amoA-encoding archaea in wastewater treatment plants: a review

Abstract

Recent evidence from natural environments suggests that in addition to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) affiliated with Thaumarcheota, a new phylum of the domain Archaea, also oxidize ammonia to nitrite and thus participate in the global nitrogen cycle. Besides natural environments, modern data indicate the presence of amoA-encoding archaea (AEA) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To further elucidate whether AEA in WWTPs are AOA and to clarify the role of AEA in WWTPs, this paper reviews the current knowledge on this matter for wastewater engineers and people in related fields. The initial section coveys a microbiological point of view and is particularly based upon data from AOA cultures. The later section summarizes what is currently known about AEA in relation to WWTPs. Based on the reviewed data, future research pathways are proposed in an effort to further what is known about AEA in wastewater treatment systems.

Response of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria to long-term industrial effluent-polluted soils, Gujarat, Western India

“…Irrespective of soil pollution, thaumarchaeal "group 1.1b (Nitrososphaera clusters)" is found to be widely distributed in these soils. The dominance of group 1.1b in a range of soils as well as wastewater treatment plants has been noticed in earlier studies (Gubry-Rangin et al 2011;Pester et al 2012;Limpiyakorn et al 2013). Thaumarchaeal "group 1.1b" is shown to participate in ammonia oxidation of strongly acidic soils as well as in heavy metal-contaminated thermal spring (Hatzenpichler et al 2008).…”

Detection of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea in Fish Processing Effluent Treatment Plants

“…AOA is widespread even in engineered systems such as FPETPs and WWTPs and have a potential role in removing nitrogen from wastewater. Previous phylogenetic studies of AOAamoA gene from WWTPs suggested that although AOA groups 1.1a and 1.1b were both present in WWTPs, the majority belonged to the Thaumarcheota group 1.1b [8,9]. Environmental factors are likely to play a role in defining the ecological niches of AOA [6,[21][22][23].…”

“…Few studies have shown the presence of archaeal amoA genes in WWTPs and nitrogen removal reactors [9,14] suggesting that like in natural habitats [19]. AOA is widespread even in engineered systems such as FPETPs and WWTPs and have a potential role in removing nitrogen from wastewater.…”

“…Once that is achieved, its application in effluent treatment plants for ammonia removal will be possible on an industrial scale. The increasing number of publications in the field of wastewater engineering in recent years clearly indicates the widespread interest in ammonia oxidizing microbes [9,23]. The use of salicylic acid to enhance the bioremediating potential of microbes and a consequent reduction of BOD and COD has been studied [24].…”

“…Most of these studies reveal the dominant role of AOA over AOB in nitrification and suggest the potential involvement of AOA in nitrogen cycle [6]. There are few studies that show the presence of AOA-amoA genes in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and activated sludge bioreactors [8,9] which recognize AOA as potential ammonia oxidizers in WWTPs; however such reports are lacking in other engineering systems such as fish processing effluent treatment plants (FPETPs) and industrial waste effluent treatment plants.…”