Analysis of Bacterial Community and Its Biodegradation Ability of 17-Β Estradiol in Wastewater Plant in Assiut, Upper Egypt

Abstract

Wastewater treatment is essential for environmental sanitation in urban environments. Nevertheless, chemical, and organic substances, and microorganisms accumulate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which may be liberated into the environment via their effluents. This study aimed to analyze the bacterial community at the sewage treatment plant entrance in Assiut, Upper Egypt as well as their degradation ability of 17-β estradiol (E2) as an Isolates were identified by conventional methods and, 16S rRNA gene sequencing. E2 degradation by different strains was assessed using HPLC/UV. Conventional methods and 16S rRNA based amplicon sequencing revealed three bacteria including Bordetella sputigena (ASc1), Pigmentiphaga daeguensis (ASc3), and Stenotrophomonas pavanii (ASc4), and when tested for E2 degradation, they degraded 65.5%, 59%, and 66.4% of E2 (50 mg. L -1 ) respectively. Other bacterial strains were identified using 16S rRNA based amplicon sequencing. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the prominent phyla. However, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Caldithrix, and Chlamydiae were detected in lower proportions.