title: Rains, drains and active strains: towards online assessment of wastewater bacterial communities.
abstract: Wastewater treatment is one of the largest scale and arguably the most commercially important biotechnological process in the world. Bacterial breakdown of waste materials facilitates the safe disposal of effluents into receiving water bodies. Given this significance, research has focused on identifying the keystone species on which efficient treatment is based. However, unravelling the microbial diversity within such systems has proven difficult. This is highlighted by our lack of detailed knowledge of the microbial interactions within these complex populations, limiting our ability to fully exploit bacterial degradative abilities. Even with the incorporation of new emerging molecular techniques, there have been no investigations linking genetic sequence to microbial function and successful treatment operation. To reach this goal, researchers need the ability to identify, enumerate and monitor the metabolic functions of subpopulations within these complex bacterial communities. Flow cytometry (FCM) combined with fluorescence-based molecular identification techniques provides a method for such studies. Moreover, single-cell sorting provides a unique opportunity to identify and remove individual cells of interest. Laboratory culture of sorted cells is often possible and permits the use of more traditional microbiological techniques to backup molecular investigations. Utilising this approach will advance our understanding of wastewater treatment processes and help maintain and enhance plant operation to improve efficiency.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK. Scott.Forster@exeter.ac.uk
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Forster
authors: Hilary M
authors: HM
authors: Lappin-Scott
authors: Jason R
authors: JR
authors: Snape
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Porter
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical