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Zhao R, Jørgensen SL, Babbin AR. An abundant bacterial phylum with nitrite-oxidizing potential in oligotrophic marine sediments. Commun Biol 2024; 7:449. [PMID: 38605091 PMCID: PMC11009272 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06136-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) are important nitrifiers whose activity regulates the availability of nitrite and dictates the magnitude of nitrogen loss in ecosystems. In oxic marine sediments, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and NOB together catalyze the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, but the abundance ratios of AOA to canonical NOB in some cores are significantly higher than the theoretical ratio range predicted from physiological traits of AOA and NOB characterized under realistic ocean conditions, indicating that some NOBs are yet to be discovered. Here we report a bacterial phylum Candidatus Nitrosediminicolota, members of which are more abundant than canonical NOBs and are widespread across global oligotrophic sediments. Ca. Nitrosediminicolota members have the functional potential to oxidize nitrite, in addition to other accessory functions such as urea hydrolysis and thiosulfate reduction. While one recovered species (Ca. Nitrosediminicola aerophilus) is generally confined within the oxic zone, another (Ca. Nitrosediminicola anaerotolerans) additionally appears in anoxic sediments. Counting Ca. Nitrosediminicolota as a nitrite-oxidizer helps to resolve the apparent abundance imbalance between AOA and NOB in oxic marine sediments, and thus its activity may exert controls on the nitrite budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhao
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Steffen L Jørgensen
- Centre for Deep-Sea Research, Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Andrew R Babbin
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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2
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Suarez C, Rosenqvist T, Dimitrova I, Sedlacek CJ, Modin O, Paul CJ, Hermansson M, Persson F. Biofilm colonization and succession in a full-scale partial nitritation-anammox moving bed biofilm reactor. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:51. [PMID: 38475926 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01762-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Partial nitritation-anammox (PNA) is a biological nitrogen removal process commonly used in wastewater treatment plants for the treatment of warm and nitrogen-rich sludge liquor from anaerobic digestion, often referred to as sidestream wastewater. In these systems, biofilms are frequently used to retain biomass with aerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anammox bacteria, which together convert ammonium to nitrogen gas. Little is known about how these biofilm communities develop, and whether knowledge about the assembly of biofilms in natural communities can be applied to PNA biofilms. RESULTS We followed the start-up of a full-scale PNA moving bed biofilm reactor for 175 days using shotgun metagenomics. Environmental filtering likely restricted initial biofilm colonization, resulting in low phylogenetic diversity, with the initial microbial community comprised mainly of Proteobacteria. Facilitative priority effects allowed further biofilm colonization, with the growth of initial aerobic colonizers promoting the arrival and growth of anaerobic taxa like methanogens and anammox bacteria. Among the early colonizers were known 'oligotrophic' ammonia oxidizers including comammox Nitrospira and Nitrosomonas cluster 6a AOB. Increasing the nitrogen load in the bioreactor allowed colonization by 'copiotrophic' Nitrosomonas cluster 7 AOB and resulted in the exclusion of the initial ammonia- and nitrite oxidizers. CONCLUSIONS We show that complex dynamic processes occur in PNA microbial communities before a stable bioreactor process is achieved. The results of this study not only contribute to our knowledge about biofilm assembly and PNA bioreactor start-up but could also help guide strategies for the successful implementation of PNA bioreactors. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Suarez
- Division of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Tage Rosenqvist
- Division of Applied Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Christopher J Sedlacek
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oskar Modin
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Catherine J Paul
- Division of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Applied Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Malte Hermansson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Frank Persson
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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3
