title: Microbial community in a pilot-scale bioreactor promoting anaerobic digestion and sulfur-driven denitrification for domestic sewage treatment.
abstract: A pilot-scale reactor treating domestic sewage was operated to promote anaerobic digestion and denitrification using endogenous electron donors. While 55 % of organic matter was removed, nitrogen and sulfur showed a different dynamics during the operation. Pyrosequencing analysis clarified this behavior revealing that specific microbial communities inhabited the anaerobic (47.05 % of OTUs) and anoxic (31.39 % of OTUs) chambers. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene partial sequences obtained through pyrosequencing revealed a total of 1727 OTUs clustered at a 3 % distance cutoff. In the anaerobic chamber, microbial community was comprised of fermentative, syntrophic and sulfate-reducing bacteria. The majority of sequences were related to Aminobacterium and Syntrophorhabdus. In the anoxic chamber, the majority of sequences were related to mixotrophic and strictly autotrophic denitrifiers Arcobacter and Sulfuricurvum, respectively, both involved in sulfur-driven denitrification. These results show that pyrosequencing was a powerful tool to investigate the microbial panorama of a complex system, providing new insights to the improvement of the system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sea Science, Federal University of São Paulo, Av. Saldanha Da Gama, 89, Ponta Da Praia, Santos, SP, 11030-400, Brazil. ftsaia@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Flávia Talarico
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Saia
authors.affiliation: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Trav. 2, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Theo S O
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rubens Tadeu Delgado
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Processes, School of Engineering of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, São Carlos, SP, 13566-590, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Processes, School of Engineering of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, São Carlos, SP, 13566-590, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Processes, School of Engineering of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, São Carlos, SP, 13566-590, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foresti
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D058440:Denitrification / Q000502:physiology*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000502:physiology*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012722:Sewage; D013455:Sulfur
keywords: Denitrification; Microbial community; Pilot scale reactor; Pyrosequencing; Sewage treatment; Sulfide