FLA_MICROBIOME
This project aims to characterize free-living amoebae (FLA) populations and their associated microbiome isolated from treated sludge samples. Sludge samples were collected from wastewater treatment processes, including dehydrated and anaerobically digested sludges.  A total of forty sludge samples were collected and processed. FLA populations were isolated and cultured from these samples, and genomic DNA was extracted from the cultured amoebae populations. The taxonomic identification of FLA was performed using 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, while the associated bacterial communities (FLA microbiome) were characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.  The bacterial communities associated with FLA exhibited high diversity and were dominated by genera such as Stenotrophomonas, Aeromonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Pseudomonas, among others. Alpha and beta diversity analyses were conducted to assess and compare the structure and composition of bacterial communities across different sludge treatment types.