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Rytkönen A, Tiwari A, Hokajärvi AM, Uusheimo S, Vepsäläinen A, Tulonen T, Pitkänen T. The Use of Ribosomal RNA as a Microbial Source Tracking Target Highlights the Assay Host-Specificity Requirement in Water Quality Assessments. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:673306. [PMID: 34149662 PMCID: PMC8206488 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.673306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
For microbial source tracking (MST), the 16S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) of host-specific bacteria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of animal species, known to cause fecal contamination of water, have been commonly used as molecular targets. However, low levels of contamination might remain undetected by using these DNA-based qPCR assays. The high copy numbers of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) could offer a solution for such applications of MST. This study compared the performance of eight MST assays: GenBac3 (general Bacteroidales), HF183 (human), BacCan (dog), Rum-2-Bac (ruminant), Pig-2-Bac (swine), Gull4 (gull), GFD, and Av4143 (birds) between rRNA-based and rDNA-based approaches. Three mtDNA-based approaches were tested: DogND5, SheepCytB, and HorseCytB. A total of 151 animal fecal samples and eight municipal sewage samples from four regions of Finland were collected for the marker evaluation. The usability of these markers was tested by using a total of 95 surface water samples with an unknown pollution load. Overall, the performance (specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy) of mtDNA-based assays was excellent (95–100%), but these markers were very seldom detected from the tested surface water samples. The rRNA template increased the sensitivity of assays in comparison to the rDNA template. All rRNA-based assays (except Av4143) had more than 80% sensitivity. In contrast, only half (HF183, Rum-2-Bac, Pig-2-Bac, and Gull4) of rDNA-based assays reached this value. For markers targeted to bird feces, the use of the rRNA-based assay increased or at least did not change the performance. Regarding specificity, all the assays had >95% specificity with a DNA template, except the BacCan assay (71%). While using the RNA template for the assays, HF183 and BacCan exhibited only a low level of specificity (54 and 55%, respectively). Further, the HF183 assay amplified from multiple non-targeted animal fecal samples with the RNA template and the marker showed cross-amplification with the DNA template as well. This study recommends using the rRNA-based approach for MST assays targeting bird fecal contamination. In the case of mammal-specific MST assays, the use of the rRNA template increases the sensitivity but may reduce the specificity and accuracy of the assay. The finding of increased sensitivity calls for a further need to develop better rRNA-based approaches to reach the required assay performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annastiina Rytkönen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ananda Tiwari
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anna-Maria Hokajärvi
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sari Uusheimo
- Lammi Biological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Asko Vepsäläinen
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tiina Tulonen
- Lammi Biological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Tiegs SD, Costello DM, Isken MW, Woodward G, McIntyre PB, Gessner MO, Chauvet E, Griffiths NA, Flecker AS, Acuña V, Albariño R, Allen DC, Alonso C, Andino P, Arango C, Aroviita J, Barbosa MVM, Barmuta LA, Baxter CV, Bell TDC, Bellinger B, Boyero L, Brown LE, Bruder A, Bruesewitz DA, Burdon FJ, Callisto M, Canhoto C, Capps KA, Castillo MM, Clapcott J, Colas F, Colón-Gaud C, Cornut J, Crespo-Pérez V, Cross WF, Culp JM, Danger M, Dangles O, de Eyto E, Derry AM, Villanueva VD, Douglas MM, Elosegi A, Encalada AC, Entrekin S, Espinosa R, Ethaiya D, Ferreira V, Ferriol C, Flanagan KM, Fleituch T, Follstad Shah JJ, Frainer Barbosa A, Friberg N, Frost PC, Garcia EA, García Lago L, García Soto PE, Ghate S, Giling DP, Gilmer A, Gonçalves JF, Gonzales RK, Graça MAS, Grace M, Grossart HP, Guérold F, Gulis V, Hepp LU, Higgins S, Hishi T, Huddart J, Hudson J, Imberger S, Iñiguez-Armijos C, Iwata T, Janetski DJ, Jennings E, Kirkwood AE, Koning AA, Kosten S, Kuehn KA, Laudon H, Leavitt PR, Lemes da Silva AL, Leroux SJ, LeRoy CJ, Lisi PJ, MacKenzie R, Marcarelli AM, Masese FO, McKie BG, Oliveira Medeiros A, Meissner K, Miliša M, Mishra S, Miyake Y, Moerke A, Mombrikotb S, Mooney R, Moulton T, Muotka T, Negishi JN, Neres-Lima V, Nieminen ML, Nimptsch J, Ondruch J, Paavola R, Pardo I, Patrick CJ, Peeters ETHM, Pozo J, Pringle C, Prussian A, Quenta E, Quesada A, Reid B, Richardson JS, Rigosi A, Rincón J, Rîşnoveanu G, Robinson CT, Rodríguez-Gallego L, Royer TV, Rusak JA, Santamans AC, Selmeczy GB, Simiyu G, Skuja A, Smykla J, Sridhar KR, Sponseller R, Stoler A, Swan CM, Szlag D, Teixeira-de Mello F, Tonkin JD, Uusheimo S, Veach AM, Vilbaste S, Vought LBM, Wang CP, Webster JR, Wilson PB, Woelfl S, Xenopoulos MA, Yates AG, Yoshimura C, Yule CM, Zhang YX, Zwart JA. Global patterns and drivers of ecosystem functioning in rivers and riparian zones. Sci Adv 2019; 5:eaav0486. [PMID: 30662951 PMCID: PMC6326750 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav0486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
River ecosystems receive and process vast quantities of terrestrial organic carbon, the fate of which depends strongly on microbial activity. Variation in and controls of processing rates, however, are poorly characterized at the global scale. In response, we used a peer-sourced research network and a highly standardized carbon processing assay to conduct a global-scale field experiment in greater than 1000 river and riparian sites. We found that Earth's biomes have distinct carbon processing signatures. Slow processing is evident across latitudes, whereas rapid rates are restricted to lower latitudes. Both the mean rate and variability decline with latitude, suggesting temperature constraints toward the poles and greater roles for other environmental drivers (e.g., nutrient loading) toward the equator. These results and data set the stage for unprecedented "next-generation biomonitoring" by establishing baselines to help quantify environmental impacts to the functioning of ecosystems at a global scale.
