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Petrovski S, Batinovic S, Rose JJ, Seviour RJ. Biological control of problem bacterial populations causing foaming in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants - phage therapy and beyond. Lett Appl Microbiol 2022; 75:776-784. [PMID: 35598184 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The production of a stable foam on the surfaces of reactors is a global operating problem in activated sludge plants. In many cases these foams are stabilized by hydrophobic members of the Mycolata, a group of Actinobacteria whose outer membranes contains long chain hydroxylated mycolic acids. There is currently no single strategy which works for all foams. One attractive approach is to use lytic bacteriophages specific for the foam stabilizing Mycolata population. Such phages are present in activated sludge mixed liquor, and can be recovered readily from it. However, no phage has been recovered which lyses Gordonia amarae and Gordonia pseudoamarae, probably the most common foaming Mycolata members. Whole genome sequencing revealed that both G. amarae and G. pseudoamarae from plants around the world are particularly well endowed with genes encoding anti-viral defence mechanisms. However, both these populations were lysed rapidly by a parasitic nanobacterium isolated from a plant in Australia. This organism, a member of the Saccharibacteria was also effective against many other Mycolata, thus providing a potential agent for control of foams stabilized by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Petrovski
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Batinovic
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jayson Ja Rose
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert J Seviour
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia
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Song Y, Jiang CY, Liang ZL, Zhu HZ, Jiang Y, Yin Y, Qin YL, Huang HJ, Wang BJ, Wei ZY, Cheng RX, Liu ZP, Liu Y, Jin T, Wang AJ, Liu SJ. Candidatus Kaistella beijingensis sp. nov., Isolated from a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Is Involved in Sludge Foaming. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0153421. [PMID: 34586909 PMCID: PMC8612268 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01534-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological foaming (or biofoaming) is a frequently occurring problem in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and is attributed to the overwhelming growth of filamentous bulking and foaming bacteria (BFB). Biological foaming has been intensively investigated, with BFB like Microthrix and Skermania having been identified from WWTPs and implicated in foaming. Nevertheless, studies are still needed to improve our understanding of the microbial diversity of WWTP biofoams and how microbial activities contribute to foaming. In this study, sludge foaming at the Qinghe WWTP of China was monitored, and sludge foams were investigated using culture-dependent and culture-independent microbiological methods. The foam microbiomes exhibited high abundances of Skermania, Mycobacterium, Flavobacteriales, and Kaistella. A previously unknown bacterium, Candidatus Kaistella beijingensis, was cultivated from foams, its genome was sequenced, and it was phenotypically characterized. Ca. K. beijingensis exhibits hydrophobic cell surfaces, produces extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and metabolizes lipids. Ca. K. beijingensis abundances were proportional to EPS levels in foams. Several proteins encoded by the Ca. K. beijingensis genome were identified from EPS that was extracted from sludge foams. Ca. K. beijingensis populations accounted for 4 to 6% of the total bacterial populations in sludge foam samples within the Qinghe WWTP, although their abundances were higher in spring than in other seasons. Cooccurrence analysis indicated that Ca. K. beijingensis was not a core node among the WWTP community network, but its abundances were negatively correlated with those of the well-studied BFB Skermania piniformis among cross-season Qinghe WWTP communities. IMPORTANCE Biological foaming, also known as scumming, is a sludge separation problem that has become the subject of major concern for long-term stable activated sludge operation in decades. Biological foaming was considered induced by foaming bacteria. However, the occurrence and deterioration of foaming in many WWTPs are still not completely understood. Cultivation and characterization of the enriched bacteria in foaming are critical to understand their genetic, physiological, phylogenetic, and ecological traits, as well as to improve the understanding of their relationships with foaming and performance of WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and RCEES-IMCAS-UCAS Joint Laboratory for Environmental Microbial Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Ecology and Environment Branch of State Center for Research and Development of Oil Shale Exploitation, PetroChina Planning and Engineering Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Ying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and RCEES-IMCAS-UCAS Joint Laboratory for Environmental Microbial Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zong-Lin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Zhen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Yin
- BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao, China
| | - Ya-Ling Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao-Jie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bao-Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Yan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui-Xue Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Pei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | | | - Ai-Jie Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and RCEES-IMCAS-UCAS Joint Laboratory for Environmental Microbial Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang-Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center at Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Kougias PG, De Francisci D, Treu L, Campanaro S, Angelidaki I. Microbial analysis in biogas reactors suffering by foaming incidents. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2014; 167:24-32. [PMID: 24968108 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.05.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Foam formation can lead to total failure of digestion process in biogas plants. In the present study, possible correlation between foaming and the presence of specific microorganisms in biogas reactors was elucidated. The microbial ecology of continuous fed digesters overloaded with proteins, lipids and carbohydrates before and after foaming incidents was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Moreover, the microbial diversity between the liquid and foaming layer was assessed. A number of genera that are known to produce biosurfactants, contain mycolic acid in their cell wall, or decrease the surface tension of the media, increased their relative abundance after foam formation. Finally, a microorganism similar to widely known foaming bacteria (Nocardia and Desulfotomaculum) was found to increase its relative abundance in all reactors once foam was observed, regardless of the used substrate. These findings suggest that foaming and specific microorganisms might have direct association which requires to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis G Kougias
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Davide De Francisci
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Laura Treu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Stefano Campanaro
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Irini Angelidaki
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark.
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Mielczarek AT, Kragelund C, Eriksen PS, Nielsen PH. Population dynamics of filamentous bacteria in Danish wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal. WATER RESEARCH 2012; 46:3781-95. [PMID: 22608099 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 03/25/2012] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Bulking and foaming are two frequently occurring operational problems in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants, and these problems are mainly associated with excessive growth of filamentous bacteria. In this study, a comprehensive investigation of the identity and population dynamics of filamentous bacteria in 28 Danish municipal treatment plants with nutrient removal has been carried out over three years. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was applied to quantify more than twenty probe-defined populations of filamentous bacteria that in total constituted a large fraction of the entire microbial community, on average 24%. Despite the majority being present within the flocs, they occasionally caused settling problems in most of the plants. A low diversity of probe-defined filamentous bacteria was found in the plants with Microthrix and various species belonging to phylum Chloroflexi (e.g., type 0803 and type 0092) as the most abundant. Few other filamentous probe-defined species were found revealing a large similarity between the filamentous populations in the plants investigated. The composition of filamentous populations was stable in each plant with only minor changes in relative abundances observed during the three-year study period. The relative composition of the different species was unique to each plant giving a characteristic "fingerprint". Comprehensive statistical analyses of the presence and abundance of the filamentous organisms did not reveal many correlations with a particular plant design or process parameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Tomasz Mielczarek
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 49, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark
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