title: Antibacterial and enzymatic activity of microbial community during wastewater treatment by pilot scale vermifiltration system.
abstract: The present study investigated microbial community diversity and antibacterial and enzymatic properties of microorganisms in a pilot-scale vermifiltration system during domestic wastewater treatment. The study included isolation and identification of diverse microbial community by culture-dependent method from a vermifilter (VF) with earthworms and a conventional geofilter (GF) without earthworms. The results of the four months study revealed that presence of earthworms in VF could efficiently remove biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total and fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci and other pathogens. Furthermore, the burrowing activity of earthworms promoted the aeration conditions in VF which led to the predominance of the aerobic microorganisms, accounting for complex microbial community diversity. Antibacterial activity of the isolated microorganisms revealed the mechanism behind the removal of pathogens, which is reported for the first time. Specifically, cellulase, amylase and protease activity is responsible for biodegradation and stabilization of organic matter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India. Electronic address: sudiptiarora@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sudipti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajpal
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pruthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
authors.forename: Akansha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kazmi
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D064307:Microbiota; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases; D002482:Cellulose; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Enzymatic activity; Pathogens; Vermifilter; Wastewater treatment