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Uusheimo S, Huotari J, Tulonen T, Aalto SL, Rissanen AJ, Arvola L. High Nitrogen Removal in a Constructed Wetland Receiving Treated Wastewater in a Cold Climate. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:13343-13350. [PMID: 30358987 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b03032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Constructed wetlands provide cost-efficient nutrient removal, with minimal input of human labor and energy, and their number is globally increasing. However, in northern latitudes, wetlands are rarely utilized, because their nutrient removal efficiency has been questioned due to the cold climate. Here, we studied nutrient retention and nitrogen removal in a boreal constructed wetland (4-ha) receiving treated nitrogen-rich wastewater. On a yearly basis, most of the inorganic nutrients were retained by the wetland. The highest retention efficiency was found during the ice-free period, being 79% for ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N), 71% for nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N), and 88% for phosphate-phosphorus (PO43--P). Wetland also acted as a buffer zone during the disturbed nitrification process of the wastewater treatment plant. Denitrification varied between 106 and 252 mg N m-2 d-1 during the ice-free period. During the ice-cover period, total gaseous nitrogen removal was 147 mg N m-2 d-1, from which 66% was removed as N2, 28.5% as N2O through denitrification, and 5.5% as N2 through anammox. Nearly 2600 kg N y-1 was estimated to be removed through microbial gaseous N-production which equaled 72% of NO3--N and 60% of TN yearly retention in the wetland. The wetland retained nutrients even in winter, when good oxygen conditions prevailed under ice. The results suggest that constructed wetlands are an efficient option for wastewater nitrogen removal and nutrient retention also in cold climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Uusheimo
- University of Helsinki , Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme , Lammi Biological Station, Pääjärventie 320 , Lammi FI-16900 , Finland
| | - Jussi Huotari
- University of Helsinki , Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme , Lammi Biological Station, Pääjärventie 320 , Lammi FI-16900 , Finland
| | - Tiina Tulonen
- University of Helsinki , Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme , Lammi Biological Station, Pääjärventie 320 , Lammi FI-16900 , Finland
| | - Sanni L Aalto
- University of Jyväskylä , Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences , P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä FI-40014 , Finland
- University of Eastern Finland , Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences , P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211 , Finland
| | - Antti J Rissanen
- Tampere University of Technology , Laboratory of Chemistry and Bioengineering , P.O. Box 541, Tampere FI-33101 , Finland
| | - Lauri Arvola
- University of Helsinki , Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme , Lammi Biological Station, Pääjärventie 320 , Lammi FI-16900 , Finland
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Uusheimo S, Tulonen T, Arvola L, Arola H, Linjama J, Huttula T. Organic carbon causes interference with nitrate and nitrite measurements by UV/Vis spectrometers: the importance of local calibration. Environ Monit Assess 2017; 189:357. [PMID: 28656558 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-6056-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Compared with sporadic conventional water sampling, continuous water-quality monitoring with optical sensors has improved our understanding of freshwater dynamics. The basic principle in photometric measurements is the incident light at a given wavelength that is either reflected, scattered, or transmitted in the body of water. Here, we discuss the transmittance measurements. The amount of transmittance is inversely proportional to the concentration of the substance measured. However, the transmittance is subject to interference, because it can be affected by factors other than the substance targeted in the water. In this study, interference with the UV/Vis sensor nitrate plus nitrite measurements caused by organic carbon was evaluated. Total or dissolved organic carbon as well as nitrate plus nitrite concentrations were measured in various boreal waters with two UV/Vis sensors (5-mm and 35-mm pathlengths), using conventional laboratory analysis results as references. Organic carbon increased the sensor nitrate plus nitrite results, not only in waters with high organic carbon concentrations, but also at the lower concentrations (< 10 mg C L-1) typical of boreal stream, river, and lake waters. Our results demonstrated that local calibration with multiple linear regression, including both nitrate plus nitrite and dissolved organic carbon, can correct the error caused by organic carbon. However, high-frequency optical sensors continue to be excellent tools for environmental monitoring when they are properly calibrated for the local water matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Uusheimo
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900, Lammi, Finland.
| | - Tiina Tulonen
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900, Lammi, Finland
| | - Lauri Arvola
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900, Lammi, Finland
| | - Hanna Arola
- Freshwater Center, Finnish Environment Institute, Survontie 9 A, FI-40500, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jarmo Linjama
- Finnish Environment Institute, P.O. Box 141, FI-00251, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Huttula
- Freshwater Center, Finnish Environment Institute, Survontie 9 A, FI-40500, Jyväskylä, Finland
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