Dynamics of bacterial communities during a seasonal hypoxia at the Bohai Sea: Coupling and response between abundant and rare populations

Marine bacterial community plays a vital role in the formation of the hypoxia zone in coastal oceans. Yet, their dynamics in the seasonal hypoxia zone of the Bohai Sea(BHS) are barely studied. Here, the 16S r RNA gene-based high-throughput sequencing was used to explore the dynamics of their diversity, structure, and function as well as driving factors during the gradual deoxygenation process in the BHS. Our results evinced that the bacterial community was dominated by Proteobacteria, followed b...     

Influence of pore structure on biologically activated carbon performance and biofilm microbial characteristics

• Pore structure affects biologically activated carbon performance. • Pore structure determines organic matter (OM) removal mechanism. • Microbial community structure is related to pore structure and OM removal. Optimizing the characteristics of granular activated carbon (GAC) can improve the performance of biologically activated carbon (BAC) filters, and iodine value has always been the principal index for GAC selection. However, in this study, among three types of GAC treating the same humic acid-contaminated water, one had an iodine value 35% lower than the other two, but the dissolved organic carbon removal efficiency of its BAC was less than 5% away from the others. Iodine value was found to influence the removal of different organic fractions instead of the total removal efficiency. Based on the removal and biological characteristics, two possible mechanisms of organic matter removal during steady-state were suggested. For GAC with poor micropore volume and iodine value, high molecular weight substances (3500–9000 Da) were removed mainly through degradation by microorganisms, and the biodegraded organics (soluble microbial by-products,<3500 Da) were released because of the low adsorption capacity of activated carbon. For GAC with higher micropore volume and iodine value, organics with low molecular weight (<3500 Da) were more easily removed, first being adsorbed by micropores and then biodegraded by the biofilm. The biomass was determined by the pore volume with pore diameters greater than 100 μm, but did not correspond to the removal efficiency. Nevertheless, the microbial community structure was coordinate with both the pore structure and the organic removal characteristics. The findings provide a theoretical basis for selecting GAC for the BAC process based on its pore structure.     

Bacterial diversity in paclobutrazol applied agricultural soils

The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities on paclobutrazol [(2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol]–applied agricultural soils by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 16S rDNA gene fragments. Three different agricultural soil samples were collected from paclobutrazol applied mango and waxapple orchards, peanut fields and untreated rice fields as a control for DGGE analysis. The DGGE pattern of PCR- generated 16S rDNA gene fragments indicated that the bacterial populations from four paclobutrazol–applied soils of peanut fields were closely related to each other and two paclobutrazol–applied soils of mango and waxapple orchards harbored closely related bacterial communities. But, paclobutrazol–free agricultural soils comprised relatively a different bacterial group. However, the bacterial populations of mango and waxapple orchard are completely different from the bacterial communities of peanut field. Further purification and sequence analysis of 40 DGGE bands followed by phylogenetic tree assay showed similar results that soil bacteria from paclobutrazol applied mango and waxapple orchard are phylogenetically related. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the clone M-4 was clad 100 % (bootstrap value) with Mycobacterium sp. The Mycobacterium sp. has been proved to degrade the phenolic compounds such as phenol, 4-chlorphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and paclobutrazol molecule containing chlorobenzene ring.     

Distributions, cycling and recovery of amino acids in estuarine waters and sediments

Acid hydrolysis of estuarine water samples for the determination of amino acids (AAs) was tested and found to be effective at high (250 μM) nitrate concentrations when the anti-oxidant, ascorbic acid, was added to the samples. Hydrolysable AA concentrations were then determined in surface sediments collected from low and high salinity regions of the Tamar Estuary (UK) during winter 2003 and 2004, and in overlying water when simulated resuspension of sediment particles was performed. Concentrations of AAs in sediment samples comprised <50% of particulate nitrogen, fitting the paradigm that most sedimentary nitrogen is preserved within an organic matrix. When sediment samples were resuspended in overlying water (salinity 17.5), the rapid, measured increase in dissolved AA concentrations almost equalled the reported nitrate concentration in the lower estuary, with the subsequent decrease in the total dissolved AA levels suggested that bacterial uptake was occurring. Our data concur with previous studies on nitrogen desorption from sediments and suggest that an understanding of organic nitrogen cycling will be an important aspect of future effective estuarine management.     

