystem Resarch, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 5 D-45141 Essen, Germany
| | - P Nõges
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
| | - S Orlic
- Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Center of Excellence for Science and Technology Integrating Mediterranean, Bijenička 54,10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - K Panksep
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
| | - J Pawlowski
- ID-Gene Ecodiagnostics, Campus Biotech Innovation Park, 15, av. Sécheron, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Science III, 4 Boulevard d'Yvoy, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - A Petrusek
- Dept. of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czechia
| | - J J Piggott
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - J C Rusch
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway; Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - R Salis
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - J Schenk
- Dept. of Animal Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - K Simek
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - A Stovicek
- Dept. of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 16500, Czechia
| | - D A Strand
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - M I Vasquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Arch. Kyprianos Str., 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
| | - T Vrålstad
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - S Zlatkovic
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Omladinskih brigada 1, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia; Agency "Akvatorija", 11. krajiške divizije 49, 11090 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Zupancic
- National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - T Stoeck
- Ecology Group, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Tlili A, Corcoll N, Arrhenius Å, Backhaus T, Hollender J, Creusot N, Wagner B, Behra R. Addendum to Tolerance Patterns in Stream Biofilms Link Complex Chemical Pollution to Ecological Impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:807. [PMID: 33326217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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33
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Burdon FJ, Bai Y, Reyes M, Tamminen M, Staudacher P, Mangold S, Singer H, Räsänen K, Joss A, Tiegs SD, Jokela J, Eggen RIL, Stamm C. Stream microbial communities and ecosystem functioning show complex responses to multiple stressors in wastewater. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6363-6382. [PMID: 32881210 PMCID: PMC7692915 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Multiple anthropogenic drivers are changing ecosystems globally, with a disproportionate and intensifying impact on freshwater habitats. A major impact of urbanization are inputs from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Initially designed to reduce eutrophication and improve water quality, WWTPs increasingly release a multitude of micropollutants (MPs; i.e., synthetic chemicals) and microbes (including antibiotic-resistant bacteria) to receiving environments. This pollution may have pervasive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Viewed through multiple lenses of macroecological and ecotoxicological theory, we combined field, flume, and laboratory experiments to determine the effects of wastewater (WW) on microbial communities and organic-matter processing using a standardized decomposition assay. First, we conducted a mensurative experiment sampling 60 locations above and below WWTP discharges in 20 Swiss streams. Microbial respiration and decomposition rates were positively influenced by WW inputs via warming and nutrient enrichment, but with a notable exception: WW decreased the activation energy of decomposition, indicating a "slowing" of this fundamental ecosystem process in response to temperature. Second, next-generation sequencing indicated that microbial community structure below WWTPs was altered, with significant compositional turnover, reduced richness, and evidence of negative MP influences. Third, a series of flume experiments confirmed that although diluted WW generally has positive influences on microbial-mediated processes, the negative effects of MPs are "masked" by nutrient enrichment. Finally, transplant experiments suggested that WW-borne microbes enhance decomposition rates. Taken together, our results affirm the multiple stressor paradigm by showing that different aspects of WW (warming, nutrients, microbes, and MPs) jointly influence ecosystem functioning in complex ways. Increased respiration rates below WWTPs potentially generate ecosystem "disservices" via greater carbon evasion from streams and rivers. However, toxic MP effects may fundamentally alter ecological scaling relationships, indicating the need for a rapprochement between ecotoxicological and macroecological perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis J. Burdon
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and AssessmentSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Yaohui Bai
- Research Center for Eco‐Environmental SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Marta Reyes
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Manu Tamminen
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Present address:
Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Simon Mangold
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Present address:
AgroscopeReckenholzstrasse 191Zurich8046Switzerland
| | - Heinz Singer
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Katja Räsänen
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Integrative BiologyETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Adriano Joss
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Scott D. Tiegs
- Department of Biological SciencesOakland UniversityRochesterMIUSA
| | - Jukka Jokela
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Integrative BiologyETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Rik I. L. Eggen
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant DynamicsETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- EawagSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
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34
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Burdon FJ, Bai Y, Reyes M, Tamminen M, Staudacher P, Mangold S, Singer H, Räsänen K, Joss A, Tiegs SD, Jokela J, Eggen RIL, Stamm C. Stream microbial communities and ecosystem functioning show complex responses to multiple stressors in wastewater. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32881210 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.z34tmpgb2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Multiple anthropogenic drivers are changing ecosystems globally, with a disproportionate and intensifying impact on freshwater habitats. A major impact of urbanization are inputs from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Initially designed to reduce eutrophication and improve water quality, WWTPs increasingly release a multitude of micropollutants (MPs; i.e., synthetic chemicals) and microbes (including antibiotic-resistant bacteria) to receiving environments. This pollution may have pervasive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Viewed through multiple lenses of macroecological and ecotoxicological theory, we combined field, flume, and laboratory experiments to determine the effects of wastewater (WW) on microbial communities and organic-matter processing using a standardized decomposition assay. First, we conducted a mensurative experiment sampling 60 locations above and below WWTP discharges in 20 Swiss streams. Microbial respiration and decomposition rates were positively influenced by WW inputs via warming and nutrient enrichment, but with a notable exception: WW decreased the activation energy of decomposition, indicating a "slowing" of this fundamental ecosystem process in response to temperature. Second, next-generation sequencing indicated that microbial community structure below WWTPs was altered, with significant compositional turnover, reduced richness, and evidence of negative MP influences. Third, a series of flume experiments confirmed that although diluted WW generally has positive influences on microbial-mediated processes, the negative effects of MPs are "masked" by nutrient enrichment. Finally, transplant experiments suggested that WW-borne microbes enhance decomposition rates. Taken together, our results affirm the multiple stressor paradigm by showing that different aspects of WW (warming, nutrients, microbes, and MPs) jointly influence ecosystem functioning in complex ways. Increased respiration rates below WWTPs potentially generate ecosystem "disservices" via greater carbon evasion from streams and rivers. However, toxic MP effects may fundamentally alter ecological scaling relationships, indicating the need for a rapprochement between ecotoxicological and macroecological perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis J Burdon
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yaohui Bai
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Marta Reyes
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Manu Tamminen
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Simon Mangold
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Singer
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Katja Räsänen
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Joss
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Scott D Tiegs
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Jukka Jokela
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rik I L Eggen
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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