Open AccessPopulation dynamics and metabolic activity of Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME‐9 within pulp mill wastewater microbial communities assayed by competitive PCR and RT‐PCR
Author(s) -
Muttray Annette F.,
Yu Zhontang,
Mohn William W.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2001.tb00878.x
Subject(s) - biology , paper mill , population , effluent , microbial population biology , activated sludge , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , wastewater , bacteria , waste management , demography , sociology , engineering , genetics
Resin acids contribute to the acute toxicity of pulp and paper mill effluent. We monitored the abundance and metabolic activity of the resin acid degrader, Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME‐9, within complex communities of laboratory‐scale effluent treatment systems using competitive PCR and competitive RT‐PCR, targeting the 16S rDNA and rRNA. In continuous culture, a positive linear relationship was found between the rRNA:rDNA ratio and specific growth rate of BKME‐9. In batch culture, the rRNA:rDNA ratio peaked briefly during early exponential growth of BKME‐9. During continuous growth of an activated sludge community inoculated with BKME‐9, the rRNA:rDNA ratio of BKME‐9 decreased when the community was stressed with an alkaline pH shock. After the pH shock, the metabolic activity and population of BKME‐9 recovered concomitantly with recovery of resin acid removal activity in the system. Thus, BKME‐9 has characteristics that could be useful for bioaugmentation of biotreatment systems, and it is possible to monitor the population and activity of BKME‐9 in such complex systems.