Open AccessAssessing bacterial diversity in a seawater‐processing wastewater treatment plant by 454‐pyrosequencing of the 16 S rRNA and amoA genes
Author(s) -
Sánchez Olga,
Ferrera Isabel,
González Jose M.,
Mas Jordi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
microbial biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.287
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 1751-7915
DOI - 10.1111/1751-7915.12052
Subject(s) - pyrosequencing , seawater , wastewater , bacteria , biology , sewage treatment , gene , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , ecology , genetics , environmental science , environmental engineering
Summary The bacterial community composition of activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant ( A lmería, S pain) with the particularity of using seawater was investigated by applying 454‐pyrosequencing. The results showed that D einococcus ‐ T hermus , P roteobacteria , C hloroflexi and B acteroidetes were the most abundant retrieved sequences, while other groups, such as A ctinobacteria , C hlorobi , D eferribacteres , F irmicutes , P lanctomycetes , S pirochaetes and V errumicrobia were reported at lower proportions. Rarefaction analysis showed that very likely the diversity is higher than what could be described despite most of the unknown microorganisms probably correspond to rare diversity. Furthermore, the majority of taxa could not be classified at the genus level and likely represent novel members of these groups. Additionally, the nitrifiers in the sludge were characterized by pyrosequencing the amoA gene. In contrast, the nitrifying bacterial community, dominated by the genera N itrosomonas , showed a low diversity and rarefaction curves exhibited saturation. These results suggest that only a few populations of low abundant but specialized bacteria are responsible for removal of ammonia in these saline wastewater systems.