Presence of Fe(II) and nitrate shapes aquifer-originating communities leading to an autotrophic enrichment dominated by an Fe(II)-oxidizing Gallionellaceae sp

In situ incubation of iron(II)-bearing minerals and Fe(0) reveals insights into metabolic flexibility of chemolithotrophic bacteria in a nitrate polluted karst aquifer

Groundwater nitrate pollution is a major reason for deteriorating water quality and threatens human and animal health. Yet, mitigating groundwater contamination naturally is often complicated since most aquifers are limited in bioavailable carbon. Since metabolically flexible microbes might have advantages for survival, this study presents a detailed description and first results on our modification of the BacTrap© method, aiming to determine the prevailing microbial community's potential to utilize chemolithotrophic pathways. Our microbial trapping devices (MTDs) were amended with four different iron sources and incubated in seven groundwater monitoring wells for ∼3 months to promote growth of nitrate-reducing Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (NRFeOxB) in a nitrate-contaminated karst aquifer. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences implies that the identity of the iron source influenced the microbial community's composition. In addition, high throughput amplicon sequencing revealed increased relative 16S rRNA gene abundances of OTUs affiliated to genera such as Thiobacillus, Rhodobacter, Pseudomonas, Albidiferax, and Sideroxydans. MTD-derived enrichments set up with Fe(II)/nitrate/acetate to isolate potential NRFeOxB, were dominated by e.g., Acidovorax spp., Paracoccus spp. and Propionivibrio spp. MTDs are a cost-effective approach for investigating microorganisms in groundwater and our data not only solidifies the MTD's capacity to provide insights into the metabolic flexibility of the aquifer's microbial community, but also substantiates its metabolic potential for anaerobic Fe(II) oxidation.

Mechanisms of nanoscale zero-valent iron mediating aerobic denitrification in Pseudomonas stutzeri by promoting electron transfer and gene expression

Aerobic denitrification and its mechanism by P. stutzeri was investigated in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI). The removal of nitrate and ammonia was accelerated and the nitrite nitrogen accumulation was reduced by nZVI. The particle size and dosage of nZVI were key factors for enhancing aerobic denitrification. nZVI reduced the negative effects of low carbon/nitrogen, heavy metals, surfactants and salts to aerobic denitrification. nZVI and its dissolved irons were adsorbed into the bacteria cells, enhancing the transfer of electrons from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to nitrate reductase. Moreover, the activities of NADH-ubiquinone reductase involved in the respiratory system, and the denitrifying enzymes were increased. The expression of denitrifying enzyme genes napA and nirS, as well as the iron metabolism gene fur, were promoted in the presence of nZVI. This work provides a strategy for enhancing the biological denitrification of wastewater using the bio-stimulation of nanomaterials.

Epiphytic microorganisms of submerged macrophytes effectively contribute to nitrogen removal

Submerged macrophytes play important roles in nutrient cycling and are widely used in ecological restoration to alleviate eutrophication and improve water quality in lakes. Epiphytic microbial communities on leaves of submerged macrophytes might promote nitrogen cycling, but the mechanisms and quantification of their contributions remain unclear. Here, four types of field zones with different nutrient levels and submerged macrophytes, eutrophic + Vallisneria natans (EV), eutrophic + V. natans + Hydrilla verticillata, mesotrophic + V. natans + H. verticillata, and eutrophic without macrophytes were selected to investigate the microbial communities that involved in nitrification and denitrification. The alpha diversity of bacterial community was higher in the phyllosphere than in the water, and that of H. verticillata was higher compared to V. natans. Bacterial community structures differed significantly between the four zones. The highest relative abundance of dominant bacterioplankton genera involved in nitrification and denitrification was observed in the EV zone. Similarly, the alpha diversity of the epiphytic ammonia-oxidizing archaea and nosZI-type denitrifiers were highest in the EV zone. Consist with the diversity patterns, the potential denitrification rates were higher in the phyllosphere than those in the water. Higher potential denitrification rates in the phyllosphere were also found in H. verticillata than those in V. natans. Anammox was not detected in all samples. Nutrient loads, especially nitrogen concentrations were important factors influencing potential nitrification, denitrification rates, and bacterial communities, especially for the epiphytic nosZI-type taxa. Overall, we observed that the phyllosphere harbors more microbes and promotes higher denitrification rates compared to water, and epiphytic bacterial communities are shaped by nitrogen nutrients and macrophyte species, indicating that epiphytic microorganisms of submerged macrophytes can effectively contribute to the N removal in shallow lakes.

