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Geographical Patterns of nirS Gene Abundance and nirS-Type Denitrifying Bacterial Community Associated with Activated Sludge from Different Wastewater Treatment Plants

  • Microbiology of Aquatic Systems
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Abstract

Denitrifying bacteria is a driver of nitrogen removal process in wastewater treatment ecosystem. However, the geographical characteristics of denitrifying bacterial communities associated with activated sludge from diverse wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are still unclear. Here, quantitative PCR and next-generation sequencing of the nirS gene were applied to characterize the abundance and denitrifying bacterial communities from 18 geographically distributed WWTPs. The results showed that the nirS abundance ranged from 4.6 × 102 to 2.4 × 103 copies per ng DNA, while nirS-type denitrifying bacterial populations were diverse and distinct from activated sludge communities. Among WWTPs, total nitrogen removal efficiencies varied from 25.8 to 84%, which was positively correlated with diversity indices, whereas abundance-based coverage estimator index decreased with an increase in latitude. The dominant phyla across all samples were proteobacteria, accounting for 46.23% (ranging from 17.98 to 87.07%) of the sequences. Eight of the 22 genera detected were dominant: Thauera sp., Alicycliphilus sp., and Pseudomonas sp., etc. Based on network analysis, the coexistence and interaction between dominant genera may be vital for regulating the nitrogen and carbon removal behaviors. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that both geographic location and wastewater factors concurrently govern the distribution patterns of nirS-type denitrifying bacterial community harbored in WWTPs. Taking together, these results from the present study provide novel insights into the nirS gene abundance and nirS-type denitrifying bacterial community composition in geographically distributed WWTPs. Moreover, the knowledge gained will improve the operation and management of WWTPs for nitrogen removal.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the managers of WWTPs for sampling. The people engaged in the field sampling were also appreciated. Moreover, insightful comments and suggestions from three reviewers greatly improved the quality of earlier version of this manuscript.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program (Grant No. 2018KW-011), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC0400706), and the grants from “Young Outstanding Talents” in General Universities of Shaanxi Province and “Yanta Outstanding Youth Scholar” in **’an University of Architecture and Technology.

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Author notes

  1. Ji Feng and Zhenfang Zhao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Northwest Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, **’an University of Architecture and Technology, **’an, 710055, People’s Republic of China

    Haihan Zhang, Ji Feng, Shengnan Chen, Zhenfang Zhao, Yue Wang, **gyu Jia, Sulin Li, Yan Wang, Miaomiao Yan, Kuanyu Lu & Huiyan Hao

  2. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, **’an University of Architecture and Technology, **’an, 710055, People’s Republic of China

    Haihan Zhang, Ji Feng, Shengnan Chen, Zhenfang Zhao, Yue Wang, **gyu Jia, Sulin Li, Yan Wang, Miaomiao Yan, Kuanyu Lu & Huiyan Hao

  3. Institute of Environmental Microbial Technology, **’an University of Architecture and Technology, **’an, 710055, People’s Republic of China

    Haihan Zhang, Ji Feng, Shengnan Chen, Zhenfang Zhao, Yue Wang, **gyu Jia, Sulin Li, Yan Wang, Miaomiao Yan, Kuanyu Lu & Huiyan Hao

  4. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Guangdong Institute of Eco-environmental Science and Technology, Guangzhou, 510650, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China

    Baoqin Li

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  1. Haihan Zhang
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Zhang, H., Feng, J., Chen, S. et al. Geographical Patterns of nirS Gene Abundance and nirS-Type Denitrifying Bacterial Community Associated with Activated Sludge from Different Wastewater Treatment Plants. Microb Ecol 77, 304–316 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-018-1236-7

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