Urine Bacterial Community Convergence through Fertilizer Production: Storage, Pasteurization, and Struvite Precipitation.
Source-separated human urine was collected from six public events to study the impact of urine processing and storage on bacterial community composition and viability. Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a complex community of bacteria in fresh urine that differed across collection events. Despite the harsh chemical conditions of stored urine (pH > 9 and total ammonia nitrogen > 4000 mg N/L), bacteria consistently grew to 5 ± 2 × 108cells/mL. Storing hydrolyzed urine for any amount of time significantly reduced the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) to 130 ± 70, increased Pielou evenness to 0.60 ± 0.06, and produced communities dominated by Clostridiales and Lactobacillales. After 80 days of storage, all six urine samples from different starting materials converged to these characteristics. Urine pasteurization or struvite precipitation did not change the microbial community, even when pasteurized urine was stored for an additional 70 days. Pasteurization decreased metabolic activity by 50 ± 10% and additional storage after pasteurization did not lead to recovery of metabolic activity. Urine-derived fertilizers consistently contained 16S rRNA genes belonging to Tissierella, Erysipelothrix, Atopostipes, Bacteroides, and many Clostridiales OTUs; additional experiments must determine whether pathogenic species are present, responsible for observed metabolic activity, or regrow when applied.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , 1351 Beal Avenue, EWRE, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.|Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University , 1449 Engineering Research Court, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States.
Rebecca H
RH
Lahr
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , 1351 Beal Avenue, EWRE, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Heather E
HE
Goetsch
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , 1351 Beal Avenue, EWRE, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Sarah J
SJ
Haig
Rich Earth Institute , 44 Fuller Drive, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301, United States.
Abraham
A
Noe-Hays
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , 1351 Beal Avenue, EWRE, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Nancy G
NG
Love
Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, State University of New York , Buffalo, New York 14260, United States.
Diana S
DS
Aga
Hampton Roads Sanitation District , 1434 Air Rail Avenue, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455, United States.
Charles B
CB
Bott
Epidemiology Department, University of Michigan , 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Betsy
B
Foxman
Brown and Caldwell , 850 Trafalgar Court, Suite 300, Maitland, Florida 32751, United States.
Jose
J
Jimenez
Epidemiology Department, University of Michigan , 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Ting
T
Luo
Rich Earth Institute , 44 Fuller Drive, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301, United States.
Kim
K
Nace
Epidemiology Department, University of Michigan , 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Kirtana
K
Ramadugu
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan , 1351 Beal Avenue, EWRE, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
Krista R
KR
Wigginton
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D061352:Pasteurization; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D000069877:Struvite
D005308:Fertilizers; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D000069877:Struvite