title: Characterization and quantification of the nickel resistant microbial community in activated sludge using 16S rDNA and nickel resistance genes.
abstract: The effect of nickel on the microbial community in the activated sludge of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) reactor was investigated by continuously dosing nickel from 60 to 240 mg Ni(II) L(-1). The diversity of the microbial community was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the variable V3 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA. The experimental results showed that the community structure changed significantly after dosing with nickel with a shift in dominant species, the disappearance of some original species and the emergence of some new species. The existence of a nickel resistant gene was also investigated using PCR. The obtained nickel resistance gene had a maximum homology with the plasmid pMOL30 of Ralstonia metallidurans CH34. The quantitative real-time PCR results indicated that the quantity of the nickel resistance gene was related to the nickel concentration loaded to the reactor.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ruihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043367:Ralstonia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009532:Nickel