The impact of UV treatment on microbial control and DBPs formation in full-scale drinking water systems in northern China

To manage potential microbial risks and meet increasingly strict drinking water health standards, UV treatment has attracted increasing attention for use in drinking water systems in China. However, the effects of UV treatment on microbial control and disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in real municipal drinking water systems are poorly understood. Here, we collected water samples from three real drinking water systems in Beijing and Tianjin to investigate the impacts of UV treatment on microbial control and DBP formation. We employed heterotrophic plate count (HPC), flow cytometry (FCM), quantitative PCR analysis, and high-throughput sequencing to measure microorganisms in the samples. Different trends were observed between HPC and total cell count (measured by FCM), indicating that a single indicator could not reflect the real degree of biological re-growth in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). A significant increase in the 16S rRNA gene concentration was observed when the UV system was stopped. Besides, the bacterial community composition was similar at the phylum level but differed markedly at the genera level among the three DWDSs. Some chlorine-resistant bacteria, including potential pathogens (e.g., Acinetobacter) showed a high relative abundance when the UV system was turned off. It can be concluded that UV treatment can mitigate microbial re-growth to some extent. Finally, UV treatment had a limited influence on the formation of DBPs, including trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and nitrogenated DBPs. The findings of this study may help to understand the performance of UV treatment in real drinking water systems.     

Impact of biosolids, ZnO, ZnO/biosolids on bacterial community and enantioselective transformation of racemic–quizalofop–ethyl in agricultural soil

The effects of biosolids,ZnO,and ZnO/biosolids on soil microorganism and the environmental fate of coexisting racemic–quizalofop–ethyl(rac-QE) were investigated.Microbial biomass carbon in native soil,soil/biosolids decreased by 62% and 52% in the presence of ZnO(2‰,weight ratio).The soil bacterial community structure differed significantly among native soil,soil/biosolids,soil/ZnO,and soil/biosolids/ZnO based on a principal co-ordinate analysis(PCo A) of OTUs and one-way ANOVA test of bacterial genera.Chemical transformation caused by ZnO only contributed 4% and 3% of the overall transformation of R-quizalofop-ethyl(R-QE) and S-quizalofop-ethyl(S-QE) in soil/ZnO.The inhibition effect of ZnO on the initial transformation rate of R-QE(rR-QE) and S-QE(rR-QE) in soil only observed when enantiomer concentration was larger than 10 mg/kg.Biosolids embedded with ZnO(biosolids/ZnO) caused a 17%–42% and 22%–38% decrease of rR-QEand rS-QE,although rR-QEand rS-QEincreased by 0%–17% and 22%–58% by the addition of biosolids.The results also demonstrated that the effects of biosolids on agricultural soil microorganism and enantioselective transformation of chiral pesticide was altered by the embedded nanoparticles.     

Characteristics of sewer biofilms in aerobic rural small diameter gravity sewers

Small diameter gravity sewers(SDGS) are extensively used to collect rural sewage as they are low in cost and quick to construct.However,the characteristics of biofilms in rural SDGS are still not clear.In this study,biofilms characteristics of aerobic rural SDGS were investigated using simulations in a lab under different flow conditions and slopes.Results indic ated that the average thickness of aerobic rural SDGS biofilms was in the range of 350-650 μm,decreasing at locations with variable flow and high slopes.Protein was the most abundant substance in extracellular polymeric substance of SDGS biofilms.The most abundant bacteria,Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,and Bacteroidetes,and functional bacteria showed different distributions when analyzed through Illumina HiSeq sequencing of 16 S rRNA.The relative abundances of denitrifying bacteria,nitrite-oxidizing bacteria,and sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB) were lower during variable flow than during stable flow.High slopes(15‰) decreased SRB presence,which could be used to mitigate H_2 S accumulation in aerobic SDGS.Overall,this study describes the characteristics of aerobic rural SDGS biofilms and provides valuable suggestions for the optimal design of SDGS based on these characteristics.     

