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Microbial Community Structures in Foaming and Nonfoaming Full‐Scale Wastewater Treatment Plants
Author(s) -
Reyes Francis L.,
Rothauszky Dagmar,
Raskin Lutgarde
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143002x140233
Subject(s) - biology , segmented filamentous bacteria , actinobacteria , microbial population biology , ribosomal rna , microbiology and biotechnology , proteobacteria , population , activated sludge , candidatus , 16s ribosomal rna , bacteria , sewage treatment , biochemistry , waste management , gene , engineering , genetics , demography , sociology
A survey of full‐scale activated‐sludge plants in Illinois revealed that filamentous foaming is a widespread problem in the state, and that the causes and consequences of foaming control strategies are not fully understood. To link microbial community structure to foam occurrence, microbial populations in eight foaming and nine nonfoaming full‐scale activated‐sludge systems were quantified using oligonucleotide hybridization probes targeting the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of the mycolata; Gordonia spp.; Gordonia amarae ; “ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella”; the α‐, β‐, and γ‐subclasses of the Proteobacteria , and members of the Cytophaga‐Flavobacteria . Parallel measurements of microbial population abundance using hybridization of extracted RNA and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that the levels of mycolata, particularly Gordonia spp., were higher in most foaming systems compared with nonfoaming systems. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and microscopy suggested the involvement of “ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella” and Skermania piniformis in foam formation in other plants. Finally, high numbers of “ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella” were detected by FISH in foam and mixed liquor samples of one plant, whereas the corresponding levels of rRNA were low. This finding implies that inactive “ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella” cells (i.e., cells with low rRNA levels) can cause foaming.