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Peoples LM, Seixas MH, Evans KA, Bilbrey EM, Ranieri JR, Tappenbeck TH, Dore JE, Baumann A, Church MJ. Out of sight, but not out of season: Nitrifier distributions and population dynamics in a large oligotrophic lake. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16616. [PMID: 38517638 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Nitrification is an important control on the form and distribution of nitrogen in freshwater ecosystems. However, the seasonality of nitrogen pools and the diversity of organisms catalyzing this process have not been well documented in oligotrophic lakes. Here, we show that nitrogen pools and nitrifying organisms in Flathead Lake are temporally and vertically dynamic, with nitrifiers displaying specific preferences depending on the season. While the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) Nitrosomonadaceae and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) Nitrotoga dominate at depth in the summer, the ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) Nitrososphaerota and NOB Nitrospirota become abundant in the winter. Given clear seasonality in ammonium, with higher concentrations during the summer, we hypothesize that the succession between these two nitrifying groups may be due to nitrogen affinity, with AOB more competitive when ammonia concentrations are higher and AOA when they are lower. Nitrifiers in Flathead Lake share more than 99% average nucleotide identity with those reported in other North American lakes but are distinct from those in Europe and Asia, indicating a role for geographic isolation as a factor controlling speciation among nitrifiers. Our study shows there are seasonal shifts in nitrogen pools and nitrifying populations, highlighting the dynamic spatial and temporal nature of nitrogen cycling in freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan M Peoples
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - Miranda H Seixas
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - Kate A Evans
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - Evan M Bilbrey
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
| | - John R Ranieri
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - Tyler H Tappenbeck
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - John E Dore
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Adam Baumann
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
| | - Matthew J Church
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, Montana, USA
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Alfreider A, Harringer M. Vertical Distribution and Seasonal Patterns of Candidatus Nitrotoga in a Sub-Alpine Lake. Microbes Environ 2024; 39:ME23086. [PMID: 38825479 PMCID: PMC11220445 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me23086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The nitrite oxidizing bacterial genus Ca. Nitrotoga was only recently discovered to be widespread in freshwater systems; however, limited information is currently available on the environmental factors and seasonal effects that influence its distribution in lakes. In a one-year study in a dimictic lake, based on monthly sampling along a vertical profile, the droplet digital PCR quantification of Ca. Nitrotoga showed a strong spatio-temporal patchiness. A correlation ana-lysis with environmental parameters revealed that the abundance of Ca. Nitrotoga correlated with dissolved oxygen and ammonium, suggesting that the upper hypolimnion of the lake is the preferred habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albin Alfreider
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Manuel Harringer
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Kop LFM, Koch H, Jetten MSM, Daims H, Lücker S. Metabolic and phylogenetic diversity in the phylum Nitrospinota revealed by comparative genome analyses. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycad017. [PMID: 38317822 PMCID: PMC10839748 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The most abundant known nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in the marine water column belong to the phylum Nitrospinota. Despite their importance in marine nitrogen cycling and primary production, there are only few cultured representatives that all belong to the class Nitrospinia. Moreover, although Nitrospinota were traditionally thought to be restricted to marine environments, metagenome-assembled genomes have also been recovered from groundwater. Over the recent years, metagenomic sequencing has led to the discovery of several novel classes of Nitrospinota (UBA9942, UBA7883, 2-12-FULL-45-22, JACRGO01, JADGAW01), which remain uncultivated and have not been analyzed in detail. Here, we analyzed a nonredundant set of 98 Nitrospinota genomes with focus on these understudied Nitrospinota classes and compared their metabolic profiles to get insights into their potential role in biogeochemical element cycling. Based on phylogenomic analysis and average amino acid identities, the highly diverse phylum Nitrospinota could be divided into at least 33 different genera, partly with quite distinct metabolic capacities. Our analysis shows that not all Nitrospinota are nitrite oxidizers and that members of this phylum have the genomic potential to use sulfide and hydrogen for energy conservation. This study expands our knowledge of the phylogeny and potential ecophysiology of the phylum Nitrospinota and offers new avenues for the isolation and cultivation of these elusive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea F M Kop
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Hanna Koch
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Bioresources Unit, Center for Health & Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, Tulln an der Donau 3430, Austria
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Holger Daims
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Sebastian Lücker
