Microenvironments and distribution of nitrifying bacteria in a membrane‐bound biofilm

Schramm, Andreas; Beer, Dirk de; Gieseke, Armin; Amann, Rudolf

doi:10.1046/j.1462-2920.2000.00150.x

Cited by 254 publications

(193 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In contrast to the aerobic incubation experiments, no uptake of organic or inorganic carbon sources by Nitrospira-like bacteria was observed in the absence of oxygen. However, combined FISH and microsensor measurements revealed that high numbers of Nitrospira-like bacterial cells can persist in biofilm zones with low oxygen pressure (17,36,41). The ability to switch from aerobic respiration to an anaerobic metabolism should be advantageous in such habitats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Situ Characterization of Nitrospira -Like Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria Active in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Daims

Nielsen

et al. 2001

Appl Environ Microbiol

719

540

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Uncultivated Nitrospira-like bacteria in different biofilm and activated-sludge samples were investigated by cultivation-independent molecular approaches. Initially, the phylogenetic affiliation of Nitrospira-like bacteria in a nitrifying biofilm was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Subsequently, a phylogenetic consensus tree of the Nitrospira phylum including all publicly available sequences was constructed. This analysis revealed that the genus Nitrospira consists of at least four distinct sublineages. Based on these data, two 16S rRNA-directed oligonucleotide probes specific for the phylum and genus Nitrospira, respectively, were developed and evaluated for suitability for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The probes were used to investigate the in situ architecture of cell aggregates of Nitrospira-like nitrite oxidizers in wastewater treatment plants by FISH, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and computer-aided three-dimensional visualization. Cavities and a network of cell-free channels inside the Nitrospira microcolonies were detected that were water permeable, as demonstrated by fluorescein staining. The uptake of different carbon sources by Nitrospira-like bacteria within their natural habitat under different incubation conditions was studied by combined FISH and microautoradiography. Under aerobic conditions, the Nitrospira-like bacteria in bioreactor samples took up inorganic carbon (as HCO 3 ؊ or as CO 2 ) and pyruvate but not acetate, butyrate, and propionate, suggesting that these bacteria can grow mixotrophically in the presence of pyruvate. In contrast, no uptake by the Nitrospira-like bacteria of any of the carbon sources tested was observed under anoxic or anaerobic conditions. Nitrification, the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate catalyzed by bacteria, is a key part of global nitrogen cycling (37). In the first step of nitrification, chemolithoautotrophic ammonia oxidizers transform ammonia to nitrite, which is subsequently oxidized to nitrate by the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (8). All isolated chemolithoautotrophic, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria belong to one of four different genera (7) Nitrobacter (alpha subclass of Proteobacteria), Nitrococcus (gamma subclass of Proteobacteria), Nitrospina (delta subclass of Proteobacteria), and Nitrospira (phylum Nitrospira). While species of the genus Nitrobacter have been isolated from a variety of environments, including soil and fresh water, it was long assumed that the other three genera were confined to marine environments (7). In recent studies, however, bacteria related to the genus Nitrospira were also found to occur in different nonmarine habitats. While the first described species of this genus, Nitrospira marina, was isolated from ocean water (49), the second isolated species, N. moscoviensis, was cultured from an iron pipe of a heating system in Moscow, Russia (16). These two species are the only cultivated representatives of the genus Nitrospira, but numerous related bacteria have recently been detected by comparative analy...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Situ Characterization of Nitrospira -Like Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria Active in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Daims

Nielsen

et al. 2001

Appl Environ Microbiol

719

540

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Spatial segregation along vertical gradients is a well-known feature of microbial communities in aquatic biofilms, microbial mats, and endolithic communities (Schramm et al, 2000;Paerl et al, 2000). Similar to the Winogradsky column, these microbial stratifications are driven by the distribution of electron acceptors and donors.…”

Section: Microbial Community Stratification Within Biocrustsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydration status and diurnal trophic interactions shape microbial community function in desert biocrusts

