title: Development of group-specific PCR-DGGE fingerprinting for monitoring structural changes of Thauera spp. in an industrial wastewater treatment plant responding to operational perturbations.
abstract: A Thauera-specific nested-PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was developed, and its usefulness was demonstrated by monitoring the structural shifts of Thauera spp. in an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic fixed-biofilm coking wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) responding to operational perturbations. The specificity of the PCR method was confirmed by the fact that all 16 S rRNA gene sequences, cloned from the amplicons of a biofilm sample, belonged to Thauera genus. 16 S rRNA gene V3 region was then amplified from the first round Thauera-specific PCR product and applied for DGGE analysis. All Thauera clones, with 13 different V3 regions, migrated into 10 positions on DGGE gel, which demonstrated the high resolution of this DGGE method. When the WWTP experienced a gradual deterioration in chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal function due to a mechanical failure of the recirculation pump, biofilm samples were collected from the reactor and analyzed by this method. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the DGGE fingerprinting data showed that the composition of Thauera group exhibited a time related trajectory when the plant's COD removal rate decreased from 84.1+/-2.7% in the first 4 weeks to less than 75% at week 5 and 6, suggesting a concomitant shift of Thauera composition and the system's COD removal function. This group-specific PCR DGGE fingerprinting technology has the potential to be a profiling tool for monitoring structural shifts of Thauera spp. in industrial WWTPs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Dongchuan Road 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Yuejian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Binbin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003077:Coke; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D017931:DNA Primers; D017753:Ecosystem; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D015723:Gene Library; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D020628:Thauera / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D003077:Coke; D017931:DNA Primers; D007220:Industrial Waste