Linkage between water soluble organic matter and bacterial community in sediment from a shallow, eutrophic lake, Lake Chaohu, China

Lacustrine sediment played important roles in migration and transformation of its water soluble organic matter (WSOM), and the source and composition of WSOM would affect water trophic status and the fate of pollutants. However, we know little about the pathway of WSOM transformation and its driving bacterial communities in lacustrine sediment. In the present study, we investigated the spatial distribution patterns of sediment WSOM and its fluorescent fractions across Lake Chaohu using fluorescence spectroscopy, and explored WSOM compositional structure through our proposed calculated ratios. In addition, we also analyzed sediment bacterial community using Illumina sequencing technology, and probed the possible pathway of sediment WSOM transformation under the mediate of indigenous bacteria. Our results showed that the inflowing rivers affected the spatial distribution patterns of WSOM and its five fractions (including tyrosine-, tryptophan-, fulvic acid-, humic acid-like substances and soluble microbial productions), and sediment WSOM originated from fresh algae detritus or bacterial sources. In parallel, we also found that Proteobacteria (mainly γ-Proteobacteria and δ-Proteobacteria), Firmicutes (mainly Bacilli), Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria dominate sediment bacterial community. Furthermore, these dominant bacteria triggered sediment WSOM transformation, specifically, the humic acid-like substances could be converted into fulvic acid-like substances, and further degraded into aromatic protein-like and SMP substances. In addition, our proposed ratios (P-L:H-L, Ar-P:SMP and H-L ratio), as supplementary tool, were effective to reveal WSOM composition structure. These results figured out possible pathway of WSOM transformation, and revealed its microbial mechanism in lacustrine sediment.     

Effects of Asian dust events on atmospheric bacterial communities at different distances downwind of the source region

Aeolian dust particles arising from arid and semiarid zones are known to carry microbes by air currents. The effect of wind-borne bacteria on atmospheric bacterial population at various downwind distances from the dust source regions must be clarified, but has not yet been reported. This study monitored the bacterial abundance and community composition in outdoor aerosol samples in Beijing, China, which is close to the Asian dust source regions, and compared them with the results obtained in a distant region(Osaka, Japan).The Asian dust collected in Beijing contained(4 ± 3) × 10~4 bacterial cells/m~3, approximately~4 times higher than in Osaka. On 15 April 2015, Beijing experienced severe Asian dust events with a 1000-fold increase in bacterial abundance, relative to non-Asian dust days. Dominant bacterial phyla and classes in Asian dust collected in Beijing were Actinobacteria, Bacilli and Acidobacteria, and the bacterial community composition varied more widely than in Osaka.The bacterial community compositions differed between the Beijing and Osaka dusts, even for the same Asian dust events. These results indicated that aerosol bacterial communities nearer the dust source are more affected by eolian dust than their distant counterparts.     

Temporal and spatial changes of microbial community in an industrial effluent receiving area in Hangzhou Bay

Anthropogenic activities usually contaminate water environments, and have led to the eutrophication of many estuaries and shifts in microbial communities. In this study, the temporal and spatial changes of the microbial community in an industrial effluent receiving area in Hangzhou Bay were investigated by 454 pyrosequencing. The bacterial community showed higher richness and biodiversity than the archaeal community in all sediments. Proteobacteria dominated in the bacterial communities of all the samples; Marine_Group_Ⅰ and Methanomicrobia were the two dominant archaeal classes in the effluent receiving area. PCoA and AMOVA revealed strong seasonal but minor spatial changes in both bacterial and archaeal communities in the sediments. The seasonal changes of the bacterial community were less significant than those of the archaeal community, which mainly consisted of fluctuations in abundance of a large proportion of longstanding species rather than the appearance and disappearance of major archaeal species. Temperature was found to positively correlate with the dominant bacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and negatively correlate with the dominant archaea,Marine_Group_Ⅰ; and might be the primary driving force for the seasonal variation of the microbial community.