"Candidatus Siderophilus nitratireducens": a putative nap-dependent nitrate-reducing iron oxidizer within the new order Siderophiliales

Nitrate leaching from agricultural soils is increasingly found in groundwater, a primary source of drinking water worldwide. This nitrate influx can potentially stimulate the biological oxidation of iron in anoxic groundwater reservoirs. Nitrate-dependent iron-oxidizing (NDFO) bacteria have been extensively studied in laboratory settings, yet their ecophysiology in natural environments remains largely unknown. To this end, we established a pilot-scale filter on nitrate-rich groundwater to elucidate the structure and metabolism of nitrate-reducing iron-oxidizing microbiomes under oligotrophic conditions mimicking natural groundwaters. The enriched community stoichiometrically removed iron and nitrate consistently with the NDFO metabolism. Genome-resolved metagenomics revealed the underlying metabolic network between the dominant iron-dependent denitrifying autotrophs and the less abundant organoheterotrophs. The most abundant genome belonged to a new Candidate order, named Siderophiliales. This new species, "Candidatus Siderophilus nitratireducens," carries genes central genes to iron oxidation (cytochrome c cyc2), carbon fixation (rbc), and for the sole periplasmic nitrate reductase (nap). Using thermodynamics, we demonstrate that iron oxidation coupled to nap based dissimilatory reduction of nitrate to nitrite is energetically favorable under realistic Fe3+/Fe2+ and NO3-/NO2- concentration ratios. Ultimately, by bridging the gap between laboratory investigations and nitrate real-world conditions, this study provides insights into the intricate interplay between nitrate and iron in groundwater ecosystems, and expands our understanding of NDFOs taxonomic diversity and ecological role.

Efficient nitrogen removal through coupling biochar with zero-valent iron by different packing modes in bioretention system

Three kinds of bioretention were designed to explore the effects of zero-valent iron (ZVI) and biochar on the nitrogen removal performance and to seek a more reasonable packing method in this study. The results showed that the effluent removal rates of nitrate, ammonium and total nitrogen were 53.30 ± 12.68%, 98.41 ± 0.38% and 64.03 ± 8.72% respectively in Bioretention-3 during the rainfall events, while the nitrate concentration decreased gradually with the increase of drying time. According to the batch experiment, it was found that zero-valent iron could release continuously and stably in Bioretention-3 and Bioretention-1 due to the interception effect of biochar on dissolved oxygen. In addition, biochar in soil layer could protect zero-valent iron from excessive oxidation while biochar in the substrate layer could release organic matter to promote heterotrophic denitrification. Microbial community analysis showed that the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria (20.92-40.81%) and Actinobacteriota (9.89-24.54%). The dominant nitrifying genera was Nitrospira while there were also aerobic denitrifying bacteria (Sphingomonas, Bradyrhizobium and Chryseolinea, etc.) in soil layer. In the substrate layer, there was more ferrous iron-mediated autotrophic denitrification process (Thiobacillus, Geobacter and Denitratisoma, etc.) in Bioretention-1 and Bioretention-3 while a larger proportion of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium process (DNRA) (Bacillus, Desulfovibrio and Pseudomonas, etc.) in Bioretention-2. In general, this study showed that biochar addition in soil coupled with mixing zero-valent iron and biochar as substrate layer was a more stable and efficient design through various aspects of evidence. It provides a new way for how to use zero-valent iron and biochar to improve nitrogen removal capacity in stormwater management.

Autotrophic denitrification using Fe(II) as an electron donor: A novel prospective denitrification process

As a newly identified nitrogen loss pathway, the nitrate-dependent ferrous oxidation (NDFO) process is emerging as a research hotspot in the field of low carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) wastewater treatment. This review article provides an overview of the NDFO process and summarizes the functional microorganisms associated with NDFO from different perspectives. The potential mechanisms by which external factors such as influent pH, influent Fe(II)/N (mol), organic carbon, and chelating agents affect NDFO performance are also thoroughly discussed. As the electron-transfer mechanism of the NDFO process is still largely unknown, the extensive chemical Fe(II)-oxidizing nitrite-reducing pathway (NDFO_chem) of the NDFO process is described here, and the potential enzymatic electron transfer mechanisms involved are summarized. On this basis, a three-stage electron transfer pathway applicable to low C/N wastewater is proposed. Furthermore, the impact of Fe(III) mineral products on the NDFO process is revisited, and existing crusting prevention strategies are summarized. Finally, future challenges facing the NDFO process and new research directions are discussed, with the aim of further promoting the development and application of the NDFO process in the field of nitrogen removal.

Unexpected diversity found within benthic microbial mats at hydrothermal springs in Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake, Oregon is an oligotrophic freshwater caldera lake fed by thermally and chemically enriched hydrothermal springs. These vents distinguish Crater Lake from other freshwater systems and provide a unique ecosystem for study. This study examines the community structure of benthic microbial mats occurring with Crater Lake hydrothermal springs. Small subunit rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from eight bacterial mats was used to assess community structure. These revealed a relatively homogeneous, yet diverse bacterial community. High alpha diversity and low beta diversity indicate that these communities are likely fueled by homogeneous hydrothermal fluids. An examination of autotrophic taxa abundance indicates the potential importance of iron and sulfur inputs to the primary productivity of these mats. Chemoautotrophic potential within the mats was dominated by iron oxidation from Gallionella and Mariprofundus and by sulfur oxidation from Sulfuricurvum and Thiobacillus with an additional contribution of nitrite oxidation from Nitrospira. Metagenomic analysis showed that cbbM genes were identified as Gallionella and that aclB genes were identified as Nitrospira, further supporting these taxa as autotrophic drivers of the community. The detection of several taxa containing arsC and nirK genes suggests that arsenic detoxification and denitrification processes are likely co-occurring in addition to at least two modes of carbon fixation. These data link the importance of the detected autotrophic metabolisms driven by fluids derived from benthic hydrothermal springs to Crater Lake’s entire lentic ecosystem.