Kim

2017

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are selforganised thin assemblies of microbes, lichens, and mosses that are ubiquitous in arid regions and serve as important ecological and biogeochemical hotspots. Biocrust ecological function is intricately shaped by strong gradients of water, light, oxygen, and dynamics in the abundance and spatial organisation of the microbial community within a few millimetres of the soil surface. We report a mechanistic model that links the biophysical and chemical processes that shape the functioning of biocrust representative microbial communities that interact trophically and respond dynamically to cycles of hydration, light, and temperature. The model captures key features of carbon and nitrogen cycling within biocrusts, such as microbial activity and distribution (during early stages of biocrust establishment) under diurnal cycles and the associated dynamics of biogeochemical fluxes at different hydration conditions. The study offers new insights into the highly dynamic and localised processes performed by microbial communities within thin desert biocrusts.

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“…This in time separated growth and installation of AOB and NOB results in an initial Rittman et al (1999) nitrite peak. As AOB catalyse the first reaction of the two-step nitrification, making the NOB wait for their substrate, and because the AOB have a higher yield (Table 3), dominance of AOB and accumulation of nitrite is to be expected for the start-up phase of a nitrifying bioreactor (Schramm et al 2000). It was demonstrated (Bovendeur 1989) that in developing biofilms nitratation capacity develops with some delay after the development of nitritation, leading to initial higher nitrite concentrations.…”

Section: Accumulation Of Nitritementioning

confidence: 99%

Origin, causes and effects of increased nitrite concentrations in aquatic environments

Philips

Laanbroek

Verstraete

2002

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

313

198

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Literature frequently mentions increased nitrite concentrations along with its inhibitory effect towards bacteria and aquatic life. Nitrite accumulation has been studied for decades, and although numerous causal factors have already been commented on in literature, the mechanism of nitrite accumulation is not always clear. From the broad range of parameters and environmental factors reviewed in this paper, it is obvious that the causes and consequences of nitrite accumulation are not yet completely understood. Among others, pH, dissolved oxygen, volatile fatty acids, phosphate and reactor operation have been found to play a role in nitrite accumulation, which results from differential inhibition or disruption of the linkage of the different steps in both nitrification and denitrification. In the case of nitrification, this differential inhibition could lead to the displacement or unlinking of the ammonia oxidisers and nitrite oxidisers. In this paper, the idea is formulated that the nitrifier population forms a role model for the total microbial community. Increased nitrite concentrations would in this aspect not only signal a disruption of nitrifiers, but possibly also of the total configuration of the microbial community.Abbreviations: AMO -Ammonia mono-oxygenase; Anammox -Anaerobic ammonium oxidation; AOBAmmonia-oxidising bacteria; ATP -Adenosine triphosphate; COD -Chemical oxygen demand; DNRA -Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium; DO -Dissolved oxygen; EU -European union; FA -Free ammonia; F/M -Food to micro-organism ratio; FNA -Free nitrous acid; HAO -Hydroxylamine oxidoreductase; HRTHydraulic residence time; NDBEPR -Enhanced biological phosphate removal with nitrification and denitrification; NO -Nitric oxide; NOB -Nitrite-oxidising bacteria; NOR -Nitrite oxidoreductase; OLAND -Oxygen limited autotrophic nitrification denitrification; RBC -Rotating biological contactor; Sharon -Single reactor high activity ammonia removal over nitrite; SRT -Sludge residence time; TAN -Total ammoniacal nitrogen; TOC -Total organic carbon; VAS -Volatile attached solids

show abstract

Microenvironments and distribution of nitrifying bacteria in a membrane‐bound biofilm

Cited by 254 publications

References 36 publications

In Situ Characterization of Nitrospira -Like Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria Active in Wastewater Treatment Plants

In Situ Characterization of Nitrospira -Like Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria Active in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Hydration status and diurnal trophic interactions shape microbial community function in desert biocrusts

Origin, causes and effects of increased nitrite concentrations in aquatic environments

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