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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Su Z, Liu T, Guo J, Zheng M. Nitrite Oxidation in Wastewater Treatment: Microbial Adaptation and Suppression Challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12557-12570. [PMID: 37589598 PMCID: PMC10470456 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial nitrite oxidation is the primary pathway that generates nitrate in wastewater treatment systems and can be performed by a variety of microbes: namely, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Since NOB were first isolated 130 years ago, the understanding of the phylogenetical and physiological diversities of NOB has been gradually deepened. In recent endeavors of advanced biological nitrogen removal, NOB have been more considered as a troublesome disruptor, and strategies on NOB suppression often fail in practice after long-term operation due to the growth of specific NOB that are able to adapt to even harsh conditions. In line with a review of the history of currently known NOB genera, a phylogenetic tree is constructed to exhibit a wide range of NOB in different phyla. In addition, the growth behavior and metabolic performance of different NOB strains are summarized. These specific features of various NOB (e.g., high oxygen affinity of Nitrospira, tolerance to chemical inhibitors of Nitrobacter and Candidatus Nitrotoga, and preference to high temperature of Nitrolancea) highlight the differentiation of the NOB ecological niche in biological nitrogen processes and potentially support their adaptation to different suppression strategies (e.g., low dissolved oxygen, chemical treatment, and high temperature). This review implicates the acquired physiological characteristics of NOB to their emergence from a genomic and ecological perspective and emphasizes the importance of understanding physiological characterization and genomic information in future wastewater treatment studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zicheng Su
- Australian Centre for Water
and Environmental Biotechnology, The University
of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Tao Liu
- Australian Centre for Water
and Environmental Biotechnology, The University
of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water
and Environmental Biotechnology, The University
of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water
and Environmental Biotechnology, The University
of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Ide H, Ishii K, Takahashi Y, Fujitani H, Tsuneda S. Effects of Co-existing Heterotrophs on Physiology of and Nitrogen Metabolism in Autotrophic Nitrite-oxidizing Candidatus Nitrotoga. Microbes Environ 2023; 38:ME23076. [PMID: 38072409 PMCID: PMC10728634 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me23076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions between autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophs have attracted considerable attention in microbial ecology. However, the mechanisms by which heterotrophs affect the physiological activity of and nitrogen metabolism in autotrophic nitrite oxidizers remain unclear. We herein focused on nitrite-oxidizing Candidatus Nitrotoga and compared an axenic culture including only Ca. Nitrotoga with a co-culture of both Ca. Nitrotoga and Acidovorax in physiological experiments and transcriptomics. In the co-culture with Acidovorax, nitrite consumption by Ca. Nitrotoga was promoted, and some genes relevant to nitrogen metabolism in Ca. Nitrotoga were highly expressed. These results provide insights into the mechanisms by which co-existing heterotrophs affect autotrophic nitrifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Ide
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kento Ishii
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Takahashi
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Fujitani
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tsuneda
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
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Microbiogeochemical Traits to Identify Nitrogen Hotspots in Permafrost Regions. NITROGEN 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/nitrogen3030031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Permafrost-affected tundra soils are large carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) reservoirs. However, N is largely bound in soil organic matter (SOM), and ecosystems generally have low N availability. Therefore, microbial induced N-cycling processes and N losses were considered negligible. Recent studies show that microbial N processing rates, inorganic N availability, and lateral N losses from thawing permafrost increase when vegetation cover is disturbed, resulting in reduced N uptake or increased N input from thawing permafrost. In this review, we describe currently known N hotspots, particularly bare patches in permafrost peatland or permafrost soils affected by thermokarst, and their microbiogeochemical characteristics, and present evidence for previously unrecorded N hotspots in the tundra. We summarize the current understanding of microbial N cycling processes that promote the release of the potent greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) and the translocation of inorganic N from terrestrial into aquatic ecosystems. We suggest that certain soil characteristics and microbial traits can be used as indicators of N availability and N losses. Identifying N hotspots in permafrost soils is key to assessing the potential for N release from permafrost-affected soils under global warming, as well as the impact of increased N availability on emissions of carbon-containing GHGs.
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