Unchanged nitrate and nitrite isotope fractionation during heterotrophic and Fe(II)-mixotrophic denitrification suggest a non-enzymatic link between denitrification and Fe(II) oxidation

Natural-abundance measurements of nitrate and nitrite (NO_x) isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) can be a valuable tool to study the biogeochemical fate of NO_x species in the environment. A prerequisite for using NO_x isotopes in this regard is an understanding of the mechanistic details of isotope fractionation (¹⁵ε, ¹⁸ε) associated with the biotic and abiotic NO_x transformation processes involved (e.g., denitrification). However, possible impacts on isotope fractionation resulting from changing growth conditions during denitrification, different carbon substrates, or simply the presence of compounds that may be involved in NO_x reduction as co-substrates [e.g., Fe(II)] remain uncertain. Here we investigated whether the type of organic substrate, i.e., short-chained organic acids, and the presence/absence of Fe(II) (mixotrophic vs. heterotrophic growth conditions) affect N and O isotope fractionation dynamics during nitrate (NO₃^–) and nitrite (NO₂^–) reduction in laboratory experiments with three strains of putative nitrate-dependent Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria and one canonical denitrifier. Our results revealed that ¹⁵ε and ¹⁸ε values obtained for heterotrophic (¹⁵ε-NO₃^–: 17.6 ± 2.8‰, ¹⁸ε-NO₃^–:18.1 ± 2.5‰; ¹⁵ε-NO₂^–: 14.4 ± 3.2‰) vs. mixotrophic (¹⁵ε-NO₃^–: 20.2 ± 1.4‰, ¹⁸ε-NO₃^–: 19.5 ± 1.5‰; ¹⁵ε-NO₂^–: 16.1 ± 1.4‰) growth conditions are very similar and fall within the range previously reported for classical heterotrophic denitrification. Moreover, availability of different short-chain organic acids (succinate vs. acetate), while slightly affecting the NO_x reduction dynamics, did not produce distinct differences in N and O isotope effects. N isotope fractionation in abiotic controls, although exhibiting fluctuating results, even expressed transient inverse isotope dynamics (¹⁵ε-NO₂^–: –12.4 ± 1.3 ‰). These findings imply that neither the mechanisms ordaining cellular uptake of short-chain organic acids nor the presence of Fe(II) seem to systematically impact the overall N and O isotope effect during NO_x reduction. The similar isotope effects detected during mixotrophic and heterotrophic NO_x reduction, as well as the results obtained from the abiotic controls, may not only imply that the enzymatic control of NO_x reduction in putative NDFeOx bacteria is decoupled from Fe(II) oxidation, but also that Fe(II) oxidation is indirectly driven by biologically (i.e., via organic compounds) or abiotically (catalysis via reactive surfaces) mediated processes co-occurring during heterotrophic denitrification.

Microbial Diversity in Groundwater and Its Response to Seawater Intrusion in Beihai City, Southern China

Seawater intrusion is a major concern commonly found in coastal aquifers worldwide. Because of the intense aquifer exploitation and land-based marine aquaculture in the coastal area of Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, numerous underground aquifers in this area have been affected by seawater intrusion. However, the microbial communities in freshwater aquifers and their response to seawater intrusion are still unclear. In this study, groundwater from three aquifers was collected from three monitoring sites at different distances from the coastline in the coastal area of Beihai City, and the hydrochemical characteristics of these groundwater samples and the structure of the associated microbial communities were analyzed. The Cl- concentration of the samples indicated that seawater intrusion had occurred in the research area up to 1.5 km away from the coastline, but the monitoring site 2 km away from the coastline had yet to be affected. Statistical analysis showed that the bacterial communities in different groundwater aquifers were significantly correlated with the Cl- concentration, thereby suggesting that the extent of seawater intrusion might be one of the primary factors shaping bacterial composition in groundwater of this area, but the composition and distribution of archaea did not show a significant response to seawater intrusion and presented no apparent correlation with the Cl- concentration. α-, γ-Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were the dominant bacterial lineages, accounting for about 58-95% of the bacterial communities. Meanwhile, the predominant archaeal taxa were mainly composed of Crenarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Thermoplasmatota, as accounting for 83-100%. Moreover, there was significant spatial heterogeneity of microbial communities in the aquifers affected by varying degrees of seawater intrusion. The microbial communities inhabiting the unconfined aquifer were influenced by the geochemical fluctuation caused by seawater infiltration from land-based marine aquaculture ponds and the diffusion of eutrophic surface water. In contrast, changes in microbial community structure in the confined aquifers were closely related to the environmental gradient caused by different degrees of seawater intrusion. In addition, we also found that the tidal cycle did not significantly affect the structure of microbial communities inhabiting confined aquifers that had been long affected by seawater intrusion.